'Highly confidential' iPad, iPhone prototypes revealed in court documents
Court documents pertaining to Apple's upcoming jury trial against Samsung have revealed a number of very early iPad and iPhone design prototypes, some of which bear resemblance to mock-ups of the company's rumored next-generation handset.
The prototypes, found in unredacted court exhibits filed on Thursday, offer a rare look at the extremely secretive design process Apple products undergo before reaching consumers, reports The Verge.
While Apple has traditionally gone to great lengths to keep such pictures out of public view, it has been forced to divulge the information as part of a July 30 jury trial against Samsung. The California case's presiding Judge Lucy Koh previously called for open proceedings, meaning much of the normally-redacted evidence won't be considered as trade secrets is thus free for public viewing.
As for the prototypes, some are outlandish design studies for the iPad like a model that includes a built-in stick kickstand while others appear closer to consumer-ready products.
Prototype iPad designs with kickstand. | Source: The Verge
Other iPad designs featured an integrate kickstand with an aluminum case and "iPod" markings, showing that Apple may have been thinking about positioning the tablet within its then best-selling media player line.
Apple's iPhone prototypes looked somewhat similar to the smartphone customers use today, however there are a few standout designs that are radically different. One such example is an iPhone design which takes on an elongated candy bar form factor and has a screen taking up only half of the unit's face. The phone is dubbed "N90" for what is thought to have been the internal designation of the iPhone project.
iPhone prototypes "N90" (left) and two-tone casing (right). | Source: The Verge
Most of the designs never made it out of testing, but some elements can be seen in current and possibly future products. An image of a two-tone backed iPhone looks similar to mock-ups of Apple's sixth-generation smartphone. The feature was somewhat present on the original iPhone as a covering to allow radio waves to pass through to the unit's antenna assembly, though that all but disappeared in future iterations of the device which are now glass-backed. In current products, the black bar only remains on 3G wireless versions of the iPad.
Other unused iPhone designs feature beveled corners, all-polycarbonate backs and interesting wrap-around casings.
The prototypes, found in unredacted court exhibits filed on Thursday, offer a rare look at the extremely secretive design process Apple products undergo before reaching consumers, reports The Verge.
While Apple has traditionally gone to great lengths to keep such pictures out of public view, it has been forced to divulge the information as part of a July 30 jury trial against Samsung. The California case's presiding Judge Lucy Koh previously called for open proceedings, meaning much of the normally-redacted evidence won't be considered as trade secrets is thus free for public viewing.
As for the prototypes, some are outlandish design studies for the iPad like a model that includes a built-in stick kickstand while others appear closer to consumer-ready products.
Prototype iPad designs with kickstand. | Source: The Verge
Other iPad designs featured an integrate kickstand with an aluminum case and "iPod" markings, showing that Apple may have been thinking about positioning the tablet within its then best-selling media player line.
Apple's iPhone prototypes looked somewhat similar to the smartphone customers use today, however there are a few standout designs that are radically different. One such example is an iPhone design which takes on an elongated candy bar form factor and has a screen taking up only half of the unit's face. The phone is dubbed "N90" for what is thought to have been the internal designation of the iPhone project.
iPhone prototypes "N90" (left) and two-tone casing (right). | Source: The Verge
Most of the designs never made it out of testing, but some elements can be seen in current and possibly future products. An image of a two-tone backed iPhone looks similar to mock-ups of Apple's sixth-generation smartphone. The feature was somewhat present on the original iPhone as a covering to allow radio waves to pass through to the unit's antenna assembly, though that all but disappeared in future iterations of the device which are now glass-backed. In current products, the black bar only remains on 3G wireless versions of the iPad.
Other unused iPhone designs feature beveled corners, all-polycarbonate backs and interesting wrap-around casings.
Comments
1) The one looks like my idea for a smaller iPhone based on the iPod Mini design.
2) You guys didn't show the BSG phone. "All this has happened before, and all of it will happen again."
