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Inevitably, the PolyStation 3
It's not even worth busting out the KIRF numbering for, it's so predictably awful -- but say hello to the PolyStation 3, the latest and greatest console from the makers of the original PolyStation, the smash hit followup PolyStation 2, and the portable POP Station. Our video reviewer is the same charming British chap we've come to know and love from his other knock-off reviews -- let's let him handle the honors of destroying this thing, shall we?
Keepin' it real fake, Part LXXXVI: iPod nano rip-off does double duty as camera
You can tell the Chinese PMP knock-off factories are getting a little bored. They're starting to mutate their typically staid, blatant thefts into something just a little bit more exciting. Enter the UE-Technology UE-M4088, a totally fresh new entry that rips off both the new iPod nano, and a generic digital camera. Of course, it has all your favorite Chinese PMP features, like a 2.4-inch LCD display, FM radio, playback of MPEG-4, ASF, MP3, WMA, WAV and MIDI files, an SD slot, and of course that 1.3-megapixel camera. The player seems to be available now, though no word on price. Finally, you can have it all... just don't let the authorities see you having it all.[Via PMPToday]
Chinese PMP knocks off Cingular logo for no apparent reason
You know, sometimes product development can take a long time. A really long time. A really, really long time. Sometimes you slap a Cingular logo on an iPod nano knockoff, expecting to pull in tons of sweet cheddar for your novel idea, and before you know it -- bam! -- Cingular becomes AT&T. Of course, once you've got a warehouse full of these ugly-as-sin players, you might as well try to sell them, which shouldn't be hard considering all of the unique features this little guy has, like a 1.8-inch color LCD, MP3, WMA, AVI, and JPEG playback, plus... um, it fits nicely in a pocket. At the very least, those clinging to happier days when Cingular logos roamed the land can now return to their happy place. No word on price or availability, but we're told the feelings of extreme humiliation when using the player are included free of charge.[Via SlashGear]
The first iPod nano clone rears its fat head
Of course, we all know that the knock-off producers in China never rest, but this new iPod nano clone you're looking at was definitely turned around in an impressively short period of time. Right now we have only this photo -- apparently taken at a Shenzhen factory for use in piquing importer's interest -- to go on, but it certainly isn't any kind of surprise that the copy-cats have already put the dirty deed in motion. Just remember guys, you're taking food off of Steve Jobs' table... which is made of diamond-studded platinum.[Via GenerationMP3, thanks BrianB]
PSP phone becomes a reality, in cheap Chinese knock-off form
Our sister-site, Engadget, has a knack for finding weird PSP knock-offs. They found another one, which makes the oft-rumored PSP phone a reality... sort of. The V191 phone has a 1.3Mpix camera, MP3 music player, and an MP4 video player. Sounds familiar? It also has a gaming feature, which seems to readily allow illegally emulated games to play on the phone. Hmm.This sounds very cool and all, but we can't help but be discouraged by the phone's clear lack of creativity in the design department. The back of the phone features the PSP's unique metallic circle, and it also has the word "FUN" written in the PSP's font. Check out more pictures at Akihabara, where you can how this bootleg phone stole the PSP's D-Pad, and face buttons as well. Even though it's not original, it does seem pretty cool.See also:PSP phone resurfaces in design contest[Via Engadget]
Engadget China's ultimate fake PSP collection
They say that imitation is the best form of flattery. Well, Sony should be incredibly flattered by the endless amounts of cheap PSP knock-offs there are on the market. While the bootlegs that we unearthed earlier could do only the most primitive of things, it appears that the latest batch discovered by Engadget China take a lot of Sony's functionality as well. For example, the system pictured above features a 16:9 screen and can play MP3 and WMA music files, and play MP4 movies. Sounds vaguely familiar... Check out Endadget to see the rest of their finds.
PSP cache uncovered at 123 Fake Street
Disingenuous doppelgangers. Knock-offs. Duplicates, facsimiles and copies. All pretty good labels to describe this assortment of completely fake (but fully functional) portable players that all look like the PSP, feel like the PSP but have the unifying characteristic of not actually being, you know, the PSP. As the sheer number of incomprehensible on-screen characters should indicate, the site responsible for the rip-off roundup is Engadget Chinese. Though similar designs and button layouts are hardly worth crying foul over, some of these models drunkenly walk the fine line between inspiration and derivation. Look through the images and marvel at how effectively others can butcher (or improve!) Sony's designs. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then this is nothing short of an infinitely disturbing gadget orgy. You may approve.[Via Netscape]
"Dareway" Segway knock-off for kids
We're not sure how many kids have been begging their parents to get them a Segway but we're guessing they'd be pretty disappointed when they flipped over their brand new "Dareway" only to discover it has not two, but three wheels, and none of the Segway's fancy gyroscopic stabilization -- or stylish good looks, for that matter. It does look to be a surefire way to cause dizziness and vomiting, however, able to spin a full 360 degrees in place at speeds specified only as "a lot quicker than you would expect." All for just £149.99 (just under $300 US). Unfortunately, this one's only for sale in the UK and, you know, intended for kids, so you'll have to wait a bit longer if you've been hoping for a cheaper alternative to everyone's favorite human transporter.
Knockoffs, sticker shock threats to RIM's China plans
Though it should hardly come as a shock to readers familiar with our Keepin' it real fake series, RIM might be surprised to find a bounty of BlackBerry-alikes as they enter the mainland Chinese market, undercutting a source of otherwise significant new revenue as millions of new folks discover the addictive devices for the first time. Though unlicensed knockoff manufacturers typically don't fly in the US or Western Europe, Reuters points out that it can cost as little as $125K to bring one online in China -- a compelling proposition in one of the world's hottest mobile markets. What's more, they're finding that some Chinese are buying BlackBerrys strictly for their, uh, sound quality and good looks (can ya believe it?) but are bypassing China Mobile's email hookup entirely, citing it as overpriced. Could the BlackBerry end up a boon for customers in the world's most populous country, yet a bust for RIM?[Thanks, David]
