Meet the iClone

After receiving a tip from hostel-mates Sonia and Sophia, today I had
my hands on at least two different models of iPhone knock-offs, known
to be available in Beijing (pssst: at the silk market).

Contrary to reports in Popular Mechanics about the so-called
iClones, Apple has nothing to worry about from these cheap-looking,
inelegant pieces of crap, the most refined component of which is the
Apple and iPhone logos and start-up screens (way more elaborate than
on the bona fide device). One went so far as to include a terse
warning of copyright and trademark enfringement on any of Apple's
"pruducts." Brilliant.

From what I remember of their coverage, Popular Mechanics touted
the iClones abilities to use multiple SIM cards simultaneously (which
indeed would be a great asset over here) and that they run a version
of Linux.

It may be they are important as a representation of the potential
for a more open, less restricted device, but spending just a couple of
minutes using them tells me that it will be a long time before anyone
would want one of these over the real thing. The interface wouldn't
have to be as beautiful as the one coming out of Cupertino (if it had
desirable features the real one lacks), but it should at least not be
maddeningly obtuse and slow.

In general, these knock-off markets are quite a headache-inducing
trip, and if you are looking for cheap crap to pass off on
undiscerning others as the real thing, I recommend you visit. (There
wasn't even good kitsch, sadly.) The only other reason to go is if you
like hearing "Sir, Sir, please, have a look here!" forty thousand
times in an hour.

But I'm glad that at least I got to do the taste-test myself.