Apple reveals 'Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony

The previous batch of sketches revealed during Apple v Samsung suggested the iPhone may have actually borrowed ideas from Sony, but a new filing goes back even further into history to show that's not the case. The Verge spotted that the latest raft of paperwork includes a "Purple" prototype [above left] that was made around August 2005 and bears several hallmarks of the iPhone that finally appeared. The Sony-styled prototypes came later, and were apparently just an "enjoyable side project." AllThingsD has also drawn together around 100 prototypes from Apple's deposition, which offers some interesting insights into what the iPhone could have looked like.
The Verge

Apple reveals 'Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony -- Engadget

This purple prototype really does not matter in this case. The issue is not just whether Apple really got the design from Sony. It is about whether the phone designs used now would eventually have came about without Apple in the first place.

Samsung claims that touch phones can only be made in a way that would resemble an Iphone. In other words being rectangular in shape. If Sony designed a phone rectangular in shape before the Iphone was released, then Samsung's claims are true. Whether Apple had a hidden prototype design does not matter. Sony did not have access to those designs. If Sony still came to the conclusion of building a rectangular shaped phone with a touch screen without seeing such phone from Apple, it proves Samsung's claim.

I'm pretty sure the issue of the rectangular shape isnt going to prove anything. A rectangular shape? you think thats the crux of this case???? NO

That is the main design patent point. There are other patents in questions.