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[TaiShang]

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Huawei Watch release date, price and specs UK: Pre-order now
New Android Wear smartwatch is coming soon
By Chris Martin | PC Advisor | 23 March 15

One of the surprise gems of MWC 2015 was the Huawei Watch, its new smartwatch which runs on Android Wear. Here's what you need to know about the Huawei Watch release date, price and specs. Read: The 14 best smartwatches.

It seems to be the year of the wearable with not only Apple releasing its first smartwatch but historic timepiece makers and designer brands getting in on the act to. Tag Heuer is partnering with Intel and Google while Gucci is launching a device with will.i.am.

Huawei is a known for its smartphones and tablets but it making more wearables and the simply named Huawei Watch got a lot of attention in Barcelona. It will take on the likes of theApple Watch, LG Watch Urbane, Motorola Moto 360, Sony SmartWatch 3 and others.

Read our Huawei Watch hands-on review.

Huawei Watch release date and price UK

At the time of writing Huawei hasn't officially released details on where the Huawei Watch will launch or when. However, we do know it will come to the UK because MobileFun has the device up for pre-order. The retailer is expecting stock in 3-5 days.

As we expected, the Huawei Watch will cost £300 matching a number or rivals but that's just for the black and silver models. If you like a bit more bling then the gold option will set you back a little more at £350.

Huawei Watch specs and features

The design of a smartwatch is arguably the most important element, especially in the Android Wear market where software is the same and components are often identical. Huawei has gone for a round shape rather than square. As alluded to previously, it comes in three different colours and various straps including leather or steel.

There's nothing majorly stand-out about the specs which you can see below but another design point is that the physical power button is located at 2 o'clock rather than 3 o'clock making it easier to press.

Display: 1.4-inch full circle AMOLED display, scratch-proof sapphire crystal lens
Size: 42mm diameter, 11.3 mm thickness
Battery: 300mAh
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.1
Sensors: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Heart rate monitor, Barometer, Vibration Motor
OS: Android Wear
OS Compatibility Requirements: Android 4.3 or later
Color: Silver, Black, Gold
Strap Options: Stainless steel option, Luxury genuine leather option
Memory: 512 MB RAM + 4 GB ROM
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400

SOURCE BILLIGER.DE

That's a beauty and stole all the light from the bulky and ugly one manufactured by its main foreign competitor.

 

[Keel]

That's a beauty and stole all the light from the bulky and ugly one manufactured by its main foreign competitor.

Yes they are indeed
The sapphire crystal face of the watch can be customized into 40+ different displays

Watch the promo hereunder:

http://v.qq.com/page/s/s/h/s00160maqsh.html

or

 

[cirr]

Xiaomi unveils Redmi 2A, 55-inch Mi TV 2 and other smart gadgets in China

By tech2 News Staff / 01 Apr 2015 , 08:30

On account of the company’s fifth anniversary, Xiaomi unveiled more than one product at an event which took place in China today. Earlier, areport had surfaced online which stated that Xiaomi was rumoured to launch an ultra-affordable 4G smartphone on 8 April. But, at the event, CEO Lei Jun unveiled a new smartphone dubbed Redmi 2A. The new smartphone will be available as an inferior version to the popular Redmi 2 with a price tag of 599 Yuan (Rs 6,000 approximately) and will be available at a special price of CNY 499 (Rs 5,000 approximately) on April 8 in China.



In terms of specifications, the Redmi 2A is similar to the Redmi 2. The device features a 4.7-inch HD IPS display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz Leadcore L1860C chipset, which features a quad-core Cortex A7 CPU and Mali T628MP2 GPU. It is paired with 1GB RAM. The 4G LTE device has an internal storage at 8GB. The smartphone features an 8MP rear camera along with a 2MP front facing camera. The Redmi 2A powers a 2200mAh battery.



