Turning iPod touch into iPhone, Chinese shanzhai technology at its best
August 9th, 2010 by Key | Posted in News | 66 Comments »
(PConline) Apple not only stands out from the crowd in innovation but also is a trend setter, its products attracted many companies in the world to make accessories for them, and even the well-known Sony could not escape. Recently a heavy-weight apple product accessory was born, when it was announced, which suddenly stirred up some huge waves in the Apple world, hitting everyone who pays close attention to the latest trend, making them to get ready to take out their wallets. However, this accessory was not welcomed by Apple, in fact it gave Steve Jobs headaches. It is a product that totally upsets the apple cart, so to speak. That is the “Apple Peel” that will turn iPod touch into iPhone.
Actually, when Apple came out with the iPod touch, people already thought about giving it the ability to communicate because it is extremely similar to iPhone. From outside, the operating platform almost has no difference for both, some people even joke that iPod touch is just a castrated iPhone. Comparing the two, the only thing iPod touch is missing is the communication module. And, only up till now this wish was granted.
The birth of the communication vest, once again the invincible Chinese Shanzhai (Knockoffs) spirit was proven. Some people had tried to add the communication module internally into iPod touch, but this method is only suitable for a few with excellent hands, most people can only watch and salivate but not daring to perform the operation on their beloved gadget. This time, not sure which genius thought of the excellent idea of the external communication module, not only made himself quite a bit of profit but also satisfied people with iPod touch’s iPhone dream, truly a genius.
The Apple Peel made by ZTE
It does not just end here, after the Shanzhai version of the product came out, how can the brand names miss this opportunity? Maybe iPod touch is meant to have the functionalities of a phone, ZTE (Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited) also came out with a same style of Apple Peel, the model number was U3200, and it already started entering the FCC. However, what makes Chinese people angry was, ZTE’s model was made for Sprint only, it is not going to be sold in China. So it looks like brothers and sisters of China need to wait for the Shanzhai version of Apple Peel 520.
This Apple Peel actually made me think about computers. Once the computer had the USB port, it had the unlimited possibilities to extend its capabilities. Can’t get on the internet wirelessly? It’s ok, just add an external wireless card; Don’t want to use keyboard and mouse to play games? No problem, just add an external video game controller; even in a hot summer, many people already started using the USB fan… So, having a computer really means having unlimited possibilities. So, imagine, does iPod touch have the possibilities like a computer? This time the Apple Peel was a perfect example.
Maybe it is really possible. You can plug an infrared emitter into iPhone and turn it into a remote control, why can’t iPod touch? Maybe in the near future we can use joysticks to play iPod touch games, using keyboard to chat on QQ…. Even the Apple Peel has a lot of room for improvements, only to add a GPS module then iPod touch can be a navigation device too.
And for the users of China Unicom iPhones, it is also a good news, if iPod touch can be turned into iPhone then why can’t iPhone without wifi to have wireless internet by adding a Peel? (some iPhones in China do not have wifi capabilities) This world is crazy, as long as there is a smart client platform, and provides support then we can expand to it to have any features.
Actually, like a computer with USB, if we have standards everything is possible. iPod can be turned into iPhone, I believe many people will be attracted to this idea, so if the product is really released one day, how many people will actually choose to have this modified iPhone?
The choice is simple. There are advantages of having iPod touch then turn it into iPhone versus buying an iPhone directly. The most obvious and important one is the cost. iPhone 3Gs 32GB costs around 5,000 yuan, and iPod touch 32GB only costs a little over 2,000 yuan, adding the cost of the Apple Peel which is 400 – 500 yuan , total is still under 3,000 yuan, almost half the price of an iPhone. For some people the choice is an obvious one. However the product is probably most attractive to people who already have an iPod touch but do not own an iPhone.
ZTE U3200 user’s manual
ZTE U3200 (back)
…
Will the Apple Peel have a market?
The product is not available to general population yet, we do not know whether it will withstand the market or not. However the user base of iPod touch is very large, even only a fraction of the users use this product it can be a quite large market. None of the less, the passion for innovation is still worthy of recognition regardless of whether it succeed or not.
Can iPod touch 4 be turned into iPhone 4?
iPod touch with Apple Peel
After the release of the new iPhone, it soon became the object people are drooling for. Because of its high price, many people can only dream of owning one. But if all goes well, the new iPod touch 4 that is coming out at the end of September should be similar to the new iPhone 4, like before without the communication capabilities. At that time, not sure how many people will be brave enough to turn them into iPhones. If people are passionate about this idea, maybe Steven Jobs will regret every releasing iPod touch as a product. I really like to see the American Apple integrated with Chinese Shanzhai technology everywhere in the world.