It almost looks like that was a prototype well before they settled on OS X as the foundation for the OS. It's quite nice and probably would have a been a hit had that been the initial design, or even a 2005-ish design.
'featured an integrate kickstand' - I thought Microsoft R&D Surface Division, Monkey Brigade 666 thought of that...
There's a lot of "Apple confidential" getting exposed in court filings. I'm frankly shocked that Apple believes this case is worth the public disclosures.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/26/us-apple-margins-idUSBRE86P1NI20120726
Between October 2010 and the end of March 2012, Apple had gross margins of 23 to 32 percent on its U.S. iPad sales, which generated revenue of more than $13 billion for Apple, the filing said. Apple does not typically disclose profit margins on individual products.
U.S. iPhone sales between April 2010 and the end of March 2012 generated revenue of more than $33 billion for Apple.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/26/3189309/apple-sony-iphone-design-inspiration-iphone-4-looked-old
A recent court filing by Samsung reveals that in 2006 Apple industrial designer Shin Nishibori was directed to design an iPhone prototype inspired by Sony's aesthetics after Tony Fadell internally circulated an interview with a designer from the company. An assortment of renders reveal his design, complete with a Sony logo — save for one where the logo has been modified to read "Jony," presumably in honor of Apple's Jony Ive.
There's lots more expected to be revealed according to news agencies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timbit
The N90 looks really neat. Would be great for those who do a lot of calling and want a cheap plan or pay as you go. I don't know how the OS would work as it wouldn't work with ios very well. Neat concept though
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
1) The one looks like my idea for a smaller iPhone based on the iPod Mini design.
2) You guys didn't show the BSG phone. "All this has happened before, and all of it will happen again."
Looks like proof the iPhone Nano is coming and that the 2 tone 6th gen iPhone leaks are real... /s.
But seriously this does add some plausibility to the leaks and rumors. Plus the iPad prototypes are labeled iPods? Interesting?
This stuff the Verge unearthed is amazing! It's rare to see Apple prototypes like this!
I too think that the iPhone with broken edges looks great.
On other forums, some people are saying these designs are hideous. I completely disagree. Any one of these phones could have been the first iPhone and would have been a hit. When one is designing a featureless phone with only a home button, a headphone port, and a dock, one is pretty limited in what can be done. Apple really impresses me.
Kickstand!
It's interesting (and not surprising) that Microstupid integrated into their product what Apple thought completely unfit to include.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eriamjh
On other forums, some people are saying these designs are hideous. I completely disagree. Any one of these phones could have been the first iPhone and would have been a hit. When one is designing a featureless phone with only a home button, a headphone port, and a dock, one is pretty limited in what can be done. Apple really impresses me.
Agree 100%. Any of those designs would have worked.
Oh I miss Battlestar Galactica.
EDit: Oh I miss Cylon Number Six.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
Kickstand!
It's interesting (and not surprising) that Microstupid integrated into their product what Apple thought completely unfit to include.
It's pretty evident that a single point-of-contact is unfit as a kickstand. Microsoft's version spans the entire tablet.
Can anyone explain what this picture is? Is this really from a Sony render?
http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/26/3189309/apple-sony-iphone-design-inspiration-iphone-4-looked-old
At least in a couple months we'll get more Doctor Who. Steven Moffat is my favorite TV writer. Have you seen Coupling or Sherlock?
We loved the few episodes of Sherlock we saw on Netflix. Not seen Coupling... I'll check it out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalclips
Here you go Sammy, something to copy since you have zero design and innovation ability, have at it!
But...."It's just that's where the form factor is leading it."
Samsung's prototypes are probably copiers.
[quote]To be fair, the MacBook Air was designed by Intel. The “ultrabook” chassis and design was licensed by Apple as an exclusive design for a time period before being released to all the other OEMs.
The reason why they look identical is because all of them (including the Apple version) are based on Intel’s reference design.[/quote]
Is this true? I've never heard before. And it seems unlikely Apple would agree to something where other manufacturers were allows access to the same design.