Knockoff -- Engadget

knockoff posts

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

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 9th 2009 at 9:44AM

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]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXVIII: iPhome 3G for the wim!

by Laura June, posted Jun 20th 2009 at 9:10PM

Sure, we've seen plenty of iPhone clones in our day, but we'll say this: this is the clome to beat all clomes. It really takes the KIRF standard up a notch, running the best fake OS X we've seen to date. This one's identity is less confused than many of the knockoffs we usually see, and if you're lucky enough to get your hands on one of these 4GB having-babies... well, you just might be able to convince your grandma that it's the iPhone 3G S. Video is after the break.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXVIII: iPhome 3G for the wim!

Meizu M8 3G gets full specifications list, "planned" March 2010 release date

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 5th 2009 at 9:12PM

That little phone thing that Apple maybe-probably has planned for Monday? Yeah -- totally pales in comparison to what Meizu has up its sleeves. The long (long!) awaited M8 3G has finally been detailed, and the full specifications list is now available for your perusal. We're seeing TD-SCDMA and WCDMA radios, an 800MHz or 1GHz Samsung processor, 3.54-inch display (with a staggering 720 x 480 resolution), USB 2.0 connectivity, 8GB or 16GB of flash storage, a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and of course, the infamous Meizu OS. There's also support for Bluetooth 2.0, GPS, multi-touch, a light sensor and tilt sensing. Go ahead and mark your iCals, folks, 'cause this one's got a rock-solid "planned" release date of March 2010. Where's the time machine when you really need, it?

[Via PMP Today]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXV: HiPhone Nano meets Aura in a knock-off of modest proportions

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted May 29th 2009 at 4:20PM

The Egs HiPhone Nano F210 borrows some of the aura of... well, the Aura. And why not? Half the fun of the KIRF scene is the way that these bandits mix and match aspects of devices according to whatever crazy whim they might be experiencing at the moment. (The other half of the fun? Exploding batteries, of course.) Along with the stylish and quite possibly functional iPod click wheel, this bad boy features: tri-band GSM, a 1.4-inch screen, VGA camera, Bluetooth A2DP, FM tuner, and some sort of media player. As China Grabber puts it: "This is tailor-made for small girls in mobile phones, will the pursuit of individuality, culture, dare to do you a taste of delicacy!!!" Yours today for $139.99. If you're feeling lucky (or you've done something wrong in your past) hit that read link and see for yourself.

[Via PMP Today]

Imobile phoneV588 makes calls, could hold your foundation

by Darren Murph, posted May 22nd 2009 at 3:59AM

Not that we haven't seen compact-themed cellphones before, but we'd argue that the Imobile phoneV588 is about as suggestive as it gets. This dual-band GSM "handset" looks more like the next big thing from Cover Girl than your next mobile, with a circular form factor, pop-up lid, a built-in mirror and a design that would've totally worked in Princess Diaries. If you're curious about hard specs, you'll find a 2.6-inch LCD, an integrated MP3 / MP4 player, speakers and USB connectivity. Oh, and your guess is as good as ours on the whole "dialing / texting" aspect. Freshen up your social life for just $119.99.

[Via PMP Today]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXIII: Magic trick goes awry on eBay

by Darren Murph, posted May 20th 2009 at 9:59PM

Sigh. Where to begin? It looks like a Magic, it smells like a Magic, but the perfectionist in us fully understands that it's absolutely not a Magic. The self-proclaimed followup to HTC's G1 has itself an impostor, and that very shammer is parading around on eBay for the low, low price of $122.99. Granted, that doesn't buy you an HTC logo, Android or 3G, but hey, it just might fool a few folks on the subway. Take it from us, though, it's totally not worth the risk of embarrassment.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXII: Nokia's N86 cloned ahead of release

by Darren Murph, posted May 20th 2009 at 1:06PM

It's a sad state of things in the smartphone arena, folks. Nokia can't even get its forthcoming N86 out of the door in official fashion before the cloning labs in China push out a suitable impostor. Of course, it's not as if this hasn't happened to Nokia before, but with such an anti-knockoff mentality, you think it'd take a little action to make the nightmare stop. Or maybe it secretly adores the attention -- yeah, that has to be it.

[Thanks, Jason]

Keepin' it real fake, part CC: HiPhone Nano N3+ is crazy beautiful

by Laura June, posted Apr 24th 2009 at 11:03AM

Yes, KIRF number two hundred is a special affair. The HiPhone Nano N3+ is one of those knockoffs that transcends the category and is just plain awesome all on its own. We can't vouch for its performance or build of course, but the N3+ clamshell is part iPhone, part RAZR, and part iPod, with a little bit of Star Trek: TNG attitude thrown in for good measure. Seriously, though guys: we weren't kidding when we hinted (told you) that this would be a perfect birthday gift. June 15th. Think about it. Oh, and Happy 200th KIRFday, Engadget! One more glorious shot after the break.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CC: HiPhone Nano N3+ is crazy beautiful

Keepin' it real fake, part CXCVIII: TAG Heuer Meridiist gets way-too-low MSRP

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 16th 2009 at 2:18PM

You know how we know this here TAG Heuer Meridiist isn't the real deal? Not because it isn't sexy, and not because we don't really, really want to believe. No -- it's because the authentic handset can't be found for under five or six grand, while this little impostor can be had for the unfathomably low price of just $290. So yeah, you'll miss out on the fancy box and veritable bragging rights, but you will get twin SIM slots and a choice of black or red "leather." You know, come to think of it, maybe we would be willing to deal with a fake in order to save a few mortgage payments...

