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

10:47 pm, May 19th, 2009, Leander Kahney

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.

Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, Hardware, News, Rumors, iPhone | Comment on this article

About the author

Leander Kahney

Leander Kahney is senior editor of Cult of Mac, editor of two books about technology culture, Cult of Mac and Cult of iPod, and has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Observer in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

Email the author | Read more posts by Leander Kahney.

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14 comments

    -> “But why would Apple add a frivolous glowing logo?”

    agreed. i don’t see this happening.

    nate, on May 20th, 2009 at 12:10 am

    If they were clever they would incorporate it to be the flash for the camera also!

    Steve Chambers, on May 20th, 2009 at 2:30 am

    Over a year old, proven fake but it still looks so cool and makes me smile :)

    Sam, on May 20th, 2009 at 3:21 am

    This has to be fake…there’s a Russian actually smiling.

    Marc M, on May 20th, 2009 at 7:58 am

    The laptops use the built-in illuminated screen to light up the logo.

    Jon, on May 20th, 2009 at 9:06 am

    Thats not a glow, it’s a search light.

    Fin Devious, on May 20th, 2009 at 9:46 am

    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

    Darrell Williams, on May 20th, 2009 at 10:38 am

    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.

    Constable Odo, on May 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    [...] | Cult of Mac Enviar [...]

    iPhone con manzana iluminada, on May 21st, 2009 at 4:07 am

    [...] via Cult of Mac [...]

    The How-To Blog » Illuminated Apple logo iPhone case mod, on May 21st, 2009 at 7:51 am

    [...] Read more here [...]

    New iPhone To Include Glowing Apple Logo? The Russians Have … | MostOfMyMac.com, on May 22nd, 2009 at 9:02 am

    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.

    Blair in West HollyWeird, on May 25th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    [...] WWDC keynote, or the iPhones could not be available Monday — and only announced Monday, they could include a glowing Apple logo — sure another battery life waster!, the camera may be beefed up to 3.2 megapixels (if this [...]

    mblapps » Blog Archive » New iPhones, extra OS 3.0 features for WWDC?, on June 7th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    [...] externals of the new iPhone turned out to be false, no matte backing, no OLED screen, no lit up Apple logo, all just [...]

    The iPhone 3GS Does Not Disappoint | Tech N’ Marketing, on June 10th, 2009 at 11:06 pm