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Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 2 and Redmi Note 2 Prime in China

iPhone loses its charm in China
CCTV.com

08-13-2015 15:20 BJT


The iconic iPhone is gradually losing some of its charm in China. According to IHS Technology research institute, Apple’s Chinese market share in the second quarter of this year declined from second to third place. Domestic brands now dominate the market with Xiaomi and Huawei leading the way.

Qu Hongyi bought his Xiaomi several months ago. Having used foreign brands such as Apple and Samsung previously, Qu says he chose Xiaomi because of it offered him better performance for the price, especially important to a student like him.

“The high cost-performance ratio was the most attractive thing for me. To people like me who are looking for high functionality, Xiaomi takes care of our needs. My phone was only around 700 yuan and it does everything a smart phone should do. Xiaomi is a good choice for a student," Qu said.

Qu is far from the only one to make that choice. Statistics from IHS Technology show that in the second quarter of this year, domestic brands accounted for about 80 percent of sales in China’s mobile market. Staff at cell phone shops say they are now seeing increasing demand for domestic brands, compared to the past.

"Domestic brands like Xiaomi and Huawei have the best sales volume. As the market has developed, Xiaomi and Huawei have become very competitive," said Gao Fulin, manager of Guangchuang Mobile Phone Square.

"iPhone was very popular last year and in the first half of this year, but as students were the major buyers during these past two months, the sales volume of iPhones has fallen by 30 percent.

In term of functions, Chinese mobile brands have almost completely caught up with the with foreign brands. Compared to the iPhone 6, Huawei’s newly-launched Mate 7, for example, actually has a higher resolution camera.

Its price, however, is only 3,000 yuan, at least 1,000 yuan cheaper than the iPhone. Wang Yang of IHS Technology says that in comparison to foreign brands, the relatively more reasonable cost of domestic brands accounts for their popularity.

"Consumers prefer to buy good things at low prices. But Apple, for example, has a high cost because it puts a lot of effort into improving its functions. Domestic products are cheap but they're good enough to satisfy the needs of most people, so they are very popular," he said.

While the domestic brands are doing well in terms of sales, however, Wang says that compared to foreign brands like Apple, domestic brands still have a long way to go in branding.

"Domestic brands are coming closer to Apple in term of user experience or camera pixels. But the branding of domestic brands is not as influential as Apple," Wang said.

"If a domestic phone wanted to sell for price above 3,000 yuan, consumers would think it wasn't good enough to justify the price, and would prefer to spend another one or two thousand to buy an Apple. Branding has to be developed over a long time. Chinese brands still have to put a lot of effort into branding."

Research company Canalys says China has become the largest smart phone market in the world. Huawei says its output volume has increased by 39 percent in the first half this year.

But Wang says that despite domestic mobile brands accounting for a large percentage of the market share in China, Apple is still the best money earner because of the low pricing of domestic brands.

Apple's second quarter financial report shows its revenue has increased by around 70 percent in China, compared with the first quarter.
 
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Xiaomi announces new MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop

Prasad, 13 August, 2015

Xiaomi has announced the newest version of MIUI alongside the new Redmi Note 2. MIUI 7 is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop and comes with a bunch of new features.

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One of the features is face detection mode in the Gallery app, that can recognize faces and sort images according to the people in it in the People tab. The software is even able to identify and differentiate pets.

MIUI 7 also has a handful of new themes, including a pink 'Goddess' theme targeted at women and as usual you can download more from the store.

MIUI also has a new feature called Mi Roaming, which acts as a virtual SIM for when you go out of your country, allowing users to purchase data packages from Xiaomi and use them instead of getting a new SIM. This feature is only available in China for now.

MIUI 7 can also let you set videos for contacts, which play when the person calls you. Lastly, there is also a Kids Mode, which restricts what content kids can access on the device.

