KeepinItRealFake
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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXVI: HiPhone F06-Slim is brewing up a Storm
Oh hi, HiPhone. Not much of a surprise to see you here, again. The latest masterpiece, the HiPhone F06-Slim, is a Frankenstein amalgamation of KIRF favorite iPhone and RIM's first foray into the world of touchscreen phones, albeit with a slightly smaller, 3.2-inch display. We're also looking at a 1.3 megapixel camera, FM radio, microSD support, GPRS, Bluetooth, dual SIM card slots, and "TV phone" capabilities, which we're taking to mean a mobile receiver of some sort. Looks like it forgot the refresh button on the bottom of the device, but with any luck, it left out SurePress as well. If you hang out with the kind of friends who respect a good knockoff, the price of raising your street cred is just a penny under $190 before shipping.[Via PMP Today]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCXIV: Fake iPod shuffle offers most of the minimalism, none of the perks
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]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCX: "iPozh" DVD player lacks Apple's style, but does the lack of Blu-ray support right
Copying Apple's style and fruit logo (this time it's a pear) is nothing new, but other than the packaging and no Blu-ray support, this Russian-born "iPozh" multi-region DVD player, found at reportedly one of the biggest electronic retail chains in Moscow, seems fit to look as generic and "un-Apple" as aesthetically possible. Still, if you're wandering through a store and you get caught in the vicious stare of that poster, you might fork over the 4,490 rubles (US $139) for fear of the gentleman on the right otherwise emerging from the poster and following you with his gaze for months to come. Look for this to hit outside of Russia sometime in... ah, who are we kidding? Enjoy the pics from afar, and in case you're wondering, that phrase on the blue poster translates to "time for you to play!" [Thanks, Michael and Mitch]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCVII: NOKLA Batman Mobile phone gets all its signals crossed
Look, in real life, we all know that Batman's car is called the Batmobile, NOT the Batman Mobile, and to be perfectly honest, we don't know why it ever seemed like a good idea to name a phone after an auto anyway, but then again: it does look rather... awesome. No, it doesn't look like the most comfortable phone, but as the Dark Knight himself would surely tell you, life is full of pain. This GSM bad mother's boasting a whole host of whack features, including an FM radio, and a "pixel high definition camera," plus "basic functions," but we all know this one's purely about style -- which it's got to spare. This bad boy seems to be currently available in China, and while we doubt we'll ever see it on shores of the U.S., we can tell you this: we'd be willing to pay at least twenty-five dollars to add this to our NOKLA collection. There are a few more stunners after the break.
Keepin' it real fake, part CCV: Sonia F2 doesn't do Idou justice
Sony Ericsson's Idou is still a ways off -- possibly October according to some reports -- but if you're jonesing for the form factor now, or if you find the 12.1 megapixel camera somehow intimidating, Sonia's KIRF-tacular F2 might be right up your alley. The doppelganger eschews a Symbian-powered OS in favor of Android, shrinks the screen by about half an inch diagonally, and even though its camera only shoots at 1.3 megapixels, it still says 12.1 on the back, which should be just enough to convince your friends before you quickly hide it back in your pocket and slyly change the subject. Read - SpecsRead - Hands-on pics
Keepin' it real fake, part CCIV: Nokla beats Nokia to the touchscreen N98 punch
Good ol' Nokla, with its punny branding and utter shameless, has taken upon itself to build the touchscreen N98, based on a sketchy Nokia concept that was making the rounds last year and never materialized. There's a 3-inch QVGA screen and dual-sim support, but things lean into the realm of Nokia parody with the complete lack of 3G or EDGE data. The worst part is that this phone actually looks kind of nice. All this unintentional humor can be yours for a mere $78.[Via SlashGear]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCIII: New York Times undercover edition
When the New York Times sent one of its ace reporters to Shenzhen to check out the KIRF scene, they came to a startling conclusion: these things are really quite popular. And why not? Your iPhone might be a terrific device, but is it really $400 better than the Hi-Phone, or the iorgane? Well, it's probably $400 better than the iorgane -- we'll give you that one. The article sites a general lack of concern from the Chinese government, new technology such as Mediatek's turnkey circuit board solution, and a significant drop in the price of parts as reasons that knock-off phones are so prominent in that part of the world. There is also a bit of cultural pride at work, too: purchasing "shanzhai" technology is sometimes seen as a way to thumb your nose at the big players in the industry and throw some work to your local bandit. That said, we do have to cry foul at the way the paper lumps our beloved Meizu M8 in with the usual assortment of knock-offs: the thing sports nary an Apple (or "organe") on its handsome exterior. Check out the price breakdown on a typical $40 KIRF after the break.[Thanks, Ben]
Keepin' it real fake, part CCII: meticulous G1 clone forgets the keyboard, a reason for being
We were already scratching our heads over the SciPhone Dream G2+, which went to all the trouble of ripping off Android for little apparent reason -- most of the OS is free for the taking. Well, things just got weirder with the new "G1 Quad band GSM Google Android Style Touch Screen Mobile phone." The handset not only has a fake version of Android, but also mimics the G1's looks pretty extensively -- ironic for a phone that was a bit long in the design tooth by the time it hit the market, despite its adorability factor. The fake G1 also lacks a slide-out keyboard, and we're having trouble making out the trackball -- it might be fake as well. We suppose a 3.5mm headphone jack would be a bit much to ask for?[Thanks, Patrick K.]
