Keepin' it real fake, part CVII: Is it an iPhone, or a scale? You decide!

There's something kind of odd going on here that elevates this one beyond your garden variety KIRF, and into the hall of fame of ill-advised fakery. What we have here is a pocket-sized scale, with a cover that makes it look exactly like an iPhone -- until you look a bit closer and see that somebody did a rework of the interface in MS Paint. The mind boggles! The American Weigh CP3-500 is only $52 in case you're interested in exploring this mystery further, we're getting out while we're ahead.

[Simon @ Jan 21st 2008 8:12PM]

What the hell is the point?

[nastycop @ Jan 21st 2008 8:38PM]

isn't that obvious? in some situations, having a scale with you is necessary (e.g. when purchasing or selling your supply for the weekend), but in some instances it's not very smart to have one on you (e.g. when being searched by johnny law)

[Neoprimal @ Jan 21st 2008 9:35PM]

Especially if johnny law knows that tricks are for kids and starts pressing buttons on your.....'iphone-esque' scale. Honestly, I'm trying to be as open minded as possible, what else would you carry around a pocket scale for, other than...well, less law abiding reasons?

[Greg @ Jan 21st 2008 9:55PM]

I carry a small scale in my bag when I'm dieting, to measure serving sizes when I'm away from home. I've actually been questioned about why I was carrying it, when my bag was searched at the federal building.

[Flashpoint @ Jan 21st 2008 10:14PM]

measure my crack cocaine...

[catapults.music @ Jan 21st 2008 11:51PM]

@Greg

That's a great excuse, thanks!

[Neoprimal @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:22AM]

I once got off a 30+ mph over the speeding limit ticket by telling the state trooper that caught me that I "REAAAAALLLLLLLLY had to use the bathroom", and that home was about 5 mins away (which he saw on my DL), he chuckled a bit, shook his head, gave me a warning "I could take you to jail" warning and sent me on my merry way.

So hey, anything can happen I guess....but I still don't understand what anyone could possibly need to weigh/measure on a diet out of their home. You're supposed to cook (evening before, start of the week/whenever in the week or even morning before you go out) and pack measured food into a lunch kit anyway - at least for all the non-fad, non-pill diets I've seen people do. What do you do, weigh the chicken or salad that you buy while you're out? I don't get it.

[MrFairladyz @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:56PM]

Its a scale, and when you turn it over, Its a phone!!! Take that iPhone! You just cant weigh over 3.2 pounds...lolz...

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 21st 2008 8:15PM]

Wow! It's a rectangular-shaped thing with rounded edges! So it must be an iPhone knock-off!

[Chebwa @ Jan 21st 2008 8:19PM]

Holy shit, Engadget, quick, Netgear is knocking off the iPhone too!

http://www.netgear.de/pics/RP614/rp614.jpg

Will the Apple thievery never end?!

[sam @ Jan 21st 2008 8:25PM]

uhh... they are talking about the cover. not the actual scale itself. rtfa

[Will @ Jan 21st 2008 9:08PM]

You do realise that the picture of the iPhone screen above is PART of the scale, don't you? That's why it's a knock off.

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 21st 2008 9:37PM]

LOL WTF I somehow missed that part of the post

Cancel my previous comment then, this is an authentic KIRF...

Actually, this is more KIRF than the other KIRFs, because it is oficially intended to be a KIRF

[Abuzar @ Jan 21st 2008 8:18PM]

Running out of ideas?

[Matthew C @ Jan 21st 2008 9:50PM]

You would'nt happen to have a zune tatoo on you shoulder, in adition to your avatar, would you?

just curious...

[Abuzar @ Jan 21st 2008 10:07PM]

Actually no, it's just the Avatar. I don't have any tattoos ,in fact, because it happens to be against my religion.

[dr-whoopass @ Jan 21st 2008 8:21PM]

Why would someone want to hide their scale for measuring small amounts of substances? Hmmmm, what a mystery.

[Reader @ Jan 21st 2008 8:46PM]

Hah the idea of hiding a scale didn't make any sense to me until I read your comment. True that.

[Jesse @ Jan 21st 2008 8:22PM]

No, if you took the time to actually read the post you would see that the iphone looking thing is actually the cover for the scale...

dont be so quick to criticize

[Rob @ Jan 21st 2008 8:24PM]

Is this scale used to measure your "candy" in those little zip-lock bags?

[Tadas Simokaitis @ Jan 21st 2008 8:35PM]

It sure is! And it's allmost perfect for that :)

Copper: Wow I didn't think you junkies could afford iPhones!

Junkie: It's the other way around, babe!

