$99 iPad Mini clone already surfaced in China

mason00

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57540576-1/$99-ipad-mini-clone-already-surfaced-in-china/?part=rss&subj=crave&tag=title&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cnet%2FpRza+%28Crave%29

The Goopad Mini is an imitator, but it could also be an Android competitor.

(Credit: GizmoChina)
It's been mere days since the Apple iPad Mini was announced, but a crazy-cheap clone has already arrived.

China's Goophone will reportedly release the "Goopad Mini" for $99 in November. Ironically, the iPad look-alike appears to be running a customized version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Goophone isn't your typical sketchy, fly-by-night knockoff shop. In fact, it was forward thinking -- and downright ballsy -- enough to grab a patent for the rumored iPhone 5 design in China prior to the phone's release.

Then the company went so far as to threaten to sue Apple for infringing the patent when the new iPhone is released in China.

Apple has yet to work out all the needed agreements to release the new iPhone in China, but some "unofficial" units of the phone have been spotted on sale there for as much as $1,700.

What's most interesting, though, is that the Goopad looks to actually be a decent tablet, judging by the specs that GizmoChina is reporting:

- 8-inch screen, 1,024x768-pixel display
- 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB storage
- 2MP rear camera + 0.3MP front camera
- Supports Wi-Fi
- Android 4.1 OS, with iLauch (iOS theme)
- Aluminum slim body
The smaller iPad doesn't seem to be whipping up nearly as much of a frenzy as Apple's flagship phone, but it's clear there's plenty of demand to go around for folks who would love to get their hands on something that at least looks like it was designed in Cupertino... even if it's really an Android.