The fourth generation iPhone previously dubbed iPhone HD has over the weekend been the subject of much controversy ending today in an article that resembles a hands-on review more than a product leak.
The story of the fourth generation iPhone (shouldn't be called iPhone 4G) started when Engadget posted what looked like dubious photos of a handset purportedly found in a bar around Cupertino. The images quickly moved to a consensus of "fake" and the rumour train moved on.
Then Engadget linked the new handset images to an image they posted back in January which showed the yet to be released iPad. At the time of release they even stated that the iPhone in the image was the next generation iPhone but no further details came to light.
Today Gizmodo has posted brand new images and videos of the handset which despite its strikingly different designs to current Apple hardware is said by Engadget, Gizmodo and John Gruber to be the real thing, kind of.
Gruber is notable in his ability to pinpoint using his Apple sources correct and incorrect information, in this case Gruber who blogs at Daring Fireball says that not only is the device the real deal but Apple is looking to get the—now considered stolen—handset back.
So I called around, and I now believe this is an actual unit from Apple — a unit Apple is very interested in getting back.
Gruber does go on to say that despite there being little doubt that this is the next iPhone it isn't necessarily in a final condition.
I am not certain that this looks like the actual production unit Apple intends to ship to consumers. I think it’s a testbed frame — thicker, with visible (un-Apple-like) seams, meant to fit in 3GS cases so as to disguise units out in the wild.
Previously we learnt that the next-generation iPhone was going to have a much faster processor, a vaster higher resolution display and a front facing camera. Now Gizmodo offers a list of features their handset has:
- Front-facing video chat camera
- Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
- Camera flash
- Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
- Improved display. It's unclear if it's the 960x460 display thrown around before -- it certainly looks like it, with the "Connect to iTunes" screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
- What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
- Split buttons for volume
- Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallic
Other changes include what seems to be a 16% larger battery and the back is said to made from a glass type substance and be completely flat, a departure from the curved surfaces of the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
The iPhone HD has it has been previously known is expected to be announced by Apple on June 22.