We've got a very special episode of the Engadget Show coming at you tonight! We took our film crew to Asia this time out, to check out the markets of Taipei, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We'll also be speaking with top reps from Huawei and ASUS on our trip, plus bringing you the latest and greatest gadgets, surprises, a performance by Brooklyn's Suckers and a whole bunch more. Keep your browsers locked to this spot!

Continue reading The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET!

The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The legal tussle between Apple and Proview over the iPad has swung in Cupertino's direction. According to Ximin News, a Shanghai court has rebuffed Proview's demand for an injunction halting the sale of the Apple tablet due to licensing issues. The Pudong New Area People's Court made the decision yesterday, stating that there wasn't enough evidence to support Proview's claim of a trademark violation. There wasn't enough to substantiate Proview's claims that it still held rights to the trademark in China. Its Taiwan branch registered the trademark in several countries, with the Shenzhen branch registering it in China. Apple then bought worldwide rights from Proview Taiwan, which would have included China. Proview Shenzhen is now saying that they never authorized its Taiwan counterpart to do so, but Apple is says that it has Proview Shenzhen's signatures on the paperwork. It looks like it's going to get easier to grab that iPad in China. An iPhone 4S, on the other hand...

Shanghai court rejects Proview injunction, okays the sale of Apple iPads originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ABC recently became the latest news organization to be given a look inside consumer electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn’s facilities in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, and the Nightline special that resulted from the trip will air on Tuesday. In the meantime, ABC News has posted a 90-second teaser video containing footage from reporter Bill Weir’s trip to China. Apple, of course, is the only Foxconn partner mentioned in the preview so we can expect the forthcoming report to focus on the Cupertino-based company’s wares, but the teaser promises a never-before-seen look at Foxconn’s facilities so it could be an eye-opening segment. Foxconn and its premier partner Apple have once again taken center stage in a human rights debate that recently saw protesters deliver a petition to Apple’s Grand Central Terminal store demanding the technology giant play a more active role in improving working conditions in the Chinese factories that assemble its hardware. ABC’s teaser video follows after the break.

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So, have you been following the iPad dispute in China? Wondering exactly who or what this Proview company is and what they're doing with a trademark on the iPad name? Well, wonder no more friends. The company actually stylized the name as iPAD, and it stood for Internet Personal Access Device. They hit the market way back in 1998 and weren't tablets, but all-in-one PCs that looked an awful lot like another machine that debuted that year -- the iMac. Over the course of a decade Proview produced between 10,000 and 20,000 of he 15-inch CRT desktops, before collapsing in 2010 and abandoning its Shenzhen plant, thanks in part to the economic crisis engulfing the globe. Most of its assets, including the iPAD trademark are now the property of eight different banks and it's debts exceed $1 billion, which probably explains why the company is demanding so much money from Apple. For more details about the original iPAD and a photo tour of the deserted factory hit up the source links.

Introducing the original iPAD, Proview's late '90s iMac-like desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chinese officials seized 45 iPads in response to a trademark complaint filed recently by Proview International Holdings over the iPad name, reports the Hebei Youth Daily. The tablets were seized from store locations within Shijiazhuang, the capital of the Hebei province in northern China. In April 2010, Apple sued Proview claiming ownership of the iPad trademark in China. On November 17th, however, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court rejected Apple’s claims, leading the Cupertino-based company to appeal the ruling to the Higher People’s Court of Guangdong province. Proview registered the iPad trademark in various countries as early as 2000, with the the Shenzhen-based unit having registered the trademark in China in 2001. Apple began selling the iPad in China in 2010.

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After enduring weeks of criticism over the working conditions at the Chinese factories that make its products, Apple has asked the Fair Labor Association to look into the matter. The FLA will audit the plants where 90% of Apple products are assembled, including the embattled Foxconn factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu. More »

Apple on Monday announced that the Fair Labor Association will be conducting audits of its suppliers, and the investigation will include Foxconn’s factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China. The inspections, which are being conducted at Apple’s request, are being led by FLA president Auret van Heerdenbegan. “We believe that workers everywhere have the right to a safe and fair work environment, which is why we’ve asked the FLA to independently assess the performance of our largest suppliers,â€� said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “The inspections now underway are unprecedented in the electronics industry, both in scale and scope, and we appreciate the FLA agreeing to take the unusual step of identifying the factories in their reports.â€� The FLA team will interview thousands of employees on matters such as living conditions, health, safety, compensation, working hours and communication with management. The team will also inspect manufacturing areas, dormitories and other areas of the companies’ various facilities. Apple’s suppliers have apparently offered full cooperation with the FLA, and have granted the group unrestricted access to their operations and facilities. The FLA’s findings and recommendations will be posted on the group’s website in early March. Read on for Apple’s press release.

