Keepin' it real fake, part XVIII: another day, another iPod shuffle rip

Watchful reader Fabio spotted this 512MB "Pocket Media" MP3 player going for $65 in Switzerland. We're not quite sure what they're trying to prove by messing with the controls, but the general intent of the design seems fairly clear.

[Thanks, Fabio]

[Joel Pan @ Jan 28th 2006 10:10AM]

Looks more like a Luxpro Super Tangent ripoff to me! Maybe Luxpro will get *their* lawyers out.

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2005/06/review_super_ta_1.html

[daniel @ Jan 28th 2006 11:20AM]

oh and apple have never stolen any ideas from anyone have they

[Max @ Jan 28th 2006 11:36AM]

Looks like a pregnancy test rip-off to me.

[elektrotekno.com @ Jan 28th 2006 11:37AM]

it's has good price and small design

[david @ Jan 28th 2006 12:44PM]

The strength of apple's ipods including the little gum stick thingy is integration. A 65. Ripoff that doesn't sync will soon be left in a drawer.

[Lance @ Jan 28th 2006 12:53PM]

Honestly, I like seeing these knock-offs. One day they will be up to par with the real device and apple will have to lower their crazy profit margins. Either way, f@#* apple, they are making users stupid! At least windows has problems, forcing you to try and solve them. Everyone should have to use a command-line system for the first 5 years of their lives before we even tell them about gui's

[Silver @ Jan 28th 2006 1:38PM]

"oh and apple have never stolen any ideas from anyone have they"

Yeah Daniel, so true. I think Apple copied the new iMac design from Dell, for instance.

..ppfftt..

[FreeiPodGuy @ Jan 28th 2006 2:27PM]

Lance wrote: "One day they will be up to par with the real device and apple will have to lower their crazy profit margins."

WRONG. The problem is not that they aren't as good as iPods (though they aren't); the problem is that they won't work with iTunes, and never will.

Lance continued: "Either way, f@#* apple, they are making users stupid! At least windows has problems, forcing you to try and solve them. Everyone should have to use a command-line system..."

Yeah, totally. I'm still ticked off that textile factories have made clothes so cheap and easy to get. They've made clothes wearers stupid! At least in the darkest jungles of the world, you still have to kill something to make clothes to wear. Everyone should have to do that.

[kinger @ Jan 28th 2006 2:29PM]

This is a huge rip off from apple. and the controls suck too

[Mike @ Jan 28th 2006 3:37PM]

FreeIpod wrote:
"Yeah, totally. I'm still ticked off that textile factories have made clothes so cheap and easy to get. They've made clothes wearers stupid! At least in the darkest jungles of the world, you still have to kill something to make clothes to wear. Everyone should have to do that."

Man what a childish thing to say, Boo Who, You know the thing is, Even if you have a MAC or a WINDOWS or even a Linux Computer, the Software Developers are tring to make it to were everyone can use a computer, and anyone who dosn't see that the future is going to be even more "Computerized" is a fool.

Now for a lesson for you ppl....
The IBM pc, came out, IBM built it with off the shelf parts, very expensive box, COMPAQ takes and buys one, reverse engineers it's BIOS, buys off the shelf parts and sells the first "knock off" of the IBM.
NOW in the future "present for you who can't keep up"
We all can buy $300 computers from a whole market place of vendors. The thing is, yeah Apple makes the VERY expensive Ipod, but given time a "Cheep" version will be made that will be just as good or better "Got to love Hong Knog" and Apples profit will drop and the Ipod will fall to a resonable $50 each. Just like Compaq helped to bring the cost of computers down, so will Knock-off MP3 players.

Of course I want a MP4 player... hehe

[Ise @ Jan 28th 2006 4:37PM]

Buying this cheap ripoff of a shuffle is probably a better deal than buying apple's b/c when you buy apple's you have to pay for the magical elves that apply that oh so pretty white paint

[henry @ Jan 28th 2006 4:58PM]

i agree with mike here.
though he desperately needs spell check...

as for me, i want a computer with a 4.0GHz processor and several gigs of RAM the size of casio calculator watches. (keyboard, y'know)

...i want it to have a color screen and wifi, too...with a perpetual energy source built in.

hey, if you're gonna dream, don't short yourself.
- Henry

[MoBile @ Jan 28th 2006 5:12PM]

iPod mp3 players are going to occupy all the sectors of the market from cheap mp3s to deluxe versions.

