China’s Xiaomi buys Kindle, Apple TV app maker DuokanNovember 13, 2012 - 11:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On the day before Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi unveils its own set-top box, the startup has confirmed its acquisition of Duokan, which makes apps for the Kindle, smartphones and the Apple TV, The Next Web reports. The two companies already had a common link, as Xiaomi founder Lei Jun was one of the investors in Duokan’s $10 million funding round earlier this year. Duokan started out by building an alternative firmware for Amazon’s Kindle devices that localized it for Chinese audiences. It also makes e-reading software for Android, iOS and Windows Phone, as well as a multimedia app for the Apple TV. Duokan’s Apple TV application could be of particular interest to Xiaomi for its set-top box project, which it has said it will announce on November 14th. The device is expected to be an Android-based entertainment device that will link up with popular Chinese Internet video services. As part of the deal, Duokan founder Wang Chuan will reportedly join Lei as one of Xiaomi’s core team. With its recent acquisition and plans to expand its product line, Xiaomi is ramping up quickly into a hardware and software powerhouse. In many respects, it has pursued similar verticals as Apple. Smartphone software, design and hardware, chat and messaging (Miliao) and now e-reading and the set-top box market. Xiaomi was valued at $4 billion earlier this year when it closed a $216 million Series C funding round in June. It has sold more than 4 million units of its Mi-One and Mi-One S smartphone and is working to meet demand for its second-generation Mi-Two handset. Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |