DEFINITION: Shanzai [San-zai -alt. sp.Shanzhai] 1. mountain fortress/bandit 2. a vendor, who operates a business without observing the traditional rules or practices often resulting in innovative and unusual products or business models.
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![]() It's not everyday that we discover a clone of a product that doesn't officially exist yet, so we're all a flutter at the prospect of this one. A few weeks ago we had the chance to share with you a clone of Apple's non-existent Tablet device, today we are equally agasp bringing you a clone of a smartphone device that cannot be found on any store shelves; the Philips Xenium K700 smartphone. Come on, it's not everyday the clone beats the original to market! Philips might not be king of the hill in the broader feature phone or smartphone market, but that doesn't mean the Dutch consumer electronics giant is not taking part. A quick poke around the Internet reveals their presence outside of native Holland to be fairly significant in the handset markets of Russia, Thailand, India, Philippines (no puns) and of course China among others.
Penetration in the US, UK and other Western countries is way off the likes of Nokia, Samsung, Sony/Ericcsson or of course Apple. Likewise their Xenium software platform is far from being a household name in the West, having almost zero marketing mind share compared to say, Google's Android. The Philips K700 is reportedly on the verge of becoming a reality and should arrive in a selection of countries sometime early next year. That however hasn't stopped the shanzhai doing their own version. The original is apparently a follow up to the Xenium X810, and uses the latest version of their Xenium OS. Specs regarding the clone are thin on the ground, but we can tell you that it sports a 3 inch display with a resolution of 240×400 pixels and supports both CDMA and GSM networks. Alas no word on the platform inside or exactly what the OS is although I'd guess it's Windows Mobile with a funky GUI or Xenium styled gloss on top. Hopefully more details will filter through with time. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Western Opportunity Analysis: The cool thing about this clone is that shows the unbridled ambition of the shanzhai manufacturers who are willing to attempt any design they lay their hands on. And even if they can't actually get hold of a potential clone subject, they'll go ahead and do it anyways, based on what they can see in photos etc. By the time Philips do actually bring the K700 to market they'll have the clone ready to offer as an alternative. ![]() This is a shot of the original, so far unreleased Philips Xenium K700
Conclusions:
I find it interesting to note that MobileCrunch, an off-shoot of TechCrunch, covered the K700 a few weeks ago and dismissed the device out of hand. What the..? This is without ever having seen it, touched it, used it or possibly even been in the same building as it. I know of course that Philips are a brand more associated with hairdryers and clock/radios, but hey, what about giving a guy the benefit of the doubt? It's possible that the K700 when it arrives will be a solid, decent device. Related articles
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Where can I find this phone? When I look here (eemobi.cn/.../... (http://www.eemobi.cn/product/list-customcategory-44-p1.aspx)) I ...
Seen this model here, and not impressed about it. Simply said. seen 30 or more different Windows tablet models in Singapore, Shang...
Where can i buy this on web ?
All good points. It will be interesting to see what enrolls in this battle
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Here's another cool looking PMP-type device for our inspection. The Bmorn BM-888 is one of a growing number of handheld devices that are popping up in and around the bustling streets of Shenzhen. Le...
Simply known as a Macbook Air, this is an uncompromisingly fake version of Apple's landmark ultra thin and light. A quick glance will tell you that it's a few millimeters thicker than the original, an...