At the same event, Xiaomi also unveiled a pink variant for the Mi Note. According to MIUI, the device is a “tailored edition for modern ladies who combine fashion and tech into one slim body.” The phablet, which is targeted for women, is powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 3GB RAM. The device is priced at CNY 2499 (Rs. 25,000 approximately).



Xiaomi also unveiled a new Mi Smart Scale at the event. The report states that the scale is capable of registering the slightest change of a person’s weight even after they have drank a bottle of water. When connected to the Mi Fit app, the device can manage the weight of a whole family of up to 16 people. The device is priced at RMB 99 (Rs 1000 approximately).



Alongside, Xiaomi unveiled a new Mi Smart Power Strip. This device supports 3 USB ports and other conventional components. Similar to the size of a pencil box, the power strip is priced at RMB 49 (Rs 500 approximately).



After announcing the 40-inch Android-powered 1080p smart TV, Mi TV 2 a few days ago, Xiaomi has now unveiled a 55 inch model for the Mi TV 2. With a 15.2mm ultra-thin frame and 6 mm bezel, the device is equipped with a Samsung HD 4K (3840 x 2160) panel and a MStar 6A928 processor. Along with a re-designed Bluetooth subwoofer and soundbar, the smart TV is priced at RMB 4,999 (Rs 55,000 approximately).

Xiaomi unveils Redmi 2A, 55-inch Mi TV 2 and other smart gadgets in China - Tech2

 

[TaiShang]

Xiaomi unveils Redmi 2A, 55-inch Mi TV 2 and other smart gadgets in China

By tech2 News Staff / 01 Apr 2015 , 08:30

On account of the company’s fifth anniversary, Xiaomi unveiled more than one product at an event which took place in China today. Earlier, areport had surfaced online which stated that Xiaomi was rumoured to launch an ultra-affordable 4G smartphone on 8 April. But, at the event, CEO Lei Jun unveiled a new smartphone dubbed Redmi 2A. The new smartphone will be available as an inferior version to the popular Redmi 2 with a price tag of 599 Yuan (Rs 6,000 approximately) and will be available at a special price of CNY 499 (Rs 5,000 approximately) on April 8 in China.



In terms of specifications, the Redmi 2A is similar to the Redmi 2. The device features a 4.7-inch HD IPS display. It is powered by a 1.5GHz Leadcore L1860C chipset, which features a quad-core Cortex A7 CPU and Mali T628MP2 GPU. It is paired with 1GB RAM. The 4G LTE device has an internal storage at 8GB. The smartphone features an 8MP rear camera along with a 2MP front facing camera. The Redmi 2A powers a 2200mAh battery.



At the same event, Xiaomi also unveiled a pink variant for the Mi Note. According to MIUI, the device is a “tailored edition for modern ladies who combine fashion and tech into one slim body.” The phablet, which is targeted for women, is powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor paired with 3GB RAM. The device is priced at CNY 2499 (Rs. 25,000 approximately).



Xiaomi also unveiled a new Mi Smart Scale at the event. The report states that the scale is capable of registering the slightest change of a person’s weight even after they have drank a bottle of water. When connected to the Mi Fit app, the device can manage the weight of a whole family of up to 16 people. The device is priced at RMB 99 (Rs 1000 approximately).



Alongside, Xiaomi unveiled a new Mi Smart Power Strip. This device supports 3 USB ports and other conventional components. Similar to the size of a pencil box, the power strip is priced at RMB 49 (Rs 500 approximately).



After announcing the 40-inch Android-powered 1080p smart TV, Mi TV 2 a few days ago, Xiaomi has now unveiled a 55 inch model for the Mi TV 2. With a 15.2mm ultra-thin frame and 6 mm bezel, the device is equipped with a Samsung HD 4K (3840 x 2160) panel and a MStar 6A928 processor. Along with a re-designed Bluetooth subwoofer and soundbar, the smart TV is priced at RMB 4,999 (Rs 55,000 approximately).

