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Apple cracks down on counterfeit products sold in NYC, files lawsuit against Queens vendors

Amar Toor — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:45:00 EST

There may be more than a few fake Apple Stores in China, but for the moment, Cupertino's anti-KIRF crusade seems focused squarely on New York City. According to Reuters, Apple has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against two stores in Queens, alleging that they sold unauthorized cases, headphones and other accessories for the iPhone, iPad and iPod. In the complaint, the company claims that the products in question were all emblazoned with its familiar fruit logo, along with the phrase, "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." The suit also demands that one of the stores, called Apple Story (seriously), change its name to avoid confusion with the real retail outlet and that both vendors disclose full lists of people who both supplied and purchased the goods.

It all began when company representatives visited the Chinatown-area stores on "multiple occasions over several weeks," where they bought and examined the items, described in court records as "exact duplicates" of their authentic counterparts. On July 27th, Apple executed a few ex parte seizure warrants, which allowed authorities to seize any goods bearing its logo. US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto has already granted an injunction to stop the stores from selling the alleged knockoffs, but hasn't yet decided whether Apple Story will have to change its name. The complaint also seeks undisclosed monetary damages and asks that all existing counterfeit goods be destroyed, though court documents suggest that both sides are close to reaching a deal. Neither Apple nor the defendants have commented on the accusations, but we'll let you know as soon as we learn more.

In the meantime, check out this KIRF "iPhone 5" we found in Beijing -- a Java-powered handset that's slimmer than the Galaxy S II and a bit laggy, but boasts a multitouch capacitive screen. Asking price? ¥680, or about $106.

Gallery: Keepin' it real fake: slim 'iPhone 5' shows up in Beijing

Apple cracks down on counterfeit products sold in NYC, files lawsuit against Queens vendors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: KIRFer's paradise

Tim Stevens — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:58:00 EST

LA lovers of things that Keep it Real Fake, finding your next knockoff might be a little harder than anticipated. The Los Angeles police just busted a warehouse full of knock-offs, things like GiPhones, iPhoncs, PNPs, and Poops. Among all this junk, some $10 million worth, two dudes were found and arrested -- two dudes who had records showing more than $7 million in profits. It seems KIRFing does pay, for a little while at least.

Visualized: KIRFer's paradise originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod nano watch gets knocked off, has little to worry about it

Darren Murph — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:51:00 EST

There are run-of-the-mill KIRFs, above-average KIRFs, and this. While we've definitely been privy to a few comical iPhone / iPod knockoffs over the years, there's a certain layer of hilariousness to this one that just can't be beat. The iPod nano watch isn't even a genuine Apple product; in fact, it's simply a mod that's so easy, your mum could probably pull it off with minimal effort. That clearly hasn't stopped the factories in Shenzhen from churning out an iPod nano watch knockoff, complete with a 1.8-inch resistive touchscreen, inbuilt SIM card slot, Bluetooth, a microSD slot, FM radio tuner, a side-mounted camera sensor and a speaker for good measure. You'll even get a fancy "Slide to Unlock" screen before being able to dig into the underlying UI, but that chintzy plastic wrist strap all but destroys any respect it was hoping to garner. Thankfully, the unit you're peering at above is being dubbed an "engineering prototype," with the final version expected to boast a 3.5mm headphone jack and a modicum of self-worth. We'll see, won't we?

iPod nano watch gets knocked off, has little to worry about it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: iPod nano doesn't need a logo, thank you

Laura June — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:47:00 EST

To be honest, this took a little longer than expected. The above faux iPod nano is a pretty decent copy, lookswise, anyway. While we don't know its name or full specifications, we do know that it comes in both 1.5 and 1.8-inch touchscreen varieties (presumably resistive). It apparently has both an external speaker and an SD card reader. We don't know where you'll ever find one or how much it's likely to cost, but if you do track these down, we'll take one in that gray color, please.

Keepin' it real fake: iPod nano doesn't need a logo, thank you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:00 EST

Our colleagues at Engadget Chinese are on the ground at China Sourcing Fair 2010 in Hong Kong, and as you can imagine, they're finding a great many devices that exhibit "a really heavy cottage flavor" (or, as we say in the states, "really, really KIRFy"). The BestPower X200, which we first saw in an FCC filing in February, doesn't borrow its form factor from any current iPhone iteration -- oh, no, that would be too simple. This one looks back five years or so, when "iPod phones" were little more than a beautiful fanboy's dream. And if you are a time traveler from back in the day, when Lost was in its first season (and was almost enjoyable), this thing will surely inspire some gadget lust: dual SIM cards, quad-band GSM, 2.4-inch ~~(1.3 million pixel)~~ display, Bluetooth, FM Radio, MiniUSB, MicroSD, and a media player -- what's not to love? And all this can be yours this August for a mere $1,500 HKD (that's about $193 US dollars). Video after the break.

