Apple's courtroom brawls over patents may be an annoyance for the public at large as much as they are the defendants, but they've had one very interesting side effect: We get to see photos and sketches of what our favorite products could have looked like.
The Verge has opened a veritable treasure chest of discarded Apple prototypes for the iPhone and iPad, including early designs for the smartphone inspired by not only the original iPod but also Sony's classic designs.
The images come just a few days ahead of the big Apple v. Samsung trial, where the court made them publicly available for the first time. Revelations from the images released include Apple toying with the idea of a kickstand for the original iPad, including what appears to be a model with a 16:9 screen.
On the iPhone front, the prototypes reveal a bizarre-looking "eight-sided iPhone with diagonal corners" as well as a prototype labeled N90, which many believe was the original code name for the iPhone 4. While the glass and metal design is reminiscent of that handset, the prototype pictured features a much smaller display.
Perhaps the most unique images are those of an iPhone design dated 2006, which then iPod boss Tony Fadell commissioned from industrial designer Shin Nishibori. Inspired by Sony, some of the renders even include the Japanese company's name as well as a "Jony" variation, presumably a nod to Apple designer Jonathan Ive.
All in all, it's a fascinating look at what might have been that we normally don't get to see from such a secretive company.
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(Image courtesy of The Verge)