Engadget Podcast 143 - 04.24.2009
In case you aren't hip to the Twittersphere, Josh, Nilay, Paul and Engadget's own Twitter bot put out their feelers for listener questions this week, and got a lot of great material for discussion. Inquisitive minds wanted to know which wild conjectures these fine men believe about the Zune HD, how particularly evil Time Warner Cable is, and other matters related to Chinese phone manufacturers and The End Times. If you failed to seize upon this opportunity to ask, or found your own question heartlessly ignored, make sure to take advantage of the various avenues of contact listed below and ask away! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Ghostbusters 00:02:36 - Is this the Zune HD? 00:23:08 - Time Warner Cable lays out broadband capping plans, says $150 for "unlimited" use 00:28:25 - Time Warner Cable to axe DOCSIS 3.0 trials without tiered billing? 00:33:53 - Time Warner and Embarq can't compete with city-owned ISP, trying to outlaw it 00:47:37 - Ugobe files for bankruptcy, Pleo facing extinction 00:53:28 - Keepin' it real fake 01:09:03 - T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 video hands-on Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Keepin' it real fake, part CXCIX: NokiPhone N3000i dual slider is one part N95, two parts iPhone, and six parts win
Combining two pretty great ideas in a way that is all kinds of illegal in the US, the China-produced NokiPhone N3000i looks to be a pretty straightforward iPhone ripoff with bonus N95-esque dual slider capabilities. The GSM smartphone's got 3.2-inch QVGA screen, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, dual SIM support, microSD slot, and video recording capabilities. Price of admission is $129 right now, which according to chinagrabber is a hefty discount from its $400 MSRP. Your move, NOKLA.[Via PMP Today]
Lenovo's Android-powered OPhone gets hands-on video treatment
It's always nice to get an update on one of our favorite KIRFs as of late. Lenvo's Android-powered OPhone has popped up in a hands-on video, showing off its mock-iPhone OS interface and all the doppelganger apps / features -- weather, stock, calculator and even a near-identical push notification window. Surprisingly, it's actually pretty well put together and includes some things we wish our legit Apple phone would do, like on-screen widgets and an option to change backgrounds. It'll be a cold day in Hell before we see this serial patent infringer outside of China, so for now you'll have to get your OPhone kicks by checking out the video after the break.[Thanks, Neerhaj]
Keepin' it real fake, part CXCVI: NOKLA 5800 XpressMusic is actually quite convincing on video
NOKLA strikes again! The Hong Kong-based doppelganger has concocted its own version of the 5800 XpressMusic, and it looks like they've spared no expense in copying the Finnish phonemaker's handiwork, from the apparent use of Symbian S60 5th Edition to the wavy line-infused screen film. Vietnamese retailer L. A. digital's selling it for 1,900,000 VND, or about $107 US. Peep the video after the break to see this grade-A KIRF unboxed and toyed with.[Via Daily Mobile]
Keepin' it real fake, part CXCV: NOKLA N97 drops two i's, fools no one
Make no mistake, the Chinese-bound NOKLA N97 has neither Finnish origins nor any connection to a certain KIRF-friendly mobile OS. Specs include a large screen, an OK button, absolutely no slide-out keyboard, the words 'N97' in the top left corner, and an utter sense of despondency for those who actually pay money for this.[Via Daily Mobile]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXXVII: the Toshiba TG01 doesn't deserve this kind of love
Toshiba definitely made some waves at MWC with the Snapdragon-powered TG01, but you'll have to wait a while to get the real thing -- or you can front like you're VIP with the Venus JXD318 here, which cops all the style with none of the substance. You'll have to keep your friends at a distance (and possibly a little drunk) to keep the illusion alive, however: Venus didn't see fit to clone Tosh's stripes UI, instead going with the sadly-ubiquitous "wannabe iPhone" look, and the whole thing is controlled by those five tiny side buttons, since it's not a touchscreen. That's a pretty weak effort, overall -- come on, KIRFers, you can do better.[Via PMP Today]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXIX: AURA clone loses a vowel and a lot of class
