Shanzhai

Fancy a Samsung Galaxy Note imitation?

SUNTEC, Singapore--We've seen Shanzhai iPhones and BlackBerries, but this has got to be a first: a Samsung Galaxy Note imitation.

While pounding the halls at the PC Show 2012 tech fair here, this writer noticed the familiar-looking supersize smartphone going for just $279 Singapore dollars ($218).

Upon closer inspection however, the "Note" was running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), instead of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) out of the box. More interestingly, the user interface seemed to be inspired by HTC's Sense UI, with its "3D box effect" when scrolling through the home screens. … Read more