2016 No.2 Bimonthly

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DESIGN & ART

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ZTE Blade V7 Lite: A Minimalist Phone

Products Disappear — Design Begins10 Cool Crowdfunded Products

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Innovation is part of ZTE’s DNA, and is evident within all its recent products. ZTE’s smart projector products typify this.

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ZTE Blade V7 Lite: A Minimalist Phone

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The Inside Story Behind ZTE’s Spro Family

4 INFORMATION ROUNDUP

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Chairman: Zeng Xuezhong Vice Chairman: Wang Xiang Consultants: Ji Zhongwei, Mao Qian, Wang Xiang, Zhang Shumin, Zhang Zhenyu, Zhu Wenqi Members: Chen Duolei, Gao Feng, Huang Xinming, Li Bo, Luo Wei, Lv Qianhao, Qian Peng, Tu Yaming, Wang Jing, Wei Zheng, Xu Xiaolu

Sponsor: ZTE Corporation Edited by Shenzhen Editorial Office, Strategy Planning Department Editor-in-Chief: Huang XinmingExecutive Editor: Liu YangEditor: He Xi, Yang YangCirculation Manager: Wang Pingping

Address: NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, Shenzhen, P.R.ChinaPostcode: 518057Tel: +86-755-26776663Fax: +86-755-26775217Email: he.xi50@zte.com.cnPublishing Date: April 30, 2016Volume 9 No. 2 (Issue 42)First Issue Published in 2008

Mobile World Editorial Board

All rights reserved. The content of this magazine may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the written consent of ZTE. Every effort has been made to ensure the information included is both accurate and complete; however, ZTE cannot accept misuse or misinterpretation of the information published or implied from the content. In the case of ZTE mobile devices, the reviews are based on the products we could find at the time of printing. The product availability and descriptions may vary in different countries. Please take the actual product as the standard.

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NO.2 2016http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/about/publications

28 FASHION

28 Customization Creates a New Way of Life30 You are Just a Few Steps Away from a Happier Life

32 MOBILE MASTERY

Building a Theater in Your Home

34 ZTE WORLD

Spring Photos Taken by ZTE AXON

20 DESIGN & ART

20 Products Disappear – Design Begins22 10 Cool Crowdfunded Products

24 SMART GADGETS

24 ZTE Alighting: A Revolutionary Smart Home Solution26 Equip Your Car with a Smart Rear-View Mirror

Mobile World for Android

INFORMATION ROUNDUP

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ZTE Teams up with the Warriors to Launch Phone Drive

ZTE Announces Partnership with Sevilla Football Club On February 21, ZTE Mobile Devices announced the signing of a sponsorship deal with Sevilla Football Club to serve as the club’s “Official Technology Partner”. This sponsorship seals the deal for ZTE to be the official smartphone of the team. ZTE’s support of sporting activities across the world is already scoring great results and becoming a definitive part of the ZTE brand. With this agreement, both ZTE and Sevilla FC will carry out several events throughout the season to engage with fans. Apart from advertising space in the stadium, Sevilla FC fans will also receive the latest information about ZTE products and participate in exclusive sweepstakes to win smartphones, tickets or merchandising from the team.

ZTE Retains Top-3 Position in WIPO Patent Table ZTE is one of the top 3 companies submit-ting the most patent applications for the sixth consecutive year, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s latest annual table of patent applicants. With 2,155 filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”), ZTE was No. 3 in WIPO’s table of patent applicants in 2015. ZTE is the only Chinese company to make the top 3 list for six years. ZTE ranked 1st in 2011 and 2012, 2nd in 2013, and 3rd in 2014. ZTE’s industry-leading development of key technologies is made possible in part through continuous investment of 10% of the company incomes into research & development every year.

ZTE Reports over RMB100.1 Billion in Revenues for 2015

On April 6, ZTE announced overall operating revenues of RMB100.19 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015, while operating cash flow and cash dividend hit historic highs as sales in 4G products, smart city and emerging ICT technologies pushed operating revenues up 23% compared to 2014.ZTE reported net profit attributable to its hold-ers of ordinary shares of RMB3.21 billion for 2015, with basic earnings per share amount-ing to RMB0.78. ZTE’s operating cash flow was RMB7.405 billion according to PRC ASBEs and the cash dividend totaled RMB1.038 billion was the highest ever in history.

In March, ZTE USA teamed up with the Golden State Warriors and asked Bay Area residents to donate used phones, tablets and other mobile devices in support of the Warriors Community Foundation.Lasting over 10 days, ZTE’s second annual phone drive resulted in active donations to benefit the Warriors Foundation’s Hoops for Kids, a program dedicated to helping Bay Area kids live, learn and play. ZTE partnered with 16 Metro PCS locations in the Bay Area to expand the device drive. Consumers who donated devices had the chance to meet Warriors Community Ambassador Adonal Foyle and receive a free Warriors poster. The phone drive culminated at the Warriors vs. Clippers game at Oracle Arena where fans in attendance could donate used devices on the concourse and receive a Warriors poster as well.

Warriors Community Ambassador Adonal Foyle (L)

INFORMATION ROUNDUP

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ZTE Updates Blade Smartphone Line at MWC 2016

On March 19-20, ZTE presented the 2016 Houston Rockets 3-on-3 Blacktop Battle in the streets of Houston outlining Toyota Center.

On February 27, the Chicago Bulls and ZTE presented Derrick Rose bobble head night. In an effort to enhance the fans experience, ZTE teamed up with the Official Wireless Sponsor of the Chicago Bulls, AT&T.

At MWC 2016, ZTE kicked off its Europe Tour, showcasing its devices with a road show truck in five countries.

On February 20, ZTE and Metro PCS teamed up once again to hold a meet and greet with Chandler Parsons in Dal-las. Over 400 fans participated in it.

At a Glance

On February 22, ZTE unveiled the latest iterations of its Blade smartphone series, an-nouncing Blade V7 and Blade V7 Lite.Blade V7 is equipped with a 5.2-inch full HD screen, is powered by an octacore chip, and includes an expanded smart sense intelligent gesture control. It has a body that is 3 mm thick at its thinnest point, with a 78.2 per cent screen-to-body ratio. It also features 4G LTE Plus, 2 GB of RAM, and front and rear 13-megapixel cameras, and will initially be available in Germany, Spain, South Africa, Ethiopia and Mexico by the summer of this year.The smaller ZTE Blade V7 Lite has a 5-inch HD screen, and comes with a fingerprint scanner. Like Blade V7, the V7 Lite also comes equipped with a powerful camera and smart sense gesture control. More than 30 million Blade phones were shipped in over 50 countries worldwide by the end of last year.

ProjectorIn a separate device launch at a press conference, ZTE also unveiled the latest version of its smart projector, Spro Plus. Placing it 2.4 meters away from any surface will pro-ject an image up to 80 inches across. The device can also work as a tablet, comes with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and 2K resolution, and also offers up to six hours battery life.

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A Minimalist Phone

ZTE Blade V7 Lite

Minimalism is being exten-sively applied to smartphone design in 2016. Mobile phone designers are trying to use the fewest and barest elements to maximum effect. This design style brings a fresh new look to smartphones, while placing greater emphasis on crafts-manship and texture. ZTE Blade V7 Lite is such a model of minimalism. While it ap-pears simple on the outside, it pays great attention to tex-ture, detail and functionality.

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Special ExperienceAndroid 6.0 Blade V7 Lite runs Android 6.0, which has a more efficient kernel, better permission management and new power-saving features. The operation is buttery-smooth, with no lag. The battery lasts much longer than before. You have granular control over the permissions each app requires. You can also use your MicroSD card for internal storage. All these factors contribute to the ease of using the phone.

Mobile World Says:Blade V7 Lite has a minimalist design and a metallic look. It also feels good in the hand. Its display, camera, fingerprint recognition, and smart sense gesture control result in a phone that is set to be very competitive in the market.

