Pocket PCs Masquerade as iPods

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Pocket PCs Masquerade as iPods

Posted by pudge on Tuesday March 9, 2004 @06:39AM from the i-smell-a-lawsuit dept.

agwadude writes "Wired News has a story about a British software firm called StarBrite that is selling a virtual iPod that runs on Microsoft's PocketPC operating system. It mimics the iPod interface exactly, including the unique scroll wheel. It's a mere $20 but this seems right considering it's only software, and it only supports MP3. MacDailyNews has a shorter story."

32 of 334 comments (clear)

KAPUTT by locknloll · 2004-03-09 06:40 · Score: 4, Funny

or as we say in German: slashdotted. Darn.

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-- Power corrupts, but PowerPoint corrupts absolutely.
And they already appear to be gone by JudgeFurious · 2004-03-09 06:42 · Score: 3, Funny

Fastest reaction time from Apple lawyers ever. Man those guys are good (or bad, depending on how you think of it).

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Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Difference by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-09 06:42 · Score: 5, Funny

It's a mere $20 but this seems right considering it's only software, and it only supports MP3.

Well, there's where the iPod emulation starts to fall apart. It should be $60+ if they want to emulate more of the experience. ;)
1. Re:Difference by Stavr0 · 2004-03-09 06:52 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  In order to really emulate the experience, it comes with a bottle of epoxy to glue your PDA's battery in place so you can't ever replace it.
2. Re:Difference by bennomatic · 2004-03-09 06:52 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Apparently, they even had a feature that caused the virtual battery to fail after 18 months, but Apple Legal forced them to remove that... Something about a patented business model.
  
  --
  The CB App. What's your 20?
Too many levels of indirection... by D-Cypell · 2004-03-09 06:43 · Score: 5, Funny

A piece of software mimicing an IPod running on a piece of software mimicing an operating system.
This is so cool... by blorg · 2004-03-09 06:46 · Score: 5, Funny

Now I can get an iPod mini on the cheap:

$250 PDA
$400 4gb Hitachi CF microdrive
$20 for this software

and the Apple lawsuit?

Priceless.
1. Re:This is so cool... by modecx · 2004-03-09 07:32 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  $400 4gb Hitachi CF microdrive
  
  But in all fairness, you can Strip the CF drive from the mini-iPod, for the low, low price of $250!
  
  Just saved yourself $150! Sounds like a great deal to me! ;)
  
  --
  Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
2. Re:This is so cool... by N0decam · 2004-03-09 09:46 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I think you mean "Look and feel" :)
  
  The touch-n-feel defendant you're thinking of is probably Michael Jackson - slightly different.
Reminds me of a CmdrTaco saying... by Llywelyn · 2004-03-09 06:46 · Score: 4, Funny

No extra functionality, MP3 only, not an iPod, and it only runs on top of MS software. Lame.

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Integrate Keynote and LaTeX
Re:Missing something? by Llywelyn · 2004-03-09 06:49 · Score: 2, Funny

Of course it is! Everyone I know got an iPod just to play with the bricks...

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Integrate Keynote and LaTeX
Re:Very Awesome by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-09 06:50 · Score: 3, Funny

but it couldn't hurt to stiffen up some parts
That's what SHE said...
Oh, brother... by switcha · 2004-03-09 06:53 · Score: 4, Funny

Neither does the pPod software magically enhance the limited storage capacity of most Pocket PCs, which typically have up to 64 MB of internal memory, enough for about a dozen songs.
*YAAAAAAWN*
Hold still little pig. I just have some lipstick I want to put on you...

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You know what? ... A little club soda *did* get that out!
Anonymous spokesperson? by Halo1 · 2004-03-09 06:53 · Score: 4, Funny

"It works exactly the same way, except it's software and it costs $20," said a spokesman for the company, who wished to remain anonymous.
What's next, presidential candidates that want to remain anonymous?

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Re:Old News by y0bhgu0d · 2004-03-09 06:59 · Score: 3, Funny

wow. i am now dumber having read the comments in that thread.

several people suggested that it was legal because HP has licensed iPod development from Apple... because the pictures showed an iPaq running the software.

they claimed that this was HP's iPod.

ow. ow. ow.
Re:"only supports MP3" by SengirV · 2004-03-09 07:02 · Score: 4, Funny

So it doesn't support the invasive copy-protected bullshit Apple pushes through their iTunes store? This is a bad thing how?
You just keep on buying your $19 CDs for one song and don't mind what the rest of us are doing. But I'm sure you are just stealing hte music and you expect everyone to give you everything for free. Move out of your mom's basement and join the real world.

