Like Dissecting an Alien

What's the first thing that usually happens in the movies when an alien species arrives on Earth and is captured? Right - cut it open and see what's inside!

That's just what Gizmodo did to a found (apparently) prototype next-gen iPhone over the weekend. First, some background...

The phone was apparently found on the floor of a San Jose bar. It looked like an iPhone 3G S, but upon closer inspection, it turned out that it was an unknown iPhone-like device complete with Apple branding that was hiding inside a case that made it look like an iPhone 3G S! How awesome is that??!!?? At the time it was found, it was still working, but it has since been "killed" remotely by, well, someone.

Pretty interesting stuff, no? But it gets better. The form factor is different than current iPhones and its components seem to have been shifted around some (the SIM card is on the side now, for instance). It has two cameras, including a front-facing camera that seems to suggest that the next version will support some sort of video conferencing. It also has two clunky-looing round buttons on the side that seem to be positioned as volume adjustment buttons. Weird, huh? Maybe not, considering that one of the most asked-for features of the iPhone since it debuted is a hardware shutter for the camera app.

What I find interesting is that it takes some design cues from the new iPad. Gone are the chrome bevel around the front that has been there since iPhone 1.0. And the curved back is now flat, as well. In fact, it looks vaguely familiar to something... Oh yeah. It looks very similar to the form factor I predicted (and mocked up) lone year ago in a piece title "The Next, Next iPhone." Turns out I was right yet again.

What is incredibly convincing that this is, in fact, the real deal is what they found when they cracked it open. Little bitty, teeny-tiny tech like Apple uses (much of it Apple-branded) and some components that are completely new that no one has ever seen before. I'm sure it was just like dissecting an alien from the future. If someone constructed this thing using existing - and custom - iPhone components, made it work and put as much detail into it as this thing has, then someone has a looooooooot of expertise and time on their hands. And Apple seriously needs to find them and hire them. But as it is, I suspect that instead someone is so getting fired today over this.

I can't wait to see from Steve himself in a few weeks if this thing is legit. My money says that it is.