iPhone 4G Prototype: Investigate or Return It?

I know the Certifiable blog veers into uncertifiable territory -- quite often -- and this post is no different: I was intrigued by the pictures, real or faked, of the iPhone 4G prototype on the Engadget and Gizmodo sites. It looked oddly squarish and -- dare I admit? -- Zune-like. So, the issues at debate with this "lost iPhone 4G prototype" are:

• Are the images real or fake?
• If real, how close does the proto resemble what's coming in the new version?

That might be it, except for the fact that the device was believed to have been forgotten or lost at a bar or some other place. And thus, it begs the question, in this case, whether the finder should have tried to locate the owner rather than keeping the prototype, taking pics of it, then taking it apart to discern its contents. Like a lost wallet or cell phone, I'd be prone to return it; then again, I'm what you would call your common fool. (If this proto is real, it's likely the person safeguarding the device is either fired or soon will be.)

Is Engadget and/or Gizmodo right to keep the device and take it apart, or should they have returned it to its rightful -- and forgetful -- owner? Or am I missing something here? Feedback to this common fool at [email protected].

Posted by Michael Domingo on 04/19/2010 at 11:59 AM