MIUI 7 will start rolling out for Mi 2, Mi 2S, Mi 2A, Mi 3, Mi 4, Mi Note, Redmi, and Redmi Note tomorrow in China. Xiaomi will be officially announcing MIUI 7 in India on August 19.

Source

Xiaomi announces new MIUI 7 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop - GSMArena.com news

 
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but the one plus two is a mobile that can compete with just about any of the best companies in the world at a much cheaper price. You need to look at the price of the sets it competes with. plus the invite thing is so cool.......

Different phones for different categories of consumers。The two phones, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 and One Plus 2, are simply not in the same brackets。While the Redmi is a mainstream handset gunning for sales in the tens of millions a year, the OnePlus 2 will remain a niche device for the few.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 goes official at last with Helio X10 SoC, $125 price tag

Posted on Aug 13th, 2015

by Adrian Diaconescu



Waiting for the Redmi Note 2 may have felt frustrating all these months, but ultimately, your patience paid off. Big time! Due out in local store shelves as early as tomorrow, August 14, the massive 5.5 incher starts at a ridiculously low tag of CNY 799.

That converts to around $125, which is good for a 16 GB dual SIM configuration with 4G connectivity on one slot and 3G on the other. Full LTE support will require 100 extra Yuans, bringing the grand total to CNY 899, i.e. $140.

And then you have the top-of-the-line 32 GB variant, priced at Yuan 999, or $155. This one packs an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 Helio X10 processor clocked at 2.2 GHz, unlike the entry-level duo, where the same chip runs the hardware show, but throttled at 2 GHz speeds.



It’s important to note (pun intended) the Helio X10 is MTK’s current best silicon, providing raw power in Snapdragon 810’s ballpark while staying cucumber cool and saving energy:coffee::azn::enjoy:. Speaking of, the Redmi Note 2 touts a slightly smaller battery than its predecessor, yet at 3,020 mAh capacity, it should still be enough to last you a full day between charges.

Even when the 1,080p display runs at maximum brightness and sharpness, and you take full advantage of the multitasking muscle delivered by the on-board 2 GB RAM. Far skinnier and lighter than last year’s Redmi Note, the Note 2 tips the scales at 160 grams and measures 8.3 mm thick.

The cameras have largely stayed the same, with 13 and 5 MP sensors in tow, while the software has of course been updated to MIUI 7, Xiaomi’s proprietary take on Android 5.1 Lollipop. When all is said and done, you have to wonder whether the fast-growing OEM makes any money off such dirt-cheap powerhouses.

What could the profit margins be here, $5, $10 per unit? :azn:

Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 goes official at last with Helio X10 SoC, $125 price tag
 
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Waiting for the Redmi Note 2 may have felt frustrating all these months, but ultimately, your patience paid off. Big time! Due out in local store shelves as early as tomorrow, August 14, the massive 5.5 incher starts at a ridiculously low tag of CNY 799.

That will break records. Once again. Keep us posted @cirr :)

Xiaomi needs to come here in the Philippines, we already have the likes of Oppo and Huawei.

Xiaomi needs to come here in the Philippines, we already have the likes of Oppo and Huawei.

I guess they are available online already?

Mi Philippines
 
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That will break records. Once again. Keep us posted @cirr :)





I guess they are available online already?

Mi Philippines

I'd say that the Helio X10,though as good as Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 810 in raw power and consuming some 30% less energy,is MTK’s current 2nd best silicon。

The 10-core Helio X20 is...:enjoy:
 
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but the one plus two is a mobile that can compete with just about any of the best companies in the world at a much cheaper price. You need to look at the price of the sets it competes with. plus the invite thing is so cool.......
One plus two is a branch out company of OPPO. Their built quality is, one word, fantastic! I use a mi3, and yet to find a flaw in it except for some software issues aka bugs.
Judging between one plus two and note 2/note 2 prime, they are simply equally poised. If given a choice, I'll still go for one plus two. Why? I choose better built quality, doesn't mean xiaomi is doing a bad job. Yet, one plus is built like a tank. I just love their craftsmanship.
Having said that, you can't brush xiaomi under the carpet and forget about it. The less fortunate will benefit from it.
Not going deep into specifics, the F/2 of note 2 will be simply average like my mi3.
Like they say, if you want to buy a car, you must first look at what you're looking for and how the car will benefit you. I would say the same for a mobile.
If you're a gamer, look for the GPU, if you're into photography, look for the MPs and the aperture.
Goodluck!

