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When the product literally becomes a piece of glass with a matte back on it... branding (and counterfeiting) will become a big problem faster than any of these

When the product literally becomes a piece of glass with a matte back on it... branding (and counterfeiting) will become a big problem faster than any of these companies are preparing for, I suspect.

remarkEon 8y ago
I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My impression is that most users would detect this device to be fraudulent quite quickly. Do you mean that the increased availability of these fakes could tarnish Apple’s brand? I suppose we’d wind up in a situation where folks can only buy Apple devices from Apple authorized dealers. “Exclusivity” seems already thoroughly baked into Apple’s brand so I’m not sure this would actually hurt them. Is this not how it already is?
- tomrod 8y ago
  My takeaway is that most buyers would enter at least their Apple/iCloud credentials and wifi passwords.
  - remarkEon 8y ago
    Yeah that’s definitely true. I suppose that’s also the first thing you’re prompted to do, and by the time you’d discover the device is a fake it’s too late.
- Matthias247 8y ago
  > I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My impression is that most users would detect this device to be fraudulent quite quickly. In most wealthy countries for sure. However the target market for these devices might be different countries, where Apple products are not that common and well known. Or where people don't care that much, because "looks like Apple" is still better than the alternatives.
  - remarkEon 8y ago
    Agree, the danger is much higher in non-developed Markets.
- flyGuyOnTheSly 8y ago
  >I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My friend bought a fake Rolex watch. He knew it wasn't real gold, and that half of the complications did not operate, but he still bought it and wore it. There are enough people out there these days that see brands as style trends imho and will do anything to "rock" them.
  - bitL 8y ago
    Wasn't the main purpose of Rolex a conversion to cash quickly anywhere in the world when one is escaping the authorities that already managed to block bank accounts etc.?
    - LyndsySimon 8y ago
      It's a purpose, yes.
  - mannykannot 8y ago
    I once worked with someone who did that. A colleague pointed out that it would be doubly unfortunate to get mugged for a fake Rolex watch. A discussion ensued over which would be the worse alternative.
peteretep 8y ago
I suspect the target of the fraud here isn't the buyer, it's the people who will see the buyer using it. I live in Thailand, and there's a _huge_ premium placed on Apple and Samsung phone by people who can barely afford them. If you've ever wondered where your prehistoric iPhone 4 ended up, some Thai teenager is lovingly using it (with the software home button, because this is Asia).
- earenndil 8y ago
  > (with the software home button, because this is Asia) What?
  - phito 8y ago
    Had to google it. "It's because of the fear that the home button may be broken. iPhones are not cheap in China so people take care of them while using. Several years ago people began to complain about their home button being easily broken and it has somehow been a widely recognized truth, so even the home buttons are not that easy to be broken, they tend to use AssistiveTouch instead. When you buy an iPhone in China the salesman would automatically turn on this function while helping you to do the settings. I myself have not experienced a broken home button during 4 years with my iPhone 4; however, I did have a broken sleep button from my 3rd year, which proved that the rumours are, in some way, true. So I turned on AssistiveTouch..." source: http://uk.businessinsider.com/chinese-use-assistivetouch-on-iphone-2015-5?r=US&IR=T http://uk.businessinsider.com/chinese-use-assistivetouch-on-...
  - LeftTurnSignal 8y ago
    I've had to do that to almost every iPhone I've used except the previous 6 I had. I'm not sure why I went through them quickly. I started to use the software home button right away on the 6 and it's still kickin. The 6 Plus I didn't do it to misses a click every so often.

When the product literally becomes a piece of glass with a matte back on it... branding (and counterfeiting) will become a big problem faster than any of these companies are preparing for, I suspect.

remarkEon 8y ago

I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My impression is that most users would detect this device to be fraudulent quite quickly. Do you mean that the increased availability of these fakes could tarnish Apple’s brand? I suppose we’d wind up in a situation where folks can only buy Apple devices from Apple authorized dealers. “Exclusivity” seems already thoroughly baked into Apple’s brand so I’m not sure this would actually hurt them. Is this not how it already is?

tomrod 8y ago
My takeaway is that most buyers would enter at least their Apple/iCloud credentials and wifi passwords.
- remarkEon 8y ago
  Yeah that’s definitely true. I suppose that’s also the first thing you’re prompted to do, and by the time you’d discover the device is a fake it’s too late.
Matthias247 8y ago
> I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My impression is that most users would detect this device to be fraudulent quite quickly. In most wealthy countries for sure. However the target market for these devices might be different countries, where Apple products are not that common and well known. Or where people don't care that much, because "looks like Apple" is still better than the alternatives.
- remarkEon 8y ago
  Agree, the danger is much higher in non-developed Markets.
flyGuyOnTheSly 8y ago
>I’m not so sure. As noted in the article, key iOS features were basically nonfunctional or nonexistent. My friend bought a fake Rolex watch. He knew it wasn't real gold, and that half of the complications did not operate, but he still bought it and wore it. There are enough people out there these days that see brands as style trends imho and will do anything to "rock" them.
- bitL 8y ago
  Wasn't the main purpose of Rolex a conversion to cash quickly anywhere in the world when one is escaping the authorities that already managed to block bank accounts etc.?
  - LyndsySimon 8y ago
    It's a purpose, yes.
- mannykannot 8y ago
  I once worked with someone who did that. A colleague pointed out that it would be doubly unfortunate to get mugged for a fake Rolex watch. A discussion ensued over which would be the worse alternative.

peteretep 8y ago

I suspect the target of the fraud here isn't the buyer, it's the people who will see the buyer using it. I live in Thailand, and there's a _huge_ premium placed on Apple and Samsung phone by people who can barely afford them. If you've ever wondered where your prehistoric iPhone 4 ended up, some Thai teenager is lovingly using it (with the software home button, because this is Asia).

earenndil 8y ago
> (with the software home button, because this is Asia) What?
- phito 8y ago
  Had to google it. "It's because of the fear that the home button may be broken. iPhones are not cheap in China so people take care of them while using. Several years ago people began to complain about their home button being easily broken and it has somehow been a widely recognized truth, so even the home buttons are not that easy to be broken, they tend to use AssistiveTouch instead. When you buy an iPhone in China the salesman would automatically turn on this function while helping you to do the settings. I myself have not experienced a broken home button during 4 years with my iPhone 4; however, I did have a broken sleep button from my 3rd year, which proved that the rumours are, in some way, true. So I turned on AssistiveTouch..." source: http://uk.businessinsider.com/chinese-use-assistivetouch-on-iphone-2015-5?r=US&IR=T http://uk.businessinsider.com/chinese-use-assistivetouch-on-...
- LeftTurnSignal 8y ago
  I've had to do that to almost every iPhone I've used except the previous 6 I had. I'm not sure why I went through them quickly. I started to use the software home button right away on the 6 and it's still kickin. The 6 Plus I didn't do it to misses a click every so often.