1. Minimalist DesignBlade V7 Lite features a concise front, with flashlight and front camera located sym-metrically to either side of the receiver. Un-der the screen is a blue circle home button. The almost bezel-free 5-inch display comes with 2.5D curved glass, giving the phone an elegant look. The phone both looks and feels premium. It is mere 7.9 mm thick and has a metal frame. It is tightly put together, demonstrating impeccable craftsmanship. The back cover has a metallic feeling and features a circular fingerprint reader below the rear camera. There is a metallic ring around both the lens of the camera and the fingerprint reader.

2. High-Quality ScreenThe 5-inch screen features impressive display performance. When the screen displays dark images, there are no obvi-ous issues with light leakage. The color contrast is high and you can see detail in the shadow. The display also offers superb brightness and you can see the phone screen even in direct sunlight. Last but not least, the screen has great color saturation and viewing angles.

3. Fingerprint ReaderIt takes only 0.3 seconds for the fingerprint reader to complete the recognition process and unlock the phone. Operation is easy

since the reader supports 360 degree fingerprint matching. You can use your fingerprint to launch a corresponding app when the phone screen is off or locked. It also supports fingerprint touch operations. When launching the camera, you can take selfies with a tap of the fingerprint reader. You can double-tap the reader to turn on the flashlight when the screen is off. When playing music, you can switch between tracks by swiping up or down. You can also swipe up or down to adjust the volume or browse web pages. Meanwhile, you can encrypt and lock pictures, phone book, files and SMSs with your fingerprint.

4. Smart SenseBlade V7 Lite boasts a special smart sense gesture control function. While holding down the volume button, you can wave your phone in an M shape to play music, in a V shape to activate the camera, in a Z shape to make a call, or in an O shape to stop the music. The phone also supports gesture control on a locked screen. For instance, you can perform a 3-finger sweep to switch between songs, double tap to turn on the display, draw an “M” to start the music player, and draw an “O” to start the browser. There are over 20 gesture-activated features. After you get used to motion controls, it is like playing magic.

A Powerful Camera Blade V7 inherits the powerful cam-era functions of ZTE’s smartphones. The 13-megapixel rear camera provides the pro and auto modes. The pro mode offers full control of every aspect of the camera and gives you much more play room. The auto mode automatically chooses the best mode for the scene you are photo-graphing and suits users who prefer not to fuss around with the settings. The high-end version of the phone uses an 8-megapixel front camera. The front flashlight allows you to take great selfies under difficult shooting conditions, such as at nighttime, or with backlighting. Different shooting modes are available, including smile shutter, voice, V-gesture and touch & shoot.

HANDS-ON

Fingerprint Recognition The fingerprint reader is on the back of the phone. When you hold the phone with one hand, your index finger falls naturally on the reader. By pressing your finger onto the reader gently, the phone unlocks in a split second. Several unlocking tests show that you can more easily turn on the phone without the power but-ton once you get accustomed to fingerprint recognition. Moreover, you can use the reader for navigation and quick-launching apps.

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The dual rear speakers deliver great sound. Since the camera is slightly raised, the speak-ers’ output will not be completely blocked even if the phone is put flat on a table with its screen facing up.

The front panel is clean. The circular home but-ton is the mark of most ZTE smartphones, and matches up well with the 2.5D curved glass surface.

The addition of a lit-tle metal trimming is refreshing. You can see it on the frame edge, fingerprint reader and rear camera.

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ZTE Spro PlusProjector RedefinedZTE has redefined the smart projector with Spro Plus. You can hardly tell whether it is more a projector or of a tablet. The combination of a tablet and a smart projector allows you unlimited business and entertainment opportunities.

Innovation is part of ZTE’s DNA, and is evident within all its recent products. ZTE’s smart projector products typify this. The ZTE development team showed both courage

and vision in creating an entirely new product category with the ZTE Spro series, whose latest model, ZTE Spro Plus, was well received at MWC 2016. Let’s now take a closer

look at how ZTE’s design and engineering teams created these devices.

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Smart Projector OverviewWith the current boom in mobile internet, mobile devices are becoming smarter and more portable. Conventional bulky and heavy projectors are only appropriate for use in

workplace conference rooms. As projectors become increasingly portable and intelligent, the “smart projector”—an entirely new product category, has been established.

What is a Smart Projector?A smart projector features Wi-Fi and an operating system with an independent UI. Android was the first operating system incorporated within a pico projector. A smart projector connects to PCs, Android and iOS devices and USB peripherals to display their content. It has multiple USB interfaces and supports a USB keyboard and mouse. It is small, versatile, and easy to use and carry. A smart projector differs significantly from a traditional projector in terms of appearance and operation. A smart projector is operable through buttons as well as by mouse or keyboard. A traditional projector, however, runs a closed operating system and provides limited functionality. A smart projector also revolutionizes user experience. A smart projector allows you to watch movies without using the AV, VGA, or HDMI cable required by a conventional projector, and provides direct internet access.

A smart projector combines the power of a PC with that of a portable projector, thereby advancing upon the current developmental trend surrounding the “pico” projector.

It is powerful enough to provide a substitute to some of the existing bulky projectors, since it can be used effectively for business presentation, offers Wi-Fi connectivity, and is easier to set up.

It can also replace the TV unit at home. You can connect it to a TV STB to directly play TV programs, or to a Wi-Fi network to stream media wirelessly, to enjoy an immersive cinematic experience at home.

ZTE’s Spro FamilySpro At CES 2014 in January, ZTE introduced Spro, the world’s first all-in-one Wi-Fi hotspot and portable projector. The following July, ZTE

announced the availability of this projector with hotspot, power bank and 4-inch touchscreen powered by Android. This all-in-one device, best described as a “smart projector”, is the first of its kind to be sold anywhere in the world. Spro 2At CES 2015, ZTE launched the second generation smart projector, Spro 2. It has higher specifications, and adds a number of new functions including remote control, gesture control, anti-glare, auto keystone correction, and autofocus, making for simpler and more convenient operations. Spro 2

can play videos from your laptop, tablet or mobile

handset through a Wi-Fi connection and connect with a mouse, keyboard, joystick or speaker via

Bluetooth. It is

currently available in many countries around the world. Spro PlusFollowing the acclaimed Spro 2, ZTE unveiled the tablet equivalent of

Spro 2, Spro Plus, at MWC 2016. Physical size alone

does not set this device apart.

While Spro 2 projects 120-inch,

HD images at 200 lumens, Spro Plus

projects pictures of up to 300 inches at 500

lumens. It will be available globally by summer 2016.

Business When you travel for a business presentation, you may worry whether the meeting room has a projector or reliable Wi-Fi. You can take the guesswork out of your meeting with a smart projector.

Before such a meeting, you need only store your files directly on Spro 2 and fully charge it. Spro 2 can be used in a small meeting room. If the meeting room is large enough, Spro 2 can be placed further away from the screen or wall to make the output videos or images look bigger. Spro 2 can even suit a meeting with more than 10 attendees.

During a meeting, attendees can connect their laptop, tablet, or cell phone to Spro 2 anytime through a Wi-Fi connection, to easily project documents from their devices.

Indoor Entertainment You may feel it is inconvenient to go to a cinema theater. Spro 2 brings a pleasant viewing experience to you and your friends and family. This amazing product allows you to watch movies, TV shows or videos against the wall of your living room

Tips: Applicable Scenarios of a Smart Projector

or bedroom. It is compact, easy to carry, and can be used anywhere at home. Its autofocus and automatic keystone correction invariably make for a good-looking projection.

Outdoor EntertainmentSpro 2 is also perfect for going hi-tech outdoors. It allows you to stream and project movies onto your tent while camping.

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ZTE Spro PlusA Great ProjectorIt features a built-in 500-lumen laser projector that can display an 80-inch image from about 2.4 meters away, and an 11,500 mAh battery for long usage in projector mode. The projector has a native resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels. It also supports vertical and horizontal keystone correction and autofocus.