Tags: Innovation, IPhone, iPhone 4G, iPod touch, Knockoff, Shanzhai, Technology
In a sense the yuan’s undervalue is a factor driving a lot of this innovation to increase/allow local consumption of foreign products. An intended policy or unintentional side effect? You be the judge.
why cant you turn an ipod touch into the same thing as an iphone?
1. slow processor
2. no camera
3. no built in ear speaker
4. crappy 3rd party phone/text software
I dont understand why the zte peel would be sold to sprint since the iphone isnt available on the sprint network. i guess so people can use their shanzhai ipod touch cdma frankenphone on sprint? I thought the device that allowed for this transformation was made by yosion.
I guess for 400 kuai its worth a shot! 3g data on an ipod touch would be nice.
looks like the peel has a camera.
made by yusion. that zte thing looks like a 3g modem.
i’m gonna buy one for sure. with all of its possible defects, the price comparison is still by far more attractive. Especially to those who are not so much die hard apple fans but just want another phone for convenience.
China is the parasite/bloodsuckers of the world, surviving on the works and innovations of others.
I thought this post was about the innovativeness of chinese shanzhai
I agree. China should never have stolen Confucianism, Korean characters, the compass and printing from Mighty Korea. China is such a shameful country, shame on you all.
don’t forget gun powder!
“China should never have stolen Confucianism, Korean characters, the compass and printing from Mighty Korea. ”
You said it, not me.
*sigh* Another Chinese starting rumors.
It’s a truly masterpiece, we should never deny other’s hard work.
Before you speak ill of my country please think carefully whether your so called
Mighty Korea worth the praise.
i live in australia and all i got to say is both china and your beloved korea are fucked and i couldn’t care less about ever visiting either of them even if i won a holiday prize and got paid to go i still would stay right where i am here in australia, the best country to be in. fuck all of you
LOL
why would we want you in our country. gtfo this website already.
You think you are something, arent you. I will prey for you not get slapped on your face in Chinatown. By the way, you know what? you know where you mama’s book from? you probably will be reading of a piece of stone if China didnt invent the printing tech. Hello???
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_inventions
compare that article with this one
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Korean_inventions_and_innovations
but then again most Chinese, behaving the way they do, it never occurs to them that they are a laughing stock.
Chinese inventions…hmmm enlightening thank you…but what is your point?
When will China and Chinese people come out of the past (5000 years ago) and accept reality? The Imperial China is and has been long gone…
China, rather than embracing a free government and advancing progress-inducing economy, embraced gloom-filled Marxist materialistic regime spreading it to other parts of Asia (killing millions), is in 21st century just coming out of dirt-ass poverty, still remains backwards with majority of it’s subject unruly and peasant-like (just look at the behaviors in this post alone), filled with incorrigible corrupt government (Mao’s fat fugly portrait still adorning Tienanmen Square) and leaders where bribery is part of accepted business practice.
If China was a great country 5000 years ago not much of it remains in the present. Stop talking about how great China WAS…it actually shows how far you fell from your past glory…it’s embarrassing!
past chinese ingenuity has nothing to do with its past political system. And you can reorganize everything else you said with some logic, and attempting to be satirical doesn’t help your case either.
“past chinese ingenuity has nothing to do with its past political system.”
so what was your point then? did you want to have a hissy fight over a list of inventions?
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“and attempting to be satirical doesn’t help your case either.”
who says I was being satirical? China being backwards, Chinese people displaying crude behaviors (everyone including Chinese know this!) & China being run by corrupt goons, these are all true!
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“past chinese ingenuity”
my point exactly!
All you do on this website is bash on chinese people.
Sometimes you´re right, sometimes not so much.
If you hate China so much, why don´t you post your comments elsewhere?
Do you have too much time or something?
Are there no korean forums?
Seriously, this is a site for CHINESE NEWS.
If posting negative comments on this site is all you do, just leave and do something more productive, like getting a job/hobby/friends.
Hey WesternFaggot!
“All you do on this website is bash on chinese people.”
It’s hard not to.
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“Sometimes you´re right, sometimes not so much.”
As far as my bashing goes they are all correct!
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“If you hate China so much, why don´t you post your comments elsewhere?”
Why should I go else where when I can bash here?
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“Do you have too much time or something?”
It sure looks that way doesn’t it?
