LEAKED: Xiaomi's First Laptop Looks Just Like A MacBook Air

LEAKED: Xiaomi's First Laptop Looks Just Like A MacBook Air

Xiaomi has been accused of copying Apple's designs for its phones and tablets.
Now it's about to be accused of copying Apple's laptop designs.
This laptop, leaked by Gizmochina (via 9to5Mac), looks nearly identical to Apple's MacBook Air.
The site says this will be Xiaomi's first laptop.

Everything about the computer, from the aluminum teardrop frame to the hinge to the black keyboard, is straight out of Apple's playbook. The only discernible differences: A small Xiaomi logo is adorned directly below the display, and the power button is orange instead of black.
Xiaomi's laptop will reportedly be powered by Intel chips like Apple's thin notebook line, but the Gizmochina report says it could cost about half the price of the MacBook Air, at around $481.
Check out Gizmochina for more on the specs and price of the alleged Xiaomi laptop, as well as more pictures.

Xiaomi is the largest smartphone maker in China, and the most valuable startup in the world having just raised $1.1 billion at a $45 billion valuation. It's also been compared to Apple, for several reasons: Not only do their products share obvious design similarities, but Xiaomi, like Apple, has built a passionate fan base in its home, where product launches feel more like rock concerts.
Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder and CEO, even wears Steve Jobs' iconic blue jeans, black shirt and tennis shoes during product announcements. He's even used Jobs' signature "One more thing" on at least one occasion.

When Apple's design chief Jony Ive was asked what he thought about Xiaomi, he said, "I don't see it as flattery, I see it as theft."

"I have to be honest," Ive said. "The last think I think is 'Oh, that is flattering...all those weekends and the most valuable startup in the world having just raised $1.1 billion at a $45 billion valuation. It's also been compared to Apple, for several reasons: Not only do their products share obvious design similarities, but Xiaomi, like Apple, has built a passionate fan base in its home, where product launches feel more like rock concerts.

Lei Jun, Xiaomi's founder and CEO, even wears Steve Jobs' iconic blue jeans, black shirt and tennis shoes during product announcements. He's even used Jobs' signature "One more thing" on at least one occasion.

When Apple's design chief Jony Ive was asked what he thought about Xiaomi, he said, "I don't see it as flattery, I see it as theft."

"I have to be honest," Ive said. "The last think I think is 'Oh, that is flattering...all those weekends I could've been home with my family... I think it's theft and it's lazy. I don't think it's OK at all." 

Dave Smith

Business Insider 

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Is Ashton Irwin a Muppet?

We have all come to know Ashton Irwin as the fun-loving drummer from 5 Seconds of Summerwho looks super cute rocking his chic glasses or even dressed up like an old man. Ashton has decided to show us a completely new side of himself that we haven't really seen before: he is a Muppet. Yes, we are talking about those hilarious puppets, and we are convinced that Ashton is the human version of Animal!

And they both just love to jam out while they play alongside their bands. Ashton tweeted these pics and we must say, it is so great that he is able to truly let his inner self shine through.

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Top 10 Hilarious Struggles Only Cat Owners Will Understand

If your a cat owner you can defiantly relate to these :

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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Gmail blocked in China

Gmail blocked in China

BEIJING (Reuters) - Google Inc's Gmail was blocked in China after months of disruptions to the world's biggest email service, with an anti-censorship advocate suggesting the Great Firewall was to blame.

Large numbers of Gmail web addresses were cut off in China on Friday, said GreatFire.org, a China-based freedom of speech advocacy group. Users said the service was still down on Monday.
"I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google's presence in China and even weaken its market overseas," said a member of GreatFire.org, who uses a pseudonym.
"Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail."

Google's own Transparency Report, which shows real-time traffic to Google services, displayed a sharp drop-off in traffic to Gmail from China on Friday.
"We've checked and there's nothing wrong on our end," a Singapore-based spokesman for Google said in an email.

Almost all of Google's services have been heavily disrupted in China since June this year, but until last week Gmail users could still access emails downloaded via protocols like IMAP, SMTP and POP3. These had let people communicate using Gmail on apps like the Apple iPhone's Mail and Microsoft Outlook.

China maintains tight control over the internet, nipping in the bud any signs of dissent or challenges to the ruling Communist Party's leadership.
The country is host to the world's most sophisticated internet censorship mechanism, known as the Great Firewall of China. Critics say China has stepped up its disruption of foreign online services like Google over the past year to create an internet cut off from the rest of the world.

