Apple worker leaves new iPhone in California bar

The first time the public usually gets a glimpse of a new product from Apple it is in the hands of Steve Jobs at a heavily choreographed launch event.

But the iPhone 4G has accidentally been unveiled by an Apple employee who left his test device in a bar.

Gray Powell, 27, is reported by technology blog Gizmodo to have left the phone on a bar stool before it fell into the hands of another drinker at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City, California and found its way to the blog.

Although all Apple products are heavily protected prior to launch, the company allows its software engineers to test products outside its laboratories.
The device came in a case designed to make it look like an ordinary iPhone 3GS. But the new handset has squarer edges and a flat back which appears to be made of a ceramic glass material which would enable better reception. It also has a better display screen, longer battery life and a camera in the front that could be used for video chat.

Apple is expected to launch the fourth generation handset this summer, possibly as early as June.

AOL’s Engadget blog first published photos of the device on Saturday, apparently after the finder approached them asking for money. On Monday, Gawker Media’s Gizmodo posted numerous photos and videos.

Gizmodo reportedly paid $5,000 (£3,254) for access to the device. It gave details about the phone, even taking it apart to show its inner workings, and how it came to be lost. It said that Mr Powell updated his Facebook page from the device, noting “I underestimated how good German beer is”, just before he left the bar, leaving the prototype behind.

Apple’s lawyers have sent Gizmodo a letter asking for it to be returned, which Gizmodo has said it is happy to do. Apple is famously controlling about its products and goes to extraordinary lengths with its suppliers and staff to ensure no details are leaked.

Apple, which will reveal its second quarter results later today, declined to comment.

The company has made a new version of its iPhone operating system available to outside software developers, and said the new software would make its way to handsets and the iPod Touch this summer. Analysts have said Apple could update the iPhone hardware at the same time.