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KIRF posts

Blinged out Michael Jackson phone is fashionably late

by Laura June posted Nov 6th 2009 @ 12:25PM

Michael Jackson may never take the stage again, but that doesn't mean you can't commemorate him in your pocket, right? This special, "limited edition" mobile phone appears to have been dipped in gold and diamonds, and, if we're not mistaken... it's basically a Vertu KIRF that's dressed like a headless MJ? We're pretty light on specs and pricing information here, but rest assured that unless you live in China, you'll probably never be able to get your be-gloved hand on one of these. Nothing like cashing in on the dead.

[Via Shanzhai]

Fake iPhone comes with magical external QWERTY keyboard you've always fantasized about

by Paul Miller posted Nov 1st 2009 @ 10:13PM

Alright, would you look at this, Apple? We know you require your employees to pay in blood for every single button or moving part that makes it onto a shipping product, but would it really kill you to work in some proper Bluetooth keyboard support for the iPhone so we could enjoy the magical freedom of external QWERTY pads if we so choose? Take this particularly stunning KIRF, for example. Sure, you might find the iPhone-miming handset it's paired with offensive, but is there really so much wrong with this flip-out QWERTY action? Do you enjoy our suffering? Please? iTwinge just isn't cutting it.

[Thanks, facelessloser]

Dedicated Android partner SciPhone brings N19, N21 to market

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 26th 2009 @ 12:27PM

You've got to give these guys credit -- SciPhone has been creating bizarre Android-powered devices of both the KIRF and original-design variety basically since day one of the platform's existence, and two of its latest and greatest models are now available for purchase. Actually, attributing these two to SciPhone specifically is a bit unfair; the N19 appears to be a rebrand of that awesome Broncho A1 Storm KIRF we saw not long ago (shouldn't they be copying the Storm2 now?) while the N21 looks like a dead ringer for the General Mobile DSTL1, right down to the 5 megapixel cam and dual SIM slots. We'd say "we'll pass" without a second thought, but at $150 and $235, respectively, it gives you... well, at least a solid two seconds of pause, doesn't it?

[Via Cloned In China]

Read - SciPhone N19
Read - SciPhone N21

HiPhone F320: 'a rotary phone and an iPod nano walk into a bar...'

by Darren Murph posted Oct 20th 2009 @ 4:03PM

With a name like HiPhone, it has to be good, right? Totally. The outfit famous for knocking off RIM's BlackBerry Storm in impressive fashion is back, this time with a psychedelic mishmash that could make even the most hardened soul chuckle once or twice. The F320 is -- as you can so clearly see above -- a terribly funny combination of iPod nano and rotary phone, and while we wouldn't trust the specifications for a minute, we're told that it's a dual-band GSM handset with a built-in multimedia player, FM tuner, camera, 2.6-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth. There's no mention of a price (unless you're willing to commit to buying a few hundred), but trust us, it's better that way.

[Via PMP Today]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXIX: Genuine Android shipping on a counterfeit Storm

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 13th 2009 @ 3:17PM

Looks like someone in Shenzhen had time to kill overnight at the Storm factory -- and they've put it to good use. Instead of giving us a faux-BlackBerry with a horribly mangled KIRFed-out UI (or at most WinMo) what we have here is a genuine clone with a trackball thrown in for good measure running honest-to-goodness Android 1.5. Dubbed the Broncho A1, this guy features a 600MHz CPU, 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, WiFi, GPS, and an FM radio. That's the good news. The bad? 128MB RAM isn't going to do much for you, app-wise. Oh, well. Price and ship date to be announced at a later date. Get a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: Genuine Android shipping on a counterfeit Storm

[Via Cloned In China]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXVIII: Palm Pre knockoff doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up

by Laura June posted Oct 9th 2009 @ 12:16PM

Yes, this was only a matter of time, and we're a little surprised we didn't see one earlier. Regardless, this is the Palm Pre knockoff we've been waiting for. Seemingly called just iPhone +QWERTY -- this KIRF is being marketed as just that -- a real business phone with a hybrid identity blending the BlackBerry and the iPhone. And really, that's not too bad of a description for this little dude, we guess. Boasting analog TV, Bluetooth, and an FM radio, it runs the much-loved OPhone operating system, and can be had for 600 RMP (about $88). There are two more shots after the break. Hit the read link for a full peek.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXVIII: Palm Pre knockoff doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXVI: Nokia N900 rip shows no trademark fear

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 29th 2009 @ 5:23AM

It's pretty typical for serial KIRFers to make minor changes to the names of the brands they're ripping -- take Sany Ericssan, for example -- but we've never really known why. "Go big or go home" is the KIRF mantra we prefer to live by, and if you're going to gank a phone's design, by golly, do it with gusto. Give it 110 percent. In your heart, after all, that NOKLA's really a Nokia -- it's what you feel deep inside that really matters, and no well-staffed, well-funded Finnish legal team can tell you otherwise. That's why we've got to hand it to this particular model, simply called "Copy Nokia N900" in a painfully honest, accurate admission of its true raison d'être. Strangely, though, they've missed a few basic points: the Copy Nokia N900 trades the genuine article's landscape QWERTY slider for a dual slide configuration in the same vein as the N85 and N95, for example, and Maemo 5 has gone missing -- instead, you're treated to a frighteningly accurate S60 5th Edition knockoff. If you can tolerate the dismal VGA cam, GPRS data, and QVGA screen, you'll be pleased to discover that the phone features an analog (yes, analog) TV tuner and an accelerometer with "support" for flick control, which you can watch in action on video after the break -- looks super fun and usable, doesn't it?

