Apple's Next Generation iPhone Prototype Lost - but Found Its Way to Gizmodo

When it comes to security, Apple has a reputation for having incredibly tight security measures. But somehow a prototype for its next generation iPhone was lost, left on a barstool and found its way to Gizmodo, leading to a series of bizarre events.

One Drinking Spree, One Apple Employee, One Lost iPhone Prototype - All Add up to One Mega "Ooops!" Moment

So how did Apple staff, known for keeping developments safe with extremely tight controls and security measures, manage to lose track of a next generation iPhone? The explanation (for now) is simple. One engineer, Gray Powell, allegedly went into a bar and went on a drinking spree, according to Fox News. After that, he made the mistake of leaving the prototype iPhone on a barstool.

Talk about "ooops" moments! Another customer in the bar tried to get the phone back to Apple but may not have been taken seriously. Somehow it reached Gizmodo first. They took the phone apart. The guy who found the phone?

He was paid $5,000 for his efforts, and Gizmodo decided to complete "due diligence," according to USA Today, to make sure the phone was really an Apple prototype. Perhaps part of that due diligence involved learning about what the next generation iPhone contains.

Apple's Response Lends Credibility to Next Generation iPhone's Authenticity

If the phone was a fake, Apple staffers could have have noted that in a public announcement. Instead, a letter was sent to Gizmodo, requesting the return of "a device that belongs to Apple." The letter stopped short of noting that this was a next generation iPhone or a prototype for one. It was actually disguised as an iPhone 3GS, a clever move- but not clever enough to fool Gizmodo staff. Will they face legal charges for taking apart the phone and putting photos of it up on its Gizmodo site here and noting that this was going to be Apple's next iPhone? Stay tuned for updates about the legal ramifications.

Does Prototype iPhone Provide Clues About What Next Generation iPhone Will Contain?

If Apple sticks with the prototype model, new iPhones will look and function differently than current models. Because the prototype was seen by others, that could change. Reports, including one from USA Today , indicate that the new model will have a video camera that is front-facing, a back camera with added improvements, a flash for the camera and a significantly improved display. It will also be able to perform many apps, due to having iPhone 4.0 software. Complete details about what the next generation iPhone contains can be found at Gizmodo's site here, along with dozens of photos, several videos and even interior shots of the phone. That is plenty of info to leak out ahead of time. Of course, now that the leak has occurred, Apple could decide to make revisions or even postpone the release of the newest next generation iPhone.

Sources:

Gizmodo: Lost Next Gen iPhone Returned To Apple, USA Today April 20, here
Apple Gets Back Its No-Longer-A-Secret Secret iPhone, Fox News, April 20 here
This is Apple's Next iPhone, Gizmodo, April 19 here