Posted by 010081
Tech
Friday, March 19th, 2010
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There is a steady stream of tablet PCs flowing out of China recently. Most of them are just the same ol’ thing, but this SayCool tablet stood out from the rest with a 7-inch capacitive screen that’s apparently multitouch capable. Now, the tablet runs Windows XP, which isn’t nearly as touch friendly as Win7, but it certainly can be done with the right cocktail of software and hardware. It remains to be seen, however, if the multitouch capabilities can be used within Windows itself or chained down to custom-built software. It’s entirely possible that pinch-to-zoom and the other gestured advertised will only work in a SayCool program and not in standard programs like Chrome, Firefox, or MS Word. The rest of the tablet is pretty much standard: GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G. Chances are an Atom is at the core as well. But there might not even be any reason to bother yourself with the multitouch question as it may never hit US retailers.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
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Someone passed this post along to us, and since our Chinese is limited here in CrunchGear-land, I’m afraid we can’t vouch for it. The video contained may, in truth, provide the recipe for a lovely London broil for all we know, so take it with several healthy grains of salt. But at least the basic premise is amusing. It seems that HP in China received a number of complaints about their wares. And, in an effort to spread out the responsibility, someone decided to point out that a computer user’s environment can impact the performance of the machine. Since the local authorities had to come in and remove the 49 cats from our 350-foot studio apartment, the fan on our computer have been running much more effectively. So there is undoubtedly some truth to the environmental factors argument. But we never thought they’d blame cockroaches. Somewhere, a lazy comedian just made a joke about software bugs.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Monday, March 1st, 2010
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Today seems to be the day of cheap Android tablets , and while I doubt we’ll ever see any of these in the U.S. they are worth mentioning. These particular tablets are produced in China by HiVision, a company not exactly known around the world. That could change however, because these little (7-inch) tablets look to be selling for around $100 each. Now for the specs: they are running Android of course, and have an 800
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Monday, March 1st, 2010
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It begins: Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek is harshing on all our buzzes by announcing that according to an unidentified source at Hon Hai Precision, a CE manufacturer, the iPad could be delated until April. The source said that there were only 300K units available for a March launch, which may put a damper on what we’re calling iPad Awareness Month. He expects Apple to sell about 1.2 million units in 2010 and 3.5 million in 2011. Because I’m equally qualified to make stuff up about Apple, I believe his numbers are way off. As for Hon Hai and the production problems, this could be true or it could be sour grapes. Remember: CE companies in China dig at each other all the time and even attempt pump and dump stock schemes by leaking bits of news and selling when the stock is hot. Considering he couches all of his terms in analyst speak, there’s no telling what’s going on here: “An unspecified production problem at the iPad’s manufacturer, Hon Hai Precision, will likely limit the launch region to the US and the number of units available to roughly 300K in the month of March,” he writes, “far lower than the company’s initial estimate of 1,000K units. The delay in production ramp will likely impact Apple’s April unit estimate of 800K as well. It is also possible that, given the limited number of units available in March, the launch will be delayed for a month.” I’m calling BS. via BrainstormTech
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
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It seems that quite a few children were discovered working in the factories where they assemble Apple products and components. Why this would come as a surprise to anyone is beyond me. Did people think Apple had a special brushed-aluminum facility surrounded by parks and fountains, where volunteer workers happily put together iPads just for the chance to be part of something magical? No, Apple is a gargantuan electronics company just like any other. I keep telling you! Hold them to a higher standard than Acer or Samsung and you’re bound to be disappointed . The truth, as John pointed out in his series of articles describing China’s manufacturing districts , is that they’re all sweatshops of varying quality. Even 75% of the workflow is overseen correctly and employs no minors or what have you, what about the subcontracting for this piece of memory or that hinge? Can you guarantee that a fair wage was paid for that, or that kids weren’t involved? It’s a fact of our globalized and consumer-oriented culture that we need to have stuff created as quickly and cheaply as possible. I’m not taking a position on this, I’m just saying that’s the way it is right now, and stuff like kids getting a dollar a day in Chinese factories is a consequence of it.
Posted by 010081
Tech
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
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The guys behind Shanzai.com – a blog covering the very best in China and Indian shanzai products – are taking the world of shanzai online with a new crowdsourcing site called Shanzaistudios.com Basically, its your standard crowdsourcing model or better yet “Social Production” – the site puts up a product they can manufacture in China and everyone visiting the site gets to help form the final design that gets made and sold. While the first product is very interesting to tablet fans (a tablet bag ‘natch) its how deep they plan to go that is exciting. While in Hong Kong, I was able to chat with one of the founders and they were telling me that ultimately this is the way to get a more personalized cellphone or a tablet device, but starting smaller and building it up is their initial goal. Said the founders: “Actually, we see the key to success in crowdsourcing or social production as we call it is finding the right manufacturing partners who understand the business model and have the flexibility to meet the different demands of our community. This is very different approach than mass volume production but it is one that shanzai manufacturers understand instinctively because they themselves have grown by developing niche market products in small-size lots.” Beyond the tablet bag, they are getting into LED lighting which they have direct contacts at factories in China to manufacture and they are looking to hear what the community that grows really wants to get in to. Don’t like the JooJoo or the iPad , this could be your shot to help make the one you really want. Crowdsourcing success is going to depend on the quality of the people in the crowd. I’ve not yet seen this work in a true social way, but sites like Crowdspring.com (for logo designs), Kickstarter.com (creative projects investments) and Local-motors.com (the design of a car) are going for it in various ways. But in a world where the dictatorship of Apple makes the most coveted products, do we need a bunch of wanabee-Jonathan Ives try to make something for a group to buy? Can a group of 10, 100 or 1,000 agree on something they would all buy? Who’s got Mark Burnett’s number? I’ve got a reality show to pitch him.