Keepin’ it real fake: Nckia’s N-Gage knockoff harkens back to a simpler, side-talkin’ era

Imagine a world where Nokia’s N-Gage is the mobile platform of choice — there’s no iOS, no Android, and Nintendo’s 3D ventures ended mercifully with the Virtual Boy. It’s a world where the Nckia NG belongs. In our universe, a knockoff of the stillborn Nokia 7700 doesn’t make a heck of a lot of sense, even with a MicroSD slot and added buttons for dialing. And then there’s the fact that the handset runs a JAVA OS that doesn’t exactly offer a bounty of mobile gaming choices — which was sort of the whole point of the N-Gage. As for other familiar features, we can’t be sure that this will be the rebirth of side-talkin’, but with what could be a speaker slot on the side, we’ve got our fingers crossed. No word on pricing, but if you’re truly nostalgic for a time that never was, you can pick one up from Huaqiangbei in Shenzhen. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Keepin’ it real fake: Nckia’s N-Gage knockoff harkens back to a simpler, side-talkin’ era

Keepin’ it real fake: Nckia’s N-Gage knockoff harkens back to a simpler, side-talkin’ era originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink M.I.C. Gadget  |  sourceM8 Cool  | Email this | Comments

iPhone nano may not exist, but this KIRF does

While the folks “familiar with the matter” continue to debate over whether or not we’ll actually see a real life iPhone nano at some point in our lifetime, the crafty KIRFers in China have taken matters into their own — apparently undersized — hands. Yes people, what you see above is a Shanzhai-crafted shrunken iPhone 4 running an iOS rip-off based on Java, garnished with a 1.3 megapixel camera. All it takes is a measly ¥380 (approximately $58) to be the coolest kid on the block with the “next iPhone” — and maybe a quick trip to China.

iPhone nano may not exist, but this KIRF does originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGiz-China  | Email this | Comments

USB iHub is the perfect knockoff accessory for your Apple-centric existence

iHub

So, you waited in line for an iPad 2, snatched up an iPhone 4, and even bought one of those unofficial white conversion kits. You work all day on a MacBook Air with a Steve Jobs figurine sitting next to it on your desk — you’re exactly the person that the $9.99 iHub was created for. It’s not an official Apple product but, as far as knockoffs go, this is one of the more accurate facsimiles we’ve ever seen. This four-port USB hub looks quite a bit like an Apple TV, has a glowing logo up top, and comes in your choice of white or black. Even the packaging is convincingly Apple thanks to the clear plastic lid that lets you peek the wares within. Glimpse the glamor shots and the video below — we promise they’re 100-percent authentic, even if the iHub is not.

Gallery: The iHub 2

Continue reading USB iHub is the perfect knockoff accessory for your Apple-centric existence

USB iHub is the perfect knockoff accessory for your Apple-centric existence originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink NowhereElse  |  sourceM.I.C. Gadget, M.I.C. Store  | Email this | Comments

Keepin’ it real fake: the iPad Smart Cover done wrong (video)

Let’s be honest, the only time you’re likely to consider Apple’s prices for own-brand peripherals reasonable is when someone else is paying for them. It’s not unusual, therefore, for folks to look to complement their walled Apple garden with a few well selected accessories from the grey market. Such as this here Smart Cover knockoff, which saves you a whopping six bucks off the Apple price at only $33, comes with detachable (no user assistance required) hinge elements, and has a special pet-repelling odor as an added extra. Yes, it’s pretty terrible and self-destructs the moment you look at it. And, naturally, it’s available to watch on video right after the break.

Continue reading Keepin’ it real fake: the iPad Smart Cover done wrong (video)

Keepin’ it real fake: the iPad Smart Cover done wrong (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wired  |  sourceMIC Gadget  | Email this | Comments

China’s dead affected by iPad 2 shortages of a different sort

In life as in death, it seems, getting your hands on an iPad 2 is no easy feat. Reuters is reporting today that paper replicas of the tablet are selling out in parts of Asia, as revelers prepare to set the things ablaze during China’s Qingming festival Tuesday. As is tradition, paper versions of money, clothing, and, yes, consumer electronics are burned as offerings to the dead, and this year Apple’s latest slate is apparently all the rage for expired techies — one shopkeeper in Malaysia said his stock of 300 paper iPad 2s sold out quickly, leaving him unable to meet demand. Sounds strangely familiar, doesn’t it?