[Jeffsters @ Jan 28th 2006 7:50PM]

I don't care! I so seriously don't care!

[Deluxe @ Jan 28th 2006 8:56PM]

The iPod branding is a fad. Once the moronic fanboy public realises that their prices are rediculous, and hardware/software isnt as great as they think it is, it's market share will delcine.

10 years ago Apple occupied almost 50% of the personal computer market, and has since sunk to less than 4%, a lesson learned? My foot. They'll continue to make the same mistakes. Churning out the same thing over and over to an increasigly weary public.

As for these copies, they're for the most part garbage, but i say kudos in trying to cash in on this fad.

[The ZeroCorpse @ Jan 28th 2006 9:52PM]

Mike, the iPod *IS* an MP4 player. What do you think AAC is? It's Apple's filename for MPEG-4. AAC audio has always been MP4. The new iPod +Video plays MP4 video. So if you're looking for an MP4 player, look no further.

And, like the Apple music player competition, you just don't get it. The iPod hardware isn't the biggest selling point for the iPod. The ability to use an all-in-one, plug-n-play solution like iTunes is what makes the iPod such a good music device. Nobody else has figured out how to make an interface that is so intuitive and obvious, and so the iPod continues to rule the market. People buy the cheap alternatives first, and then switch to the iPod after the cheap company drops supporting their hardware, or after finding out that the cheap company didn't put much thought into the software side of things.

It's the software. Apple could make the ugliest iPod ever, and it would still sell because the software makes it an easy music solution for the consumer that doesn't want to waste time dragging, dropping, renaming, and organizing their music.

I'm surprised Apple-haters don't get this yet.

[Refik @ Jan 29th 2006 4:18AM]

Simple, clear and what's most important it's cheap :)

[ssleb @ Jan 29th 2006 7:11AM]

Well, this should give apple an idea of what they should do with their prices. If 65 bucks is enough for these guys, then is should be more than enough for the bigger corporation.

[Rus @ Jan 29th 2006 9:01AM]

This has to be a Luxpro super tangent ... and didn't LG also reference out the the Luxpro design?

And for naysayers about the iPod ... unlike Macs ... the iPod is NOT a computer - it is an entertainment device. Unlike Macs, it is a fashion statement. Unlike Macs, just about all MP3 players are called iPods. Unlike Macs, people are copying the design and making the Apple form factors.

Now, over the years ... all those things have applied to Macs at one time or another ... but the iPod has all this going with an 80% + marketshare in hardware AND software ... does that remind you of anything ... say ... like ... oh I don't know ... Microsoft/Windows marketshare.

Windows and the name is a part of pop culture ... it always will be ... such will hold true for the iPod.

[syadasti @ Jan 29th 2006 10:20AM]

Keepin' it real fake: Apple The Rip Off Supreme

GUI - Xerox's idea, not Apple's
64-bit PCs - Alpha PC was first in 1992, not Apple ten years later
MP3 Players - MPMan was first in 1997, not Apple in late 2001
MP3 broadcasting - Nullsoft in 1998, not Apple in 2004
HDD MP3 - Remote Solutions was first in late 1999, not Apple in late 2001
Mini HDD MP3 - Creative, iRiver, Rio all had products on the market at least 6 months before the iPod Mini was announced
Cellphones with MP3 Players - been out for a few years, not an Apple first either
Konfabulator - Konfabulator in 2003, not Apple Widgets in 2005
Lets not forget when they added Watson-like functionality to Sherlock - good steal!

Apple, steal different

Apple steals ideas just like any other company only their marketing is more convincing...

[rai @ Jan 29th 2006 10:43AM]

I like this rip-off idea. Maybe the rip-off will last longer than 3 months. Currently on my 4th iPod within a year.

Also, there is no such thing as an Apple Genius. The words "customer service" do not exist in their vocabulary.

[narco @ Jan 29th 2006 1:20PM]

Politics, religion, banning cigarettes in public places and the Mac vs. PC argument: all arguments that usually end with "let's agree to disagree."

Fishes,
narco.

[Brendan @ Jan 29th 2006 4:35PM]

razor, obviously they run many stories, and by looking at the amount of responces on the subject, they should probably run more;)

[illingist trooper @ Jan 29th 2006 5:31PM]

Apple "Churning out the same thing over and over to an increasigly weary public," Deluxe?

