Keepin' it real fake, part CXV: CECT T5 T32 WinMo 6 iPhone clone doesn't try to hide it
By Paul Miller 
posted Apr 2nd 2008 10:36AM
posted Apr 2nd 2008 10:36AM
[Via TRFJ]
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I am really disappointed by all these companies out there who feel they MUST follow Apple's moves. Its as if they hold their breaths and wait to see what apple will do next.
That said, I wouldn't mind buying a device that did the same things iphone does so long as I could trust the worksmanship - I could never buy a device made by these cheapo Chinese companies.
Give me some Japanese clones.
provided Apple is not totally original, your view leaves no room for anything but unique devices. Development is typically incremental, and this phone is a good example of cashing on the excitement while offering an alternative. At least they are meeting the iPhone challenge head-on, rather than leaving the market solely to Apple.
@Paul Miller, since the 8GB iPhone starts at $400 with a lock-in contract, this device is likely to be competitive (margins are slim, after all).
The iPhone is made by a Chinese company: Hon Hai Precision, aka Foxconn Technology Group.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2007/gb20070110_531125.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_businessweek+exclusives
On the one hand you complain that other companies emulate a successful product, as if you have a grudge against Apple. Then on the other had you lust after the product that Apple produces. I think you are conflicted by you unconscious love of Apple. Come out of the closet my friend, we will support you as you adjust to your new lifestyle choice...
I hate that argument. People need a work in manufacturing before saying things like that. Here's the deal: generally speaking, manufacturers can make their products as good as or as bad as they feel like. I worked in an automotive parts plant that made awesome parts for BMWs that never broke... and then on the other side of the building we made crap for Pontiacs that had countless problems.
Here's the deal - you pay for quality. Most people these days seem to have forgotten that, thinking they can get quality without money in this magical la-la-land they live in. Quality goods *do* cost more to produce, but don't make the mistake - the Chinese are perfectly capable of producing solid products (look at Apple, Sony, etc.)... The fact that American consumers overwhelmingly buy crap doesn't mean the Chinese don't have the ability to make something good.
Foxconn is a Taiwanese company, not Chinese.
@ billmao
That's a good point, and I don't want to get into how the Chinese feel about it. I had a Chinese History prof from Taiwan, and he certainly didn't consider himself Chinese.
However, many of their factories are based on the mainland.
@ billmao
"Taiwan" is also commonly used to refer to the territories administered by the Republic of China (ROC) and to ROC itself, which governs the island of Taiwan. Right now, Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan may or may not succeed in independence (i.e., pending WWIII). For now, it's not inappropriate to include it in the broader term, "China" despite the cultural, political, and economic differences.
That is like saying Québec is not part of Canada. They always refer to themselves as Québecers, not Canadians, but, that doesn't mean they are not part of Canada and ultimately governed by it.
Shane, Taiwan isn't ultimately governed by the PRC though (at least currently), so your Quebec analogy isn't really right.
That said, to say that the Taiwanese feel one way or another is pretty silly, since individual people in Taiwan feel differently about whether they want Taiwan to be part of the People's Republic of China (just to clarify, since the ROC is also "China").
There are, for example, a large number of people in Taiwan who only immigrated there because of the civil war, and who have lots of family back in the mainland. These people tend to be much more for closer ties with mainland China for obvious reasons, whereas people whose families have been in Taiwan for many many generations obviously tend to want Taiwan to be independent.
That said, the KMT (the Nationalist party that originally fought the Communists during the civil war, but which lost control of Taiwan in recent years) just won the Presidential election in Taiwan, and they're all for stronger ties with mainland China-so right now you can safely say that a majority of people in Taiwan would like to have a closer relationship with the PRC. Of course, just how close that gets is another question, but most people seem to realize that closer ties will likely be beneficial for Taiwan.
Anyways, the actual likelihood of a physical war of some sort actually starting is zero. Taiwanese companies have a ridiculous amount of their money invested in China-like Foxconn's factories, and China has a lot of investment in Taiwan as well. This is on top of the fact that nobody actually enjoys fighting yet another war, and the fact that it's damned obvious that Taiwan doesn't stand a chance in any sort of war against the insanely large Chinese armed forces.
the newest clone is the Wi-Phone W99i - it has winmo 6 and WiFi - http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1614&HS=1
No 3G? Those bastards! They really ARE copying Apple!
Disappointed to see these as a Chinese, but I couldn't find any information by our Chinese local search engine named "baidu". So, maybe this piece of shit is just a copycat made in Guangdong and hijacking CECT's brand.
Total Meizu Knockoff!
What gets me is that they all use that gd clown fish image. Enough with the clown fish!
WTF is wrong with Clown Fish?! They're friendly! They're pretty! Why the hate?!
Friendly, sure. Until they get what they want! Everyone knows they're no good. Give a clown fish an inch and they'll take a mile is how the saying goes, doesn't it? How can you defend nature's little liars? I loved her... why did she have to leave me... and for him!! Not that it's personal... No, Tony, I cannot forgive clown fish.
i for one welcome our clown fish overlords
NEMOoooo!!!
WE ALL FLOAT DOWN HERE
I would really like to see a video of this thing working. I have nothing against clones as long as they are cheaper and somewhat realiable.
I heard that in China there is no concept of intellectual property in the first place.
Is that true?
When China finally starts having their own ideas you can best believe they will have a concept of intellectual property.
I heard in China they do nothing but dodgeball, day in, and day out. They use steroids and advanced training equipment to make them, not people, but animals.
Is that true?
NH
---yes
grats [/sarcasm]
You could have made it even shorter. Like this:
grats /sarc
thanks chris
[even shorter]:
grats.
This actually looks like it could be more of an iPhone Nano knockoff... if one existed.