The Google disruption began in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the government's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators around Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.
Gmail's setback could make email communication difficult for companies operating in China which use Google's Gmail for their corporate email system, said GreatFire.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she did not know anything about Gmail being blocked, adding that the government was committed to providing a good business environment for foreign investors.

"China has consistently had a welcoming and supportive attitude towards foreign investors doing legitimate business here," she said. "We will, as always, provide an open, transparent and good environment for foreign companies in China."

One popular way for companies and people to get around China's internet censorship is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which allows unhindered access to blocked sites and services.
"It's becoming harder and harder to connect and do work in China when services like Gmail are being blocked," said Zach Smith, a Beijing-based digital products manager at City Weekend magazine. "Using a VPN seems to be the only answer to doing anything these days online in China."

(Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)

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Samsung May Kill Its Prettiest Phone Yet

Samsung May Kill Its Prettiest Phone Yet

Samsung is reportedly discontinuing its first metal smartphone, the Galaxy Alpha, just a few short months after it was introduced, according to a new report from Korean news source ET News (via The Verge).
The Galaxy Alpha, which was officially unveiled in August, comes with brushed aluminum metal edges that look similar to those on the iPhone 5 and 5s.

It's one of Samsung's best-looking phones yet, but the company will supposedly axe the Alpha in favor of its recently announced Galaxy A5.
The A5 looks a lot like the Galaxy Alpha, but it's a bit thinner. In fact, Samsung says the Galaxy A5 is its slimmest phone yet at 6.7mm. That's also thinner than the iPhone 6, which is 6.9mm.
Samsung's Galaxy A5 launched in China in November, but it will supposedly be coming to South Korea in January. There's no word on whether or not the Galaxy A5 will be released in the United States or any other markets just yet.

AT&T is the only carrier in the US offering the Galaxy Alpha, but it's unclear exactly when and if they'll stop selling it if ET News' report proves to be true.
We've reached out to Samsung for confirmation and will update this story accordingly.

Business Insider
Lisa Eadicicco

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You only need a camera (and luck) to copy someone's fingerprints

You only need a camera (and luck) to copy someone's fingerprints

having to lift smudges from a touchscreen to copy someone's fingerprints. According to a Chaos Computer Club presentation, you only need a camera... well, that and a little luck. The hacking association's Jan Krissler recently demonstrated that you can reproduce someone's fingerprint by getting a few good photos of their hand and processing it through off-the-shelf authentication software like VeriFinger. In Kessler's case, he got the German Defense Minister's thumbprint through photos from a press conference.
As you might already suspect, this isn't a surefire way of grabbing prints. It only works so long as you have access to high-quality snapshots of someone's digits. That's relatively easy with hand-waving celebrities and politicians, but it's far from guaranteed that someone will snap photos of your fingers while you're crossing the street. And of course, data thieves would still need to get your devices or otherwise find a way to sign in using your biometric info. The practical danger is low -- the concern is more that a determined intruder doesn't have to work quite so hard to get your secrets.Chaos Computer Club

Jon Fingas

Engadget 

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Are Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Spending New Year's Eve Together?

Are Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin Spending New Year's Eve Together?

Justin Bieber and his rumored girlfriend Hailey Baldwin are set to spend New Year's Eve together! A source explained to Hollywood Life, “Justin wants to have a house party for the New Year and he definitely wants it to be with a bunch of friends, but he also wants to have Hailey there. They have decided that they want to spend New Years together, make it a little low key, but definitely spend it together.”

While Justin has told fans that he is single, and Hailey is just a friend

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The Most Shocking Confessions From Your Favorite Stars

Top Most Shocking Confessions From Your Favorite Star

Shailene doesn't own a cellphone!

"I'm not a big technology person. I don't even have a smart phone. I don't even have a cell phone!" she told The Daily Beast "If I were to have one, it would be a flip phone."

Liam used to wear his sisters' heels.

“My sisters used to dress me,” Liam revealed. “They used to try to influence my fashion a bit. Which you know… may have involved a heel or two.”

Jennifer doesn't think she's a good actress.

"I watch my performance and I think, 'Yeah, it's sort of alright', but when I read the reviews I don't quite get what the big deal is, I really don't," she has said.

"When I get good reviews I think 'Alright - got away with another one.'"

Most of Ariana's hair is fake.

Harry regrets getting some of his tattoos.

