***The Definitive iPhone Thread***

[sweetspot]

Screw the iPhone, just get the Chinese Knock off version of it which boasts 2 sim card slots, removable memory (SD I believe) and a true user removable battery: Chinese iPhone

Hows that for stealing !

edit: make note of the start up and shut down sounds !

[Step666]

Apart from possibly the dual-SIM support, it doesn't really offer anything apart from the inherent rick that it craps out and you're out of pocket.

Out of interest, how does it switch between the two SIMs?
Is it a menu function or can it access both simultaneously?

[musichound]

Great find! I wonder how much this one costs.

It's still a beast, however.

[Step666]

I still say that if you're prepared to lug something that size around you'd be better off with this.

[pachinkoman]

Originally Posted by sweetspot

Screw the iPhone, just get the Chinese Knock off version of it which boasts 2 sim card slots, removable memory (SD I believe) and a true user removable battery: Chinese iPhone

Hows that for stealing !

edit: make note of the start up and shut down sounds !

Just look out for the wayward pesticides

[luckymint1]

Originally Posted by Step666

I still say that if you're prepared to lug something that size around you'd be better off with this.

Of course it's way better than anything else, but it's a thousand bucks! I don't know if it's worth the price.

[Step666]

Yeah but that's for the very top-level device.
They offer non-3G ones and both models come in 4, 8 and 16GB models, so you could get it for less if you wanted.

Plus, the sounds like a handset only price.
If a network were to take it up, that would surely drop.

Or, you can also look at it this way, yes it's $400 more than the iPhone but it's twice the capacity, a better processor, a better screen and you're not tied into a crappy two year contract on a crappy network.

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by Step666

Yeah but that's for the very top-level device.
They offer non-3G ones and both models come in 4, 8 and 16GB models, so you could get it for less if you wanted.

Plus, the sounds like a handset only price.
If a network were to take it up, that would surely drop.

Or, you can also look at it this way, yes it's $400 more than the iPhone but it's twice the capacity, a better processor, a better screen and you're not tied into a crappy two year contract on a crappy network.

The person(s) selling that particular Miezu at this time have been called out as being a scam artist of some sort. It's not supposed to be released until December 08; and so the guy claims that he has it, and that's why it's so much. If I find the link again, I'll post it. When it hits retail you can expect it to be much, much less, unless it turns out to be vapor ware.

I thought that the info was in this thread, but now I don't recall. Anyway, this is from Howardforums, which I belong to and get info from for my Sony Ericsson W810 phone. The opinions about the iPone are partially biased, but you have to understand that these guys are looking at things from a purely "functional/feature laden" perspective, and not so much at the pretty factor of it all. It's interesting to note the opinions from such people because they're more into the geek side of the technology and how spending dollars on a phone isn't a big deal so long as it's worth it:

HOFO iPhone discussion

I'll still try and find that link about the guy selling the Meizu...

Oh, btw, as I was going home yesterday, at the 14th St Union Square station waiting for the 6 train, some guy was sitting on a bench waiting for the train, and a couple next to him were gawking at his what looked like an iPod, asking him: "that's it, right ? That's the one ?" The guy immediately lit up with glee, (though I have to admit, he wasn't geared up to display it to them in particular because they didn't exactly look like a couple who could afford such a device) as he noticed others walking over trying to catch a glimpse, of his iPone...

After the brief display, he kept on messing w/it and looking around to see if anyone was watching... Lame. I so badly wanted to tell him how un-revolutionary his expensive phone was...but I kept to myself. It was pretty revolting though to note how many people were gawking ....(including myself. )

[Step666]

What guy selling the Meizu?
The price we're on about is the one reported by Engadget that the phone is expected to cost - link.

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by Step666

What guy selling the Meizu?
The price we're on about is the one reported by Engadget that the phone is expected to cost - link.

Yep, gotcha.. But I think that engadget has gotten their pricing scheme from somewhere other than Meizu themselves.

[sweetspot]

Originally Posted by Step666

Apart from possibly the dual-SIM support, it doesn't really offer anything apart from the inherent rick that it craps out and you're out of pocket.

Out of interest, how does it switch between the two SIMs?
Is it a menu function or can it access both simultaneously?

