How rare a given prototype is depends greatly on the
device and the era. Early models at times can be easier to
find than later models. This is because when Steve Jobs
returned to Apple in 1997, the company tightened security
on devices, often collecting them after a project and labeling
the machines with a code that traced back to a particular
employee.
In 2017, the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone, Plain
disclosed for the first time that he had two rare iPhone pro-
totypes that probably passed through the hands of Apple
execs, including Tony Fadell, Scott Forstall, and Steve Jobs.
These two prototypes provide a unique glimpse into
the iPhone’s development. The so-called P-series prototypes
use a touch interface called Acorn OS. One of the device’s
interfaces has a set of crude icons, while the other shows a
scroll wheel similar to that of the iPod, which was dominant
at the time.
Jobs formed two teams and pitted them against each
other to come up with a touch-driven operating system
for a phone. Fadell, the chief designer of the iPod, headed
one team, while Forstall was in charge of the team with the
rough-looking icons.
03.002.02
Hap Plain at home with some of the devices
in his collection. PHOTO: Hap Plain
03.002.01
This Macintosh SE prototype led to Plain’s
expensive obsession. PHOTO: Hap Plain
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