"I regret this one on my wrist here," Harry said pointing to the one Ed Sheeran did for him. "I regret this. I mean, these are just crap. There are some that my friends have done and some that are just awful."

Selena wanted to quit music.

"Initially I wanted to quit music, but that probably isn't ever going to happen. I think I need to do more acting," she has said.

"I'm not super-confident in it, but acting is my first love."

Zayn would rather read than go on tour.

"If I wasn't doing this, I'd be at uni. I wanted to, and still quite want to, do an English degree. It's frustrating because I don't get any time to read on tour," he said.

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Taylor Swift's Cat Olivia Benson Takes Cat Nap On Flight; Remains The Cutest Cat Ever

Taylor Swift's Cat Olivia Benson Takes Cat Nap On Flight; Remains The Cutest Cat Ever

Taylor Swift holds onto her adorable cat Olivia during her flight on Friday afternoon (December 26).

“She was completely exhausted from all the other naps she had taken that day,” the 25-year-old “Shake It Off” singer captioned with the shot.

Just a few hours before, Taylor showed off her pets’ new form of transportation — customized travel bags!

“Not that giving Christmas presents is a competition, but this year, my mom won,” Taylor wrote with her cats inside their new accommodations.

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Mathematicians find a cheaper, slower way to get to Mars

Mathematicians find a cheaper, slower way to get to Mars

Getting to Mars is never going to be cheap. But a couple of mathematicians have figured out how to s
have some significant bucks off the price tag.
Rather than fly to the red planet when it's orbit brings it closest, the craft will "meet" it on the way.
The strategy is called ballistic capture and involves launching the ship into a Mars-like orbit, but moving slower than than the planet itself.
Eventually Mars will catch up and all that fuel that would have been necessary to cruise to the planet suddenly becomes dead weight. Which means there's no need to carry it, so you can have a smaller, lighter craft.
All of this adds up to a significantly cheaper journey. But there is one problem - the journey will take much, much longer. As is, it would take six months to get to there, using ballistic capture would add several more months.
It wouldn't be great for sending humans to Mars, but it could make sending future rovers much more affordable for NASA and other agency.

Terrence O'Brien

Engadget

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Ed Sheeran Thinks Taylor Swift & Orlando Bloom Should Date!

Ed Sheeran Thinks Taylor Swift & Orlando Bloom Should Date!

A new celebrity couple might be in the works… if Ed Sheeran can get his way. He wants his pals Taylor Swift and Orlando Bloom to start dating!

If the two superstars decide to date, the 23-year-old singer says they won’t have to go far to see each other.

“He’s lovely, and they live in the same building,” Ed told Now Magazine. “[I'm hoping that ] the magic might present itself eventually.”

Taylor dating Orlando could prove to be a little tricky as he has some history with her BFF Selena Gomez. He got into a fight with her on-off boyfriend Justin Bieber just a few months after he was spotted with Selena.

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Apple Lucky Bag Promotion Returns

Apple Lucky Bag Promotion Returns

Apple’s “Lucky Bag” deal will return in Japan shortly after the country rings in the New Year. The promotion, which is set to start Jan. 2, was spotted on Apple Japan’s website following an update on Friday.
The lucky bag tradition, or fukubukuro in Japanese, is a yearly custom in the country, in which retailers offer blind grab bags, which are filled with a random selection of items. While purchasers of the bags can’t see their contents prior to purchase, they often are valued more than their original purchase price.

Apple offered a similar deal last January, with grab bags priced at 36,000 yen ($345). Some of their contents included MacBook Airs, iPods, T-shirts and iPads, while others contained a variety of third-party accessories, according to MacRumors. The company has yet to disclose pricing for the 2015 Lucky Bag event.
Purchases of the Lucky Bag are only available in-person at physical Apple Stores in Japan. In addition to not being able to see the bags’ contents before purchase, customers are limited to one purchase per day and contents of the bag will not be accepted for return or exchange, except for manufacturer defects. But non-Apple products will be only sold “as-is,” according to the promotional terms and conditions.

Large lines have often formed out of Apple Stores in Japan prior to the launch of the promotion and this year is likely to attract similar crowds.
Analysts tracking Apple’s sales in its first fiscal quarter for 2015 expect the company to post record earnings due to surging iPhone 6 and 6 Plus sales around the globe, according to Apple Insider.
Despite previous troubles with keeping its latest smartphones in stock, the company saw drastically improved shipping times in the lead-up to Christmas, with many of its stores offering them for in-store pickup.

Luke Villapaz

International Business Times 

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