Sorry, never noticed this post. actually, it offers a LOT more. Remember, total user friendly replaceable battery, real 3G support (where it's offered of course), MMS, SMS, tethering..well, I should just say to read the thread I linked above at the HOFO forums, because the features you'll find that are associated with WM6 type phones, are the same features you'll find on the knock off. It's like having an iPhone which is unlocked/unbranded, basically..and with more software/3rd party support.

[Step666]

I would still, personally, be wary of it.
Meizu, yes, they're a name I know of - not to do with phones but I fully expect them to do a good job of it. Some random Chinese company making an iPhone knock-off (complete with dodgy Apple logo), I don't trust enough to put my money into (says the guy buying an out-of-date phone manufactured by a couple of guys in a shed in Sweden ).

[musichound]

Originally Posted by Step666

I would still, personally, be wary of it.
Meizu, yes, they're a name I know of - not to do with phones but I fully expect them to do a good job of it. Some random Chinese company making an iPhone knock-off (complete with dodgy Apple logo), I don't trust enough to put my money into (says the guy buying an out-of-date phone manufactured by a couple of guys in a shed in Sweden ).

But what if the Chineese company who manufactures the clone are the same people who manufacturer the iPhone under a different company name?

We do not know if this is the case but I posted this for us to ponder about.

[Step666]

That's a fair point.

I think it's more than that though, even if it's the same product (which clearly, it isn't), with Apple, if it breaks you have the ability to walk into a shop and shout at someone who's being paid minimum wage. With this Chinese knock-off, what happens if it goes wrong?
Also, I don't have much faith in what the UI would be like in English for the Chinese phone. From what I saw in that video (which I didn't watch all of, I got tired of the crappy camera-work), it seemed like what I'd expect - badly translated.


As I say, personally I couldn't bring myself to take the risk.
Which is a shame, because there are some really rather interesting phone being made by unknown Chinese companies just now - link.

[sweetspot]

It's a lot more likely than not, since we know that Apple products such as the iPod and iPhone are manufactured IN China, that the knock off versions are simply the same, if not almost exactly similar in terms of hardware, that have been ported with different types of software. The biggest difference between the two types and which would account for the difference in price, is the legit Logo, and lack of one on the other.

Paying for brand names has always meant paying a premium, in ANY market, regardless of the difference in features per dollar value...

Of course you should be wary of a knock off on any level of consumerism, but I think the important thing to note here is that people whom are generally into tech stuff, but are only so far into it in that they follow Apple's road maps, are generally people who will not go outside the box.

Then there are people, who have money, love to spend it, and are extremely tech savvy, and willing to take risks for the love of exploration. Those are the niche types who should be buying this phone and then posting in all of the forums available, just making fun of those who paid more than twice as much money for half the amount of features, just to have an Apple branded product.

So what if there are minor differences between the two versions ? If they achieve the same tasks (and the knock off even more) and the point is able to be proven that the iPone is not as innovative a device as the apple marketing machine would love to have people believe, then it would give both consumers and foreign manufacturers more incentive to further saturate the market with technology that has been around for a while, which Apple claims is exclusive to their creative genius....

All it takes is a little education. Anyway... Pachinko man... DO YOUR DUTY !!!

[pachinkoman]

Oh man, that Chinese knock off iphone is an absolute riot.

I love the way the guy filming it just kind of throws the stuff in the box around.

Gotta love the startup and shutdown tunes - man that is rich...LOL

Say what you want about the iphone, I think it is pretty impressive.

Sure there are things wrong with it, but there's also a lot to like.

Don't believe me? Go into an apple store and take a demo model for a spin. If nothing else, it's a fun gadget to mess around with for a little bit.

Hahaha, still chuckling about that knockoff...hahaha...

Oh and BTW sweet, if I do my duty, it will be with the real thing, not the knock off. The AT&T thing could be a deal breaker for me though. I already have a couple of good phones via Verizon. Gotta Q and an EnV, like em both.

That iphone is tempting though...***slaps self in face and reminds me it's on the freakin AT&T network**....

[Step666]

Originally Posted by pachinkoman

Don't believe me? Go into an apple store and take a demo model for a spin.

Yeah, a slight problem with that...

[pachinkoman]

Hey Step, not available in your neck of the woods yet?

[Step666]

I bet you think you're funny

But, further to that, there isn't (AFAIK) an Apple store in Scotland.
edit: they don't list one on Apple's site - link.

[pachinkoman]

Well, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it then.

Just remember though, I know nothing, probably less than nothing...