[Via Tehnozona]

Sahpr S600 PMP: it's like a Sharp, just far more dull

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 8th 2009 at 8:21PM

While we can't quite crown this abomination with a bona fide KIRF label, there's still plenty of knockoff to keep the crowds chuckling. If you'll recall, Sharp popped out a boring SP600 portable media player in early 2008, and now, we've got some kind of undercover apprentice attempting to ride that wave. For those familiar with the real Sharp, you'll no doubt recognize the iconic (albeit slightly out of sorts) Sahpr logo there in the top left corner. What you won't recognize, however, is any design cues from the authentic Sharp PMP. For those who must know, the S600 sports a 5-inch display, support for a whole slew of formats and support for HD output. We'd wish you luck on actually finding one, but surely you're not depressed enough to embarrass yourself with one of these, right? Right.

[Via Slashgear]

VIA's 1080p-lovin' VX855 chipset emerges in MacBook Air knockoff

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 17th 2009 at 7:14PM

We've already seen one legitimate laptop maker botch up its specification sheet within the past 24 hours, so we certainly wouldn't put it past a KIRF-maker to pull a similar trick. At least on paper, Top Crown Technology Limited's simply-titled 3G Notebook includes a 1.3GHz VIA Nano CPU, the newfangled VX885 Media System Processor, a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display (1,024 x 576), Chrome9 graphics, a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, 3-in-1 multicard reader, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5G WWAN and a pair of built-in speakers. The only problem is the backwards Apple logo and the absolute assurance that this thing will be just marginally less craptastic than the "world's cheapest laptop." For shame.

[Via NetbookNews]

Keepin' it real fake, part CXC: TESO starts aping MacBook Air, quits early

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 13th 2009 at 4:36AM

Astoundingly enough, we haven't actually seen a barrage of MacBook Air clones. Which is pretty remarkable given that, you know, it's a Cupertino-designed product. With such a huge opportunity staring it in the face, China's own TESO decided to see what it could whip up, and what it whipped sits pictured above. Iconic glossy white Apple coat? Check. Impossible to miss MBA styling? Check. One single lonely USB port? Check. Too bad it threw in some low rate keyboard and a mismatched battery cover on the underside -- we were almost totally digging this. Sike.

[Via PMPToday]

Weight Fat Checker makes no bones about what it's here to do

by Laura June, posted Mar 5th 2009 at 5:36PM

Sure, this device is borrowing not a little from the look, feel and color scheme of the Wii Fit, but the Weight Fat Checker is a little more direct in its naming schemes. A handheld body fat meter unearthed somewhere in Japan, we don't know anything about its pricing or availability, but we assume we'll never probably seen one in the flesh. Regardless, we're pretty sure it'd make a fine gift for anyone you want to cross of your faves list a.s.a.p.

[Via Joystiq]

Meizu M8 defies the odds and officially goes on sale - again

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Feb 18th 2009 at 12:03PM

Word on the street has it that the Meizu's M8 -- that vaporous iPhone killer from the east -- is now officially on sale, as of February 18. For real. Wait, you ask -- wasn't it available last week sometime? Well, yes and no. Apparently, the unit we've seen making the rounds was a beta version -- if you slapped down your $440-ish dollars on that one, you got something with "a fair amount of problems to be ironed out," according to DAP Review. The site, whose Chinese-to-English translator is apparently functioning better than ours, goes on to point out that while the test units had WiFi enabled, the final production version does not. A strange decision, sure, but this is a tale fraught with strange decisions. And danger. And excitement and glamor. By the way -- we just hit up the official Meizu site, and the 16GB version of this device is "out of stock" -- probably due to the rapturous reception the unit's received all over the world.

[Via DAP Review; Thanks, Michael]

Continue reading Meizu M8 defies the odds and officially goes on sale - again

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXXIII: WebXpress just a "Music" and "5800" shy of greatness

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 14th 2009 at 3:49PM

Here lately, we've been pretty impressed with just how awesome some of these Chinese knockoffs have been. In fact, we were beginning to wonder if the bona fide manufacturers weren't in cahoots with some of these low-class acts. Thanks to China Grabber, we're being reacquainted with the garbage that we once knew ~~and loved~~, as the WebXpress handset is about as pathetic a rip of the 5800 XpressMusic as you could ever hope to see. Reportedly, it's packing a 3-inch QVGA LCD, quad-band GSM radio, dual SIM slots, a 1.3 megapixel camera, video recorder, e-book reader and even some form of "health management" software. For $149.99, we're almost tempted to order one just to see about the latter. Almost.

[Via PMPToday]