Excuse me @Gufi, I generally don't like a huge write up. I am lazy. ;)
 
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but the one plus two is a mobile that can compete with just about any of the best companies in the world at a much cheaper price. You need to look at the price of the sets it competes with. plus the invite thing is so cool.......

Imagine the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S6 being battleships fighting a duel while the OnePlus 2 is a silent submarine, poised to torpedo both of them. ;) This might explain OnePlus' slogan for their latest product.

But still not as good as B Phone.

We have yet to see a review of the Bphone by Michael Kukielka aka DetroitBORG or Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) so now is not the time to leap on conclusions. MKBHD hasn't reviewed a Xiaomi smartphone yet but since he's impressed with both the OnePlus One and the OnePlus Two and he has already taken a look on various flagship phones, the Bphone has a rather high benchmark to beat.
 
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‪#‎MIUI7‬ Global Launch happens 19 Aug, but the China launch takes place today! MIUI 7 is ultra-fast, power efficient, and completely designed for you. Here’s a sneak peek at some of its new UI and themes.

Xiaomi also launches ‪#‎RedmiNote2‬, which runs the powerful MTK Helio X10 processor on 2GB RAM. It has a large 5.5” full HD display, 13MP camera with PDAF autofocus, 3060mAh removable battery and 4G dual SIM. See more

http://www.tangworld.com/xiaomi-redmi-note-2-prime-mediatek…

 
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It’s important to note (pun intended) the Helio X10 is MTK’s current best silicon, providing raw power in Snapdragon 810’s ballpark while staying cucumber cool and saving energy

I'd like to see a benchmark performance to backup that claim.

IMO, Redmi Note2 is trying to act like a niche high end phone with subpar tech parts targeting bargain shoppers and low income people.

We have yet to see a review of the Bphone by Michael Kukielka aka DetroitBORG or Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) so now is not the time to leap on conclusions. MKBHD hasn't reviewed a Xiaomi smartphone yet but since he's impressed with both the OnePlus One and the OnePlus Two and he has already taken a look on various flagship phones, the Bphone has a rather high benchmark to beat.

They're just being sarcastic about the Bphone. The company is currently in the process of designing the next gen model. And just so other members know what these Chinese keyboard warriors keep making fun about....

Nicole Motta on Friday July 31, 2015 05:55:30 PM

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Known for its security software, Vietnam's Bkav looks to make waves in the smartphone market with its homegrown Bphone.

In early June, Bkav launched the Bphone which it calls "Vietnam's answer to the iPhone." The smartphone is available in several variants, starting at $450, and reminiscent of the iPhone 4. Bkav first announced the phone at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January, promising the sleek, sophisticated style of Apple's iPhones with the user-friendly interface of Samsung's Galaxy phones. In the 12 hours after it launched, Bkav received nearly 12,000 pre-orders for the Bphone despite the fact that this was the company's first foray into smartphones. "We are later than other firms in this field; therefore, to become a strong brand, we have no other way but to create a better product than theirs," said Bkav Chairman and CEO Nguyen Tu Quang. "Beautiful sophisticated and powerful are the first criteria. And we made it."

The Bphone is packed with flagship features including high-level security protection and rapid wireless file transfer capabilities. The Vietnamese smartphone features a 5 inch Full HD IPS display, 13 megapixel rear camera, 5 megapixel front-facing camera, 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM, 3,000 mAh battery, and a plethora of sensors including an eCompass and Accelerometer. The base model offers 16 GB of built-in storage while the highest-end model offers 128 GB - the Bphone's storage is not expandable. The smartphone runs BOS, an operating system based on Google's Android 5.0 Lollipop. The Bphone is currently limited to Vietnam but the company plans to expand to other markets in Asia including India and eventually Western markets like the United States. According to Quang, "Our ultimate goal is to build a global smartphone brand, enjoyed by users worldwide.

