There's a pretty good chance someone just became a former Apple employee today after photos of the new iPhone surfaced.

Gadget blog Gizmodo says that it got the prototype handset from a bar in Redwood City, where the device was found more than a week ago. The site wasn't able to actually get past the boot screen, so hardware specs couldn't be confirmed.

Still, going from what they could figure out some interesting details were uncovered.

The most noticeable change is a case redesign. The old rounded back has been replaced with a flat, rectangular casing. The volume buttons have been redesigned and the SIM slot is said to have been moved to the side of the case. The aluminum band and touchscreen design remain, though Gizmodo believes that the screen resolution will be higher.

Users clamoring for a front-facing camera will not be disappointed, as the iPhone looks to sport a camera on both sides of the phone. The battery is also said to be slightly larger, indicating a longer life.

Could be interesting to see how Apple handles this in the coming weeks. The company has already reportedly reserved space in San Francisco for late June, and is also reportedly very interested in getting its lost prototype back. Whoever found and handed the device over to a news blog might be in Apple's legal crosshairs, and the Apple employee that lost it is most certainly going to encounter the wrath of Jobs.

19 Apr 2010