Filed under: iPhone
iPhone prototype yanked down from eBay
A set of iPhone prototypes from 2006 briefly made the eBay rounds this morning, with bids running more than $2,000 for the two phones (one non-working) before Apple managed to get the listing yanked sometime during the day [although we now have reports that a sale was completed before the listing went down -Ed.]. The seller also made a YouTube video documenting the features on the phone -- while that too was pulled down due to Apple exerting its copyright, Engadget managed to salvage it and now has it up on its site.
The prototype hints at several features that did not make it to the final version of the iPhone, including a possible option for video phone calls and games. The video is well worth watching. Even though the auction was pulled, we still manage to get a peek at the process that led to the phone unveiled in early 2007. We also have a glimpse of the iPhone at its most basic levels, something that will be an asset to developers.
Update: A similar prototype is shown in this Flickr set as noted below.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TylersPage.net said 8:12PM on 3-10-2009
Um, I've known that for almost 24 hours. Are you guys just searching Engadget and Apple iPhone School and iPod touch fans???
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dagamer34 said 8:18PM on 3-10-2009
Who here really thought Apple would let someone profit from their work?
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Stephen.4 said 8:22PM on 3-10-2009
Idiot.
People sell all Apple products on eBay.
djerome said 5:13AM on 3-11-2009
Hmm,
So the USA don't have video calls eh? Well don't get too excited about it. When video calling first started over here in Europe back in March 2003 it was REALLY REALLY hyped by the networks but went knowwhere. Fact is, video calling doesn't work on a practical level.
1)Do you really want to walk down the street holding your phone out at arms lenght using either a headset or having the phone on speaker?
2)The UTMS stardard is for video calling is 176×144 @ 15 FPS. That is not pretty!
But hey, different markets want different things, like over here in europe it was shocking that Apple wanted money for an iphone on a top contract and to top it off it didn't do MMS. Something which I believe has fallen by the wayside in US.
mathmonkey said 8:53PM on 3-10-2009
Video calls is what made me trade my iPod Touch for a Nokia n810. The first US carrier that makes a phone that has video call capability will get my business.
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Level 5 said 9:22PM on 3-10-2009
Don't quote me, but I believe it's an infrastructure issue perhaps? All the HTC phones I've had since 2005 have had this capability on their international models, and regardless of carrier, they've been pulled from their US counterparts. Bummer really.
acduke said 9:36PM on 3-10-2009
So let me get this straight...you traded in your MP3 player for a Nokia PHONE because your MP3 player couldn't make video calls? Talk about unreasonable expectations.
I'm going to assume you meant iPhone, which also makes me assume you have never used an iPhone if you got it confused with an iPod Touch. Personally I don't think video calls are a big deal. I have an iSight camera and bought a webcam for my fiancé so we could skype and we hardly use it.
Also, I'm about 99% sure I've seen several phones on AT&T's website over the past two years that support video calling.
mathmonkey said 9:54PM on 3-10-2009
The Nokia n810 isn't a phone. It, like the Touch, is a handheld WiFi device. Google it for more info, but I meant what I wrote.
I'm married with kids and video chat all the time. It's really a necessity while away from home for a few days, and the ability to do it with something even more portable than a laptop is great.
If you've seen real-time video calling phones in the States then please let me know. I've seen video messaging, but it's not real-time.
Greg said 4:18AM on 3-11-2009
It's an infrastructure problem, maybe when we hit LTE here in the States (VZW says sometime next year), you'll see it.
I love Nokia and own an N82 that is capable of making calls, but when I try, even when dialing someone with an E71, which can do video calls, I get a message saying that the network does not support it (T-Mo and AT&T).
Around the world, video calling isn't all that popular. Nokia has even remarked on the slow uptake of video calling: http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/06/nokia_video_cal.html
paulfrommalta said 9:19PM on 3-10-2009
who gives a shit
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Stephen said 9:34PM on 3-10-2009
Looks to me more like someone made a custom firmware for the iPhone.
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Tony Bowman said 10:26PM on 3-10-2009
apple wouldn't give a shit if that were the case.
Jimbeam said 11:33PM on 3-10-2009
Can someone re-upload the video to YouTube? I can't see the video on my iPhone and want to see if that's just a feature that was cut.
Just name it G1, palm pre or BB storm insperation as not to tip off steve-o and I'll find it.
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Abeles said 12:58AM on 3-11-2009
It's not custom firmware or fake.
The same firmware is on two other prototypes in my posession - one which is a really early version of the hardware with an all-black metal case and plastic screen - and another a prototype from right before the final version was released.
A few snapshots are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abeles/3345271197/in/set-72157615015616147/
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Ry said 11:25AM on 3-11-2009
The look/feel of the icons and layout has a similar resemblance to how the Newton's GUI was laid out.
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