You’ll find the same clues appearing for the iPad’s 5th generation release as we saw with the iPhone 5s this week, with parts from upstream coming on in several tones. What you’re seeing here is a collection of parts acquired from the secondhand repair and replacement market in China, coming through the likes of Sonny […]
China has blocked access to Facebook from its populace for a long time. The reason for blocking Facebook access is that China doesn’t want its citizens to have access to information that it deems unfit or unsavory. China recently announced that it was lifting the ban on Facebook, but only within the Shanghai free trade […]
Manufacturers and consumers alike better brace themselves: memory chip prices have hit a two-year high because of a major fire in a massive Chinese production plant.
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China has a rich—and occasionally odd
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Given how large a mobile market China has become, and its role in gadget manufacturing globally, we sometimes forget the government of this increasingly tech-aware country still dictates what corners of the web its peoples can see. Today, the South China Morning Post reports the state has decided to unblock several foreign internet sites “considered politically sensitive,” but only in the free-trade zone of Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. According to “government sources,” the move to open access to sites including Facebook, Twitter (both of which were cut off in 2009) and The New York Times (blocked last year) is so visitors can “live and work happily in the free-trade zone.” The greater goal is to make the area more attractive to foreign companies, beyond the favorable regulatory and tax environment, of course. Furthermore, the Chinese are allegedly beckoning overseas firms to come in and “provide internet services” for the new, 30 square kilometer zone. The Great Firewall may remain firmly up for the rest of the country and its billion-odd population, but one step at a time and all that.
[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Quartz
Source: South China Morning Post
What is this that we hear? Is Microsoft not content with their Xbox video game console business alone, that they want to expand their horizons? It seems that Microsoft themselves has formed a joint venture with a Shanghai media giant known as BesTV, and this partnership’s main aim is to roll out a new games device that will deliver streaming entertainment services. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this joint venture looks set to be limited within the shores of China itself. The companies did put up a note on the Shanghai Stock Exchange that shed more light on such an operation that is tipped to launch with an initial investment of $237 million.
So far, there has been reports on the ground which have yet to be vetted, where Chinese media touted that this new joint venture will see a console launch that is based on Xbox technology, calling it the Bestpad. Not exactly the most inspiring or innovating names out there, but I guess with BesTV as one of the partners, it makes sense. It remains to be seen whether this Bestpad will be a success in China, and if it is, will it cannibalize on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One sales?
Microsoft Dives Into Chinese Console Venture With ‘Bestpad’ (Rumor) original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Microsoft has signed a deal with a Chinese IPTV firm BesTV to develop “games and related services,” according to Xinhuanet. What that means is anyone’s guess though, because there aren’t many concrete details other than the fact that the duo are working together on something. When we asked for further info, a Microsoft representative could only tell us that the companies are “looking to explore new opportunities in Shanghai and China” because the two believe the region holds “great market potential and partnership opportunities.” Funny that, considering the year-long gap between the Xbox One’s Asian and North American debuts.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Via: Polygon
Source: Xinhua News
Today, Chinese automakers produce world-class knockoffs
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Oppo isn’t the only company launching a 5.9-inch smartphone today. Coolpad has just unveiled the Magview 4, which mates a similarly large display with a 1.8GHz Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera and an aluminum chassis. The Android 4.2 handset doesn’t offer as many built-in tricks as its Oppo counterpart, but it’s arriving alongside a trio of clever accessories. The pocketable CoolHub combines a battery with a Bluetooth speaker, a microSD card reader and NFC tag support; the CoolHub 2 extends this with environmental sensors and a pedometer. Coolpad is also launching the cWatch C1, a waterproof smartwatch with alerts for calendars, calls and messages. While the company hasn’t yet priced its add-ons, it will ship the Magview 4 to mainland China in October for ¥3,980 ($650).
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile
Via: Engadget Chinese (translated)
Source: Coolpad
Oppo’s already made quite an impression with its N1 earlier today, and now that we’ve gotten our hands dirty with said Android phone, we can confirm that it’s just as dandy in real life. As per usual Oppo standard, the N1 comes with a solid plastic build around an aluminum alloy frame, and we dig the silky matte finish that keeps fingerprints off the body. The O-Touch panel on the back is indicated by some tiny glossy marks, without which it’d be totally invisible. It took some getting used to in order to avoid accidental camera shots, as a one-second press on the panel triggers the shutter; but otherwise, we found the design to be very handy (literally!) and natural for taking selfies. And of course, O-Touch is also great for scrolling. %Gallery-slideshow89992%
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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