China’s dead affected by iPad 2 shortages of a different sort originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Switched  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover vs. InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket… Fight!

By now you’ve seen Apple’s Smart Cover, right? The mind blowing cover (don’t call it a case) pretty much stole the show during yesterday’s iPad 2 press event, causing children to weep at the sight of our exploded bodies. Thing is, we’ve seen the design before. Oh sure, Apple improved upon it significantly, but there’s no mistaking its InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket heritage. See the two slug it out on video after the break in some kind of weird reverse KIRF cage match. We guess 2011 really is the year of the copycats.

Continue reading Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover vs. InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket… Fight!

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover vs. InCase Convertible Magazine Jacket… Fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTechnologer, Notebooks.com  | Email this | Comments

EFO’s diminutive Google TV keyboard makes us laugh, cry, exclaim

Google’s remained fairly mum on its TV experiment ever since a number of major networks blocked Google TV devices from accessing their online content, but you can bet that Logitech and Sony are still doing everything they can to unload inventory. If — for whatever reason — you’ve found yourself in the precarious position of needing a backup keyboard, EFO‘s got a couple of comical solutions. The outfit’s new Google TV keyboard is named simply enough, and it’s also one of the smallest KB remotes in the history of KB remotes. That’s great for those who tend to shove their controlling devices into pockets and whatnot, and there’s even a touchpad that works vertically and horizontally — depending on preference, of course. Bluetooth ($75) and RF ($65) versions are available, with initial shipments to go out starting on the 15th. Head on past the break for a demo video, also known as the cutest thing you’ll see all day.

Continue reading EFO’s diminutive Google TV keyboard makes us laugh, cry, exclaim

EFO’s diminutive Google TV keyboard makes us laugh, cry, exclaim originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEFO (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Visualized: KIRFer’s paradise

Visualized: KIRFers paradise

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 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceCult of Mac  | Email this | Comments

Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds)

Unless you’ve been away from the Internet over the last few days, you would’ve no doubt heard about Woz’s special appearance at the Engadget Show on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, a few websites ran with some quotes that they pulled from our interview — specifically, the highlight was Woz “confirming” that the white iPhone 4 was indeed delayed due to camera issues. Well, I don’t think this is the case at all. In fact, I’m sure there are plenty of other good reasons for why Apple’s been delaying the much anticipated flavor of its flagship smartphone, but the camera just isn’t one of them. Head right past the break and all will be explained.

Update: Our man Woz has just responded in the comments:

I said plenty to make it clear that I know nothing of Apple’s reasons for rejecting anything ever. I told how when I got my white iPhone 4 assembled I tested the flash photos and they did indeed have problems. I spoke of testing flash photos versus non-flash ones and comparing flash photos between my white and black iPhones. I don’t recall saying that it was a ‘reason’ Apple rejected the parts although I had read that.

For the last part, we were referring to 0:55 in the interview video after the break, but now that Woz has spoken, it could’ve been a joke at the time that got misinterpreted by some websites. They tend to do that with Woz. Read on!

Continue reading Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds)

Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One out of every five cellphones sold is a KIRF, says Nokia

When your core business is as wrapped up in emerging markets as Nokia’s is, then you’d better know a little something about KIRFs — those cheap handset clones that our Chinese friends can often stamp out faster than the time it takes for Nokia to ship a handset after its announcement. Nokia executive board member, Esko Aho, says that one out of every five cellphones now sold around the world (primarily in Asia, Latin America, and some parts of Europe) is an illegal or unlicensed clone. We’ve certainly seen more than our share when browsing the Shenzhen markets of China. Gartner claims the number to be even higher than 20 percent. While we poke fun at KIRFs around here for their shoddy software, comically similar branding (Nokla!), and cheapo materials, they’ve clearly become a very serious issue for top-tier cellphone manufacturers. How serious we’ll see on January 27th when Nokia announces its fourth quarter results.

One out of every five cellphones sold is a KIRF, says Nokia originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments