Looking like a black/grey version of the white handset Google’s Sergey Brin demonstrated in the Android SDK launch video, a Gizmodo reader sent in this exclusive photo of a prototype gPhone in the wild.  While the design itself is relatively uninspiring (but, assuming it’s a product of HTC, will likely be built well) what’s particularly interesting is the source’s feedback on performance and the platform’s stability.

Apparently, despite being several generations away from any sort of commercial release, the device indicates Google’s claims that it would be both stable and speedy were true:

“Even in early form, it’s light and fast, much faster than the desktop emulator at times. And as a longtime programmer, he thinks it’s a lot more put together than Window Mobile 5 on the back side of things” Gizmodo

Many commentors are weighing in with critique about the physical design and its similarity to WM6-powered devices; of course, neither HTC are unlikely to put their more eye-catching concepts out in the wild since they would be wary of undermining their eventual hardware launch.  I wouldn’t make any real judgements based on this prototype, since what’s undoubtedly under examination is the software environment running on the internal hardware, rather than anything else. 

[via PhoneMag]