No, this isn’t the Apple Watch. But it appears there has been enough time between Apple’s unveiling and CES for smaller accessory makers to prepare offerings inspired by the device in time for the show.
This product comes from a Synergy technologies showcasing their products on the CES 2015 show floor, and does a pretty good job of knocking off the Apple Watch both with its hardware and UI.
Apple Watch isn’t out yet, but it’s already influencing the look of new smartwatches hitting the market. Yesterday we reported that Apple is likely planning to launch the device in March with training of retail employees scheduled for mid-February.
Stay tuned for more from CES as we explore the show.
Much like the MacBook Air knockoff we showed you in December, the iMac clone above from Shanzhaiben (via MIC Gadget) does not actually run OS X, but it does apparently sport a “highly recyclable aluminum” enclosure and weighs as much as the 21.5-inch model from Apple. It might not be the most powerful PC you can get, but we think it is the nicest at $300 in terms of design. Here is what you will get with the 18.4-inch knockoff:
Configuration: Intel D525, processor, dual-core, four threads, clocked at 1.8GHz, 4GB DDR3 memory, 500G hard drive, 18.4-inch HD LED screen resolution of 1920 * 1080, built-in stereo speakers, support for Bluetooth, Wifi, 1.3 million pixel camera, product size 54 * 20 * 45, weight 9.3kg. Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure to comply with the ENERGY STAR Energy Star 5.2 standard, EPEAT Gold Gold certification.
We showed you some Siri clones available in the Android Market last week that use official Apple icons, and they are even promoted as “Real Siri for Android” and “Siri for Android.” Now, the first round of Windows Phone Siri alternatives seem to be popping up in the WP Marketplace.
If you are craving Siri like functionality for Windows Phone and more, look no further. Ask Ziggy is your Personal Assistant that goes beyond Siri functionality.
The first app is called “Ask Ziggy” from developer Shai Leib and it is not exactly a rip-off like the Android Siri alternatives. As you can see in the video above from WP Central, the app takes inspiration from the Siri UI and seems to work rather smoothly in comparison to Windows Phone’s built-in TellMe voice control features. It does not borrow Apple’s icons, but has an overall similar feel to Siri. The app apparently utilizes Nuance voice-recognition (same as Siri), but the developers handled everything else themselves. It is available for free now, and the updated version seen in the video should be landing soon.
Another Siri alternative for Windows Phone currently available in the Marketplace isn’t really a functioning voice control app, but it is marketed as “Siri for Windows Phone”. The name “iSiri Faker” also seems to be associated with the app. This app will allow you to “fake Siri conversations on your Windows Phone.” We are not sure exactly what that means, but according to the app’s description you can “program custom responses” using speech recognition, text to speech, data compression, and voice effects. The app is available for $0.99 in the Marketplace. Screenshots are available after the break. Expand Expanding Close