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“Are there no korean forums?”
Sure, but not like this, you know why? Cuz Koreans don’t act like Chinese!
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“Seriously, this is a site for CHINESE NEWS.”
This ain’t news!
God bless the internet!!
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“If posting negative comments on this site is all you do, just leave and do something more productive, like getting a job/hobby/friends.”
Posting negative comments isn’t all that I do. I am more productive than 500 Chinese put together.
Oh, I get it now.
I guess I should stop feeding the troll here.
Have fun.
yeah, why dont you go post on the ” I love kim jong il forums”?
my point was a denial of yours, if u forgot urs, too bad so sad.
“China being backwards, Chinese people displaying crude behaviors (everyone including Chinese know this!) & China being run by corrupt goons, these are all true!”
and that, is being satirical, if u don’t know the definition for the word, i suggest u look it up
China needs another 5000 years to get its head out of it’s ass and stop behaving like retarded kids.
Go to hell.
O gawd, that just made my day
korea is the parasite for idol groups churning out of factories with lip synching skills and wannabe hip hop dance moves, last butnotleast , great happy endings for ceos, surviving on the works of u.s. military presence and innovations of japan
“korea is the parasite for idol groups churning out of factories with lip synching skills and wannabe hip hop dance moves”
LOL and all the while China tries so hard to imitate Korea in Chinese version of idols and K-POP dancing. It’s pretty pathetic…But I will give China this, China out done Korea in lip syncing with a new level of stupidity (read the post about the dumb-ass peasant girl who held her mic upside down in a singing contest). Koreans couldn’t out maneuver Chinese in idiocy or stupidly if their life depended on it.
Creative. Esp. that USB monkey is charming…
It is funny to watch Jobs in his handling of P.R. China – because he knows the CCP have him by the balls with all the manufacturing that occurs on P.R. Chinese Soil. He will huff and puff a bit from time to time, but like my wife says, “He just talks Big”.
well said
China is the ultimate FAIL!
SHE BANG BIATCH!
Can’t wait for this to come out. I have an iPhone but I’m still so curious about how this will actually work out.
This story about “Apple Peel” is great. I love it.
Concerning korean_guy, everybody knows korea is a tiny place surrounded by big powers. I can understand he feels so frustrated. But don’t worry, when you look at their history, it is sure in the future they will beg China to help them because Japan will bully them again if not already.
Today, korea is already so dependant on China’s market that the only thing they have to show is their pride but nothing in their panties.
“korea is already so dependant on China’s market that the only thing they have to show is their pride but nothing in their panties.”
It’s unfortunate that a lot of Chinese actually believe this pathetic notion.
“korea is already so dependant on China’s market…”
South Korea, and the world, depend on Chinese market like we depend on toilet manufacturer. South Korea’s world ain’t going to come to an end if Chinese market is inaccessible.
“It’s unfortunate that a lot of Chinese actually believe this pathetic notion.”
“South Korea, and the world, depend on Chinese market like we depend on toilet manufacturer. South Korea’s world ain’t going to come to an end if Chinese market is inaccessible.”
Funny people you are. Not one once of realism. Always giving yourself more pretension you can bear. It is surely not Korean companies think. One sure thing is korean companies needs more Chinese market than vis versa. Korean market is not big enough for other countries to consider it so strategic. Even singer need to come to China because of your small market. Don’t forget you Korean people like you have only your pride to show off but nothing in your panties!
@Lupin
“One sure thing is korean companies needs more Chinese market than vis versa.”
Who needs who? We need Chinese market? Fuck man, Chinese need our products! Toilet paper does not need shit stained ass! It’s the other way around. Just more shit stained ass showing up for the party!
You Chinese think so high of yourself touting China has the biggest market thinking this somehow give China a status. We are selling you shit that most developed nations already enjoy! The world didn’t even have a Chinese market not too long ago.
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“Even singer need to come to China because of your small market.”
LOL need? No it’s called taking advantage of a market (I though Chinese were supposed to be smart, China education FAIL), there’s a market for KPOP entertainers cuz you Chinese are so crazy over them. We are milking you guys! Again i’ve said this time and time again: if you Chinese had any intellectual property or even a decent POP act you’d sell and market it in a heartbeat. We are supplying entertainment you Chinese can’t deliver. PATHETIC!
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“Don’t forget you Korean people like you have only your pride to show off but nothing in your panties!”
Don’t talk about pride, its the Chinese who have nothing to back their pride with. Matter of fact China has no face or dignity to lose or hurt.
