It's Apple Style

A new device called the "Apple Peel 520" and created by a Chinese company helps your iPod Touch transform to iPhone.

This is a brainchild of 22-year-old programmer who lives in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

It is kit consisting of a case that fits around the outside of Apple's iPod Touch, a popular media player and Wi-Fi-enabled pocket computer with e-mail, maps and

The Apple Peel 520 case contains a battery, dock connector and SIM card that allows voice calls. Users will also have to install special software to enable a text messaging function, and to allow the device to properly work with the iPod Touch (users will have to break into the software of the iPod in order to download the necessary applications).
other applications.

Once installed, the Apple Peel gets around five hours of talk time and 120 hours on standby, according to a review posted on Dailytech.com.

CNN interviewed the inventor of the device via QQ, a popular instant messaging service in China (he declined a phone interview and was only willing to offer his online name: "Maxpy").

When asked why he created the Apple Peel, Maxpy said it boiled down to economics: "Because I love the iPhone, but it's too expensive in China."

Maxpy said he began building the device last April, revealing the final product online about a month ago via a company he started called Yosion Technology.

The iPhone, which costs between $588 - $740 while an iPod Touch is around $235. The Apple Peel sells for $57.

While there are plans to mass manufacture the gadget in the future, Maxpy says those plans are on hold until the company can ensure there are no intellectual property right violations.
"We have no detailed plans," he said. "But of course we want to make a profit from it."

Maxpy also said they want to check on Apple's policy on "outside devices" as well as try to reach the company to see if they have any interest in the gadget, asking CNN whether we could put him in touch with Apple CEO Steve Jobs. We could not.

CNN did try to reach Apple representatives in Beijing and Hong Kong. No one was available for comment.

There are also a few technical glitches to be worked out. According to a Chinese review translated into English on M.I.C. Gadget, the Apple Peel does not support 3G, there's a small lag time when calls are made from the iPod Touch and deleting and forwarding text messages is not available, among other minor complaints.

Nevertheless, many say they are impressed with the functionality of the device.

Source: CNN