Xiaomi unveils Redmi 2A, 55-inch Mi TV 2 and other smart gadgets in China - Tech2

Xiaomi is fast becoming an all-around tech-gadget company for high-end users and perfectionists.

Xiaomi craze is soon to become the new normal.

Welcome to China's New Normal.

 

[cirr]

China PMI rebounds in March to 50.1: govt

Last Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 07:28

China`s manufacturing activity expanded in March for the first time since December, the governmentsaid Wednesday, a bright spot as the world`s second-largest economy fights a broad slowdown in growth.

The official Purchasing Managers` Index (PMI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) came in at 50.1 last month, up from 49.9 in February and the first result showing expansion since a similar 50.1 in December.

The index, which tracks activity in factories and workshops, is considered a key indicator of the health of China`s economy, a major driver of global growth. A figure above 50 signals growth, while anything below indicates shrinkage.

The official PMI had shown contraction in January for the first time in more than two years, raising alarm bells for China`s growth outlook.

China`s overall economy expanded 7.4 percent in 2014, marking a 24-year low. The slowdown has prompted authorities to loosen monetary policy in a bid to put a brake on the weakness.

The central People`s Bank of China (PBoC) has lowered benchmark interest rates twice since November and has also cut the amount of funds banks must keep on hand in a bid to boost lending and spark economic activity.

The official PMI figure comes after a closely watched private survey showed manufacturing activity contracting in March at its worst rate in 11 months.

British bank HSBC`s preliminary PMI reading for the month came in last week at 49.2, down from a final 50.7 in February. The final March figure was due later Wednesday.

China`s leadership is seeking a managed slowdown in gross domestic product (GDP) growth to make it more sustainable and for consumer spending to drive expansion, as in other major economies such as the United States and Japan.

Too steep a slowdown, however, could cost jobs and sow discontent, a key concern of the ruling Communist Party, which places prime emphasis on social stability.

AFP

First Published: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 07:28

 

[bobsm]

Income of China's IC design sector grows 24-fold over past decade, PwC
Xinhua Finance 2015-03-31 16:03 SHANGHAI

The income of China's integrated circuit (IC) design sector surged to 13.2 billion US dollars in 2013 from 500 million dollars in 2003, rising by 24 folds, according to the semiconductor industry annual report released by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Tuesday.

The unprecedented growth of the sector considerably increased Chinese IC companies' visibility. Statistics show that China's semiconductor consumption as a percentage of global consumption expanded from 18.5 percent in 2003 to over 55.6 percent in 2013. The compound growth rate of China's semiconductor consumption market is more than three folds of the world's average.

IC design continues acting as the fastest growing sector of China's semiconductor industry. In 2013, income of the sector surged by 33 percent to a record high of 13.2 billion dollars. During the period from end-2003 to 2013, the number of semiconductor wafers produced in China soared by 186 percent, the country's output capacity of semiconductor wafers jumped by 314 percent, and the number of semiconductor packaging, assembly and testing equipment produced in China rose by 51 percent.

 

[TaiShang]

China Int'l Equipment Manufacturing Exposition kicks off in Changchun
April 01, 2015


Visitors look at a solution for 3D visual during the China (Changchun) International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, April 1, 2015. About 500 equipment manufacturing enterprises from 10 countries and regions took part in the three-day expo which kicked off on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lin Hong)


Visitors look at a 3D printer during the China (Changchun) International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, April 1, 2015. About 500 equipment manufacturing enterprises from 10 countries and regions took part in the three-day expo which kicked off on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lin Hong)



Visitors look at a numerical control mould during the China (Changchun) International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, April 1, 2015. About 500 equipment manufacturing enterprises from 10 countries and regions took part in the three-day expo which kicked off on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lin Hong)

Visitors look at an automatic electric equipment during the China (Changchun) International Equipment Manufacturing Exposition in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, April 1, 2015. About 500 equipment manufacturing enterprises from 10 countries and regions took part in the three-day expo which kicked off on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Lin Hong)

 

[Martian2]

A New Cancer Drug, Made in China - WSJ

 

[ahojunk]

"Dr. Lu estimates the research cost of chidamide was about $70 million, or about one-tenth what it would have cost to develop in the U.S."