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Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"
Re:Another Example of Apple doing things right... by Kenja · 2004-03-09 07:03 · Score: 4, Funny

I just downloaded the latest version on an Atari ST emulator. Atari must be doing great, why else whould people be copying their every move.

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"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
Re:software... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-09 07:07 · Score: 1, Funny

You said the b-word in an iPod topic discussion.

Prepare to be modded down as flamebait.
Did Apple's Lawyers post this story? by wdavies · 2004-03-09 07:08 · Score: 4, Funny

Wow, a lot cheaper, than launching an international legal court case. Just get em slashdotted...

Think Different.
Re:It's the software + the hardware by TVC15 · 2004-03-09 07:09 · Score: 5, Funny

> it's the UI that really makes it - the fact that you can get to
> any one of 10k songs really really quickly and easily, with one
> hand.

what are you listening to that you need one hand free? ;-) and where can I get some?
Almost right by Jaguar777 · 2004-03-09 07:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Posted by pudge on 13:39 09 March 2004
from the i-smell-a-lawsuit dept.

Shouldn't that be the iSmell-a-lawsuit dept.?

--
Maybe you should educate the morons of tomorrow so they'll stop believing the leaders of tomorrow. - Dogbert
Re:iPod for PPC Overkill? by TioHoltzman · 2004-03-09 07:26 · Score: 2, Funny

even to the extent of dagging them from my Linux box).

Cool that must be a part of the new Gnome HIG for Dag and Dop. Can't wait till I can do that on Windoze...
**Sniff** **Sniff-Sniff** by Dark+Paladin · 2004-03-09 07:33 · Score: 2, Funny

What's that - that smell?

I can almost - *sniff* - yes, like rancid meat and sugar.

Good Lord! Apple released the lawyers! Everybody, run for your lives!

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52 Weeks, 52 Religions with John Hummel
Re:Twice as much? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-09 07:51 · Score: 1, Funny

Heck, I can fit my old Palm V and my old 5GB ipod in the same pocket of my jeans!

Fatass.
Re:Missing something? by cayenne8 · 2004-03-09 07:57 · Score: 4, Funny

The article said: ""To whip out an iPaq with iPod-like UI is like wearing a fake Fendi," "
I thought...what the hell is a Fendi???

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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Slashdotted! by rixstep · 2004-03-09 08:06 · Score: 2, Funny

StarBrite became StarDimm - 'Service Unavailable'.
Masquerade? Every face a different shade... by gen-patton · 2004-03-09 08:15 · Score: 2, Funny

This can hardly be called a masquerade... only if by "masquerade" you mean Quasimodo in a tuxedo.
- Brian
Re:It's the software + the hardware by Unregistered · 2004-03-09 08:51 · Score: 4, Funny

It's like when you're driving. Since you have a cell phone in one hand, you only have one left for the ipod.
You insensitive clod! by That's+Unpossible! · 2004-03-09 09:02 · Score: 3, Funny

He only has one hand!

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Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
Re:But Apple doesn't have a real legal leg to stan by ConceptJunkie · 2004-03-09 09:22 · Score: 2, Funny

You're referring to Lotus 1-2-3, not Notes. No one in their right mind would ever consider stealing that East German war surplus 16-color user interface from Notes. I had the unfortunate necessity to use Notes for about 5 months last year and it vividly reminded me what software was like in the 1980's. The scariest thing about Notes was that I'd used it briefly in '96 and '97 and in 6 years it hadn't improved one bit.

All I have to say is that if the Soviet government had lasted long enough to use Windows software it would have been Notes.

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You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
Re:iPod for PPC Overkill? by lysium · 2004-03-09 09:44 · Score: 2, Funny

I no longer have the desite to possess a single specialized device for every eFunction in my life...I love just having it *ALL* on my Samsung.
You are an Emacs user, aren't you...
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Together, we will drive the rats from the tundra.
Re:Missing something? by antic · 2004-03-09 11:35 · Score: 3, Funny

Oh come on, any remotely attentive guy with a girlfriend* will know what a Fendi is!

* Note: Said guy must also have been tricked into watching Sex and the City on the odd occasion, and has also been dragged through rip-off markets in Ventimiglia on the border of France and Italy, and then dragged through more rip-off markets in Beijing, and paraded past the real-deals on Champs d'Elysee, in Canne, Nice, Antibes, Monaco, Hong Kong, Singapore, Luzerne, Madrid, Florence, etc.

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'Thats they exact same thing a banana wrench monkey.'