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Interviewee: Zhang Tai, Director of the Innovative & Integrated Product Team

1. How was Spro conceived?I was the marketing director for AT&T business in 2012. At that time, ZTE mobile phones accounted for 60% to 70% of AT&T’s prepaid market. We wanted to find further growth opportunity in the field of mobile broadband products. To stand out from other homogeneous products, we needed to have some new ideas and create new values for our customers. A simple change of appearance was not sufficient.

Through a research, we found that 70% of hotspot users are business travelers, so we focused on features that would attract businessmen. Pico projectors as an emerging category came to my mind. Businessmen need to attend a lot of meetings and discussions, and a pico projector is convenient for making business presentations. I thought maybe we could integrate a hotspot and a projector and develop a new product. AT&T was very interested in this idea. That’s how Spro appeared on the scene.

2. Could you introduce the team

that you lead? Seeing the great potential of Spro, we established the North American innovation team in 2014. Our focus was the Spro series. The team was small but complete, with functions ranging from product planning, to delivery and marketing. This year we established the innovative & integrated product team, focusing on new types of products including wearable devices, tablets, and laptops.

3. How competitive is Spro 2 in the pico projector market?The pico projector market took off last year. We were one step ahead. ZTE is the first vendor to provide a 720p 200-lumen pico projector. Spro 2 came into the market eight months earlier than other competing products. It also led in product size and features.

Touchscreen is a major highlight of our product. It encapsulates our vision. Compared with current smart projectors only offering several customized apps, we wanted our product to have full access to all

Android apps. We wanted to introduce a touchscreen into the projector so that you can interact with an app via touch gestures, as you do on a smartphone. Spro 2 is thereby the first projector to use a touchscreen. Until now, this product has almost 100 patents. 4. How have you improved user experience? We have improved user experience by incorporating user-friendly features and a more refined look.

For example, users need to focus manually with Spro, but Spro 2 provides autofocus, which can be enabled through a double-click. We hope this results in a clearly projected image when turned on, just as a TV does.

With Spro 2, we have increased the brightness from 100 lumens to 200 lumens, but were worried that the strong light could harm the eyes of

Setting Sail Towards Innovation

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children. Therefore, we have provided an eye protection feature. Whenever the projector is picked up, its brightness reduces automatically.

Moreover, we have provided more color choices for Spro 2, including silver, gold, and dark-blue, to give it a high-tech feel. Some version even has a texture.

5. Which markets has Spro 2 been launched in?In the US, it is sold through AT&T, Verizon and Sprint and will soon come to T-Mobile. Moreover, it has hit Rogers in Canada, SoftBank in Japan, and LG Uplus in South Korea. It has sold well in South Korea, with up to 1,000 units being sold in one day. The device is also available in Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Mexico.

6. Could you tell us something about the latest Spro Plus?Ambient background light must be considered when using a projector. In strong ambient light, the projector can’t perform well. If the luminance of the projector is increased, it can be applied to more and more scenarios.

Spro 2 can be used in a greater range of circumstances, due to its 200-lumen brightness. Its support for 720p resolution is in line with

the present trend. It is suitable for both family entertainment and business purposes.

Spro Plus needed to have a higher lumen output. We spent nearly half a year on the projection effect, and decided to use laser technology. Laser light offers high levels of brightness and can exceed the size limits of conventional projection technologies, allowing projectors to be smaller than before. Many big projectors have high brightness levels but the market for them is limited and shrinking. We wanted to make Spro Plus more portable so

that everyone can use it. For example, those who rent a house can use it to replace a TV.

Spro 2 is small, but a little too chunky for a lady’s handbag. Many bags are designed to hold a notebook, so we have made Spro Plus flatter and thinner than before, more like a tablet.

7. What expectations do you have for your team? A smart projector makes content sharing simple. You can comfortably watch a movie with your family members or easily give a

presentation to your workmates. We will maintain a focus on products that combine a small physical footprint with a large screen size. The smart projector is one of them. We are also exploring the potential of wearables. Armed with only a pair of AR/VR glasses for instance, you can open up new kinds of immersive experiences.

We wish to become a calling card for ZTE, with our wholly innovative products. This will serve to promote ZTE’s brand image and further contribute to our user research and business expansion.

As the person behind the planning of the Spro family, Zhang Tai told us how the Spro family has evolved, as well as his future ambitions.

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ZTE Spro PlusAn Amazing TabletOne of Spro Plus’ highlights is a larger, 8.4-inch Android AMOLED touchscreen at 2K resolution, providing for great visual effects. It also features a JBL Audio System, which includes high quality audio output via two 4w speakers, so that you can enjoy a great audio experience.

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1. What’s the background of the project? Many professional projector manufacturers support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in their products but are weak in data communications. ZTE has expertise in telecommunications. We introduced telecommunications technology into a projector with Spro. It is the world’s first all-in-one Wi-Fi hotspot and portable projector and signifies a great breakthrough. But it offers relatively lower brightness and a smaller screen than traditional projectors, and still needs to be focused manually. In overcoming these hurdles to develop the updated Spro 2, we actually faced greater technical difficulties under more complicated circumstances than we did developing the original Spro.

2. Could you tell us about your project team and your responsibilities? The Spro 2 project team includes planning, ID, UE, hardware, software, hardware testing, software testing, optical testing, and components staff. I am the project manager for the Verizon-customized version and I am responsible for the pre-research for Spro Plus.

3. What are your team’s advantages? We are a group of people who like to do creative things. The planning staff have a strong sense for innovation; the execution team is good at engaging in self-study; and the software engineers always come up with some good ideas.

4. What are the challenges? How

Interviewee: Zhang Yongliang, Spro 2 Project Manager

do you overcome them?The first challenge was to develop a stable optical unit. Spro uses a mature optical engine, with which few problems occurred. Spro 2 uses a different optical engine. We have never developed autofocus based on an optical engine before. This was the first time. We were shocked at the poor display effect produced by the first several projectors we assembled. We immediately went to the optical engine supplier’s factory to learn the manufacturing process and testing methods, before discussing and defining further specifications for delivery. We also developed a set of jigs based on the supplier’s jigs, to improve and

monitor the assembling process.

Developing autofocus was another challenge, since there were no industry references. An engineer from our supplier developed the autofocus software, while our software engineers made great effort to integrate it into the projector system. ZTE Spro 2 has since become the first smart projector to feature autofocus.

UI development was the third challenge. Spro offers a generic Android experience. For Spro 2, we needed to offer an interface more suited to use with a projector. We finally developed an interface with large tiles that you can use to scroll left and right through various categories. We also added some user-friendly features, for example, a three-finger swipe upwards on the screen to turn it on, and vice versa.

Last but not least was the heat dissipation problem. Spro 2 has

taken the lead in using water-cooling technology. It has added a heat pipe to the circuit board and LED light respectively, and uses a large metal fin. The device also has an airflow vent that allows the heat to escape through an internal fan.

Spro 2 was a difficult project overall, and we worked extra hard to overcome the challenges presented to us.

5. What is your next step?I am currently engaged in the pre-research for the successor to Spro 2. The tablet-like projector Spro Plus was unveiled at MWC 2016. This model uses laser technology to project images. The light output was set at 500 lumens for better temperature control. It features our self-developed autofocus as well as our self-developed horizontal keystone correction. More features are being planned. We keep on accumulating technology to put to future use.

6. How do you feel about the project?Pain and happiness are coexisting. I encountered many R&D and delivery problems. As a projector manager, I also had to take on many responsibilities when others were not available, and train myself to be an all-rounder. Nevertheless, I felt rewarded when the key functions we conceived were implemented in the final product. The happiest moment was when we saw that the projected image became clearer and clearer after several autofocus tests had initially failed.

Since optical

technology is involved,

Zhang Yongliang and

his team have to work

doubly hard. From

Spro to Spro 2, ZTE

has accumulated a

complete technological

knowhow regarding

the optical engine, a

key component in a

projector.