Very true indeed. The other nine-tenth goes to the lawyers.

That's one reason why America is losing its competitive edge.

 

[bobsm]

China pushing ahead plans to build space-based ‘Silk Road’
2015-04-02 11:29
Ecns.cn Editor: Mo Hong'e

(ECNS) – China has more than 110 artificial satellites in orbit around the Earth, and is pushing ahead with a program to build a space-based "Silk Road," said an official with the China International Satellite Service Association (CISSA) on Wednesday.

The 110 satellites include communications satellites, remote sensing satellites and navigation satellites, and the first two types of satellites have achieved global coverage, said Wang Zhongguo, executive vice president of the CISSA, during an interview with China News Service.

On Monday night, China launched the 17th satellite of its Beidou Navigation Satellite System, marking the first step in its plan to expand the system's regional service into global coverage.

Earlier media reports said China plans to launch another 120 satellites -- about 20 communications satellites, 70 remote sensing satellites and 30 navigation satellites. The number of Chinese satellites in orbit will overtake Russia in 2015 to rank second in the world.

The CISSA, made up of enterprises, institutions and scholars in the aerospace field, was set up in 2014, with the aim of helping expand Chinese satellite service to the world.

Based on the China-proposed Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (Road and Belt) initiatives, the CISSA plans to build a space-based "Silk Road" to provide better services to the Road and Belt region.

Wang said the new system will be made up of an extensive communications satellite network, several virtual remote sensing satellite constellations, and ground facilities. China will also promote the system's connection and interaction with the world's major navigation systems, and seek cooperation with them on building space-based and ground-based navigation augmentation systems, he adds.

Upon completion, the system will be capable of offering more accurate and qualified satellite navigation services to the Road and Belt region, as well as conducting stable long-term comprehensive monitoring of the land, ocean, air and environment in the region.

Wang said technology is not a problem in building the space-based "Silk Road," and that the key is knowing the needs of countries and regions along the Road and Belt. So far, his association has developed relationships with Malaysia and Indonesia regarding satellite and ground station cooperation projects.

 

[Yizhi]

China's online retail trade expands in 2014: report
English.news.cn 2015-04-02



SHANGHAI, April 2 (Xinhua) -- China's online retail trade volume grew 49.7 percent year on year to 2.8 trillion yuan (450 billion U.S. dollars) in 2014.

The online trade took up 10.6 percent of total retail volume in 2014, a 32.5 percent expansion, according to a report by the China E-Commerce Research Center (CECRC) on Thursday.

The report was compiled on trade figures of China's e-commerce giants such as Tmall.com, JD.com and z.cn. Tmall.com, the online shopping mall of Alibaba, took the lion's share, with its trade reaching 763 billion yuan.

Shen Yunyun, an assistant analyst at CECRC, attributed the online market growth to a many factors, including expansion in rural areas, overseas transactions, and vendors using the popular instant messaging application WeChat.

Notably, transactions carried out via mobile Internet expanded 240 percent to 928 billion yuan amid massive promotions for mobile shopping apps.

"In addition to the permeation of smart phones and tablet computers, the emergence of mobile payment services has effectively boosted China's mobile shopping," said Mo Daiqing, CECRC's senior analyst.

 

[TaiShang]

A New Cancer Drug, Made in China - WSJ

Amazing result of a "brain-regain."