I still think Apple should be working on a smaller, simpler version of the iPhone (maybe the size of a Classic). I don't know exactly what features they could leave out of it though. Most people love what they have now... that I know of.
the ipod mini and nano were both smaller reinterpretations of the original ipod, which by that point had moved and got more features. i reckon the 'iphone nano' or whatever will be a 2.5g 8gb iphone in a smaller form factor, with the iphone being much more feature rich...
Wait, you mean I can't buy this here? Isn't this the T-mobile website? I would have thought for certain T-mobile would carry this given the fact there's no 3G.....
$265? That's more than I paid for my genuine 8GB iPhone!
"the form factor just kills it for us at this point"
This is gonna bite you in the ass when Apple brings out a new iPhone that is similar ;)
*Bookmarks for future use*
i think, rather than that the form factor is bad, that they mean that it's completely and unashamedly an iPhone knockoff... where other knockoffs at least pretend to be somewhat different, this thing looks more like a pack of "iPhone Bubblegum" than a decent little knockoff.
does it also need to be hacked just to do video and mass messaging and stuff? oh, and if it doesnt have a non-replaceable battery, its hardly a knockoff.
gary knox you scum!
form factor? I can see why one would complain over the UI, but the form factor is NOT iphones, its not original, and its a GOOD form factor.
So you prefer screens to be artificially small?
http://iPh2one.com
There's nothing that revolutionary about the iPhone's hardware, but none of the other touchscreen devices are even close to being as useable at the moment.
Sure you can get by, but WinMo is just not designed to be touch only - it was designed to be a primarily stylus-based OS and that still shows with all the new "touch" devices.
How is "stylus-based" not "touch"? Granted, I'm still using my ancient iPaq 1935 PDA with WM2003, but I don't really use the stylus. My finger works just as well.
You can get many programs that emulate the iPhones finger scrolling abilities, etc. This way you can have that functionality, while retaining the usefulness of WinMo.
@letstakeawalk & Abuzar
You obviously haven't used both a WinMo phone and an iPhone for any extensive amount of time. Their touch interfaces are as different as a 15 year old track ball is to a laser mouse or modern trackpad. Windows Mobile phones feel like utter crap to use compared to the iPhone. The UI is ugly, unresponsive and slow as molasses compared to the iPhone's touch interface which is fast, accurate and smooth as silk. A friend showed me his HTC touch with the iPhone-like addon, and I just laughed at how shitty it was compared to the iPhone. He agreed.
Yeah well, it's definitely not as pretty. But Girly things are supposed to be pretty. I carry a Manly Windows Mobile phone, Made for Men. lol
Yeah I wish it looked better, but it's more functional for me. They DO have this one user made thing(they can do that with WinMo) that gets close though.
http://freestylwm.com/
It looks the the Motorola MING and the iPhone have had a one night stand!
I like one night stands.
Wait... What?
Abuzar: You mean like resetting the clock every time it is plugged in to sync with my computer?
Such a useful feature.
Yeah, we know Apple haters, Apple doesn't have a patent on black and chrome and big touch screens. This is OBVIOUSLY not heavily inspired by the iPhone.
:-P
Funny... I thought it took some work from the LG Prada phone, and the Samsung P2 MP3 player... odd how rampant fan-boy'ism can skew reality. ;)
Competition is a good thing... Apple is not better than sliced bread.... its just another variety of sliced bread.
More bread in the market is GOOD! :D
Lets all hug and stop hating. ;)
Of course, keeping in mind that sliced bread sucks...
CraigJ: Stupid, your comment is.
The best device will have a good form factor, good software, and good hardware. No device today fulfils all three. I'm perfectly happy to see devices copy any of the above to try to achieve the best combination.
Best iphone clone:
http://www.cnetfrance.fr/produits/telephones-mobiles/copies-d-iphone-des-alternatives-valables-ou-non-39378782.htm
"We're sorry, but we can no longer summon any sort of enthusiasm for iPhone knockoffs. "
Why does this posting exist then?
ENGADGET, PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY!!! Why is it that a design for a cellphone is considered ultra-proprietary?? Go ahead answer... I'll wait... It's true that the iphone is a revolutionary product and we all understand how enamored you guys are are with the device but please GIVE US A FREAKING BREAK with all the 'clone' crap. What about the guys that came up with the flat panel television... is every subsequent flat panel a clone? What about the calculator? What about a microwave oven? Maybe a portable GPS? A lawnmower? The iphone is no damn different from any of those other devices. Stop sounding like loser-fanboys or I'm gonna... Wait I'll get back to you, I see someone selling a clone of my stainless steel toaster - Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!
Your argument does not hold. This is obviously a clone as you can see the UI and the home button is exactly the same, which are the two signature components of the iPhone. LCD, GPS, Microwave, are the specific core technologies company pay to use and different product can derive from them; but if one company copies, for example, Samsung LCD panel's signature design-big round button with glowing blue around it, thats cloning and bad taste.
part of his argument would be why Engadget doesn't complain that all Garmin touchscreens look like TomTom's, or vice versa... or how Panasonic seems to have ripped off a few case designs for plasmas from Samsung, and on and on...
But on the iPhone front... we hear about every single touch screen candy-bar phone.
The Treo 900 should kick its ass:
http://forum.treonauts.com/palm-smartphones/future-treo-smartphones/7786-treo-900-concept-design.html
$265 ain't bad at all for WinMo6, GPS, WiFi & BT. Anyopne got a line on getting one open to TMo in the US?
-bZj
this is the Wi-phone W99i (with wifi) -the second gen was released on late April 15. The t32 is not tri-band so will not work in the USA, but this one will: http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1614&HS=1