Working Extra Hard to Solve the Challenges

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1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your responsibilities in the Spro project?I have been at ZTE for four years, and have participated in many large and small projects. Most of them are for the North American market, such as the AT&T home base Z700. ID design has played an important role in the Spro 2 project. I think this is what we call “design-driven innovation”.

2. What is the design concept behind Spro 2? What was the design process?I wanted Spro 2 to have a distinctive design. I wanted it to be carried proudly for longer in a user’s bag.

From the initial sketch to final batch production, we created more than 20 models for Spro 2. My initial design used a metal case. However, the use of metal may have affected antenna performance at that time. I made a compromise, and applied a brand new spraying mode. Thus, the plastic outer shell had the appeal of metal while manufacturing costs were reduced and product

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your responsibilities in the Spro project?I was initially the UX manager for ZTE’s tablet products. In the Spro project, I was responsible for the interaction and visual effect design of Spro 2’s user interface. I was the UX designer for both the AT&T-customized version and the Verizon customized-version. I am now the UX manager for ZTE’s Blade products.

2. What is the UI design concept of Spro 2?The user interface is consistent with ZTE’s design philosophy—“Friendly, Innovative, Simple, and Thoughtful”. It has a flat design and easy-to-use Metro style. We also took into account touch-based intuitive operations and remote operation of the projection screen.

3. How did you come up with the

Interviewee: Zhou You, ID Designer of Spro 2

performance was enhanced. Fortunately, the original form did not need to be changed to encompass this.

It was still an amazing feeling to receive the final product. Just

design? What challenges were there?We started the Spro 2 project at around May 2014. It is an innovative smart projector integrating a touchscreen. Spro runs a generic Android operating system, meaning that we had to design the UI of Spro 2 from scratch. The schedule was also very tight—we had only a month. No one knew what the UI should look like, or what functions to provide. Through brainstorming together, we discussed the UI design with the planning, requirement analysis, software, UI, and UE staff for over a week, and finally drew up

imagine someone pointing to a desert, hoping to turn it into an oasis, only to find that the desert turns green instead.

3. What were the key challenges in the ID design? And how did you overcome them?At the beginning of the design stage, I was mostly concerned about how to integrate so many functions into a space that is only 13 cm long and wide, and 3 cm high. The first problem was cooling, which is an important consideration for a projector. Current solutions used a large area for the air outlet. After multiple attempts with the R&D team, we finally settled with the louver design for ventilation, thereby ensuring effective cooling.

4. Which design feature are you most satisfied with?Initially, there were different opinions on the physical button on the top of Spro 2. However it was kept in the end. Apple’s design chief Jonathan Ive used the “infinity pool” concept to emphasize the importance of the screen. The physical anodized aluminum button is like a resting spot in the infinity pool. This button interacts with people through the sense of touch and motor neurons. This undoubtedly relieves tiredness caused by intensive visual attention given to either the touchscreen interface or projected images. The addition of this button was also out of consideration for overall functionality.

experience. Thereafter, we found a third-party user research company to help us conduct a user experience survey. Our solution finally won recognition from users, in addition to our client. The UI framework was then established.

4. What is your favorite part of the UI design?I love the flat Metro style launcher the most. It is very easy to use and the user experience survey showed that it remains easy to use even for a first-time user. Moreover, this layout allows for remote control operations.

Spro 2 is compact and stylish in design. Zhou You shares here some of his thoughts on the design.

Spro 2 has an intuitive user interface that provides for effortless navigation. Xie Wenjuan told us of the challenging process of designing it.

Xie Wenjuan, UX Designer of Spro 2

the design guidelines. When we first showed our design to the client after three weeks, they had their concerns, because we had radically deviated from the usual Android

Turning a Desert into an Oasis

It’s the Ease of Use that Counts

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1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?I have worked on ID design for 10 years and joined ZTE at the end of 2010. As a senior designer, I am now in charge of the smartphone ID design for the North American market as well as the ID design of Spro Plus.

My involvement with the Spro Plus project started in the second half of 2015. The first two generations of the Spro series were designed by the ID design team in Xi’an. Since the project’s planning staff are in Shanghai, it was decided communication would be smoother if the product designer was based in Shanghai and that’s how I came to start working on the Spro Plus. 2. What design philosophy and innovative features are part of Spro Plus?Tablet-projector hybrids are seldom seen on the market. We wanted it to be a useful tool, that is, for it to be concise and amiable. We wanted to use an appropriate design to produce a feeling of familiarity in users. To be amiable and concise does not mean that it has to be crude. The device is housed within an aluminum alloy frame. The frame is processed through CNC machining to provide both structural integrity and an external metallic gloss.

We have also added a sliding lens cover, a port cover and a kickstand to improve user experience. The sliding lens cover functions as the

Interviewee: Gu Lei, ID Designer of Spro Plus

switch of the projector. The port cover gives the device a clean look and uses a magnet for easy opening and closing. The kickstand helps you prop up the device at any angle for easier viewing.

Spro Plus is more than just a combination of a projector and a tablet. It could be applied to education. For example, in a painting class, teachers can demonstrate their step-by-step technique on the tablet while simultaneously projecting the demonstration. Spro Plus reduces the number of devices needed to do the task and improves work efficiency.

3. Does Spro Plus inherit anything from Spro 2 in terms of design?Spro Plus is the latest iteration of ZTE’s Spro line of pico projectors. It retains the design language of the previous products and enhances it with a new level of visual sophistication.

Spro 2 places the projector lens, ZTE logo and a camera in a racetrack-shaped area. This gives the front side visual weight and an uncluttered look. I incorporated this feature into Spro Plus. You can find the racetrack-shaped element on the lens cover as well as the ventilation holes.

Spro 2

Spro Plus

4. What are the challenges during the design of Spro Plus?The main challenge was to bring curvature to the device. The curved surface was crafted after much deliberation. We needed to consider how the curve would look and how the device would feel. We also needed to consider the construction. The device must have a certain thickness to be strong and reliable enough.

Another challenge was to balance between the heat dissipation efficiency and the size of the ventilation openings. The device

Spro Plus brings together the best of both a projector and a tablet in a portable form. Gu Lei will tell you of some concerns he had when designing this unique gadget.

Spro Plus: Concise and Amiable

looks a bit ugly if the ventilation holes are made bigger for better heat dissipation. It looks good when the ventilation holes are small with less efficient heat dissipation. We kept on modifying the model until we achieved the optimum outcome.

5. What is the design feature that you are most satisfied with? I like the sliding cover for the lens most. It is practical. To activate the projector, you simply slide the cover across the lens. Operations are easier compared with Spro 2 where you need to unlock the touchscreen and tap the projector icon. It also adds a beautiful detail to the overall design. Form follows function in this application.

AutofocusWhat would you do if the projected PPTs were fuzzy? You might tilt and roll the image positioning by turning the adjustment knobs. You may feel embarrassed in front of your audience if you can’t obtain the precise image alignment within a few minutes. Spro 2 with autofocus allows you to set up your business presentations quickly.

First, place your projector in front of the screening wall. Press the physical control button on top of the projector to bring up the touchscreen.

Enable the projector function and you can see the words “Autofocus” displayed on the interface, indicating that Spro 2 is automatically focusing. The projector provides a crisp image in just a few seconds. Then, open the video, and proceed to enjoy the fun of home theater.

Automatic Keystone CorrectionSpro 2 also supports automatic keystone correction. A projector is expected to project an image that is more rectangular or square in shape. However, the keystone effect may be caused by attempting to project an image onto a surface at an angle, degrading visual quality.

Without automatic keystone correction

With automtic keystone correction

Spro 2 has a built-in gravity sensor, which detects the projector’s angle

of tilt (Vertical: +/- 45 degrees) and adjusts the keystone correction accordingly. The automatic keystone correction can also be performed when you project the image onto the ceiling or floor. You can enable automatic keystone correction in the Settings menu after turning on the projector. Connecting to an Android PhoneSpro 2 can be used as a standalone device, but can also connect to a smartphone and display contents from it by following the instructions below.

