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Chinese Pirates Copy iPhone, Make Improvements

Posted by Zonk on from the that's-the-entrepreneurial-spirit dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Popular Science notes that manufacturers in China duplicate many well-know products. This includes the Apple iPhone, imitations of which are rolling off the assembly line already. That might actually be a good thing for some users, who might enjoy the user experience of China's own miniOne. 'It ran popular mobile software that the iPhone wouldn't. It worked with nearly every worldwide cellphone carrier, not just AT&T, and not only in the U.S. It promised to cost half as much as the iPhone and be available to 10 times as many consumers.' The cloned iPhone uses a Linux-based system. 'The cloners hire a team of between 20 and 40 engineers to begin decoding the circuit boards. At the same time, coders start to develop an operating system for the phone with a similar feature set. (The typical cloner either uses off-the-shelf code, writes something entirely new, or modifies a publicly available Linux-based system.)' Using the iPhone as an example, the PopSci site walks through the process of making imitation technology."

18 of 716 comments (clear)

  1. As with all knockoffs by Joebert · · Score: 2, Funny

    iGroan.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
    1. Re:As with all knockoffs by porkThreeWays · · Score: 3, Funny

      Pfft. I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see it. And look, there's Magnetbox and Sorny.

      Listen, I'm not going to lie to you. Those are all superior machines. But if you like to watch your TV, and I mean _really_ watch it, you want the Carnivale'. It features two-pronged wall plug, pre-molded hand grip well, durable outer casing to prevent fallapart...

      --
      If an officer ever threatens to taze you, say you have a pacemaker.
    2. Re:As with all knockoffs by lottameez · · Score: 3, Funny

      chiPhone

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      Yeah? Well I think you're overrated too.
  2. Cool! by FatSean · · Score: 2, Funny

    Capitalism puts the smack down on the hippy dippy Apple company once again!

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    Blar.
    1. Re:Cool! by kestasjk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Argh! Do I side with Linux and anti-patenting, or with Apple and anti-outsourcing? It's a slashdotter's nightmare choice.

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      // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
    2. Re:Cool! by Sapphon · · Score: 3, Funny

      So, you're saying, Fascism != Cubism? ^_^

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      Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.
  3. Yes, but.. by Sandbox+Conspiracy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will it kill my cat?

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    Why am I on Slashdot? I'm bored. Why am I bored? I'm on Slashdot.
    1. Re:Yes, but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Will it blend?

  4. Damn those Communist Chinese! by erroneus · · Score: 5, Funny

    They are using "free market" ideals against us! What are they trying to do to us by making things we want, less expensive and less restrictive? But there's one thing the Chinese can't duplicate! That "Apple Logo" (tm) that makes me feel smart, warm and cozy every time I buy one of their products. At first, I found myself wanting to buy anything with an "i" in front of the name, but then I realized I was just being an iDiot (tm). Now I look for the Apple mark on it before I buy because then I know I will be happy... just look at all those happy people dancing! It's because of Apple right?

  5. yes, but... by accessdeniednsp · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, this is truly wondrous and all that jazz, but... will it blend?

  6. Inevitable conclusion... by aapold · · Score: 4, Funny

    They will eventually just clone Steve Jobs. I mean its an essential part of the i-brand experience, no?

    Oh, sure the first versions will be of low quality - arrogant, angry, prone to bouts of outrage, hubris, violence.... posing a danger to all those around him..... but in time they will improve and eventually make a better Steve Jobs than the original.

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    "Waste not one watt!" - CZ
    1. Re:Inevitable conclusion... by Hanners1979 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh, sure the first versions will be of low quality - arrogant, angry, prone to bouts of outrage, hubris, violence.... posing a danger to all those around him.....

      It's no big deal, they can just sell them as Steve Ballmer clones.

  7. Re:Lots of cool products by nurb432 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So dont eat your China-Iphone.

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  8. Re:Not an improvement by Threni · · Score: 5, Funny

    No 3G..Battery soldered in...wait, that's the original iPhone!

  9. Essence of Capitalism by Ultra64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The new fragrance from Calvin Klein.

    1. Re:Essence of Capitalism by hesiod · · Score: 4, Funny

      Smells like $#!%, but I have to love it... It's too damn expensive NOT to!

  10. But will it Blend? by TheeBlueRoom · · Score: 2, Funny

    and can I get a side of noodles?

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    I wish I was clever!
  11. They should call it the 'iClone' by spiedrazer · · Score: 2, Funny

    What... I'd buy one!

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    Keep passing the open windows...