TechMunch

Gizmodo, a high-profile gadget blog, had gotten access to an iPhone 4 prototype last week, which was reported as a lost iPhone in a bar. While this prototype has been in their possession, there have been some new information regarding the next generation of iPhone hardware.

The prototype phone was hidden in a case that disguised it to look like an iPhone 3GS, but once the case was uncovered it revealed a completely flat unibody device with a back that seems to be made of glass or ceramic or shiny plastic. The device also has metal edges rather than a bezel like on previous models. This looks closely resembles that on the unibody MacBooks, the iPad, and the iMac.

The specs of the new hardware include:

• 940x640 resolution display
• Front-facing video camera
• Camera flash
• Secondary mic for noise cancellation
• Micro SIM instead of regular SIM (like the iPad)
• Split buttons for volume
• Power, Mute, and Volume buttons are metallic
• 16% larger battery due to other components being shrunk in size

It’s also been reported that this iPhone prototype was running iPhone OS 4.0 before the official announcement earlier in the month.

The story of how Gizmodo acquired this prototype involves an Apple engineer who was field testing the device and some beers from a local bar near the Apple HQ in Cupertino. The phone got left behind, which then found it’s way to a person who had tried to find the owner, failed, and sold it to Gizmodo for $5,000, who then ran their exclusive story.

Many ethical questions can be raised from this case, which at this moment has just involved the Santa Clara County police department, who will determine if criminal charges will be filed against Gizmodo.