The ABOSS i-Pocket says, "Apple, please sue us!"

Damn, this one looks like even more of an iPod mini knockoff than the Micromaxx MM42452. Of course, ABOSS couldn't stop at ripping off the iPod mini, the i-Pocket even ganks a few design bits from the 3G iPod in the form of those four buttons across the front. It was pretty easy to figure out the inspiration for the i-Pocket, but we can't figure out exactly how much onboard storage it has. The facsimile does actually improve on the iPod mini in a couple of small ways—it has an OLED screen and a built-in SD/MMC/Memory Stick memory card slot—but the best part is that it even comes in the same five colors as the iPod (make sure you click to see the rest of the pics).

[Thanks, Michael]

[rocafellaice @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Does anyone grasp the concept of "originality" anymore?

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I'd love to hear the defense on this one. "But the OS is different!" Whatever.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Sure, there are legal issues surrounding this design. But personally, if it could perform like the iPod Mini and has comparable storage for cheaper, I would buy it.

When it comes to features and performance, I don't really care if it looks just like Apple's -- as long as it doesn't have Apple's stupid prices.

[Sheniferous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

from what i can read, it doesn't look like it has any onboard memory or hard drive storage. it's just a flash card based mp3 player. the oled is 4 color, has 8 menu languages, 6 eq presets, built in audio recorder... and minimum order of 1000 units required for dealers to export.

[Uncle Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Yes, please. Sue them, Apple.

[Mashmashan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Heck,
they even copied the Archos logo for the company's name.... LOL

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

It's a ripoff of a slick product.. and..yet.. it's butt-ugly..

Nice goin iBoss--er ABOSS.. You're not gonna get to meet Steve Jobs though.. so it was a wasted effort.. they're sending over some Apple Interns to set fire to your HQ...

[One Little Indian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I don't know if this product actually has broken any patent/copyright laws. It may look the same, but as long as each component is a little different, i dont think apple can do anything.

Besides, this company looks shady as fcuk. Probably operating from some shady Taiwanese basement.

[MaxSMoke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I see somebody is selling these on Ebay, and from what I gather, it doesn't HAVE a Hard drive. That SD card slot is all you get. It doesn't even come with a card. Burn!

BTW, Still hate the Ipod. :p

[MaxSMoke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I see somebody is selling these on Ebay, and from what I gather, it doesn't HAVE a Hard drive. That SD card slot is all you get. It doesn't even come with a card. Burn!

BTW, Still hate the Ipod. :p

[t68m @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Let me try to translate what is seen on the webpage:

iPocket -- multi-format flash card reader

Superb sound quality, satisfy your audio requirement.
* 4 colour OLED screen, display clear, no-delay info
* only device that supports SD/MMC/MS Card, the majority (popular) flash card format
* Support USB2.0 (most other similar product on market supports USB1.1)
* Preset 6 equaliser setting: Normal/ Bass/ Pop/ Rock/ Classic/ Jazz
* Supports upto 8 languages, depends on the exported to countries
* Five different colours: Gold, Blue, Pink, Green and Silver
* Minimum order 1000 unit, transact at Hong Kong.

[Austin Vaughan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

couple more details dug up on a yahoo auctions

http://www.dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.815

[Arru @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Mmm...improve...
they even got rid of that hard-to-figure-out scroll wheel (replaced with buttons looking just as nice though) and that hard drive pack with fragile moving parts. An get this: nearly twice the number of buttons!

As for the suit, it will fail on basis that the company is nowhere to be found rather than dissimilarities. Apple has sued and won over products less faithfully ripped off. (anyone remember the ePC bubble iMac copycat back in '99?)

[Wilder @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

It amazes me that some of you bitch about price when talking about Apple, and say you'll get one of these knock-offs or a cheaper player with similar features.

The reason the iPod is so popular is not looks, not colors, not even all the accessories (although all are nice bonuses). The iPod does well because it works without needing to jump through hoops. You buy it. You plug it in. iTunes transfers your music. You unplug and go.

No other player manufacturer has figured out that iTunes is the key to the iPod's success. The ability to sync-up without having to do anything is what makes it for us. Convenience.

Other players require you to treat it like a hard drive and manually copy files from point A to point B, and then unmount the device. Some music programs do it better than others, but if you're paying for a good jukebox program's full version (MusicMatch, Media Jukebox, etc.) that can make the process easier, then YOU'RE ADDING TO THE PRICE OF YOUR CHEAP-O PLAYER!!!

The iPod comes with iTunes. iTunes itself is full-featured, does everything you'd need it to with a minimum of fiddling around, and it's a solid program rather than something cobbled together in some dude's basement. iTunes is free to update, too. Programs like Media Jukebox/Media Center and MusicMatch require you to pay them again when they go through a major update. (It happened to me with all three of those programs, actually!)

I can't believe how many people think that it was worth saving $20 for them to drag-and-drop all their music, spending 15-20 minutes getting their player loaded up before going out. With the iPod, it's all there. New music in iTunes is automatically passed into the player. With the Shuffle it's automated, too. No conversions, and smart playlists let you tailor your music selection to a particular taste.

It's that convenience and ease-of-use that makes an iPod worth the extra money. It's reliable and does the job without a fuss. Until others grasp the gestalt between software and hardware, they're just marketing fancy hard drives that require more effort than an iPod, and they'll never get the market.

[Michelle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I bought one of these on eBay because I didn't want to pay for the higher priced iPod. I'll just have to see if this lives up to the iPod standard.