Keepin' it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else

It's been a long time coming, but we've finally found a KIRF suitable to become the one and only successor to our very first "Keepin' it real... WTF?!" This here iPhone -- which is little more than a familiar chassis with a lead weight and a small amount of internal hardware -- is reportedly used by scammers in Russia in order to barter for train tickets, grub, etc. In essence, the phone has just enough electronics within it to give the appearance of a "boot up" sequence, complete with the Apple logo; the scammer in possession of it then explains that the battery is simply drained, but that it will work perfectly fine once charged. After any given sucker hands over something quite valuable in exchange for this heap, he / she proceeds to crush it into a million pieces while cursing the unknown name of whoever fooled them in the first place. Moral of the story? Stay sharp, street traders.

[Thanks, Abhijit]

[Game_playa @ Oct 7th 2008 10:55PM]

LOL, I want one of those

[iEye @ Oct 7th 2008 9:11PM]

Even this KIRF is far superior than the other phones out there...

[Wormbolt @ Oct 7th 2008 11:45PM]

No cut/paste on this one either?

[Flashpoint @ Oct 8th 2008 12:17AM]

IN SOVIET RUSSIA.

You're Firmware update IS WHATEVER WE SAY IT IS. 2.0.1.2

[iEye @ Oct 7th 2008 9:15PM]

What is stupid about this is that broken 1st gen iPhones go for $200+ on ebay... they could have just sold the broken units... as they have valid serial numbers...

Wow broken phone that cost $200+, a new motorola of HTC sells for $100... another example of iPhone superiority...

[noyp @ Oct 7th 2008 9:17PM]

go fall in a ditch

[Cody @ Oct 7th 2008 9:23PM]

I think that's a better example of the stupidity of some Apple fanboys (like you) willing to pay 200 dollars for a broken phone. That's not superior, that just dumb.

[Cody @ Oct 7th 2008 9:27PM]

Meant to say that's just dumb, not that just dumb. lol

[digitallysick @ Oct 7th 2008 10:01PM]

You should buy a go-kart

[)law( @ Oct 7th 2008 9:20PM]

I would love to see these as a mission item in the next grand theft auto. I can see it now, Get the crate of fake Russian iPhones downtown to the safe house.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 7th 2008 11:56PM]

BOOTS UP AND DOES NOTHING?

That sounds like the REAL IPHONE....


(seriously though: I own an iPhone and I don't actually believe that - I love my phone)

[kyle allen @ Oct 7th 2008 9:21PM]

russians are so hardcore

[noyp @ Oct 7th 2008 10:00PM]

I don't know why, but I'm still laughing at that

[r3loaded @ Oct 8th 2008 3:08AM]

Only a Russian could have thought that one up! :D

[bjsguess @ Oct 7th 2008 9:25PM]

iEye = the reason Engadget provides a vote down option

[noyp @ Oct 7th 2008 9:58PM]

No, it's because of clak

[Zeus.:God @ Oct 7th 2008 11:40PM]

And Clak's long lost twin, Jubei.

[John D @ Oct 8th 2008 2:07PM]

Don't forget Zak, ugh.

[grull27 @ Oct 7th 2008 9:27PM]

There it is! Someone found the iBrick!!

[Some Kid @ Oct 7th 2008 9:29PM]

what would we do without you KIRF....what would we do
these are the stories we need- ones to laugh at
btw-- how much were they sellin these for to get people to get it from a street vendow instead of Apple themselves?

[iSteve @ Oct 7th 2008 9:32PM]

In Soviet Russia...

[deyanimay @ Oct 7th 2008 9:40PM]

iPhones boot you up.

[wuzy @ Oct 7th 2008 9:44PM]

In Soviet Russia iPhone use you

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 7th 2008 9:45PM]

I vote you down.

[jatin747 @ Oct 7th 2008 9:54PM]

...blond make joke on you.

[1234321 @ Oct 7th 2008 9:52PM]

apple eats you

[Mark L @ Oct 7th 2008 10:21PM]

iPhone charges you..
with espionage and treason.

[bangladeshiluv @ Oct 7th 2008 10:47PM]

now i can afford to impress the chicks

[Goatee Man @ Oct 7th 2008 11:32PM]

I always wondered if they made "in [place] [object] [verb]s you!" jokes in Soviet Russia...