Bkav Takes on Apple with Bphone
 
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Xiaomi Brings On-Demand Roaming To Its Users In China

By Tyler Lee on 08/14/2015


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When you travel overseas and you want to go online, you’ll either have to rely on local WiFi, purchase a SIM card in that country, or be forced to pay exorbitant data roaming charges as dictated by your carrier. However over in China, it seems that things are a little different, especially if you’re a Xiaomi customer.

It seems that along with the launch of the Redmi Note 2, Xiaomi has also announced their MIUI 7 operating system which is based on Android, and it turns out that one of the features of MIUI 7 is on-demand roaming. What it does is that when you’re overseas, the OS will create a virtual local SIM card of the country you are in.

This means you get to roam and use data overseas at a considerably much lower cost and you won’t have to bother switching carriers. According to Xiaomi, this will cost customers about $0.02($0.015 to be more precise:D)per megabyte which is no doubt extremely affordable compared to normal roaming charges.

In fact it could even cheaper than buying a local SIM if you only plan to use it for brief periods of time. Unfortunately this service is only available for Xiaomi’s customers in China and according to the company, it will be able to support about 36 countries at launch, including the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan just to name a few.

Xiaomi Brings On-Demand Roaming To Its Users In China | Ubergizmo
 
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Lenovo's Zuk Unveils Transparent Display Smartphone Prototype

by Robin Sinha , 14 August 2015


zuk_lenovo_transparent_display_smartphone_prototype_weibo.jpg



Earlier this week we saw Zuk, Lenovo's online-only brand, launching its first smartphone in China named the Zuk Z1. The firm has also showcased a smartphone prototype, the highlight of which is a transparent display.

In a series of images posted on Weibo from the Z1 launch event on Tuesday, the prototype smartphone is seen featuring a near bezel-less frame on the transparent glass-like display. The prototype is said to perform almost all functions of a traditional smartphone such as displaying images, making phone calls, play music, and more, and features an Android-like interface.

While there is no information revealed about the transparent display of the Zuk smartphone prototype, the image showing a picture of a girl on the display does hint towards a high pixel density. Needless to say, since this is a prototype smartphone, we would not be seeing it hitting the markets just yet, not at least until next year. In addition, the tech required to create transparent displays is not yet widely available. The prototype reveal was first reported by Gizmo China.

Lenovo's Zuk brand, by teasing a prototype smartphone with a transparent display, has come in direct competition with the likes of Samsung and LG, both of which have already showcased prototypes on foldable Youm displays, transparent displays, and bezel-less displays in the past.

Zuk earlier this week launched its first smartphone named Z1 in China, priced at CNY 1,799 (approximately Rs. 18,250). Lenovo's new online-only brand is aimed at countering the rise of Xiaomi in China, which too has followed a low-cost online-only model. While Lenovo so far has not detailed any plans to launch its online-only smartphone brand outside China, it is expected the company may bring the brand to other markets. Zuk Z1 is one of the few smartphones that feature USB Type-C port, a large 4100mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, and a 13-megapixel rear camera with Sony sensor (IMX214) and optical image stabilization (OIS), a feature that's found in select high-end smartphones.

Lenovo's Zuk Unveils Transparent Display Smartphone Prototype | NDTV Gadgets
 
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It seems that along with the launch of the Redmi Note 2, Xiaomi has also announced their MIUI 7 operating system which is based on Android, and it turns out that one of the features of MIUI 7 is on-demand roaming. What it does is that when you’re overseas, the OS will create a virtual local SIM card of the country you are in.

One more good reason to buy Xiaomi :)
 
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