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Amazon may get law enforcement involved in more counterfeit cases
Amazon has been waging a war against counterfeits for years. The company has tried everything from charging high fees in order to sell big names to letting brands issue takedowns. Now, Amazon is planning to give more data on counterfeits to law enforcement, in hopes that will lead to more crackdowns, a source familiar with the program told Reuters.
Amazon will let brands issue takedown strikes on fake listings
From sky-high fees for merchants selling big brands to a product registry, Amazon has used all the tools at its disposal in its ongoing war on counterfeits. But the fakes keep coming. Now Amazon is putting more power in the hands of brands as part of a new anti-counterfeiting program dubbed "Project Zero."
The Decode app spots fakes with NFC
The global trade of counterfeit goods reportedly rakes in half a trillion dollars per year, which isn't good for anyone. (Except for the counterfeiters themselves, I suppose.) As the fakes industry continues to grow, brands are looking to technologies like RFID (radio-frequency identification) and NFC (near-field communication) to help authenticate their products. This is where Blue Bite, a startup based out of New York City, hopes to come in. It has developed a system that relies on an iOS app, called Decode, that can tell consumers if an item is real by simply tapping their phone on it.
Amazon needs to get a handle on its counterfeit problem
Chances are you wouldn't suspect that whatever you're buying from Amazon, whether it be clothing, sunglasses or a handbag, is fake. And, for the most part, that tends to true. But that doesn't mean you should trust that every product is legit. In fact, right now if you search for "Yeezys," a highly coveted pair of Adidas shoes, you'll get more than a thousand results that are clearly fake. Two dead giveaways are design flaws and an unlikely low price -- trust me, Adidas doesn't sell them for $20. The worst part is that some of them bear the seemingly trustworthy Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) label. But all that really means is that the company is acting as the middleman between you and the actual seller.
Why do Instagram and Twitter want me to buy fake Yeezys?
It's not rare for me to come across ads for counterfeit goods, particularly as I'm browsing Instagram or Twitter. And although I don't have a Facebook account, I live with someone who does and know that's an issue there as well. Targeted advertising, the kind that knows exactly what brand of sneakers and streetwear I'm into, is the least of my worries here. My problem is the fact that Twitter and Facebook (which owns Instagram) are approving sponsored posts from retailers selling counterfeits. I know better, but there are many who may fall victim to these sorts of scams.
McAfee shows how major Android scamware ticks, prevents us from learning first-hand
Most Android malware lives in the margins, away from Google Play and the more reliable app shops. It's nonetheless a good idea to be on the lookout for rogue code, and McAfee has stepped in with thorough explanations of how one of the most common scamware strains, Android.FakeInstaller, works its sinister ways. The bait is typically a search-optimized fake app market or website; the apps themselves not only present a legitimate-looking front but include dynamic code to stymie any reverse engineering. Woe be to anyone who's tricked long enough to finish the installation, as the malware often sends text messages to expensive premium phone numbers or links target devices to botnets. The safeguard? McAfee would like you to sign up for its antivirus suite, but you can also keep a good head on your shoulders -- stick to trustworthy shops and look for dodgy behavior before anything reaches your device.
Apple used Pfizer security team to root out Chinese pirates
Apple has struggled with the sale of counterfeit iPods, iPhones and iPads in China for years. A recent WikiLeaks report notes that the company enlisted members of Pfizer's global security team to combat the industry of fakes. Why Pfizer? The answer should be obvious to anyone who's received spam email within the last few years: Pfizer's team had been tracking down counterfeit Viagra manufacturers in Asia for years. It's been an uphill battle for Apple and other tech manufacturers, according to a source quoted by Atlantic Wire. While the Chinese government has assisted pharmaceutical companies, the source said, the same can't be said of requests made by the tech industry. Why? S/he offers one theory: "Whereas a defective pill could cause sickness or death, a shoddy iPod has less dire consequences." Philip Elmer-Dewitt has posted the body of the memo obtained by Wikileaks. It's a compelling illustration of the thriving counterfeit market as well as Apple's efforts with Pfizer.
Cool off with an "iPhone 4" fan
Most fake Apple products make us roll our eyes, but this one is cute. Mostly because it's not trying to be an iPhone. The "shockingly thick" device is actually a personal cooling device, or "fan." To use it, slide off the real panel and remove the thin blue sponge inside. Get it wet, wring it out and put it back inside. Replace the back cover and then press the Home Button. The fan whirrs into action, providing the user with a cool, refreshing breeze. Keep the wind blowing by recharging the internal Lithium-ion battery by connecting to your Mac's USB port. Pro tip: add a little perfume to the sponge for scented refreshment. White "iPhone 4" Air Cooler from M.I.C. Gadget on Vimeo.
Lenovo ThinkPad X200 clone takes us back, way back
Back in 2008, Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 was getting folks all hot and bothered, and it seems some people never cooled down. If you're one of the few looking to reignite the flames sparked when your first laid eyes on the laptop, take a look at this impressively rendered knockoff. Despite the absence of a Lenovo logo and slightly off dimensions, it really does look like the X200, -- that is, until you look under the hood. The original sports a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, while the knockoff's got a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450; the real deal has SSDs up to 64GB, while the fake doesn't even have the option; and finally, the impostor lacks 4GB RAM upgradability. According to M.I.C. Gadget, the ThinkPad clone rings in at 1900 Chinese yuan (about $286), and can be purchased online, though we couldn't tell you where. Anyway, you weren't seriously considering it ... were you?