Setting up Spro 2 Turn on Wi-Fi, and access Miracast using one of the following two methods:

Method 1: Pull the notification drawer down from the top of the screen. Tap Miracast.

Method 2: Go to the Settings menu and select Miracast.

Setting up a Phone We’ll take ZTE AXON smartphone as an example.

Step 1: Turn on Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Select Settings>Display > Cast Screen.

Step 3: Select Enable wireless display in the upper-right corner of the screen and your phone will scan for a nearby Miracast device, with Spro 2 appearing in the list.

Step 4: Tap Spro 2 to connect. A notification will appear, indicating that you’re casting your screen. You will be notified once the connection is established.

Confirming the Connection When an Android phone initiates a Miracast “cast” request, Spro 2 will ask you whether to receive the request if this is a first-time connection. You toned to accept the connection request. Next time you initiate a connection via your phone, a Miracast connection will be automatically established.

Connecting to an Apple Phone Setting up Spro 2Download AirPin (LITE) and install it in Spro 2. Then turn on Wi-Fi. Go into the AirPin interface. Spro 2 is displayed as ITV by default. You can rename it.

Connecting an iPhone to Spro 2

We’ll take iPhone 6 Plus as an example.

Step 1: Connect the iPhone to a Wi-Fi network, and enable the iPhone and Spro 2 to be on the same network.

Step 2: Tap AirPlay shortcut in the bottom of the screen.

Step 3: In the AirPlay interface, choose Spro 2 which was listed as ITV@103. You can change the name to Spro 2. Enable screen mirroring.

Remote Control Spro 2 offers significant improvements in appearance, functions, and accessories over the first-generation projector. In particular, the remote control function has been developed for Spro 2.

Press the physical control button on the top of the projector to bring up the home screen. In the settings tab, there is a QR code link to take you to the Spro 2 remote app for your phone. You can download the remote control app by scanning the QR code with your phone. Once this app is installed in your smartphone or tablet, you can connect your device to Spro 2 and control it remotely. This makes operations easy and natural.

Before you can use this app, remember to turn on the Remote controller switch by going to Settings >Projector >Control. This function is disabled by default. You must ensure your phone and the projector are on the same Wi-Fi network.

Things You Should Know About Spro 2

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ZTE Spro PlusPowerful FunctionsThe rich functions of ZTE Spro Plus are supported by its high-end configurations. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and supports either 32 or 128 GB internal storage. Its performance is comparable to flagship-level tablets. It also supports a 4G LTE connection, has a variety of ports, and is very versatile overall. It is ZTE Spro Plus, igniting digital life with imagination.

FOCUS

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DESIGN & ART

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Products Disappear – Design BeginsSmart devices are taking over our lives. In this new era of smart devices, industrial design has become more prominent. The Royal Danish Consulate Gen-eral in Shanghai held a forum on industry design in December 2015 and invited Hagen Fendler, chief design officer of ZTE, to give a speech. Hagen Fendler is a professor at the University of Munich and is a member of the design jury for the iF Design Awards.

In 2010, Gartner predicted that by 2014, three of the five biggest handset manufacturers would be Chinese. At that time, everyone thought that prediction was far-fetched because Nokia, Motorola and Samsung were strong. But it has come to pass. Chinese companies are growing rapidly, but with rapid growth comes risk. As with Formula One racing, you have to be very fast but if you make even one mistake, you overshoot a curve and crash. For me, the important point is to change from mas-sive growth to quality growth. We don’t need more products; we need better products. We don’t need more companies; we just need a better company. We don’t need, let’s say, more pollution; we need to think about how to reduce pollution. So it’s about quality growth. This is stepping into a new territory for some Chinese companies, and that is pretty much focused on design identity development, brand development and user experience. These are the three topics I want to talk about. For a company like ZTE, that means transformation from low-end to high-end, from ODM to OEM. It’s from a white box to brand, from B2B to B2C, from operator to market.

User Experience Design is one of the most important things for a company to develop a brand identity and design identity and make their products more valuable to consumers.

ZTE’s design center, headquartered in Shanghai, has eight departments and more than 400 employees. It is one of the most powerful design teams in China. We have seven design centers globally, most of them located in China. But we also opened a center in Munich because I’m German and wanted to have European design skills in the team. We also opened another design center in Ottawa, Canada.

Of course, we have become a strong user experi-ence society over the last two to three years. We have combined the industrial design department and user interface department to improve our total user experience. We won more than 30 design awards by 2015, and we are proud of this. One point

is interesting: we won the Red Dot design concept award four years in a row.

People walking through the streets are now looking at screens without recognizing the things around them. But I am trying to look into your eyes right now. People have to look into each other’s eyes when they are talking to each other. The mode of communication is completely different now.

This morning I read an article: More than 100,000 customers were quizzed, and half of them thought that smartphones will disappear in the next 5 years. If that prediction is right, maybe we have to rethink this screen-based device for the future. Five years seems a very short time. So the question is really how do we communicate?

How do we communicate over a long distance? There are some examples from the past. For exam-ple, armies once used a beacon tower and smoke to warn their soldiers of an imminent attack. I asked myself: how far have we really come?

The question for smart devices is what is the best UI in the world? Does it look like user interface ideas in science fiction? What is probably the best user interface and best user experience? It probably looks like this (see below). Every child understands this user interface.

The picture on the left, above, is a very old interface of a German machine. The right picture is a well-known user interface. There is still a button to push, still a description, a color. There’s not much difference actually. I just question the way we have set targets and how far we’ve actually come.

So the question is what UX design really is. User experience design has four steps. Everything starts with unconscious incapacity; basically, you don’t know that you are stupid and don’t know how to deal with things. The next step is conscious inca-pacity: you now understand that you are stupid and have to learn something. Then, after you know that you are not capable of managing things, you start learning, and then you have conscious capacity. Now you have to deal with things and you can handle it.

That is the situation for today, but it is not a perfect result. The perfect result would be unconscious capacity so that you don’t have to think about anything. Then you talk about user friendliness or intuitive handling. Unconscious capacity should be the main target of UX design.

I’m talking about very intuitive, unconscious expe-rience, the idea that no user interface is the best interface, and we use the sensors of the body: eyes, ears, voice, and fingers. There is no need to learn anything, only use your sensors within the UI. For example, with voice control, you can talk to the device; and with a very strong EyePrint ID, you can be recognized. Other examples include gesture control and fingerprint sensor. If you make a phone call today, somehow we are used to opening the phone with an ID code, going to the address book, searching for the name, tapping on the name, and then we make a phone call. This doesn’t seem very smart or intuitive. With the technology we have today, it is very easy. Just take the phone for example. You can open it up with your fingerprint; when you have it on your ear, the sensor recognizes that you want to make a phone call and the device asks your who you want to call.

Brand DevelopmentIf you have products, which are very comparable somehow in the electronic device industry, and you have limited space for industrial design, the brand is an important issue for Chinese companies. Sometimes people say a brand is something that you can touch. This is stupid. You can’t touch it. The brand is intangible. A brand appears in the mind of consumers. So if one million brains connect with the same idea, you start having a brand. What they think about you is your brand. Building up a brand is a little bit like raising a child—you have to take care and be commit-ted. Every day you have to be patient; and you need to have know-how, also some money, and consistency.

Hagen Fendler’s speech transcripted by Selma Wang

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Products Disappear – Design BeginsNothing gets forgotten. Take consistency for example. You don’t feed your child good food on Monday and rubbish on Tuesday. You wouldn’t do that.

So everything that raises a brand is the part of personality in the end. Everyday you have to care about your message and what you give to the consumers.

Design DNA It means as the brand father, when a little child coming from the same family, the God feeling says: “it’s ok, this is one family”.

One extreme sample is Porsche. Porsche DNA helps establish a completely new design language, and it was the foundation of a brand. It could be seen that through 50 years of development, these two cars (see below) still have the same DNA and you can recognize them globally.