You make NO sense - you type it, but it's not true. Apple is constantly updating their products - I don't know what else you expect a portable music player to do, but Apple has added it. Probably with more to come. New Intel core-duo processors on their computers? Pretty big update, guy.

And an 'increasingy weary public' seems to be a more appropriate thing to type about people who are starting to get INTO Apple, not weary of it.

You, my friend, are simply a hater. We can't take you seriously.

Same for you syadasti, you type in a bunch of dates and technological advances, but as a long-time follower of Apple, I can't actually recall Apple stating they did those things first - you typing numbers isn't enough to convince me about what you are trying to prove. How about some links showing where you derived Apple said they invented that stuff? And as for Xerox's GUI research, Apple refined it and brought it to the market.

Alpha PC... Did you actually type that? Reaching for straws there. Did you actually use any other MP3 player before the iPod? No? They ALL SUCKED. 'First' is not always better, syadasti. Sometimes ideas get advanced by others. Apple refined much of that technology you listed to be USABLE, and that is why Apple gets such respect from anyone who isn't HATING for the sake of HATING. Stick to Windows, the 'innovator.' I hope you enjoy the new look of Vista. It feels like OSX, without some of the features.

I can't understand why people get SO MAD at Apple and people who use Apple products. Stewing for no reason and wasting soooo much time. It's really sort of funny. I get caught up in it too.

[syadasti @ Jan 29th 2006 7:13PM]

Just telling it like it is, I own and support both platforms.

Apple claimed to have the first 64-bit PC which was invalidated by the BBB and several other trade assocations. Now I'll rip apart that claim in gory detail.

This is reality...

Not the first 64-bit PC BY FAR

First 64-bit PC - 1992
"The DECpc 150/AXP was the first 'Alpha PC' produced by Digital. The idea behind them was to make an Alpha system with a PC-like peripheral environment, thereby allowing to use as much cheap PC hardware as possible. DEC's primary intent was to run Windows NT, and this machine was sold with a preinstalled NT 3.1 via Vobis, Germany's largest computer seller. It was a great flop, given that the NT 3.1 this machine was sold with was the first Alpha version of NT that still consisted mostly of i386 code, so the processor spent most of the time emulating an Intel CPU. Selling it with only 16 Mbytes of RAM didn't make the situation better... ":
http://john.ccac.rwth-aachen.de:8000/alf/axp150/

First Mainstream 64-bit CPU Value/Mainstream Computers-
Alpha Windows NT Boxes (ran NT with the FX!32) - started at under $2K released in 1997 - Polywell was one of the three main vendors with an offering - failed to catch on cause it was slower emulating 32-bit x86 programs than running them on the real thing again (duh!).

After that there was AMD 64-bit Opteron PC announced April 2003. June 2003 BOXX Technologies shipped it before the G5 was even announced. It has an Opteron 244 in it.

First 64-bit Notebook - Byte November 1997 / What's New / Portable Sun Workstations
The UltraBook ($11,995), from RDI Computer, offers Unix workstation performance in a portable notebook.

First 64-bit Mainstream Notebook:
Posted: 24th Sep 2003, 02:43 AM
As AMD [officially] launches its Athlon 64 processor today, one of its partners will be showing off what it claims is the world’s first 64-bit laptop using the new chip.

Also Apple (Jobs like to knock Rio at Macworld, etc) and the press have claimed some DAPs are iPod knock-offs when you can't be a knock-off of a product which is already a knock-off itself (the iPod that is).

Don't think the mac is less vulnerable simple cause of less virus' either, you just need one exploit...

http://secunia.com/product/96/

If you didn't patch OSX, you could have up to KNOWN 63 holes in it. If you have it all patched up, there are still 2 unpatched holes in it and definately are other unreported ones too.

PCs are the MUCH bigger target, so there are about twice as many known security faults:

http://secunia.com/product/22/

Newer PCs (ie Athlon 64 and Intel P4/D cores with 64-bit extensions) have hardware based buffer overflow protection which covers a great deal of these exploits. Apple won't have this feature until July at the earliest with the Intel Conroe Core.

Apple's OS had best ease of use until OSX came out - somethings don't "just work" as claimed. What I've personally had to do to make things right on systems I supported:

Have to use CUPS and terminal to get print sharing to work right with gimp (Apple included) beta freeware non-native drivers (lower quality print experience - not all features are supported), turn off the finder via scripts to delete hidden files the "simple" uninstall by dragging to the trash didn't delete (or that stuffit expanded to hidden files - in windows you can unhide files with a simple menu option), or edit lots of firewall settings to get iChat to work when AIM/MSN/Yahoo all work without any hassle on the same consumer firewall. Thats not user friendly for the average user. I like the OS, but its not a magic bullet.

Reality of other flaws that keep the Apple products from "just works experience":

Applications that break from service pack to service pack (ie Panther to Tiger).

Apple is infamous for first/second/third generation flaws in their products (I know PCs aren't immune either) - G4/G5 sound defect issue, exploding powerbooks, uniformity on Cinema displays, bad battery system in ibook, cube lexan flaws, soft iPod material scratching too easily, ipod battery flaws, easy paint chipping off the "titanium" PowerBooks, bad wireless reception, iBook hinge problems, RAM slot failures (and aftermarket RAM going bad after software updates), and iBook keyboard issues and magnetic latch problems. In 12/03 MacWorld reported that 3 of their 6 first-gen PowerBooks had to be returned - 50% were defective - just works, eh?

http://www.macworld.com/2003/12/reviews/15inchpowerbookg4s/

Because of this almost all keen Mac users are sure to buy Applecare too cause something typically goes wrong and the proprietary parts cost a lot more.

Think different, THINK AGAIN! Its just another brand of PC with plus and minuses like any other.

[Anders Johansson @ Jan 30th 2006 5:05AM]

illingist trooper:
Ok, Apple made something useable...
Now someone made something affordable...
People have different preferences... (not saying that yours are wrong btw)

Personally I think it is great that Apple makes thing useable, and now it seems they are going a bit more mainstream with the switch in processors (though I have a slight feeling that they got pushed into this by Intel, it can't be affordable to keep developing 2 branches. I guess Intel wants to focus?).

Maybe this will mean that we one day can have a choice of at least 2 operating systems and still have all the applications available (just dreaming...).

[Ed Linus @ Jan 30th 2006 6:18AM]

Okay people. I love Apple stuff... they start off with style. They keep it looking good...

As far as I'm concerned that's pretty much where it ends these days. Quality was never in question with Apple products before. I used to dream of owning a Mac when I was a kid and just about flipped the first time I saw one of their laptops. Being conditioned by the "Generic" PC with its two button mouse and stuff did act like a deterrent, but the main one was the price.

Now the prices are pretty fair (in the computer dept), but I don't want one any more. I've outgrown the desire to own one more because of the iPod. I've got quite a few friends with different types (iPod photo, Mini, Nano, Video... blah...). out of around 10, 6 have given problems. Problems ranging from crashing/hanging, line through the screen, headphones jarring, battery life non-existant... if it stopped with just the device it'd be bad enough, but there's manufacturers out there TRYING to kill the iPod.

My roomie has a Bose speaker thingy for his and even THAT's defective (don't touch the speaker cover when it's plugged in unless you're well insulated). I thought it'd be a one off screw up with Bose (another brand I've lost a lot of respect for), but found another similar Bose speaker system with the same problem.

The Apple Customer Service seemed friendly enough (the Mac Evangelist I found sounded quite knowledgeable and helpful), but when she checked the serial number on the iPod with defective headphones on their online system, it said something to the effect of "this may not be an original iPod or may be out of warranty" I'm assuming the warrany's for at least one year (it's supposed to be according to the card with the iPod) and it was bought at an Apple centre in the US 8 months ago.

Who said their support software was the reason to buy this thing? How about the Video? You need to buy a converter to get your own videos playing on this machine - they don't supply the software to do that with the device.

Steve Jobs never fails to impress. He's passed that on to Apple, so most of the stuff they come up with may not be cutting edge technology, but it always looks and sounds good; a head and shoulders above the rest - erm unless the screen has a line through it or the headphones are jarring or the...

It's time to say (never thought I'd get the opportunity before) Apple, pick up your quality and I'll pick up your products.

One last thing. I got an MP3 player a little smaller than the shuffle in 2003. Some unknown company. It's got FM, voice recorder, radio recorder, SD card reader/writer, 128MB onboard and plugs directly into a standard USB port. It's about half the size of the shuffle and runs on a standard AAA cell (I use rechargables - they last 14 hours). MP3 player/handles WMA and upgradeable firmware and you can plug in an external source and record that as well... has a display... blah... when I bought it, it costed a little below half the current price of a shuffle (2 and a bit years later). I'll take the rest any day.

[Wing @ Jan 30th 2006 6:24AM]

It was the fact that IBM didn't patent the PC design that the reverse engineering of the BIOS meant anything. If IBM had patented the PC design, the $300 pc would not exist.

While copying and widespread competition makes things cheaper,it doesn't necessarily mean better. Have yet to see a $300 pc I would actually want to own.

[Simon @ Jan 30th 2006 8:28AM]

Who really cares, besides the Apple share holders, that there is another rip off of a product that rips off the consumer? I mean come on! - �70 for a device that probably cost no more than �10 to produce.

I think it is fair for these other companies to join the
customer rip-off brigade. And at the same time rip off the company that started it!

Go low-tech Hi-Fi!

[James @ Jan 30th 2006 11:30AM]

This has got to be one of the most interesting subjects that I've ever seen debated online. Wait, no... it's not.

It's an MP3 player that looks like a Shuffle. Big damn deal. Get a hobby, all of you.

[Chasqui @ Jan 30th 2006 12:09PM]

Its a Luxpro all the way. I managed to get my hands on a luxpro (with the oled screen) and can say that the pictured device and mine are made by the same people. It works great, and adds features (screen, AM/FM radio) that the shuffle doen't have. Yes, its a design rip-off, but it is also a better product.

[WebCester @ Jan 30th 2006 12:59PM]

"Who said their support software was the reason to buy this thing? How about the Video? You need to buy a converter to get your own videos playing on this machine - they don't supply the software to do that with the device." -Ed Linus

They fixed that with the latest iTunes update. Anyway, I'm a long time Mac user, but that doesn't mean I have to defend the iPod. I'm happy with mine (a mini), but I know lots of people who have had problems with theirs.

I've owned other mp3 players, and I'll have to agree with The ZeroCorpse; It's all in the software. Hassling a 50+gig music library into working nicely with a 4gig player is no small task, but iTunes makes it a lot better than drag&drop.

[D W @ Jan 30th 2006 5:38PM]

"Now for a lesson for you ppl....
The IBM pc, came out, IBM built it with off the shelf parts, very expensive box, COMPAQ takes and buys one, reverse engineers it's BIOS, buys off the shelf parts and sells the first "knock off" of the IBM."

Really? Cos' back in 1988 I sat in front of one of those Compaqs/IBM's and I don't recall any ability to buy "off the shelf parts" except maybe a new 300 baud Hayes modem card that took up 2 slots! More like IT repair cost almost as much as a new one (i.e. $8000). You learn something new everyday - Not.

Oh thats right, most of the Apple/iPod Hate Society above have a combined 10 years real world experience in the IT world, and all they remember is having to endure MacOS 8 in Elementary school. Whatever.

[J?n @ Jan 31st 2006 4:06AM]

@FreeiPodGuy: Not working with iTunes is a feature in my book. I will not use software which installes TWO system services without even asking.

[Rahul Fernandes @ Mar 5th 2006 1:23PM]

Apple Ipod is the best. No doubt about it.
The cheaper replicas are just here for the moment.
You can try the fakes to find the difference.

[m13a8 @ Jun 26th 2006 5:44PM]

As far as i'm concerned, macs are only good for people new to computers looking for something easy to use, or video editing

[samindalnac @ Jun 27th 2006 8:58PM]

to m13a8,

I spend all day in an all Solaris/AIX environment. take a guess at what I use once I get home, and I don't edit video.

[Ipod supporter @ Feb 5th 2008 6:17AM]

Why are they making fake ipods if no one will buy except dumb people? The makers of fake ipods should be in prison because there against the fuckin rules and the buttons sucks, this thing is piece of junk!!!! Asshole(a message to whoever made this fake ipod)

[secret @ Feb 5th 2008 6:32AM]

YOUR MOLES BIG!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3D LEEEEEEEEEEEE. SCOTTTTTTTTTT NAILON!!!!! CHA!