Yoison Unveils Apple Peel 520

[jackdanielchan]

Anounced a few days ago, this is what Engadget has to say...

Oh sure, VoIP on the iPod touch is hardly breaking news these days, but what if you could actually slap on a regular SIM card and make calls on said device? That's what Yosion's appropriately named Apple Peel 520 claims to do. Powered by an Infineon baseband chip, this adapter not only offers voice calling and text messaging (presumably requiring a jailbroken iPod touch for the apps; GPRS not possible yet), but it also doubles up as an 800mAh battery and provides 4.5 hours of call time or 120 hours of standby juice. We're told this cheeky hack's coming out in China as early as this week for somewhere between ¥300 ($44) and ¥500 ($74), although the lack of an official website, full spec sheet or compatibility list means we'll have to remain skeptical with this potentially vaporware company. Maybe the demo video after the break will keep us believing.

​

The software itself is still a little glitchy, as sometimes calls and texts don't come up, even when talking the ringing bubble is still surfaced... But the idea itself is great, it has also been mentioned that it doesn't support 3G as of yet but your saving so much more money if you purchase this little case, and good cases themselves sell for just under half the given price...​

Source: Engadget - Yoison Apple Peel 520 (With video!)

EDIT: MORE INFO

QUOTEAccording to some of the comments on that site, there are still multiple issues, such as:
1) Apple Peel 520 apparently can't end calls/hang up.
2) Can the iPod be charged whilst connected to the Apple Peel 520? If you have a look at the image on that page, it appears that the Apple peel connects to the dock connector of the iPod... Whether this allows you to charge and use Apple peel 520, I'm not sure.
3) A lack of microphone on 2nd Generation iPod touches — unless the apple peel 520 includes a built in microphone, it would require the user to use an external microphone?

Yosion Tech's website has recently become abundant with information, as a result of a recent limited beta (they sold ~150 copies) in China.

They've also released some specifications a few weeks ago:
Dimensions: 121 * 65 * 12.5mm
Baseband: Infineon
Battery Capacity: 800mAh
Standby Time: 120 hours
Talk Time: 4.5 hours
Signal strength: good

 

[redact]

do want

 

[jackdanielchan]

The video contradicts some of the glitches in the second quote

 

[Jamstruth]

Ok I'm confused. Is this a case with a battery and extra sim slot into which you can place any sim card and make calls using it (i.e. unlocking the iPhone)? If so then we already have soft-unlocking available via jailbreak, why do we need this?

Ok just noticed its for an iPod Touch. Looks interesting to say the least. I'll wait on some reviews before considering it though. Also thought of 2 things. Does this case include a small speaker and a microphone? As good as the headset that come with my iPod is I prefer holding a phone to my ear while calling

 

[zeromac]

Looks pretty epic but how would you pay?
ie top up credit on your phone

 

[Jamstruth]

Presumably it accepts any SIM card so the answer is: Whatever you pay normally for calls/data/texts

 

[SifJar]

Quite old news, but I think it looks pretty cool. Depending on the price, could be a slightly cheaper way to get an iPhone. Most people will want a case for their iPod anyway, so they may as well have one which adds (quite a lot of) functionality to the device. I'm guessing the app required is probably jailbreak only though...can't imagine Apple allowing that in the App Store XD

 

[jackdanielchan]

Yeah, it requires a Jailbreak, people are also unsure if the microphone is built into the case or not, but it will have to be because iPod touches themselves don't have microphones...

 

[Jamstruth]

I think there's a hole bottom left of the case for it. Unsure whether it is actually a microphone though. Using it without a headset will suck a but anyway. The speaker on an iPod is not designed for phone calls, its designed for playing music/sounds so if you're using it as a phone everyone's gonna hear your conversations

 

[redact]

I think there's a hole bottom left of the case for it. Unsure whether it is actually a microphone though. Using it without a headset will suck a but anyway. The speaker on an iPod is not designed for phone calls, its designed for playing music/sounds so if you're using it as a phone everyone's gonna hear your conversations

http://micgadget.com/6752/apple-peel-520-review-with-video/
Has it's own speaker to avoid that, relocates 3.5mm audio jack to bottom left, has an iPod dock conector to stop you from needing to remove peel for charging, has added battery for longer use, protects iPod as any normal case would, supports 3G sims has a mic is the bottom (that tiny hole)
All in all, once the (software-based) kinks are worked out this and a 32gb 3gen touch will make for a cheap unlocked iphone 3GS :3

 

[Slyakin]

I'd love to have one of those things!

I just don't want to PAY for the calls...

 

[SifJar]

I'd love to have one of those things!

I just don't want to PAY for the calls...

Then get someone else to top up your sim card, or get a contract and have someone else pay. They're not just going to make it free to make calls.

 

[Jamstruth]

I think there's a hole bottom left of the case for it. Unsure whether it is actually a microphone though. Using it without a headset will suck a but anyway. The speaker on an iPod is not designed for phone calls, its designed for playing music/sounds so if you're using it as a phone everyone's gonna hear your conversations

http://micgadget.com/6752/apple-peel-520-review-with-video/
Has it's own speaker to avoid that, relocates 3.5mm audio jack to bottom left, has an iPod dock conector to stop you from needing to remove peel for charging, has added battery for longer use, protects iPod as any normal case would, supports 3G sims has a mic is the bottom (that tiny hole)
All in all, once the (software-based) kinks are worked out this and a 32gb 3gen touch will make for a cheap unlocked iphone 3GS :3

This product is now pure awesome. I want one really badly now once there's been a translation and the kinks are worked out anyway.

 

[jackdanielchan]

Apple ain't gonna be happy, and with future iOS updates, they could easily block the use of the Yoison apps...

 

[redact]

Apple ain't gonna be happy, and with future iOS updates, they could easily block the use of the Yoison apps...

there's a reason why this requires a jailbroken ipt

 

[Jamstruth]

Apple ain't gonna be happy, and with future iOS updates, they could easily block the use of the Yoison apps...

You need to be jailbroken! They're constantly trying to block that anyway. The Yoison Apps aren't seperate from any normal jailbreak apps. They can block initial jailbreaking until a new exploit is found but then people can do whatever they want to the device.

 

[BORTZ]

Wow this looks awesome. Too bad i have Verizon. We dont have SIM cards so theres no way i can use this

((

 

[SifJar]

Wow this looks awesome. Too bad i have Verizon. We dont have SIM cards so theres no way i can use this

((

No SIM Cards???

 

[BORTZ]

Yeah i really dont understand it. Verizon has a way of doing things without a sim card, so you have to have them port over all your contacts and other crap if you want a new phone

And you get screwed out of cool shit like this.

 

[Jamstruth]

Small update on the Apple Peel. It now comes in white.

Source

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Simless mobile phones? This is madness!!!