This approach works in restaurant industry, but when it comes to product and brand identity in the smart device industry, I have to say the “more is more” approach is not working. The “less is more” approach needs to be implemented. Let’s start focusing on the design language and then push it through.

But in smart devices, this is basically impossible. The change is so quick. We have to develop a new product every six months, so the focus is much more on future services and applications, how the products are connected, and the behind-the-scenes software.

I’ll lastly touch on the different cultures in different areas of the world, for example, the food culture in Germany. More expensive dishes often comprise small portions. The smallest piece of meat is the most expensive one. So less is more. In China, it’s different. You get everything on the table: frog, chicken, snake—it’s just amazing, and I love it.

Hagen Fendler, chief design officer of ZTE

Crowdfunding involves the pre-sale of items that will be created if funding goals are met. Crowd-funding has made dreams more attainable than ever before. You post your idea on crowdfund-ing websites with graphics and videos to encourage people to fund it. If you attract a range of potential backers, you could turn an idea into reality.

At first, people were not

optimistic about crowdfunding, because they were all ac-customed to tangible products. Fortunately, this situation soon changed. There are always some ideas that tug your heartstrings. Crowdfunding efforts raised $5.1 billion worldwide in 2013, and could hit $96 billion by 2025 as it becomes increasingly popular. We’ll share with you some covetable crowdfunded products.

Some designs are too unique to cater to the general public or be put into mass production. Fortunately, these products can be produced through crowdfunding.

Enko Running ShoesSome people need to stop from time to time to catch their breath even when they run. Christian Freschi, a passionate runner, has developed shoes to make running more efficient. This shoe utilizes mechanical parts integrated into the sole. When your foot hits the ground, with a classic shoe, the energy is dispersed and lost. The Enko running shoe returns this energy with every stride.

FLYTE Levitating LightAn attractive product combines science with a stroke of design wizardry. FLYTE is such a magical product. It is a gravity-defying LED light bulb. The globe hovers freely above its base, offering a unique way to light up a room. FLYTE hovers by magnetic levita-tion and is powered through the air via induction.

DESIGN & ART

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10 CoolCrowdfundedProducts

Davek Alert: A Smart UmbrellaThe Davek Alert umbrella is an umbrella you will never lose. It links via Bluetooth to a phone app and alerts you when the distance between the umbrella and your phone exceeds a certain range. In addition to the proximity alerts, the app also provides weather information so you can find out if it’s an umbrella or non-umbrella day.

Keyboardio: An Ergo-nomic KeyboardKeyboardio is said to be “an heirloom-grade key-board for serious typists”. It is made out of two halves of solid maple body, with key separated for the left and right hands. The two halves of the keyboard are angled to help you keep your wrists in a more natural and neutral position. It features programmable keys and open-source software for full customization.

Retro ThinkpadThere are now a great variety of laptop models. However, the original Thinkpad design is still missed among tech fans loyal to the product. Lenovo’s Design Chief David Hill has come up with a retro Thinkpad concept. The retro Think-Pad borrows its design from ThinkPad X300. It also has a few modern touches: it’s 18 mm thin rather than 56 mm.

The Second Screen for Your PhoneOaxis launched a case that also serves as a second screen, an e-ink display that gives you time, allows you to receive important messages and lets you read your favorite e-book. The idea behind having the second display for your phone is to cut down energy consumption of the main device, provide you with more comfortable reading environment.

Bistro: A Smart FeederBistro is a smart cat feeder with facial rec-ognition technology. The developer Mu-Chi Sung created the concept when one of his cats almost died after developing pancreatitis due to its food being eaten by bossier felines. Bistro consists of a food hopper, a feeding tray with a load sensor, a water bowl with a load sensor, a weighing scale, and a camera.

Sense Sleep MonitorThis sleep tracking system allows you to monitor your sleep patterns and bedroom environments. Sense sits close to your bed and uses state-of-the-art sensors to monitor the environment in your bedroom. Sense also comes with the Sleep Pill, which is a small sensor that clips onto a pil-low to track movement with a 6-axis accelerom-eter and gyroscope.

Somabar: A Robotic BartenderYou probably don’t have the wealth of experience that a bartender or mixologist has. No problem, because Somabar, the first app-controlled robotic bartending appliance, does. With its streamlined design, you can thoroughly mix cocktails and infuse bitters to make the perfect cocktail in sec-onds. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and allows you to add your own cocktails to the Somabar app.

Holga Digital CameraThe Holga camera—a 120 film camera from the 1980s filled with lo-fi photos—gets a digital makeover. This camera is based on the design of the vintage toy camera and features an 8-megapixel 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor. It has a lens adapter that allows existing Holga lenses to be used with Holga Digital. It is offered in a variety of colors.

It uses facial recognition technology to ensure the food is going to its intended recipient. The accompanying app allows you to check the history of your cat’s food and water intake or health report on demand from your phone.

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Smart home, although it has been in development for years, still has not fundamentally changed the way a home operates. Many smart home products on the market have a lot of gimmicks. You can barely find smart home products that have comprehensive functions or that function as a system. However, smart home is the future and will come to life eventually. ZTE Alighting is a future-oriented smart home solution. With a gateway as a control center, the solution includes a variety of smart home devices that provide almost all the functions you could name. These devices are interconnected with each other and can be controlled from anywhere with your smartphone. Now let us see how ZTE Alighting helps in actual cases.

Dennis Busy office worker Dennis often works overtime and travels frequently. He has a new house but has little time to take care of it. Dennis has installed ZTE Alighting to have full control of his house, even when he is on a business trip overseas. When the winter comes, he needs to fill the radiators with water to heat his home. To ensure the radiators work properly, Dennis mounts the Zigbee-ready wireless water leak detectors in potential water leaks. It monitors moisture and sends Dennis an immediate alert to Dennis so that he can tell the property manager to turn the water off before the leak becomes a flood. Dennis doesn’t need not worry about the safety of his home and possessions. The Zigbee door/window sensor, infrared motion sensor, and audible and visual alarm can help you know

when things go wrong. With ZTE Alighting Dennis can travel worry-free.

AnnieSOHO personUnlike workaholic Dennis, Annie is a SOHO type of person. She has a perfect indoor environment after installing ZTE Alighting. Annie wakes up every morning with the first wisp of sunshine as the curtain rises automatically. With the accompanying app, she can remotely

turn on the music in the bedroom and turn on the coffee machine, which automatically brews a cup of coffee using coffee beans ground the night before. The coffee maker uses reverse-osmosis water from a filter installed in the cupboards. Zigbee leak detectors under the pipes send an alert to Annie’s smartphone if there is any leakage. With sensors monitoring temperature and moisture levels, she can always keep her house comfortable. She can also control the air-conditioner, humidifier and

The central hub of ZTE Alighting smart home solution is ZTE MF283 4G router gateway. Pictured left is a robot-like shape made up of Alighting smart home appliances.

The Zigbee door/window sensor detects the opening or

closing of a door or window.

The Zigbee temperature and humidity sensor monitors your environment.

The Zigbee emergency

button allows you to sound an alarm with only

one press.

SMART GADGETS

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ZTE Alighting: A Revolutionary Smart Home Solution

ventilation system through the Zigbee-based infrared remote control to ensure that her living and working area is cozy enough.

Lucy High school teacherLucy is a mother and high school teacher. She has to raise her kids and work at the same time. Thanks to ZTE Alighting, she keeps an eye on her house while at work. During lunch, Lucy can turn on the home Wi-Fi camera with her smartphone and monitor what’s going on. The Zigbee wireless door/window sensor also helps. Once the kids open the door or a window, she can be informed immediately

and stop them or remind them of safety. How her elderly parents are doing at home is also her concern. The Zigbee fall sensor prevents the elderly from falling down without being noticed. The Zigbee smoke detector can provide a warning of fire in case the elderly forget to turn off the gas stove after cooking. After her kids and elderly parents are settled at night, Lucy finally can read her favorite book in bed. She can turn off the Zigbee LED light remotely before going to sleep without even getting up. When her husband is on a business trip, the Zigbee emergency button beside the bed guarantees the safety of the whole family. Once Lucy detects anything suspicious, she can just press the button to

The central hub is ZTE MF283 4G

router.

