Gizmodo: Fakes

MSI Wind Modded Into a 'MacBook Mini' Using LEDs, Tin Foil

Adam Frucci — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Ohmigod, it's a MacBook Mini! Oh, wait, no it's not. It's a cheap MSI Wind clone with a fake Mac backing on it, put together with dremel, six white LEDs, tape and aluminum foil. Impressive, but not quite what people have been waiting for. But hey, nice work nonetheless! I'm sure it works to fool people in coffee shops. [Gadget Lab]

Fake Chinese iPhone is Pretty Good Photocopy of the Real Deal

Kit Eaton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:56:00 EDT

A forum poster over at Macrumors has posted photos of a fake iPhone that's close enough to the real hardware that you might believe it at first glance. Its proportions are off, the screen's not wide-sized and there's a mini-USB connector instead of an iPod dock one, but even the packaging is mocked-up to look Appleish. The UI is glossed-up to look very real, with some differences of course. And sure, you can imagine it would be not so sweet to operate... but you can't argue with the look of the thing. Steve's famous "start your photocopiers" call has gone a lot further than Redmond. Wonder how soon we'll see photocopy iPhone 3Gs? [Macrumors]

Nikon D700 Shots Revealed as Fake

Kit Eaton — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:35:00 EDT

Darnit darnit—that's what you'll be saying if you're an eager Nikon fan, waiting for the new mid-range D700 DSLR. Those shots we showed you in our previous rumor post? Yep: faked. Over on NikonD700.com they've got a link to the original pre-Photoshopped image on Flickr. It's of a D300, and is clearly of a higher quality and resolution than the D700 fake. See below for the full pic.

[Flickr via NikonD700.com]

Spot Faked Photos Using Light Sources, Eye Positions

Elaine Chow — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EDT

With all the Apple fakes being tossed around the internet in the hours leading up to WWDC, how can us unassuming consumers figure out what's real and what's not? Luckily, Scientific American has got our backs with several ways photo editing masters spot a fake photo.

The first thing to look for is lighting, an always difficult element for fakers to get right. Shopped photos usually have light-source directions that don't match. For instance, in the picture below, the ducks are obviously glowing from a different time of day than the riot police.

The next thing to check out is the eyes. Eyes have very consistent shapes, and a person can approximate how eyes are supposed to look by tracing rays of light running from them to a point in the camera's center. If two people's eyes orient at different centers, then it's possible that the photo's been altered.

Related to the first two points, specular highlights—that white dot on the eye in pictures—can also tell you a lot about lighting. If people in the picture have different specular highlights, then the photo is faker than your office manager's toupee.

On second thought—while interesting, these techniques won't help us figure out if that second coming of the Jesusphone ad is real or not. Darn! Foiled again! [Scientific American via Lifehacker]

Introducing the Gizmodo DIY Apple Product Mockup Kit

Adam Frucci — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:40:00 EDT

People love mockups of products, especially Apple products, and especially real-looking Apple products that they can delude themselves into believing are real. Who are we to argue with such desires? In order to help you all make the best, most realistic Apple fakes possible, we had our super-talented Artistic Intern Logan Lape make a DIY Apple Product Mockup Kit. Essentially, it's a Photoshop file full of layers of objects that you can use to make your very own BS Apple product. And that's just what we want you to do.

Simply download the kit here, open it up in Photoshop, and let your imagination go wild. As you can see, tt's pretty easy to make a nice looking fake iPhone 2 mockup with the kit. But don't feel like you need to stick to iPhones; go nuts! Make any product you can come up with using the kit, and send us your best results to contests@gizmodo.com with the subject "DIY Apple Mockup." I'll post the best entries here next Tuesday. Get crackin'!

Media Player Knockoff Hall of Shame

Adam Frucci — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:07:31 EST

I just ventured into the bowels of the International Pavilion, a separate building beyond the North Hall that's home to tons of tiny booths of companies from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Basically, it's full of power supplies, shitty digital picture frames and knockoffs. So many knockoffs. Take a look through our gallery and try to spot ripoff versions of the iPod nano, touch, and classic, the Sidekick, and even the Ocean. All high quality, I'm sure.

Fake Security Cam Scares the Baddies

Travis Hudson — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 19:00:18 EST

This is actually a pretty smart idea. This camera from Hammacher Sclemmer is really just lollipops, rainbows and smiles on the inside. It is completely fake and even includes a blinking red light powered by a AA battery to really convince the criminals that they are being recorded. But wait! It gets worse! You receive two of these faux cameras for a blistering $60. For that much you can setup your own, real security system with a low-end web-cam hooked up to a PC. Or if you are really cheap—just do what I do and put up a fake sticker: "Monitored by Such&Such." –Travis Hudson

Faux Security Cameras [Via Gearlog]

Google Switch: Phone by Google and Samsung?

