“When Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi announced the Mi 4 on Tuesday, we — and pretty much every other site that covered the news — were quick to point out that it bears a slight resemblance to the iPhone,” Killian Bell reports for Cult of Fragmandroid. “This isn’t the first time Xiaomi has been influenced by Apple, either. In fact, the company is often referred to as the ‘Chinese Apple.'”
And yet, despite all that, Xiaomi global vice president Hugo Barra, who used to be in charge of Google’s Android division, has dismissed any likeness to the Cupertino company, and says he’s “’sick and tired’ of the Xiaomi being labeled an Apple copycat,” Bell reports. “Based on the evidence, I have to say I disagree.”
“We’ll start with the company’s most recent product, the Mi 4. Unlike most of its Android-powered rivals, its chassis is made out of stainless steel, and it has beautifully chamfered edges all the way around its front and back. Its antenna is built seamlessly into its frame, and its speaker grille is made up of tiny little holes carefully drilled into the metal,” Bell reports. “It’s no wonder everyone thinks it looks a lot like an iPhone.”
“Even during the Mi 4 unveiling yesterday, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun couldn’t help but borrow the iconic ‘one more thing’ that was often used by Steve Jobs… while wearing a black top and blue jeans.”
Five more things Chinese copycat Xiaomi blatantly ripped off from Apple in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Xiaomi makes Samsung look like original thinkers. Plus, they’re led by an even more despicable slime bucket than Samsung:
[Steve] Jobs will die someday, so there are still opportunities for us. The meaning of our existence is just waiting for him to kick the bucket. – Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, August 30, 2011
Hugo Barra used to be in charge of Google’s Android division, so, obviously, there’s no copying going on. 😉
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jim Lynch” for the heads up.]
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