The Zigbee 3 W LED bulb can be turned on and off remotely.

The Zigbee IR repeater allows for the control of devices like television and

air-conditioner.

The Zigbee fall sensor detects the falls of the

elderly.

The Zigbee socket enables

you to turn on/off home appliances remotely.

The Wi-Fi smart camera allows you to monitor

your home.

The Zigbee infrared

motion sensor could detect movements of potential intruders.

The Zigbee water leak detector can be placed anywhere leak might occur.

The Zigbee audible and visual alarm could be set off by fire or

housebreaking.

The Zigbee smoke detector sounds an alarm upon detection

of smoke.

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trigger the Zigbee audible and visual alarm.

Summary ZTE Alighting smart home solution could be used for home safety, smart housekeeper, and healthcare. It takes advantage of the 4G network and smartphones to make everyday life safer and easier. You can stay connected everywhere with this solution. ZTE Alighting is also one of the few solutions that bring a high level of versatility and connectivity. It is expected that this solution will continue to advance as it supports more new smart sensors and terminals to transform your life.

Although the smart rear-view mirror was first introduced by a third-party manufacturer, automobile manufacturers have begun the R&D of smart rear-view mirrors in the past few years. At the Geneva Motor Show 2014, Nissan unveiled a smart rear-view mirror. This smart rear-view mirror can function both as a LCD display as well as a traditional mirror. When the traffic conditions are complex, or when there are tall passengers in the rear seat, you can activate the built-in LCD. A camera located at the vehicle's rear end provides you with a clear unobstructed view of the rear flanks.

Cadillac CT6 also has a streaming video screen embedded in the rear-view mirror to provide an unobstructed back view. It incorporates a camera mounted on the back of the new sedan that Cadillac claims provides four times more visibility than a traditional mirror by removing obstructions like the rear frame and headrests. The drivers may feel like they are driving a convertible with the top down. The camera lens is covered with a hydrophobic coating to keep it clean and clear.

Drivers had to turn their heads to look back before the rear-view mirrors were invented. The rear-view mirror was introduced in 1914 and has not changed much. It has blind spots, which can lead to accidents, and becomes less useful in rainy and foggy days. The industry is looking at how drivers should look back. Tesla is pushing to replace rear-view mirrors with cameras. But the rear-view mirrors have served us for a century. It may take some

time before the rear-view mirrors could be replaced.

A smart rear-view mirror is thus born. It is housed within the structure of the traditional rear-view mirror so that drivers can enjoy advanced technologies without changing their habits. With built-in sensors and monitor, it provides a clear image in periods of rain and fog. It could even be integrated with speaker and GPS navigation system.

Equip Your Car with a Smart Rear-View Mirror

Smart Rear-View Mirrorto Become Standard

SMART GADGETS

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Smart Rear-View Mirrors

App-Tronics SmartNav 5SmartNav 5 projects a 5-inch screen into the middle of its rear-view mirror. The projection is translucent, letting drivers focus on the mirror image instead of the screen if they so choose. The device features automatic day and night modes changing the brightness so as not to interfere with the simple mirror projection.It includes a small computer running Windows CE, hosting a variety of useful driving apps. There is a video recorder integrated to a front-facing camera, which works as an incident recorder and can also take input from a separate camera mounted on the rear of the car. App-Tronics even includes a Bluetooth phone connection for it to be wired to the car's audio system.

Pioneer Rear-View Mirror Telematics UnitPioneer has developed a rear-view mirror telematics unit equipped with LTE communication module. This allows the driver to use the voice-activated drive agent service incorporated in the unit for obtaining a variety of real-time information needed for driving, such as information on facilities, traffic information, weather information, and news, and for using the navigation functions. The unit also comes with a built-in front-view camera with wide-angle lens, which allows the unit to function as a driving recorder. The camera also enables the unit to provide safe driving support service by detecting crossing lanes or front vehicle movement and unsafe driving with a built-in sensor.

The existing smart rear-view mirrors have a shortcoming—you can’t determine the distance between the vehicle and the detected objects as easily as with a traditional mirror. Researchers are trying to use augmented reality (AR) technology, which superimposes the distance data collected by a distance detector onto the video-streaming rear-view mirror in real time, thereby significantly improving driving safety.

For instance, if a rear windshield and side mirrors become foggy in a rainy day, a smart rear-view mirror can still function. The radar detector measures the speed and distance of a nearby car and the smart rear-view mirror overlays these data on the image captured by the camera. In addition, when you turn on the left-turn signal, the system may tell you the distance between your car and another and whether you could change lanes or

not. This makes driving easier.

With the development of smart cars, it is also expected that smart rear-view mirrors will gradually be integrated into other systems such as a self-driving system. If you drive with your hands, a smart rear-view mirror could give you maximum rear visibility. If you are driving in “autonomous” mode, a smart rear-view mirror allows you to view the scenery and even reminds you of potential hazards. For instance, the car may tell you: "Someone has been following your car for 15 minutes".

You can ask the car questions such as the license plate number of the blue car in the back left or the speed of the sports car that just passed by. Using the power of the internet and various detection methods, the smart rear-view mirror could give you all the answers.

The Future Rear-View Mirror

1. Provide the driver with a better view.2. Make driving safer and easier with the help of Internet of Vehicles. 3. Serve as the eyes of self-driving cars in the future.

What can a smart rear-view mirror do?

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Clothing

Ready-made garments offer little room for customization. Fortunately, online stores and apps for custom clothing have appeared. Brands that you are already familiar with have also begun to allow you to add your own feature in their products. Burberry’s new Scarf Bar service allows you to create your own scarf from over 30 colors and patterns. All styles are available to monogram as part of in-store and online personalization service. Cashmere scarves can be monogrammed with up to three letters in over 30 complementary and contrasting thread colors.

Burberry is not the only luxury brand that

provides customization services. Louis Vuitton has introduced Mon Monogram Bags service. Once you have chosen your item you can pick up to three initials and vertical or diagonal stripes. There are also many color options to choose from.

Housing

From choosing a designer to finalizing the design, then to material selection, wiring and construction, you need to choose from many categories and brands of products and deal with different people, such as electricians and carpenters. Fortunately, the internet has now been integrated into house decoration. You can use apps to customize your design, specify brands, and

In an era where everyone is pursuing individuality, are you bored with the similarity of the goods and services available? Your wishes may soon be answered because a wave of customization is coming.

A Louis Vuitton bag can be customized to your preferences.

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FASHION

even choose a foreman to lead the project based on their expertise and qualification. This enables you to have your own dream house effortlessly.

However, a solution that looks nice at present may not be satisfactory several years later, and you cannot change your house’s decoration as frequently as you change your clothing style. E-Ink may have a way to liven things up. Its new Prism material lets buildings subtly change colors and patterns. Prism also has a low power consumption, which reduces need for electrical connections.

It is also quite time-consuming to choose suitable furniture. You have to consider not only the colors and materials and their harmony with the surroundings but also the right dimensions of the furniture. In this case, Opendesk would be the best choice. Opendesk designs can be downloaded as a digital file and made locally. Users can customize the furniture to their preferences and get involved in the making process.

Vehicles

Automobile customization is also available. The OSVechicle team introduced an open source platform for electric vehicles named Tabby EVO. It’s modular: you can easily assemble or disassemble it in one hour. However, the most notable trait is the open-source mission of the group behind it: its blueprints and design files are freely available, allowing you to download the plans and parts lists and build your own, and share their modifications and improvements with others.

PC

PC Modding is the process of customizing your hardware, such as computer case or water cooling technology. It makes your PC an expression of your individuality and gives your PC an improved performance. PC Modding is also a profitable endeavor and modding competitions are everywhere.

