In the development process of Apple’s first iPhone, a rather strange iPhone prototype inspired by the iPod emerged. Revealed by Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod, this prototype shows Steve Jobs’ different approach from the current iPhone design.
Apple’s secret iPhone prototype: An iPod-inspired strange design
The prototype aimed to offer a design resembling an iPod. It included a “Click Wheel” like the one found on iPods and featured an additional part at the bottom that could be rotated for phone use.
This design’s distinctive feature was the use of mechanical control instead of a touchscreen interface. Interestingly, this prototype also had an internal camera and colors similar to the first iPhone launched later. The notable features of this peculiar device are:
A check for just a few dollars, signed by Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs, found buyers for thousands of dollars.
- Click wheel: The iconic control wheel found in iPods was also the main control mechanism in this iPhone prototype.
- Rotating mechanism: Users could rotate the bottom part of the device to switch to phone functions.
- Built-in camera: Like subsequent iPhone models, the prototype featured an internal camera.
Steve Jobs, the co-founder and then-CEO of Apple, initially supported the idea of an Apple phone based on the iPod concept. The “Click Wheel” was a distinguishing feature of the brand for Jobs. However, when it was decided that this concept wasn’t functional and wouldn’t be successful, the idea changed, leading to the modern touchscreen iPhone design.
This hidden iPhone prototype reveals Apple’s early thoughts on mobile device design and how these ideas evolved. The design of today’s iPhone represents a significant milestone in Apple’s journey of innovation.
The existence of this prototype has brought to light Apple’s continual pursuit of technological innovation and user experience design. What do you think about this design? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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