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ipod

05/27/2005, 2:20pm, EDT

Friday, May 27th

iPod mini knockoff appears in German catalog

German retailer Plus will reportedly begin selling a China-made iPod mini knockoff, which first debuted in March. At the time, the device was being marketed using the iPod name. However, it appears the device will be called "micromaxx 42452" in Germany. While not identical in appearance to the iPod mini, the device could confuse the untrained eye. 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. It also offers "optional" features such as an FM Tuner, MP3 line-in encoding, and support for MP3, WMA, DRM WMA, ADPCM files. Meanwhile, Apple is considering legal action to prevent the sale of Medion AG's MP3 music player, according to a report in Spiegel magazine that cites "unnamed sources."


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leamanc
Funny...
0
05/27, 3:24pm, EDT
Click the link to the German catalog site, then click the picture of the iPod mini rip-off. This takes you to a page with four iPod minis and the following text:

Apples iPod mini: Kopie ist die schönste Form der Anerkennung

Which roughly translates to "Apple's iPod mini: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
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jimothy
Catchy name!
0
05/27, 3:38pm, EDT
Though personal I would have gone with micromaxx 42453.
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MChieh
Ugly User Interface
0
05/27, 3:56pm, EDT
Copycat appearance and low price aren't gonna sell for this knockoff. The UI is ugly enough to not even want it.
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benhur
Seriously . . .
0
05/27, 4:28pm, EDT
that outght to be a crime. It's much too identical.

Although, I wish Apple would copy the micromaxx 42452 (how ridiculous) and offer an FM tuner and perhaps recording. Still waiting for this from Apple.
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bigpoppa206
and another difference
0
05/27, 4:34pm, EDT
will be when the thing dies in the first 3 months and the company says, opps...too bad and your warranty isn't worth the paper ts written on.
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Peter Bonte
Price
0
05/27, 4:36pm, EDT
Its only 20 euro cheaper than the mini not a big bargain and the extra features are mostly ballast. But its Europe where brands other than Apples iPod also sell reasonably good, its a young market for MP3 players. Someone i know didn't buy a iPod because he thought that he could only play music form the iTunes store, better get a good add running over here. :P
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ender
Re: Ugly User Interface
0
05/27, 4:38pm, EDT
Sure, but the problem is that people will see it, think it's an iPod, see how crappy the interface is, and conclude that iPods have crappy interfaces.

It's one thing for someone to get away with this in China where piracy is practically a state condoned activity, but I sure hope Apple's lawyers in Germany are all over this one!
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klinux
China-made?
0
05/27, 4:47pm, EDT
What's the point? So what if it is China made? As if Apple's iBook, Powerbook, iPod, etc are not made in China or Taiwan?
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testudo
Re: and another differenc
0
05/27, 5:21pm, EDT
will be when the thing dies in the first 3 months and the company says, opps...too bad and your warranty isn't worth the paper ts written on.

As opposed to Apple, where you'll have to jump through hoops to get a replacement. Hope you weren't expecting a 'new' replacement, either!

It's one thing for someone to get away with this in China where piracy is practically a state condoned activity, but I sure hope Apple's lawyers in Germany are all over this one!

Umm, piracy IS a state-condoned practice in China. Esp. if its being done by a state-run company (aren't most/all of them state-run?)
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beeble
klinux
0
05/27, 6:37pm, EDT
So what's YOUR point? No one here has complained about it being made in China, only that China appears to condone, if not outright foster piracy. Is someone trying to flame bait again??
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