 

[neolithic]

Masterpieces of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy in the National Palace Museum, Taipei

900 × 917 pixels

Yun Shou-p'ing and Wang Hui : Joint Album of Flowers and Landscapes
This album is a collaboration produced by the two painters in the eleventh year of the reign of the K'ang-hsi Emperor (1672) when they traveled together to I-hsing, Kiangsu province. These works are from the prime of both their lives, Yun then aged forty and Wang forty-one. Yun's flowering plants are luxuriantly colored but are filled with a pure atmosphere, and Wang's landscapes are rendered in tightly-knit brushstrokes and have a dignified flavor. These are the most superior works by the two painters who are positioned at the apex of early Ch'ing flowering plant and landscape painting.

1 Yun Shou-p'ing : Magnolias
2 Yun Shou-p'ing : Peonies
3 Yun Shou-p'ing : Day Lilies
4 Yun Shou-p'ing : Autumn Flowers
5 Yun Shou-p'ing : Crab Apple
6 Yun Shou-p'ing : Narcissi
7 Wang Hui : Landscape
8 Wang Hui : Landscape
9 Wang Hui : Landscape
10 Wang Hui : Landscape
11 Wang Hui : Landscape
12 Wang Hui : Landscape

 

[cirr]

Spreadtrum announces its 28nm SoCs to achieve mass production

OFweek | Posted: 03 Apr 2015, 14:20

Spreadtrum Communications (hereinafter referred to as "Spreadtrum"), one of China's leading chip suppliers for 2G, 3G and 4G wireless communication terminals, yesterday (April 2, 2015) launched two quad-core 28nm SoC platforms, namely, five-mode LET-supported SC9830A and WCDMA -supported SC7731G. Spreadtrum announced that the two chips have now been adopted by the world's leading brands, and have achieved large-scale production in China and the global market.

Built-in quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 application processor, SC9830A supports TD-LTE, LTE FDD, TD-SCDMA/HSPA (+), WCDMA/HSPA (+) and GSM/GPRS/ EDGE, as well as dual card dual standby function, with main frequency up to 1.5GHz. The chip integrates 2D/3D graphics acceleration dual-core ARM Mali 400MP, NEON multimedia processor and multi-standard multimedia accelerator, supporting 1080p HD video and 13 mega-pixel camera.

And SC7731G main frequency can reach up to 1.3GHz, with built-in quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 application processor. Besides, the chip supports WCDMA/HSPA (+) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual card dual standby function. And it also supports 1080p HD video and 8-megapixel camera.

Spreadtrum announces its 28nm SoCs to achieve mass production - OFweek News

Rockchips teams with Google to release six new Chromebooks

OFweek | Posted: 03 Apr 2015, 14:58

On April 2, Fuzhou Rockchips Electronics Co., Ltd, and Google jointly announced the launch of six new generation Chromebooks with built-in Rockchips chip processor RK3288-C, including Asus, Haier, Hisense and other brands. So far, China chip entered the global PC market for the first time.

In addition to conventional notebook form, the six RK3288-C -powered Chrome OS notebooks also include a world's first 360 ° reversible notebook and a world's first "Bang Bang" form Chrome OS terminal. More specifically:

• Five new Chromebook notebooks include: Asus Chromebook C021, Haier Chromebook 11 and 11E, Hisense Chromebook C11, as well as the world's first 10-inch reversible Chromebook- Asus Chromebook Flip.
• A super new form of equipment Chromebit-- smaller than U disk volume; can transform any computer screen into full computer equipment.

Rockchips teams with Google to release six new Chromebooks - OFweek News

 

[Martian2]

Taiwan's ITRI partners with American MachineWorks to challenge Siemens and FANUC

The two major suppliers of machine tool software are Germany's Siemens and Japan's FANUC. China has written new laws that allow for low- or no-tariff sales of machine tools with domestic software. Since Taiwan is considered a province of China under the "One China" policy, Taiwan's ITRI has partnered with America's MachineWorks to create a joint-venture that qualifies for domestic software in machine tools.
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ITRI shaping Taiwan CNC industry with MachineWorks Software