[samnesral @ Jan 21st 2008 8:32PM]

exactly what i thought when i saw this

[sepirioth @ Jan 21st 2008 8:35PM]

I cant believe how naive some of you are. Weed, Coke, Meth (don't ever try that stuff!!). Its illegal to carry a scale in most major cities since it is a paraphernalia for dealers. So this is to trick cops. Simple as that. Shouldn't have been posted on Engadget if you ask me...

[Reader @ Jan 21st 2008 8:48PM]

Yeah! Let's pretend stuff like this doesn't exist and hide it from the public, that sounds like a good way to keep everyone safe.

Can I call you BB?

[sitruc @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:27AM]

Reader, I don't think sepirioth is trying to ignore drugs. I think he or she just thinks it's irresponsible of engadget to basically advertise something that can be considered illegal and get somebody in trouble if found on them.

[Joshua Walters @ Jan 21st 2008 9:01PM]

I knew there was a reason why I wanted to put heavy objects on every iPhone/iTouch I see!

[m @ Jan 21st 2008 9:06PM]

why isn't anybody commenting on the kickass name? i'll get you started.

Imitation: it's the American Weigh.

[James @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:16AM]

the iWeigh

[wickedpheonix @ Jan 21st 2008 9:23PM]

I say it looks like a Meizu M8...

[bob @ Jan 21st 2008 9:37PM]

maybe you should stop using roman numerals... all i read is " see vee i i " is that 37 ? .

[mushrooshi @ Jan 21st 2008 10:32PM]

107

[bob @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:50AM]

thanx

[Chris @ Jan 21st 2008 9:51PM]

Does it actually work or is that just a sticker on the screen?

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Jan 21st 2008 9:55PM]

It's for Drug Dealers!

[Brent @ Jan 21st 2008 10:12PM]

It's good to know that apparently all of engadget readers are also drug dealers. Going to have to start going to the reader meetups.

[jordan @ Jan 21st 2008 10:17PM]

Come on, Engadget, it's just a scale. Really, there's no point in making a "Keepin' It Real Fake" after this.

[AlexL @ Jan 21st 2008 10:36PM]

It's ingenious, really, Not only does the cover conceal the scale, it doubles as a handy measurement tray. No more loose nugs!

[Joe @ Jan 21st 2008 10:38PM]

Rumor has it that the time of the clock on the cover was originally set
to 4:20, but they changed it to 4:19 to avoid being 100% blatant.

[BigD @ Jan 21st 2008 11:53PM]

It's not 4:20 until after it's weighed, bagged, sold, and in the air...

Only weighs 500 grams, though...weak sauce...

[Alex Padilla @ Jan 21st 2008 11:07PM]

If I was your friendly neighborhood supplier and I saw you with this, I'd prolly kill you. Not because you didn't trust me and my goods, but because I'd be too...shall we say, up in the sky?... and think you had an iPhone to...borrow.

[Sabba @ Jan 21st 2008 11:51PM]

i needed a new scale.

[enemies @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:45AM]

what do you think the scale is intended for (or they think) notice the time on the phone is 4:19... only 1 min early so your always on time.

[Neoprimal @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:30AM]

lol!...very astute observation.

[Unregistered @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:53AM]

What if firmware 1.1.4 turns the iPhone into a minature weighting scale?

[max @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:45AM]

looks perfect for drug dealers

[ecobore @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:23AM]

iWeigh?

[CitizenKlaw @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:49AM]

That's is Engadget. You've taken this KIRF thing too far. I'm sick of everything out there being a knock off of some Apple product. Why don't you unearth Ford, Tesla, Edison and Bell? Tell them their that everything that was 'knocked off' their designs during the twentieth century is a fake.

How's a scale an iPhone knockoff? Pah! Hey Fanboy, they're calling you for Steve Jobs cult...

[Matthew Sturtevant @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:16AM]

Are you soft? The web site says "The CP3-500 looks just like a modern touchscreen phone, but is actually the newest scale from American Weigh." Did you look at the cover? How is that NOT a knockoff? Idiot.

[The Drizzle @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:18PM]

Anyone else notice that the link in the pic takes you to the authors shopping cart session. The shopping cart includes the CP3-500, as well as a "Aluminum Pollen Grinder and Sifter". Doing a little shopping for yourself there too Paul?

[CitizenKlaw @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:42PM]

So please explain to me how this is a knock off. How 'looks' is the same as 'is'. I'm sick and tired of Engadget's fanbois seeing iPod knock offs everywhere. So it's good industrial design, I'm pretty sure they KNOW they'll be copied ad nauseam.

This has happened before and it will again, over and over and over. What ticks me off are Apple fanatics screaming 'lawsuit' everytime something out there 'looks' like an iPod, or the iPhone. This is a stupid SCALE. It measures your WEED. It may help you call higher beings, but it sure ain't going to help you call 911 when you OD.