Fair Labor Association Begins Inspections of Foxconn

CUPERTINO, California—February 13, 2012—Apple® today announced that the Fair Labor Association will conduct special voluntary audits of Apple’s final assembly suppliers, including Foxconn factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, at Apple’s request. A team of labor rights experts led by FLA president Auret van Heerden began the first inspections Monday morning at the facility in Shenzhen known as Foxconn City.

“We believe that workers everywhere have the right to a safe and fair work environment, which is why we’ve asked the FLA to independently assess the performance of our largest suppliers,� said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The inspections now underway are unprecedented in the electronics industry, both in scale and scope, and we appreciate the FLA agreeing to take the unusual step of identifying the factories in their reports.�

As part of its independent assessment, the FLA will interview thousands of employees about working and living conditions including health and safety, compensation, working hours and communication with management. The FLA’s team will inspect manufacturing areas, dormitories and other facilities, and will conduct an extensive review of documents related to procedures at all stages of employment.

Apple’s suppliers have pledged full cooperation with the FLA, offering unrestricted access to their operations. The FLA’s findings and recommendations from the first assessments will be posted in early March on its website, www.fairlabor.org. Similar inspections will be conducted at Quanta and Pegatron facilities later this Spring, and when completed, the FLA’s assessment will cover facilities where more than 90 percent of Apple products are assembled.

Apple has audited every final assembly factory in its supply chain each year since 2006, including more than 40 audits of Foxconn manufacturing and final assembly facilities. Details of Apple’s supplier responsibility program, including the results of more than 500 factory audits led by Apple throughout its supply chain over the past five years, are available at www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility.

In January, Apple became the first technology company admitted to the Fair Labor Association. The FLA conducts independent monitoring and verification to ensure that the FLA’s Workplace Standards are upheld wherever FLA company products are made.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

While it has yet to show up stateside as promised, that hasn't stopped BYD from beginning consumer sales of its EV back home in China. Shenzhen citizens are finally getting a crack at owning an e6 after seeing it on the city's streets in taxi and governmental garb for over a year. On sale for 369,800 RMB (or about $57,000), buyers will only have to part with 249,800 RMB (or about $38,000) come check writing time, thanks to extensive rebates from the government. In exchange for all that cash, you'll get an auto equipped with BYD's "i" system, which lets you access vehicle functions and info (like keyless entry and the car's location) from your smartphone. BYD-i comes onboard a five-seat crossover with a range of up to 190 miles (!) that supports rapid charging -- apparently there's plenty of the speedy power stations in Shenzhen. Those keen to charge at home will also get some installation "assistance" from the automaker, which we'll assume means a subsidy. Given that BYD's electric buses will hit our shores soon, China's first "domestic, long-range, all-electric" crossover can't be that far behind, right? PR awaits you, after the break.

Continue reading BYD's e6 goes on sale in China, still mulling trek across Pacific

BYD's e6 goes on sale in China, still mulling trek across Pacific originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last year, Huawei shipped 3.3 million smartphones, and this year the Shenzhen-based company has bigger goals in mind. On Wednesday the company lifted its yearly smartphone shipment projection to 20 million units according to Reuters — a jump from the 12-15 million smartphones the company said it hoped to ship this year back in April. “Our original target this year was at 12-15 million units globally,” Victor Xu, chief strategy and marketing officer of Huawei Device, said. “Currently, based on the sales in the first half of this year, sales in the domestic market might have already exceeded this figure. Therefore, we think probably that could be around 20 million units globally.” Huawei has launched a number of affordable handsets globally, and while some have landed on regional U.S. carriers, the larger U.S. carriers typically only stock its USB modems. The company also recently took the wraps off of its new MediaPad Android tablet, a device that is expected to launch this fall — although it’s unclear if it will make its way to the United States.

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We're camped out on the corner of Howard and 3rd, but Google I/O 2011's opening keynote hasn't started quite yet. You're still in the right place, though -- bookmark this very page and return at the time listed below for blow-by-blow coverage as it happens.

06:00AM - Hawaii
09:00AM - Pacific
10:00AM - Mountain
11:00AM - Central
12:00PM - Eastern
05:00PM - London
06:00PM - Paris
08:00PM - Moscow
01:00AM - Perth (May 11th)
01:00AM - Shenzhen (May 11th)
02:00AM - Tokyo (May 11th)
04:00AM - Sydney (May 11th)

Continue reading Live from Google I/O 2011's opening keynote!

