New iPhone To Include Glowing Apple Logo? The Russians Have Already Done It

By Leander Kahney (10:47 pm, May 19 2009)

iphone_glow

Rumors that the new iPhone will feature a glowing Apple logo on the back of the handset have generally been met with derision. The idea that Apple’s designer’s would waste precious battery life with a glowing logo is so abhorrent, many have used it to dismiss the rumors altogether.

But a group of Russian hackers in August last year hacked an iPhone to make the logo glow. The hack — as seen in the video below — involved a Dremel tool and about $300 in parts, according to reports.

And it had no effect on the battery life whatsoever, the Ruskies said.

But why would Apple add a frivolous glowing logo?

To make the Apple logo more visible, of course. Just like glowing lighthouse on the lid of a MacBook, or the iPod’s white headphones, Apple is not shy of using us to advertise its wares.

9 comments »

About the author

Leander Kahney is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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Posted in Apple, Hardware, iPhone, News, Rumors |

nate
-> “But why would Apple add a frivolous glowing logo?”
agreed. i don’t see this happening.
Steve Chambers
If they were clever they would incorporate it to be the flash for the camera also!
Sam
Over a year old, proven fake but it still looks so cool and makes me smile :)
Marc M
This has to be fake…there’s a Russian actually smiling.
Jon
The laptops use the built-in illuminated screen to light up the logo.
Fin Devious
Thats not a glow, it’s a search light.
http://cowdogdesign.com Darrell Williams
it would be cool if they could make that an effective flash for the camera. In the wrong place and probably to strong but would be cool
Constable Odo
I’m fairly certain that the iPhone will be used as a mobile lighthouse for ships lost at sea. There should be an app for that. That is one powerful Apple beam. They might even start to use the iPhone in Gotham City. Pointing that iPhone up to the sky will project an Apple on the clouds. It might confuse Batman, though.
http://www.massagebyblair.com Blair in West HollyWeird
The glowing apple could also be a flash or light for the camera so you can get some shots in low light. It would only work with the camera.
That is my thoughts on the matter.