Gallery: Keepin' it real fake: BestPower X200

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens

Keepin' it real fake: iPod classic phone reminds us why we prefer touchscreens originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake: 'new' iPad is the jumbo iPod you always wanted, coming April 3

Vlad Savov — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:50:00 EST

Tired of all those "jumbo iPhone" jibes you keep hearing about the iPad? So are we, but there's simply no other way to describe this priceless Shenzhen knockoff than as a supersized iPod. Featuring the unmistakable click wheel and what looks like some sort of riff on Apple's Mac OS, the "new" iPad will be on sale immediately alongside Apple's offering, this April 3, for 2,000 Yuan ($290). Of course, we doubt Shenzhen Huayi's distribution network will stretch quite all the way to the USA, but given the population of 1.3 billion people in China, someone's bound to be happy to help you out. What say you -- does this 4GB pen-friendly beastie do anything for you?

[Thanks, Taimur]

Keepin' it real fake: 'new' iPad is the jumbo iPod you always wanted, coming April 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLVI: MP3/AVI/MP4 Player has 'stylish designer style' courtesy of Apple

Tim Stevens — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:55:00 EST

It doesn't get much better than this, folks. If KIRF is an art form this right here is your Mona Lisa, your Starry Night, your... painting with that dude screaming on a wharf. You know the one. Anyway, this is about the best iPod Nano knockoff we've ever seen, cloning that flat, proprietary connector and sporting a UI that would make the most ardent of Apple fanboys look twice. It has a camera on the back like the 5G, but trumps the Nano with support for a predictably wide suite of file formats and a price of just $33.25. A bargain, so long as you don't mind the measly 2GB of storage and the nagging sense of guilt that comes with buying a fake -- even if it is a spectacularly good one.

[Thanks, Larry]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLVI: MP3/AVI/MP4 Player has 'stylish designer style' courtesy of Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba's 1.8-inch 160GB PATA disk is ready for KIRFers

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:38:00 EST

Wonder what's inside the latest iPod classic besides suave marketing and Pixi-dust? In a not-so coincidental announcement following yesterday's classic capacity bump, Toshiba unleashed specs on its newest 160GB 1.8-inch single-platter spinner that just happens to come in 120GB versions too. The Parallel ATA interface holds-tight the 5-mm / 48-gram disk spinning at 4,200 RPM. Interestingly enough, Tosh claims that its hard disk holds 45,000 digital photos, 42,000 songs, or 130 videos thereby besting Apple's claims on all counts. So get to it KIRFers, the MKxx34GAL series is shipping now and your marketing bullets have already been written.

Filed under: Storage

Toshiba's 1.8-inch 160GB PATA disk is ready for KIRFers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wiipod modder shoves an MP3 player in his Wiimote, calls it a day

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:23:00 EST

Readers, don't act like you're appalled that this mod consists entirely of an old iPod shuffle shoved into the battery compartment of a Wiimote game controller. If anything, you should be amused that this mod consists entirely of an old iPod shuffle KIRF shoved into the battery compartment of a Wiimote game controller. See for yourself after the break.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Wiipod modder shoves an MP3 player in his Wiimote, calls it a day

Filed under: Portable Audio

Wiipod modder shoves an MP3 player in his Wiimote, calls it a day originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXI: Apple's iPhone and iPod nano hook up, combine

Darren Murph — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:44:00 EST

Hey, Apple -- you know that inspiration you've been looking for in order to concoct a proper iPhone nano? We just found it. Over in some seedy warehouse in the depths of Shenzhen, the aptly titled iphone nano has emerged. As you could likely surmise, this completely improper knockoff gentle combines the best features from Apple's iPhone and the iPod nano to create a singular, if not awkward device. Heck, there's even a 5 megapixel camera, which easily trumps the 3.2 megapixel shooter on the iPhone 3GS. It's all yours for just 90 bones, and you don't even have to sign your cellular soul away to AT&T. Look out Apple, we get the feeling this thing's going to be huge.

[Thanks, facelessloser]

Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXI: Apple's iPhone and iPod nano hook up, combine originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXI: Apple's iPhone and iPod nano hook up, combine

Darren Murph — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:44:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXI: Apple's iPhone and iPod nano hook up, combine originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXIV: Fake iPod shuffle offers most of the minimalism, none of the perks

Paul Miller — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:45:00 EST

The current generation iPod shuffle is a funny beast in its own right, but the "Clip-On Mp3 Shuffler Player" from Digital Rise really takes the form factor to new comic heights. There appear to be two physical buttons, a presumptive hold switch, and no headphone controls to speak of. At the same time, the player packs in FM radio, audio recording, an equalizer, a bevy of playback modes and even tempo adjustment. We're sure Digital Rise has solved the usability problems here with unwavering elegance.

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXIV: Fake iPod shuffle offers most of the minimalism, none of the perks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXX: It's a Zune! It's an iPod! It's a spoof!

