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ipod

03/17/2005, 3:55pm, EST

Thursday, March 17th

Chinese manufacturer offers iPod mini knockoff

A company in China is producing an imitation of Apple's 4GB iPod mini. Unlike the Super shuffle -- a nearly identical copy of the iPod shuffle -- this device does not resemble the authentic product as closely. It does, however, borrow the general appearance of the Mini. While it may not look exactly like Apple's iPod mini, the imitation is marketed using the iPod name in an obvious attempt to confuse consumers. The device lacks the iPod's trademark scroll wheel, but attempts to mimic the scroll wheel's appearance by arranging the navigation buttons in a ring around the center button. The device appears to be available in a two-piece silver enclosure only. It also adds features not found in the iPod mini.

The device offers line-in recording as well as voice recoding via line-in inputs for a built-in internal microphone. The battery offers 12 hours of playback, according to the website. It also offer "optional" features such as an FM Tune, MP3 line-in encoding, and support for MP3, WMA, DRM WMA, ADPCM files. The drive is available as a OEM product to resellers and manufacturers and has no retail price.


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well
0
03/17, 4:11pm, EST
that'll last about a week.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 1999
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egads
0
03/17, 4:24pm, EST
they're even calling it an ipod...
Junior Member
Joined Jul 2000
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OK
0
03/17, 4:32pm, EST
Let me know when there is a report of a CEO of a Chinese company that dresses in turtlenecks, abuses his employees, makes a really high quality product and is obsessed with the Beatles.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2002
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I like it!
0
03/17, 4:42pm, EST
It can't play audiobooks and it doesn't have iTunes, but it DOES have FM radio if the conditions are just right to get a clear signal! That's perfect for when all the FM radios I already own are broken!
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wow
0
03/17, 4:42pm, EST
I'm really susprized they call it an Ipod...I'm glad I doN't live China...you start a great business then the guy across the street opens a store just like yours...

But even in picture this knock off looks crazy cheap.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 2003
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Will be interesting
0
03/17, 4:53pm, EST
to see how Apple weathers the storm. While I think Apple should take every available legal step it can, I am noticing all the anti-Apple folks on other boards are all for the knock-offs. Since imitation is the sincerely form of flattery, so they say, Apple will need to tread carefully and make sure the PR side is working overtime.
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Joined Jun 2003
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darn you steve jobs
0
03/17, 5:16pm, EST
That big mouth blabbermouth Steve Jobs had to announce the ipod mini at Mac World, and now we have a rip-off company producing this product.

the man just doesn't know how to keep a trade secret.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 2004
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They call it an IPOD Mini
0
03/17, 5:16pm, EST
They have the nerve to call it the same thing as what Apple calls there product only using capital letters. Yea, like Apple is going to ignore it because they capitalize the name. Apple's legal is going to be busy with both the supershuffle and now this new IPOD MINI.
Both will lose in court.
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Joined Apr 2002
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Another copycat/fake.
0
03/17, 5:24pm, EST
Well, I think they need to get some artistic class or design school to be a little more orginal.
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Re: I like it!
0
03/17, 7:12pm, EST
It can't play audiobooks and it doesn't have iTunes, but it DOES have FM radio if the conditions are just right to get a clear signal! That's perfect for when all the FM radios I already own are broken!

The FM radio is an OPTIONAL feature on the knockoff.

I can only hope that Apple has registered the "iPod" trademark in China already.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Dec 2002
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