Chinese Food: most are not edible to non Chinese, must have Chinese immune & digestive system. Especially the horrendous Cantonese cuisine.
Language: not all language is equally pleasing to the ear and Chinese is one of them. Hanzi is archaic form of writing and inefficient. Chinese don’t even have a phonetically writing system: must write words out with unintelligible meaning attached to it. Hugely out of dated.
Chinese Education: No thanks!
Culture: non existent, oh wait China does have commie style block head culture.
Entertainment: boring-ass same ol’ wire fu/kung fu crap. Uncreative unimaginative dramas, POP acts are limited same ol’ crappy ballads. Most decent actors are aging without any new young bloods to replace them. Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Andy Lau and Tony Leung are all getting old and can’t make much more films.
Korea is just a joke for this world. just take a look at north korea, great country like korea can’t handle it alone, must need cry to daddy(Uncle Sam) to save his life.
Shame on korea, you are not indepedant right now, you are controlled by Uncle Sam for everything.
Do you have your ability to fight against Jap or North korea? Do you have ability to launch satellite or travel in space?
just TV or garbage Car make you very proud of your country like this?
Korea is nothing without the alms!!!
After 30 years later, you can see a different world.
@Sam
“Korea is just a joke for this world.”
Wrong! It’s China that’s the butt of the jokes among nations. China is a retarded kid with some money and all the nations are trying to get at that money and being nice to the retarded kid, but behind closed doors China is a joke.
You are as amusing as you are pathetic to watch.
You reinforce your inferiority complex image every time you spat out how everything is China’s fault.
Good luck with it all.
If you say that other nations are calling china retarded behind closed doors, they’re calling korea retarded to their faces.
seriously, wtf do you guys contribute to the world. plastic surgery and samsung. If your country were to disappear, no one would even notice.
SO do u think your korea kimchi is edible? Just go home and eat your kimchi and stop barking over here. You have got to be more mature out there kid.
@Lupin
Everyone is dependent on China’s market since it’s comprises 1/5th of the worlds population and is growing economically so fast. Korea is a major power in its own right, despite its small geographical size (like Japan).
i think its aweso0me and sweet invention i wanna buy it
Piyush GaryaliSuch befatiuul colors. You always get the best out of your shots 21 February, 2010, 2:08 pm
CJy8YS axwuglzictwl
I say Canada is the joke of the world…go America!! Haha you guys!!
I think the USA is the joke of the world.
Cant understand the people bashing on this site. Look at what has been achieved – AN IPOD TO IPHONE. I cant afford an Iphone but having an Ipod the PEEL is amazing and I will definately purchase one when available.
All you knockers need to remember what this forumn is about as nearly all seem to treat as a racist forum – get a life
It’s a good product. Chinese made it, but not korean.
Korean are good at tech, but may have the best sour grapes in the world… Hmm I love sour grapes…
lmao you’re all really funny. England rules
Hi there, just browsing for information for my Fort Worth 4g website. Lots of information out there. Not quite what I was looking for, but very nice site. Take care.
Thank you for sharing!
Short list of pros and cons about the iPod touch
Pros:
-Slick,small and light device
-Great touch screen
-The BEST web browser on a portable device
-Amazing video/music playback
-App Store (Too many cool applications for Free)
-Display screen is clear and bright
-No bugs and annoying stuff a very reliable hardware
-64GB Flash based mp3 player
you forgot the cons
So weak fighting nonsense. no track of goodness. then start war? idiots.
U cool!Bro.
FUCK YOU KOREANS, YOU BOASTFUL PEOPLE STEALING INVENTIONS OF CHINA .DON’T YOU HAVE BRAINS TO MAKE OWN INVENTIONS? YAH I THINK SO, MOST OF YOU ONLY CARES ABOUT HOW YOUR ATTIRES WILL BE AND STAY FEELING GOOD .I REALLY LIKE TO PUT AN ATOMIC BOMB IN KOREA, JAPAN AND US
WTF ? Chinese are stealing every single invention from the US, so what is your problem, thief ?
That means the US has nothing China wants to buy, since China makes and owns everything.
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Does ipeel have navigation ? ipeel is available in Australia ?
Hi peel available in Australia ?
hey every one there,am called kaaya majjid form Uganda that is EAST AFRICA.i have a brother who lives in USA,he brought me an iPod 4gs,i what to turn it into iPhone but here in Uganda we don’t have such devices,please i want to get that device is there any one who can help me,i can pay for it please send me an email if any one can get me that sprint.thank you very much.