We reveal regularly prototypes developed internally by Apple, sometimes more than 10 or 20 years after the company worked on it. And without anyone knowing about their existence, except for a few exceptions, mostly former Apple employees.
That’s the case today thanks to the Apple Demo YouTube channel that just received a new Apple device! This is the third generation iPod, which was never released by Apple.
The iPod serves as a base for listening to music, but as far as this prototype is concerned, one could almost believe that it is a hybrid that could also take the title of retro console. Furthermore, the cameraman who tested it clearly states that it bears the name DVT which is engraved on the back of the device. DTV stands for: Design Validation Testing, this indicates a middle stage of development at Apple.
Apple’s version of Tetris
At first the iPod didn’t work, but after some tinkering the Apple Demo was able to fix it. The device runs on a prototype version of iPodOS 2.0, and the cameraman was surprised to find several games there, including an Apple-made Tetris clone. The game is called Stacker, and it is controlled using the iPod wheel:
During the trial, the Apple Demo revealed other games, including Block0 and Klondike. The first is a puzzle where players must use strategy and think quickly to increase their score. As for Klondike, it is a version of a classic card game, like Solitaire.
Why didn’t Apple market it? A former Apple employee answers
Apple Demo wanted to know why this game-carrying iPod 3 prototype wasn’t brought to market. The YouTube channel contacted former vice president of Apple’s iPod division, Tony Fadell. Here is his answer:
because we added games with newer software version
Apple never made Stacker available, but years after the release of the iPod 3, Apple released a real licensed version of Tetris on its iTunes platform.
You can find out other surprising iPod prototypes here.
Author: Keleops AG