Charlie White — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 08:40:32 EST

What's this? Are Samsung and Google ganging up on Apple, putting together a screenier touchscreen phone to rival the iPhone? All we have so far is cryptic information, such as the words "Google Switch" accompanying this image that landed in our tip box this morning.

Sure, Google talked Samsung into allowing its software to be installed on its Ultra Edition 13.8 slider late last month, but that phone, while super-slim, doesn't look anywhere near as cool as this. Even though this image we received is insouciantly blurred to resemble a clandestine photo, it's easy to fake that in Photoshop. Anybody know what this is? Help us out here. – Charlie White

Thanks, Chad!

Let the iPhone Photoshopping Continue...

Travis Hudson — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:44:54 EST

Come on, you really didn't think we were going to stop posting mock-ups of iPhone related gear after it was actually released, now did you? Don't forget to take a stroll down memory lane with two years worth of iPhone fakes that were nowhere close to the actual item. Thanks, Kevin N –Travis Hudson

The Chinese Make Their Own iPhone: ZTC 321

Jason Chen — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:00:00 EST

Continuing the Chinese tradition of mashing random numbers and letters into a product name, some Chinese company has made their own iPhone-esque phone called the ZTC 321. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera, MP3 playback, silver/metallic iPod-like backing, and a fake looking click-wheel.

Despite being definitely not the new iPhone or even an early prototype of the iPhone, this ZTC 321 doesn't look half bad if you close one eye and squint the other. Oh who are we kidding, this thing looks like a turd. – Jason Chen

Is the ZTC 321 the iPhone? [MyiPhone]

More iPhone Fakes

Jason Chen — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:38:30 EDT

Sssh. Promise you'll keep this a secret, okay? We just got tipped from an inside source that this is what the iPhone will look like! Really, we're serious. Keep this between us.

I won't check this email again. Do not ask me how I got this, as I could get into big trouble. I will give you more as time permits. I have 2 more iphone pics, and some leopard info on handout that will be given to conference attendees. You can post this up now though - I will give you other info when I can dafely do so.

Really, let's not get Jason Bourne, super spy, in "big trouble". C'mon, you promised!

The other comes from Slashgear and is a bit less "top secret". It combines the touchscreen patent we saw from Apple earlier this year with an equally un-Apple-like design. Check the jump for pics. – Jason Chen

iPhone Concept Design [Slashgear]

The Truth Behind Back-Alley NYC Powerbook Resellers

Travis Hudson — Tue, 02 May 2006 15:22:07 EDT

If you are dumb enough to buy a Powerbook in an alley by a liquor store in New York City then maybe you are meant to be an Apple owner. Zing! Just kidding Jobs, you know me love you long time.

The picture above is a fake Powerbook that was purchased for $200. It had an authentic box, but the actual laptop was made out of cardboard and the Apple logo was painted in WITE-OUT. At least they actually put the Apple logo on the fake Powerbook. Would hate to have someone think they purchased a Gateway or Dell knock-off.

Losson: Don't Buy Powerbooks in Dark Alleys [Cult of Mac]

Faux 6th Gen iPod

Travis Hudson — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:45:27 EST

Some sad lonely Mac fanboy, who happens to be a superb 3D modeler, has began the now-annual "design a mockup of the next iPod" competition. Only thing is, no prize, and no glory. This one is a little bit too square for my taste, although the bigger screen is definitely a plus. Here is a quick spec rundown of this fake: Bluetooth, integrated camera, microphone, user-replaceable battery, voice-to-text translation, 802.11g Wi-Fi, and a variety of screen display options. Keep dreaming, folks.

6th generation iPod mock up by md3d [dl:mag]

Fake MP3 Players Hit the Market, Cheapskates Rejoice

Travis Hudson — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 18:46:07 EDT

Frugal people (like myself) would say that counterfeit products is probably the best gift giving idea ever, especially if the person receiving the fake has no clue whether it is real or not. Well, now my Christmas worries are over. Some Korean MP3 player manufacturers are complaining about the Chinese companies who are making knockoffs of their products. Some of the brands of MP3 players being duped are LG, Samsung and ReignCom (makers of the iRiver line). Looks like my family are all getting brand new Prodo bags and Sumsang MP3 players this year!

Fake MP3 Players [I4U]