Counterfeit iPods

In recent weeks, Apple has begun warning its authorized resellers about counterfeit iPods hitting the market. Like a fake Rolex watch or bootleg movie, the forged iPods are strikingly similar to the real thing and even include convincing packaging and Apple-style serial numbers on them. They are, apparently, even functional devices but with an operating system that shares nothing in common with the real iPod interface.

So far, the fakes only seem to be targeting the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle models. Easy ways to spot the forged iPod Shuffle models is that they have a simple on-off switch as opposed the real iPod Shuffle's on-repeat-shuffle switch and do not have a battery indicator light. The fake iPod Nano models include an screen that is noticeably longer than the actual Nano, lack an iPod dock connector, and have a differently styled click wheel than the real thing (with a play/pause logo in the select button in the center of the wheel and the letters VOL at the bottom of the wheel where the play/pause button should be).

iPodgear has photos of the forged iPods and Apple Insider has a more detailed report including information on the forged serial numbers and additional photos.