Live from Google I/O 2011's opening keynote! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 11:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While strolling around Shenzhen earlier today, we decided to stop by at the China Optoelectronics Display Expo to feast our eyes on AUO's "world's largest" 71-inch 21:9 3D LCD panel. Phew, what a mouthful, but this 240Hz ultrawidescreen is indeed larger than the sub-60-inch offerings from Vizio, JVC, and Philips. But is it any good? We put on our passive 3D glasses and found the experience to be surprisingly comfortable and effective (even at about 40 degrees from the center before we hit the wall), though the glossy screen's reflection of the neighboring booth was slightly off-putting. This would probably be less of a problem at your humble abode, anyhow.

In terms of availability, AUO told us that China-based TCL will be the first to pick up this beast of a panel, and the final product should be out in August. Apart from that, we couldn't squeeze out further info about other brands, so you best be writing to your nearest dealership to import this exotic cinema TV. More eyes-on pics in the gallery below.

AUO's 71-inch ultra-wide 3D LCD panel eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 May 2011 13:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As with the N8, so with the N9. Nokia's first MeeGo device is widely expected to be dubbed the N9 and sport a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but its elongated time to market has given Chinese KIRF artists the chance to beat Finland with their own device. Parsing together leaked pictures and perhaps some insider info we're not privy to, some crafty folks have put together the above 14mm-thin slider, outfitting it with a 3-inch screen, front- and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth, WiFi, FM radio, microSD card slot, dual SIM capabilities, and an almost entirely metallic construction. The OS is some sort of Symbian lookalike, while the price is an eminently affordable 700 yuan ($106). You'll just need to find the right market stall in Shenzhen to get yours.

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: Nokia N9 doesn't wait for mature MeeGo to launch in China

Keepin' it real fake: Nokia N9 doesn't wait for mature MeeGo to launch in China originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No matter what happens, we'll be there live, reporting on the news as it happens with the best liveblog in the business. Tune in at the times below on Tuesday, January 11th at this URL to see it all go down!

06:00AM - Hawaii
08:00AM - Pacific
09:00AM - Mountain
10:00AM - Central
11:00AM - Eastern
04:00PM - London
05:00PM - Paris
07:00PM - Moscow
12:00AM - Perth (January 12th)
12:00AM - Shenzhen (January 12th)
01:00AM - Tokyo (January 12th)
03:00AM - Sydney (January 12th)

Verizon's alleged iPhone event happens tomorrow, January 11th at 11AM EST / 8AM PST, and we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Keepin' it real fake: 'iPad phone' is the answer to a question no one asked (video)

Keepin' it real fake: 'iPad phone' is the answer to a question no one asked (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Toy smartphone jailbreak: top tech trend for 2011?

Toy smartphone jailbreak: top tech trend for 2011? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pretty impressive, isn't it? Meizu sure has made a wise decision to launch its M9 Android Froyo phone on the first day of 2011 which, like most other countries, happens to be a public holiday in China. According to some Meizu fans (aka "Mei-yo" or literally "friends of Meizu") outside one of the two Shenzhen stores, there were already about 60 people lined up outside at around 6am. A few of them even braved the cold weather since 8pm last night, despite CEO Jack Wong actively discouraging such hustle on the forum for the sake of people's health, promising "all the flagship stores will have sufficient stock" for all pre-orderers. Meizu wasn't keen on giving us an official number, but the two Shenzhen stores alone could've easily served several thousand customers this morning. With no limit on how many units each person could pre-order (¥2,499 / $379 for 8GB, and ¥2,699 / $409 for 16GB), you can imagine Meizu's assembly lines working long hours to supply its stores from 28 other provinces in China. Meanwhile, somewhere out there, Mr. Wong is happily checking his bank account. Video after the break.

Continue reading Meizu's M9 launch amasses thousands of Jack Wong fans across China (video)

Meizu's M9 launch amasses thousands of Jack Wong fans across China (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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French Journalist Jordan Pouille recently visited the Foxconn campus in Shenzhen and returned home with a series of photos and video that highlight the conditions and morale at the notorious plant. Foxconn, which manufactures gadgets for a variety of major electronics companies including Apple, HP, Nokia, Sony and Palm, has been scrutinized over the past year following a string of worker suicides and allegations of exploitative and abusive practices among management. Pouille details the scene at the Foxconn factory, and speaks to workers who describe the conditions as being similar to a labor camp.

At the production line, none of them could speak or even look at each other while trying to achieve the christmas production targets. They had to leave their mobile at the entry. However, their managers tried not to insult them, after all the bad publicity they got last spring when the 13 Foxconn suicides hit the headlines. A big improvement has been made after 30 glorious years of economic reforms: more workers are now allowed to sit down (depending on the good will of their managers) while working.

Hit the break for a video and visit the read link for a first-hand account of the conditions at Foxconn.

[Via Business Insider]

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