First Look: Ninja Steve for iOS
CEO. Industry Mogul. Superhero. That's the idea behind the upcoming Ninja Steve app. Inspired by the fake story about Steve Jobs being denied the chance to take shuriken onto his private plane, Ninja Steve transforms an urban legend into a deliciously silly idea for a game. It features a CEO hero named Steve, who leads a secret double life as a Ninja. The developers assure us that "[o]ur character share the name with Steve Jobs, but is a fictional character, he and his fictional company has no relation to Steve Jobs or Apple." Here at TUAW, we haven't had a chance to play the game -- and honestly, we have no idea whether it's awesome or awful -- but we were tickled by the marketing graphics and the developer was kind enough to give us an exclusive first peek at the game promo video, which appears after the jump. This is not the first time we've covered the Ninja Steve meme, here on TUAW. Previously, we saw the fake "iPod ninja" concept ad, which we thought was hilarious. Got any more Apple Ninja spoofs, games, or tributes to share? Let us know in the comments.
Attractive, non-existent woman on internet easily makes inroads in military, intel, and hacker circles
Thomas Ryan of Provide Security's making it public knowledge that social networking sites aren't just annoying: they're also potentially major security threats. Ryan set up a fake Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter account for "Robin Sage," a person who doesn't exist and never has -- but we can assure you she's really, really hot. Robin billed herself as a graduate of MIT and a prestigious New Hampshire prep school, and quickly made hundreds of connections across all three sites, without ever offering any proof of her existence or the connections she espoused. Even more stunning, "Robin" was befriending military, government and intel people on Facebook and Linked In (where she dubbed herself a "hacker"), and hackers on Twitter. Ryan's findings state that the military and intel "friends" Robin made freely share information and documents with her, as well as inviting her to various conferences. Interestingly, it turns out the only group that was in anyway resistant to Robin were the MIT-associated people... but we knew they were all whip-smart already. Moral? Next time you accept the request of a beautiful, intelligent hacker who wants to come over and view your secret dossiers, you should probably think twice.
The MacBook Micro is here, also might have a camera
Guys, the MacBook Micro has been announced. You're going to love it. It's three things: a Powebook from 1998, a student's art project, and a really short email. We hear it may boast a camera, too. Check out the gallery below to see this wonder of modern technology doing its thing... you will not be disappointed. Update: Grace K. sent in a Flickr link, complete with video of the Micro. Check it out after the break. It doesn't make this thing feel any more "real," but what else were you planning on doing today outside of looking at Apple rumors? Mow the lawn? Pshaw. [Thanks, James]
Fake MacTablet Gallery
%Gallery-32183% We asked for fakes. You responded by sending us your favorite MacTablet mock-ups. So here at last is our gallery of fake Mac Tablet concept art, submitted by TUAW readers. Now once again it's your turn. Take a peek through these pictures and tell us which one is your fave. (I suspect that #8 is going to win in a landslide.) Leave us a note in the comments to explain your choice and what you're really looking for in a touch-based tablet computer. %Poll-19966%
Counterfeit iPhones selling well in Asia
With iPhone Fever running high, and no official Asian sales scheduled for 2007, opportunistic electronics manufacturers in China are doing a brisk business in counterfeit iPhones. Bloomburg reports that the so-called "Chinese iPhone" sells for approximately $133US and is a fully-functioning phone. Anonymous manufacturer "Ben" said that creating the phone's internals was easy, but the external design was the hard part.Fakes will always exist, as well as eager customers. Apple has requested that shoppers report fake phones to counterfeit [at] Apple [dot] com. [Via MacDailyNews //= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ' ') document.write("&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";"); else document.write(unescape(l[i])); } //] ]
NOT E307: Fake Golden Sun DS announced
Only a couple of hours before Nintendo's E3 media briefing yesterday, rumors of a new Golden Sun game for the DS began to spread like a fast-moving cancer, traveling through the internet's lymphatic system, taking over gaming blogs and forums. Even Joystiq, the wind beneath our wings, fell victim to the malignant screenshots that were supposedly leaked from a "secret press gathering" by person-in-the-know gobo_4227.To your right, you'll see one of those supposed screenshots of Golden Sun: The Sooth Sayer compared with promotional artwork that was released for Golden Sun: The Lost Age back in 2002. Unless you count the bloom filter and "Touch to Start" text, the images are exact twins. The fact that we've heard no official mention of the new RPG -- or any other Camelot-developed title for either Nintendo console -- whilst E3 continues makes this rumor seem even more unconvincing. %Gallery-4800%
Engadget's ultimate fake PSP collection
It's August 25th. You know what that means... only 4 months until Christmas! Better start shopping. While you could get your friends real PSPs (or even better yet: a signature edition PSP), but if you're a cold-hearted Scrooge like me, you'll much rather get them knockoffs. Sure, PSP Fanboy's shown you a few before, but Engadget has rounded up a real winner of a list here. For the price of one real PSP, you can piss off at least nine of your friends. And isn't that what the holiday spirit is about?
OMG: OS X on your iPod?
Step aside, Microsoft: that UMPC form-factor is officially played out. The new hotness is running "Leopard Mobile" on your iPod, which is no small feat considering the devices' sub-100MHz processors and lack of a touchscreen or Internet access. Don't think it's possible? We were a bit skeptical at first too, but just click on the Read link and see for yourself -- as we all know, YouTube won't host a video until it's been verified as completely legitimate.[Via Engadget Chinese]
