Keepin' it real fake, part XVII: Thanko goes metrosexual

It's not just market leaders who get their product designs ripped off. Check out the T-Pod neo (yes, that really is its name) from Thanko, and you'll see that in addition to a clear debt to the iPod nano, the player bears an even more obvious resemblance to a less well-known audio player, MPIO's HD400, aka "the Metro Sexual." As with most knockoffs, the similarities are only skin deep; while the MPIO (above right) has an 8GB hard drive, the T-Pod (left) is a 1GB flash-based player. Whether any metrosexuals will be fooled by the design and pick up the wrong player remains to be seen.

[Via Akihabara News]

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2006 2:05PM]

Did anybody notice that the gift wrapping option is translated as "Lapping for present"? Makes me want to visit Engrish.com...

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 27th 2006 8:04PM]

This is stupid. It looks nothing like the iPod nano.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 28th 2006 9:22PM]

Marcus you freakin gay fuck. Nothin like the ipod? well it has the same design, have you ever even seen an ipod before?

[Revrant Posted Jan 28th 2006 9:27PM]

You know the greatest thing about the knockoffs? Many of them are actually better than the iPods they've "ripped off", AND cheaper, not just great, also hilarious. Cheap bottom-feeding companies can crank out a better player in some instances...for...less money.