In keeping with copycat tradition, a company that will remain unnamed has outdone itself by aping a nearly iconic device and making it (seem to) do something else. Supposedly a Sony T700 digital point-and-shoot camera, this little beauty looks just like the real thing – until you notice what looks like a pinhole/webcam lens behind the main glass protector of the camera.(All pictures courtesy of eprice.com.tw)

Of course, making copies of well-known electronic devices isn’t new, ask Apple. Look around any tiangge or free-for-all electronics store, and you’ll see copies of the popular iPod, iPhone, and various other Apple products on sale for ridiculously low prices. Once you close in however, you’ll notice specs that are not quite right, fit and finish that’s just a bit out of kilter, and outrageous functions that makes you wonder whether Apple released a new product in the past few hours without you noticing anything. Well, it’s the same with this “T700” – everything seems fine – if you’re looking at it from far, far away.

                                             If you're trying to fake someone out, consistency is kind of important...

But hey, according to online reviews, its still a real, working device, only that the specs that it comes labeled with are as fake as the device itself – there are two separate stickers stating that it is both an 8 MP camera, and a 5 MP camera, but it’s actually just a 0.3 MP pinhole camera that won’t capture your face in low-light conditions properly, if at all. Worse still, it’s actually a phone masquerading as a (lousy) camera - a double jeopardy kind of product for the unsuspecting buyer.

                                            Admittedly, build quality, judging from the pictures, isn't half-bad.

I doubt many will fall for a device like this, and our local tiangge operators are usually honest enough to describe that it’s a (cheap) copy of this phone or that camera. Better to be prepared though, as these tiangge operators don’t usually know much more than what their bosses tell them, and a very real danger is having someone sell this fake T700 as an “update” to an unsuspecting and non-tech familiar casual buyer, thinking it’s an improved, remarkably cheap version of a device he’s seen his uncle Bob toting around before.

                                             Interface is a garish mix of influences from various handheld devices - but perhaps may be a good base for software hacks. We don't actually know what O.S. it uses (Symbian? Win Mobile?).

Putting aside its overwhelming fakeness, the device looks pretty good as a phone, as it has an atypical icon-based menu at front that seems to be able to at least work properly as a mobile communication device. Once again though, reviewers online lament that the interface is quite worthless, as it seems most of the money used to develop the product went to aping the looks, but not the practicality of a real phone, or even a real camera.

                                             Clues like this little 'ole pinhole camera in place of the visibly more intricate Carl Zeiss lens of the real thing should warn off most buyers.

                                            Further indication of its copycat nature is in the micro-SD card it uses - no Sony device uses memory types other than Memory Sticks.

It must be said however that there are some people who expressly look for an affordable device that has the functions devices like these offer, and these people don't mind if said device looks like a more expensive item from a reputable company - always a plus point. If you're one of these people, then more power to you. As always, forewarned is fore-armed, and at the same time, anyone looking for a device to play around with (if it can be found for cheap enough) can look into this very carefully crafted device for some laughs and perhaps an easy joke item for those swank parties you go to where you need to impress others with your swanky devices. Just don’t let anyone get too close a glimpse of your T700.