Darren Murph — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:58:00 EST

Simply aping one device at a time has just become too easy for the cloning labs in the backwoods of China, as evidenced by the two-for-one produced here by QQ. The K805 does its best Zune and iPod impersonation, and amazingly, it does so at the same time. The all too familiar click wheel is there, yet so is the rectangular design first made famous by the cats in Redmond. For those looking for the worst of both worlds, you'll be interested in knowing that this here player features a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution display, support for a plethora of files, USB 2.0 connectivity and a microSD card slot for loading up your favorite EMF jams. We aren't clued in on a price, but do yourself a favor and pretend you never actually wanted to know.

[Via DAP Review]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXX: It's a Zune! It's an iPod! It's a spoof! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, CXL: Cottage MP3 player apes iPod nano 4G a year in advance

Darren Murph — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:41:00 EST

Why, this is downright preposterous! How dare the copyright-ignoring, astonishingly uncreative minds of those at Miao copy Apple's latest iPod nano design a full year in advance? They should be implausibly embarrassed by churning out a so-called Cottage MP3 player in 2007, all while the brains at Cupertino sat and pondered how to make its tiny little PMP that much better. This, people, is an outrage. An outrage!

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Keepin' it real fake, CXL: Cottage MP3 player apes iPod nano 4G a year in advance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff

Erik Hanson — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:29:00 EST

Blue Raven has introduced the Maestro 1070, an iPhone and iPod hi-fi docking station, with 70 watts powering a 5" center sub and two 3" satellites. Looking suspiciously like the official iPod Hi-Fi -- but with handles on the side, not the top!! -- the universal dock accepts and charges Apple's hardware, and also has an auxiliary port for those rocking other players. The Maestro includes a video-out jack for connecting to a television, a 12-key remote control, comes in black or white, and retails for $199.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff

Erik Hanson — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Other hardware

Keeping it real fake, part LXX: Blue Raven hatches a Hi-Fi knockoff originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part LXVI: shifty shuffles

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:01:00 EST

We've gotta say, we're having real trouble figuring out exactly which MP3 player the bright green "Mini Aluminum Pocket Clipper" is trying to copy: the lack of a symbol for the play button, coupled with a badly Photoshopped-out logo on the back has us really muddled! The second example -- the iQ Sound 2GB Clip-on Aluminum MP3 Player with FM -- at least tries to improve upon its "source of inspiration," whatever that device may be.

[Thanks, Marcus V]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Keepin' it real fake, part LXVI: shifty shuffles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part LXIV: 2G Shuffle goes dark

Darren Murph — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:02:00 EST

Some folks just don't know when to call it quits, and yes, we're looking directly at the Chinese knockoff factories responsible for all of these shameful attempts at ripping the iPod. Of course, this isn't the first time the Shuffle (first-gen or second) has been duped, but this iteration certainly raises the opprobrious bar. Pulling the oh-so-prestigious black color scheme over to the Shuffle side of things, this clone was somehow designed in California but "Assombled" in China, but what else would you expect for a mere $14? More comedy, er, pictures, after the jump.

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part LXIV: 2G Shuffle goes dark

Filed under: Portable Audio

Keepin' it real fake, part LXIV: 2G Shuffle goes dark originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part L: The "Ipod style Mobile Phone iPhone"

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 07:12:00 EST

We've gotta hand it to them: electronics conmen are extremely confident in their belief in the ignorance of the masses. Gaze at the unbelievably poor "Ipod [sic] style Mobile Phone iPhone" rendition above, and then suck in the £75 (around $150) pricetag. It comes complete with an iPod-esque white finish, Mac OS X wallpaper, and a strange Quicktime skin for the included media player, but the kicker has got to be the modified Apple logo -- as if the extra leaf is going to fool anyone.

[Thanks, John Derbyshire]

Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Keepin' it real fake, part L: The "Ipod style Mobile Phone iPhone" originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part L: The "Ipod style Mobile Phone iPhone"

Conrad Quilty-Harper — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 07:12:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Keepin' it real fake, part L: The "Ipod style Mobile Phone iPhone" originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part XXXIX: Apple teams with Palm for... wait, nm

Paul Miller — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:18:00 EST

Our iPhone-addled brains almost ran the wrong way with this one. Turns out it's just another one of those ubiquitous iPod nano ripoffs, with a very special branding twist. Friendly tipster Alberto sent this one in, after spotting it in Fortaleza Brazil for a whopping 579 reais ($270 US). But we suppose that's just the kind of reais you have to be willing to drop for a piece of the future.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Keepin' it real fake, part XXXIX: Apple teams with Palm for... wait, nm originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part XXXIV: iPod Universal Dock YesProduct

Cyrus Farivar — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:20:00 EST

As if a Hong Kong-based auction taking payment in British pounds for one of these "iPod Accessaries" wasn't sketchy enough, this "YesProduct" comes with one "original sales package" that is "all brand new." We're still not sure if it'll accept the bevy of iPod ripoffs that we've seen over the past several months, but the eBay bidding starts at £8 ($15) if you want to find out.

[Thanks, Anthony B.]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Keepin' it real fake, part XXXIV: iPod Universal Dock YesProduct originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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