Despite finding it incredibly luscious to behold, we realize not everyone can afford to drop $2,000 on a piece of pocket jewelery like the Motorola AURA -- ourselves sadly included. Regardless, we would never advise anyone to go the KIRF route, and that includes the RicT-007 AVRA. It looks to offer something of the etched beauty of Moto's choice handset but lacks the exclusivity, cherry wood packaging, and, we presume, the solid feel of the real thing. Yes that ¥750 price (about $100) is mighty tempting, but resist, fair readers, resist. [Via Engadget Chinese]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXVIII: Canon doesn't suck edition
You know what Canon doesn't make? Right, Vacuum cleaners. Obvious to us but according to the site English Russian, a large Russian electronics supplier recently bought what they believed to be genuine Canon-made Vacuum cleaners. Why not, after all, that logo slapped all over the manuals and device is a straight rip from the Japanese company. The KIRF-co even has the audacity to host a Russian site registered to Gold Space Inc. at www.canon-electonics.com (the official Canon Electronics site is canon-elec.co.jp) which, ambient music aside, is nothing but a portal into an empty consumer abyss. A call to the company's New York support number results in an "invalid number" recording. Surpising.
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXV: The SMS walkie-talkie roundup
We know, the holiday season is officially kaput, but if you still owe that niece or nephew a gift and you feel like teaching them tech-savvy and brand loyalty, you might want to consider one of these KIRF walkie-talkies / organizers that let you send text messages in addition to voice calls in the same vein as that Slide Click we saw back in the day. Trust us, typing on a small keyboard or numpad is one of the best skills they can have when they grow up -- it's a lot more practical than the Morse code we learned back in our day. The lone exception here is the feature-less RAZR knockoff that does voice-only -- hey, it's only fitting that the one phone here that doesn't knock off a smartphone have less features.[Thanks, James]Read - Discovery Exclusive Pink Slide and Text Messengers (Sidekick)Read - iChat SMS Text Messenger/Chat Talkies (Blackberry)Read - iText SMS Text Messenger (iPhone)Read - Discovery Exclusive Flip Phone Walkie-Talkies (RAZR)
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXIV: MiWi2 Wiipoff spotted in London shop
We're pretty sure that Nintendo doesn't have anything to fear when it comes to the MiWi2, a Wii knockoff that was first spotted by Engadget Korea back in June. However, we were surprised to see the fake on sale somewhere outside of Asia -- or really anywhere for that matter. Yes, unknowing parents may have accidentally snagged one of these rip-offs instead of the real deal at an unnamed London shop, but rest assured, your little darlings probably let you know once they unwrapped it and realized you got them the wrong damn thing.[Thanks, Kasam]
Keepin' it real fake, part CLXVII: 2PG PSP knockoff adds second controller, nothing else
The 2PG TC8281 is one hard working portable game console -- and trust us, it ain't easy trying to make a living under the shadow of the PSP and its less expensive (and downright irreputable) siblings. Don't blame the poor guy if he was born with "brand name style," as they say in the business -- what he lacks in originality, or in technological ability, he more than makes up for in hard work. Yours for just under $50, this handheld is compatible with the ever-popular Cool Boy game console, and ships with 117 games (5 on-board, 112 on the cartridge) including Milk Nuts, Space ET, Zippy Race and perennial favorite Mappy. And if all that weren't enough, the device includes A/V outputs for bringing the party to your television, and a separate Playstation-like controller so you can get your game on multi-player style. Ready to take a chance? More pictures after the break.[Via Technabob]
Keepin' it real fake, part CXLI: if the Nokia E90 had the keyboard from hell
In case you've mastered the time-honored QWERTY configuration to the point that using such keyboards bores you right into a peaceful slumber, we present to you this beacon of intelligent industrial design and usability, the device known simply as "E9000." The Nokia E90 rip features what can only be described as one of the most nightmarish bastardizations of the QWERTY layout we've ever seen, planting a touchpad (or something) square in the middle of where you'd expect a bunch of keys to be. The good news, we guess, is that the "Fashion" label silkscreened onto the back should reassure buyers that they're investing in some of the finest lookin' kit money can buy -- just don't expect to be able to type worth a damn.[Thanks, facelessloser]