[m @ Oct 8th 2008 1:07AM]

the joke is appropriate, for once, yet still so very annoying... i hope you all got it out of your system for at least a week.

[r3loaded @ Oct 8th 2008 3:10AM]

(object) (transitive verb) you!

[Danny @ Oct 7th 2008 9:38PM]

I would want one just for fun :)

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 8th 2008 5:12AM]

I would give one to you at a discounted proce of US $200. !!

[Kobe_No_Means_No @ Oct 7th 2008 9:41PM]

Wow, so much work to steal people's money. Why not just point a gun at someone and take their money? These guys are spending too much time coming up with this plan... time is money too!

[crazyfishmolester @ Oct 8th 2008 12:29AM]

people wt apple more than a shady guy on a corner and they wont remember a gu who sold them an iphone than a guy who almost shot you.

[DW1968 @ Oct 8th 2008 3:04AM]

Yeah, I agree--but that's the business plan that Apple came up with, and it's too late to change now.

[DT @ Oct 7th 2008 9:40PM]

Wow, that's so shady. I actually had a similar thought when airport security had me boot up my laptop a few years ago. The moment it flashed a Windows logo (yes, I used to have a Windows laptop), the guy waved me through. What's preventing a terrorist from creating a laptop shell with just enough electronics to show a Windows boot screen, packed with a couple pounds of plastic explosives? Er...maybe I shouldn't have just put that idea on the internet...

Oh, and iEye, for the sake of all us sane Apple fans, STFU. I mean, STFU dude. Seriously. STFU.

[Alex McKee @ Oct 7th 2008 9:50PM]

Well, if you never comment again, we know where you went. Federal prison.

[coolbho3000 @ Oct 7th 2008 10:09PM]

Oh no, you used to have a Windows laptop. The horror! The security guard should have just arrest you on the spot.

[iamdigitalman @ Oct 7th 2008 10:16PM]

They actually did that in season 1 of 24. When they forced Jack Bauer to kill the senator, they made a briefcase with a fake laptop with gun components in it. He passed through security after they had him boot it up, then he went and assembled it in a side room. Pretty clever.

IIRC, they also did it in season 6 when they made that bomb to take out the president.

[coolbho3000 @ Oct 7th 2008 10:48PM]

Wait. Season 1 of 24 of what show?

Any show that goes on for twenty-four seasons...

[Reader @ Oct 7th 2008 10:57PM]

Getting a bomb through security would be pretty damn easy. This whole airport security deal we have going is just false security. If someone wants to blow up a plane, there's not going to be any stopping them. Anyway, there are so many more effective and easier ways to scare America than doing another plane hijacking. Just think if 30 armed terrorist separated into 10 groups and shot up random malls. People wouldn't feel safe anywhere, and it'd be much easier than stealing a plane. Whatever makes people sleep easier though I guess.

[XIYL @ Oct 7th 2008 11:41PM]

Laptop weapons remind me of Perfect Dark. The N64 one not the 360 one, I've never played that.

[Jonah @ Nov 30th 2008 5:32PM]

.....




hmmmm....




>=D

[cubanresourceful @ Oct 7th 2008 9:42PM]

to bad i dont even have the money to afford an ipod off the streets. :'( i would so get one of these.

[Sean Moore @ Oct 7th 2008 9:50PM]

This doesn't surprise me coming from Russia! Flippin WANABES!!!!

[jaireaux @ Oct 7th 2008 9:50PM]

Dude! Where can I buy one? That is awesome.

[Greg Mcp @ Oct 7th 2008 10:48PM]

Hey, I'd like a dozen of 'em, if they don't cost too much.
Good novelty Christmas pressies.

Surely there's a dodgy Chinese manufacturer out there that can get onto this bandwagon.

[bobartig @ Oct 7th 2008 11:49PM]

I'd be curious to know what the screen is, whether its a touch-screen, or just a regular LCD, or maybe some kind of single-cell LCD panel that can only show the apple icon. If you could get one cheap (and not ripped off in the process), it might make a good hacking target.

[Chris @ Oct 7th 2008 9:54PM]

It should have shown the picture of Steve Jobs saying boom in Russian when the phone gets plugged in.