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXVI: Nokia N900 rip shows no trademark fear

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXV: TigerG3 looks like a Hero, doesn't act like one

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 28th 2009 @ 12:26PM

If we weren't too terribly impressed when the HTC Hero made the leap from Europe to the States, at least our funny bones are tickled by the device's inauguration into full-blown KIRFhood. Reports differ on the OS of the thing, but the features are 100% iPhone knock-off, including: dual SIM support, 1.3 megapixel camera, analog TV, FM radio, WiFi, and support for a host of audio and video formats. It's too bad this thing is only supports overseas (900MHz / 1800MHz) GSM -- for $140 we might be tempted to play. If you're in Oceania and looking for a new phone, it the read link to see for yourself.

[Via Shanzai.com]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXII: Nokla strikes again with E81 rehash

by Paul Miller posted Aug 16th 2009 @ 10:17AM

Due to Nokia's continued dismissal of the ripe-for-the-picking E81 model number, the diligent folks at "Nokla" (fresh off their E97 design win) have seen it fit to issue a second handset under that fake moniker. Surprisingly, this one actually boasts a rather unique swivel design -- even beating Nokia's own effort in this regard -- a QWERTY keyboard and some decent specs. There's even a mirror on the swivel-up back (we hear that women love mirrors), along with a hole at the swivel hinge for working a lanyard through. We'd venture to say it's the best E81 Nokia never made.

[Via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXI: Nokla E97 probably looks much better than it performs

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 14th 2009 @ 2:33PM

You know what? The Nokla E97 is not a bad looking handset. Of course, with a 2.2-inch touchscreen, things could get ugly real quick if the UI isn't up to snuff -- and we're guessing it ain't. And sure, the detachable keyboard looks a little flimsy -- but all in all, not too shabby for 800 yuan, or about $117 (before you factor in the flight to China, of course). Also featured: handwriting recognition, dual SIM card slots, FM radio, and an MP3 player. But really, with a device like this what you're paying for is the class and prestige associated with the Nokla name. And how can you put a price on that? More photos after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXXI: Nokla E97 probably looks much better than it performs

Lenovo's Android-powered O1 'OPhone' due next month

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 7th 2009 @ 3:03PM

Good news, kids! It looks like Lenovo's O1 "OPhone" handset is finally ready to hit the shelves over on the Mainland sometime next month. Truth be told, the story arc of this Android-powered 3G (TD-SCDMA) handset has been quite the emotional roller coaster: Some were riveted by the sleek, sexy physical design of the thing, while others were repelled by its intensely KIRFish UI. China Mobile is obviously hoping for big things from the little guy -- and getting it into stores before Unicom gets the iPhone sorted can't hurt. Either way, it looks like someone's just taken a bite out of iOrgane's market share!

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXIX: we see right through the N68's antics

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 5th 2009 @ 8:21PM

If you absolutely, positively must be able to see the palm of your hand while dialing, you might think that LG's lovely GD900 is the only game in town -- but you'd be very, very wrong. In fact, for the price of a single GD900, you could have a whole army of these $70 N68s delivered to your door, each bearing a pirate's booty of knicked branding and design. From the Nokia Nseries-esque model name, to the nav button layout vaguely reminiscent of the N95, to the thick slab of Lexan masquerading as a keypad, this one's a keeper -- and if that's all not enough to convince you, the "8.0 pixels" camera around back just might seal the deal. Still not sold? See some sample output after the break.

[Via Engadget Chinese and 52sogi]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXIX: we see right through the N68's antics

Iorgane's KIRFy F9 soon available, but our hearts will go on

by Tim Stevens posted Jul 24th 2009 @ 9:46AM

Iorgane's KIRFy F9 soon available, our hearts will move on

Can't make up your mind between an iPhone or a Touchwiz? Are you not too proud to sport a knockoff? Do you really, really like smooth jazz? Bring on the Iorgane F9, an update to the knock-off so sour that it just kept popping up again and again, soon available for purchase in 2, 4, and 8GB flavors. The orange-emblazoned F9 (it looks like a fat apple to us) is lovingly demonstrated below with the soothing strains of Kenny Gorelick -- a man better known to elevators around the world under a different name. Take it away, Kenny G...

Continue reading Iorgane's KIRFy F9 soon available, but our hearts will go on

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXVIII: the Quantum lives up to its name, somehow

by Chris Ziegler posted Jul 22nd 2009 @ 5:13PM

The "Quantum." For us, a name like "Quantum" invokes visions of powerful, everlasting batteries, huge touchscreens, cameras that could makes your Hasselblad look like a Cracker Jack toy, and infinite badassery the likes of which the world has never known. Creating a phone that dares to bear the name Quantum, therefore, is less of an engineering science and more of an art. Admittedly, mating an iPhone with a Samsung Memoir never crossed our minds as a possible means to that end -- but we're pleased to see that some manufacturing firm had their eyes on the prize and saw that vision through to its glorious conclusion. Indeed, the Quantum is far greater than the sum of its parts -- sure, the camera has shriveled from 8 megapixels to 0.3 and the radio has gone from HSDPA to GPRS, but college-level physics can't be measured in megapixels or megabits per second. Especially when they only cost $94.03.

[Via technabob]

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXVII: Rolex watchphone is, in fact, neither

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Jul 20th 2009 @ 3:57PM

The Rolex watchphone is neither a Rolex nor a watchphone -- unless your definition includes handsets with a watch face embedded on the outside (and ours doesn't). But either way, it's probably safe to say that this bad boy does not sport a precision-made Swiss timepiece. Features include a 2.6-inch display, dual SIM, an FM radio, and presumably some sort of camera. Unlike the Swiss Rolex, the Shanzhai Rolex can be yours for the low, low price of 690 yuan (that's about $101). More mouth-watering KIRFness after the break.

[Via Cloned In China]

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXXVII: Rolex watchphone is, in fact, neither