“As young consumers scramble to snap up Apple Computers’ iPod series of portable music players, imitation products have inevitably popped up on the market. Some of these, only available through somewhat circuitous channels over the Internet, sail very close to the wind in imitating Apple’s now iconic products. These rip-offs can cost as little as half the price of the real thing, and their functions and appearance are, at first glance, indisting-uishable from real iPods. The giveaway is that they are currently only available online or after setting up an appointment,” Daniel Cheng reports for The Taipei Times. “These imitation iPods go under the name of the Nano Apple. According to a representative of the manufacturer, who would only give her surname as Chang, the devices are manu-factured in China and marketed in Taiwan under a number of different brands.”
Cheng reports, “Chinese-language media reports have suggested that the knockoff nanos do not have the same guarantee of quality as the originals, pointing out that they are made in China. Apple’s own iPods are also made in China, and in a phone interview with Taipei Times, Chang said that her company, also provided full after service. According to Chang, the Nano Apple can be returned within seven days of purchase with the original receipt and packaging for a full refund. ‘We provide after-sales service and irresistible functions that a real iPod nano is not able to offer. It is a simply a matter of supply and demand,’ said Chang.”
Full article with image of the knockoff product here. Direct link to large photo of knockoff in white and black here.
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the link doesn’t work. I wanna see this thing.
Try this link, it’s just the image and may load faster, it’s small
http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2006/04/23/thumbs/20060422183018.jpeg
It’s just like the other copies shown here previously
im assuming they dont work with itunes? :s or do they?
The link works now and they don’t even look close to an iPod nano. There ugly and use buttons instead of the scroll pad.
“These rip-offs can cost as little as half the price of the real thing, and their functions and appearance are, at first glance, indisting-uishable from real iPods. “
Indisting-uishable?
http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2006/04/23/20060422183018.jpeg
If we know about it, Apple legal has known about it for at least a week.
Time for another lawsuit.
After Apple patents and creates the new display with the camera built into the display (see story about patent) I am sure Sony or some-other-Asian-sweat-shop-labor brand will come out with a knockoff.
Philip: “Terence, do you like Apples?”
Terence: “Why yes, I do Philip.”
Philip: *FART* “How about THEM apples?”
Question: If you buy one of these “Nano Apples” on the road, is it a road apple?
Those knock-offs look cheap.
I’ll add it to the collection of items I’ve bought in China…
My Roleks watch, my R-Mani suit, and my So-Knee! Videocamera.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31049
China blows.
Uncyclopedia White
ROFLMAO
(I posted this in the last “counterfeit iPod” article, but the discussion had turned into a political flamewar by then, so I don’t think anyone read it. I’ll try again…)
TOP TEN SIGNS YOUR IPOD MAY BE COUNTERFEIT
10. The free “iToozhn” software attempts to steal your bank information.
9. The included USB2 cable is actually a small piece of string and a paperclip.
8. It comes preloaded with the complete Beatles library.
7. To do a hard reset, you need to turn it upside down and shake it vigorously.
6. The wooden body of the iPod is poorly carved.
5. Apple logo replaced with Nike “swoosh”.
4. Emits moans when click wheel stroked.
3. Instructions say “Please DO eat iPod shuffle”, and lists nutrition information.
2. Has FM radio built in
And the number sign your iPod may be counterfeit…
1. You actually found one a week before Christmas!
Re: Chian Blows. yes they do. they blow their savings on buying American debt
I don’t think they are only available on the internet. I see something very similar being sold at a computer show in central New Jersey this past weekend.
We’re becoming more and more intertwined. National debt and production become someone else’s livelihood. It’s all gambling.
If, for whatever reason, China stops buying US debt issues, we are, beyond a shadow of a doubt, going to be SOL. And I mean big time.
Jay–
Not really. The US is really chugging along, despite many effirts to assert otherwise.
There is a vested interest for the US to stay afloat. The current debt is a small fraction of total GDP.
Don’t pay attention to the politics.
My friend bought one of these and it looks like cheap crap, feels like cheap crap, and plays/acts like cheap crap.
Only a blind/deaf parapalegic could ever mistake one of these things for a real Nano.
Daniel Cheng is an idiot.
they only have like 256mb, my friend here in china has one
Apple…..Music?
Apple…..Music.
Guys, wait up!! I’ve got Yoko Ono on the phone!!
These iPod nano rip-offs are on the Taiwanese Yahoo auction site.
I suggest everyone does high bids for these nanos to screw up the auction of these rip-offs.
“Only a blind/deaf parapalegic could ever mistake one of these things for a real Nano.”
And there’s your market.