Many of us know The Sharper Image best as a purveyor of massaging lounge chairs (which makes their stores a must-stop location in the mall), a chronic pusher of
ozone generators, and as a perennial favorite in SkyMall catalogs as we bide our time on the redeye. What we
don't know The Sharper Image for, though, is its broad selection of no-name phones procured from Chinese manufacturers. We just happened to be flipping through TSI's latest catalog today and came across these four little gems, three with "The Sharper Image" proudly emblazoned across their faces. The pack includes a touchscreen equipped
Chocolate knockoff (very 2006, but still quite strapping), a branded version of the
AMOI N810 Windows Mobile 6 Professional device, a black slider that looks like death incarnated, and an ultra-generic silver clamshell that looks straight out of the early part of this decade. The good news is that they're all unlocked and range from a very reasonable $169.95 to $499.95; the bad news, however, is that you may have to keep your thumb over the TSI logo to keep the public mockery to a minimum.
Read - Sharper Image 101TSI
Read - Sharper Image 008TSI
Read - Sharper Image 007TSI
Read - Sharper Image 005TSI
posted Dec 30th 2007 6:27PM
they all look horrible...haha
Instead of vibrating, the phone will start massaging your leg while its in your pocket.
It's not my leg that needs "messaging"!
will any of these work with verizon?
Whats funny is TSI says you can, but since they are all GSM the answer is of course No. (someone should really put up a scan of the overall description page for a laugh.)
who at Sharper Image made this deal? Those are some ugly, over priced crap phones - I feel sorry for anyone who buys one.
Its fine to make money but I think its going a little too far when companies like Sharper Image sell garbage phones they managed to buy in bulk from China to unsuspecting middle aged technophobes that think they are getting a good product for the ridiculous asking price.
So umm... do these at-least clean the air when next to your ear?
I wish you hadn't linked to that article about the air purifiers. They have new guards built in that release oxygen instead of ozone. The article makes it seem like they haven't changed. =/
so you can get craptacular phones for too much money, to use on some of the crappiest of service providers in the states? bravo! just took a gander at the slider one and it only supports 1g sd cards
I was just getting ready to say that. Google RAZR V2 Luxury Edition. THAT'S an outrageously expensive phone.
This is old news, just check their early november catalog.
holy ass,
wow, these phones look nasty as f**k
i like the comment that says that instead of vibrating, they'll massage your leg. lol
thats a good one :D
whats with the extra space
th at s a goo d qu e s t io n .
He's obviously just thinking aloud
They should change their name to Sharper Fail and get it over with.
Sharper Image is now owned by its creditors and some forgettable investment company. The founder, Richard Thailheimer was kicked out earlier this year. They don't have a clue about consumer electronics. These phones are junk like their iPod accessories with their blinking colored LEDs. They seem to be attracted to buying the crap that's on sale in the bazaars in Shenzhen and think their customers can't tell. I suggest they wander into an Apple store or phone store to see what really sells. Too bad, because Sharper Image used to introduce us to some of the latest technologies first.
yes yes yes, they are all fuck ugly and expensive, but i think a third party selling unlocked phones is pretty badass. Now all we need are some quality phones from a less laughable merchant.
Actually Dell's been selling unlocked phones for a while.
That's cool, i think i'm free from blame for not checkin out the dell catalogue.
It would look better(maybe)if the name wasnt so long
I'm not going to write these off just yet. The way the service providers cripple thier phones, these may actually be worth checking out. When do we get reviews for them?
YAY!! VGA cameras on marginal phones!
Unless those devices double as massagers (I'm not going to even get into that one) or air purifiers:
TSI, seriously, you phail big time.
Here's a piece of excellent advice to anyone who's thinking of buying a Sharper Image branded or made item:
"Avoid it like the plague!"
The end.
And I'm not talking about things they carry that are made by Canon, Panasonic, etc., etc. I'm talking about things that Sharper Image designs and makes themselves. Those things are the most worthless hunks of crap they put out, and all the items break in three or four months. Sharper Image branded or made items? STAY AWAY at all costs.
Since TSI took legal action against Consumer Reports when CR panned their air 'purifiers', I refuse to deal with them. I'm a bit dismayed that any publication would continue to cover their products after their assault on the Bill of Rights.
What was the former CEO's name? Richard PHAILheimer?
By the way Chris.. it's "death incarnate".. no past tense on that one.
These or some of them have been in the last few Sharper Image Catalogs.
$499 for a smartphone with GPS built in seems pretty good. Anyone know who actually makes it?
I was actually in one a couple days ago
I was looking at my tilt and comparing the WM6 device... the price was good (299) but then I found out it had no wifi.
It was also funny because the box for it just said something like UNLOCKED UNIVERSAL PHONE JUST STICK IN YOUR SIM CARD as like the title of the product.
Not all of those phones are made in China. The Slider is made by Alcatel (Cellatel.com). Alcatel is a high quality European based manufacture. One of my friends got the slider phone. It's GREAT! The picture quality is pretty good. But the sound quality of the music player is fantastic (the main focus of the phone, besides messaging).