Chinese Blog Leaks Next-Gen iPhone Details, Pictures

On Saturday, a Chinese-language blog UMPCFeaver posted pictures that it claims are the first-ever photos from a functioning next-generation iPhone. Those photos and the automatic translations available seem to point to features we already know about, so aside from the pics, there wasn't much new there.

Additionally, the post is gone as of now. Threats from Apple? Or what?

Still, the information and photographs were interesting, and since they have spread around the Internet, there's no taking them back now (much like drunken Facebook or MySpace photographs which you regret for the rest of your life). And as opposed to the automatic translation (which we all know leaves a lot to be desired), a 9to5Mac reader has provided a manual translation:

It's already 3am, and I totally cannot sleep. 'Cuz I just came home after meeting a friend from the U.S. This friend brought me something, and it's not H1N1. Instead, it is a item that will be under the world's spotlights -- a third generation iPhone prototype. This friend is a mysterious person. Even this 3rd Gen iPhone is also very mysterious. He said one can only take fuzzy snapshots of it, and not clear shots. 'Cuz it's still not officially released. So, in regards to the fuzzy photos below, I apologize!

Also, since this is a prototype, the styling of the phone absolutely cannot be disclosed. And there is also a high likelihood that the final product will differ in look. So, there will not be any photos here that compare the old and new iPhone in terms of appearance.

I'm not going to post the entire missive, or all the photos, but here are highlights, most of which were already leaked:

• Autofocus (via a blue square on the screen). The difference is readily visible above (L current iPhone vs. R next-gen iPhone)
  
• Built-in compass functionality
• Voice recording
• Stock applet displays in landscape mode, and more details are available
• MMS support
• CPU Activity functionality (the writer presumes this is because he has a prototype)

As I said, none of this is really new. But come on, with only about a week until Apple's WWDC, you have to expect rumors to come fast and furious. And with less than a week until the Palm Pre launches, that topic will be even more rumor-filled.