Xiaomi Makes Another Big Move in Consumer Electronics | Hacker News Reader

Xiaomi Makes Another Big Move in Consumer Electronics

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45 pointsguybrushT28 comments

HN - lets talk about Xiaomi

Why do companies keep pushing 3D TV? No one I know actually wants 3D TV.

Now if only they'll release a 42" 4K monitor at $500. I'll be the first to buy. The monitor market has been stagnant for years.

It is targeted for the Chinese market where, I presume, the 3D sticker sells.

But the US market is also filled with 3D crap. In the theaters as well. Pretty much everyone I know opts for the non-3D one when available. I guess they just want to justify gouging us for the extra $5 by forcing 3D on us.

This really doesn't have anything to do with the article, though.

A Chinese based company is releasing a relatively low-price-point TV for the Chinese market. The US market has had many 3D LCD sets, but this is really notable only for mainland China consumers.

The US domestic market is filled with 3D movies precisely because the Chinese market demands them. They are shown in the US to drive international distribution.

also higher margin at box office

Chinese market will also be demanding Chinese leads... when will that happen?

I am ready to pay more at the cinemas just to have the revolutionary 2D technology available. Sadly everything comes out in 3d :(

Right now, "gadgets" are extremely popular in China. Maybe because in previous generations they've only been available to the privileged elite.

3D TV is no longer a gadget that can be easily purchased on a whim and throw away in the closet later. Check the 3D TV sale in China, I bet you will find it's not more than the US.

For now I can only provide an anecdotal evident that most of the Chinese I know (including me) don't like 3D (TV or Movie). 3D movies are very tiring and draining to watch, and afterwards I don't remember the scenes as vividly as I would from a 2D screen.

I'd say this is just a sign for Xiaomi to show interest of entering the "home TV, phone, tablet as unified" system market. There are much to be desired there.

IMHO after working in mobile for 2 years (we were bought by HTC but worked for most (all?) major global mobile device manufactuers except Apple) and then going through the process of interviews - in English then Mandarin.. and I'm anglo - to manage the Smart TV products for the world's largest TV producer (hint: they're Chinese) ... this whole industry is out on a limb and the myth of user experience that seemlessly moves between 'the three screens' is not only a falsity but not something consumers actually want. Primarily, vendors want it to lock you in. Appstore-style.

I'd love a monitor like that also, but I also wouldn't mind a 3D monitor for the computer also (though i'd want it to be at least 4k also, having jagged edges wouldn't work well) just for the neat immersion that can be had for games and such. For TV i don't think it's actually that useful, very little content and even then it's gimmicky.

I also wouldn't mind a 3D monitor for the computer also just for the neat immersion that can be had for games and such.

If that's what you want, then you'll absolutely love an Occulus Rift.

I keep checking them out, but haven't had a chance to try one yet. They definitely seem like they'll get off the ground just from the sheer fact that both hardware and software are now capable enough to do it. I remember back in the day some of the solutions that existed that required 120hz CRTs and lcd blanking goggles for playing Descent (or was it Descent II?) in actual 3d. They didn't work well for a number of reasons, but now that we've got a display standard that actually supports 3d that the rift can target it should allow for a much more wide variety of media both in movies and video games. I'd love to try a game like Fallout 3/NV or even Minecraft with a rift.

Fallout NV has his main punch in the superb writing. 3d won't enhance the experience much.

Now Star Citizen or Hawken ...

I'd extend that complaint into the wearable display market. We are just now starting to see things like spaceglasses and oculus. But they are all feature heavy either with AR or VR and/or 3D. I've been hoping for a simple head mounted display to replace fixed position 2D monitors for years. Like spaceglasses, but trading all the AR baggage for a higher perceived resolution and lighter package.

I don't even care about 4K. I can't really even tell the difference between 720p and 1080p unless I stand right by my TV (42"). Why would I care about 4K, 4K is just this year's 3D. What are they going to do after 4K? 8K? Holographs? TVs are a commodity business.

A 39" 4K has a 113 ppi (http://pixensity.com/list/seiki-digital-se39uy04-430/)

A 13" Macbook retina has a 227 ppi.

So even a 4K 39" monitor still has a far lower ppi than a retina display. And I absolutely can tell a retina display from a normal display. That means there's a lot of room for resolution to go up to and beyond 4K before it becomes indistinguishable to human eyes.

And I stand right by the monitor when I use my computer. Right now my monitor is about 12" away from my face.

Most people do not stand so close to their tv.

No, but we absolutely stand that close to our monitors.

The original poster wants a monitor. the child comment talked about a tv. Correct me if I am wrong but HDMI (before 2) cannot deliver 4k at 240Hz, right? Has that changed with the current iteration?

I'm talking about monitor

There's a lot of 47" 3D-capable sets in the $500 range available now and you can throw on a cheap Android box for $50 and have the same thing. A built-in version like this one from Vizio (http://www.walmart.com/ip/VIZIO-47-Class-Theater-3D-LCD-HDTV...) is $598 so I'm not getting why it's making waves?

If this is for a Chinese market, there's a good chance that the Chinese prices are higher than US prices (as is typically the case for electronics). From a brief search on taobao.com, it appears as though the average price for a 50" 3D TV there is more on the order of $900, not $500-$600.

> as is typically the case for electronics

How the heck did we get to a point where stuff that's largely made in China is cheaper in the US?

Is that the USD privilegue or what is it? Not only does the US get to print their way to prosperity courtesy of world reserve currency status, it seems (anecdotally) anything from gadgets to clothes is cheaper in the US than the rest-of-world.

I mean, no envy, it's just utterly fascinating and somewhat baffling.

Products made in China and not exported are subject to different taxes (BTW a tag price in China is the final price, inclusive of all taxes, similar to Europe). In addition, the US probably has a more efficient distribution network, both in the form of better logistical networks and competition between retailers.

They sure as hell don't look like that.

One thing I really hope Hugo pushes is international availability of the MI2S and the Hongmi smartphones. The former is a handsome 4.3in 720p phone with a quad-core Snapdragon processor, and is one of the thinnest (in terms of width, not depth) 720p Android smartphones which retails for about $300 USD. The Hongmi is a 4.7in 720p device that is retailing in China for ~$130 USD off contract. Even with a modest markup to support the international distribution, the Hongmi could make waves in the low-cost and prepaid smartphone market here in the United States.

With their supposed interest in expanded outside of China, does anyone know if they are hiring? To me it is, by far, the most interesting startup right now.

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