Mobile Phone

Last year, Google revealed its Project Ara prototype, Spiral 2, the latest iteration of the block-based modular smartphone. However, it is still not commercially available. You may not be able to have a modular phone soon, but Motorola’s Moto Maker tool allows you to configure your device the way you want it. Currently, you can decide on the back cover, front panel, frame, memory, inscription and power-on experience. The back also has the options of wood, plastic, and leather.

Mouse

While fantastic PC Mods have a strong visual impact and customization of mobile phones meets the need for individuality, customized

mouses perfectly match the palms and the holding and clicking habits of their gamers and are not only satisfying but also ergonomically beneficial. Roccat Nyth is such a modular MMO gaming mouse. It allows you to customize the button layout. In addition, the side parts of Roccat Nyth can be swapped. If these still cannot meet your gaming requirements, you can use 3D print to produce whatever modules you need for various game scenarios.

Headset

Due to the complex handmade process, a few headset manufacturers provide customization services, while Ultimate Ears is one of them. The greatest advantage of UE custom in-ear monitors is that they are attached into your ear canal so that they deliver a live-sound experience directly to your ears. Headset customization is different from the common digital product customization

where you select components and place an order online. You can find an audiologist to get an impression of your ear canals scanned into a computer that will be sent back to UE where the 3D model will be shaped before moving to production. The whole process takes three to four weeks and carries a premium price tag as a result.

The car customization service allows you to select parts and place an order, and then the

manufacturer will build a car for you.

This customized computer has a transparent case and cool components.

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FASHION

Early in the Morning

You are Just a Few StepsAway from a Happier Life

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FASHION

Happiness sometimes means exceeding your expectations. Thanks to technological development, we are able to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way and feel happier in daily life.

Breath FreshenerToothbrushing from Need to Want

Brushing your teeth is a routine task but it could be more enjoyable. G·U·M PLAY a gadget from a Japanese company, turns the usual three minutes of brushing into an exhilarating three minutes of discovery. The G·U·M PLAY attaches to the handle of a manual toothbrush and connects to a smart device. It allows you to play music and games or read the news with a dedicated app that has an interactive screen. The brush has built-in motion sensors that trigger sounds that change as you brush. Kids can also play a game of defeating oral bacteria as they brush.

Energy BoosterEnjoy a Fresh Cup of Coffee

Many people drink coffee in the morning to get energy. Instant coffee isn’t that appealing to a lover of real coffee. But many people don’t have enough time to brew a fresh cup of coffee. This is when a capsule coffee machine comes in handy. It uses pre-packaged capsules to provide the convenience of instant coffee but has the flavor of brewed coffee. Keurig’s coffeemaker K200 is slim and sophisticated and comes in a variety of colors. It is easy to use and is quiet. It also offers a wide range of choices that will suit every taste.

Beauty Enabler Dress up with a Smart Mirror

Do you struggle to choose what to wear every morning? There is a type of smart mirror that helps. It has an OLED instead of a regular mirror as well as a camera and operating system. This smart mirror tells you certain information about your appearance when you stand in front of it. When you start getting dressed, the mirror shows you the weather and provides clothing advice and even makeup tips. Unlike the above two products that are already commercially available, the smart mirror is still being developed. The most challenging part is to effectively control costs and make the system provide accurate suggestions.

In Your Leisure Time

Before and After Bedtime

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FASHION

Life at home is sweet, but sometimes a little dreary. You could inject creativity into every detail of your life to increase your happiness.

Charging Your Smartphone Wirelessly Anywhere

A smartphone is a necessity. However, battery life is the biggest issue. Many heavy smartphone users have to recharge their phones a few times a day. IKEA’s Home Smart, a series of home furniture with built-in wireless chargers, solves this. It adds wireless charging to home lamps, desks, cupboards, and bedside tables. You can use it to quickly recharge the battery on any compatible devices currently on the market.

Drinking More Plain Water

People are encouraged to drink more water. However, some hate the plain water because it is tasteless and they turn to sugary drinks, which add calories. The Right Cup is a glass with a scented inner lining that convinces you that you are drinking a flavored dink instead of plain water. Proprietary material technology lines the inside of the cup. When you put water in and hold it close to your face to drink, the FDA approved aromatic fruit flavor is released while you are drinking the water.

Clean a Towel in Seconds

You usually hang a hand towel by the sink to dry your hands after washing. But a wet towel can harbor bacteria. Pure Towel is a smart towel hanger that instantly cleans your towel after use, creating a cleaner, healthier bathroom. Using a high-speed dryer and a 360° ultra violet, it purifies and dries the towel in a matter of seconds. By eliminating almost all the bacteria in the towel and reducing humidity, you stay healthy and clean.

Many people want nothing more than to relax after a long busy day with a hot bath and then sleep with a comfortable pillow.

Reinventing Shower

Have you ever tried taking a shower under a waterfall? The cozy embrace of water makes you feel refreshed. The Nebia shower uses an innovative technology that atomizes water into millions of droplets to create 10 times more surface area than a regular shower. This gives you a level of comfort you have never experienced. More water comes in contact with your body leaving your skin feeling clean and hydrated and also saving thousands of gallons of water a year. Nebia receives funding from Apple CEO Tim Cook and the executive chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Falling asleep quickly and having a deep sleep at night allows you to recover from fatigue. A pillow matters. With the ergonomically designed Pilo, you will not toss and turn in bed all night. The Pilo connects with a smartphone. If you have trouble falling asleep, it plays music. Combined with a wearable device, you can analyze how long it takes you to fall asleep and improve your sleep habits.

Projection ScreenYour home movie theater can have a projection screen as large as your house allows—at least 100 inches. First, you should pay attention to the materials and coating of the screen. A screen with high elasticity and a smooth surface is better because it provides high resolution and sharpness, and the projected images seem to float in space. Second, choose the structure of the screen. If budget allows, choose an electric projection screen. It can be tightened horizontally with tensioned cords while the slat bar with added weight maintains vertical tension. The screen can be recessed into the ceiling and hidden from view. A manual projection screen is a cheaper option. Last, you need to choose from white and gray screens. White screens are usually seen in a public theater and they work best in rooms with totally controlled ambient light. Gray screens absorb ambient light and work best in rooms where the ambient light cannot be fully controlled. They also increase the perceived contrast.

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In the era of the internet, movies were released online around the same time a movie was released in the cinema. This meant that more people could enjoy a blockbuster in their own home. However, a movie is often less dynamic when watched on a small mobile phone screen. The audience can feel the magic of a movie only when they see a scene displayed on a screen as large as that of a theater. Fortunately, many gadgets are available to build a home movie theater, providing the same enjoyable experience as you can get in the theater.

Building a Theater in Your Home

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Remote Control After decking out your room with home theater equipment, you may be worried about having a bunch of remote controls. BroadLink RM-Pro can solve this problem. It replaces all the traditional remotes. It is a universal remote control for you to control infrared/RF appliances through your smartphone. With an app, you can not only control the power on/off of appliances, but preset the theme so that appliances operate under you presetting by one click. For example, with a click, you could pre-heat the projector, which triggers the pull down of an electric window shade. When the projection screen comes down, the 4K media player and receiver will be turned on and the receiver will automatically adjust itself. The lamp would dim after the movie is played. All these happen without human intervention. With an installed sensor, you can monitor the indoor temperature and preset the air conditioner to automatically turn on and lower the temperature by a predetermined amount.

Spro 2: Your Portable Movie TheaterIf you simply want to watch movies on a large screen and do not want to invest heavily, ZTE Spro 2 smart projector is the perfect fit. It allows you to stream a movie onto any nearby wall you need, from a smartphone or a laptop. It is a projector that runs Android, has built in Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, a 5-inch touchscreen, and doubles as a mobile hotspot for up to 10 devices. It also features autofocus and auto keystone correction. It was awarded “Best Mobile Enabled Consumer Electronics Device” by the GSMA.

ProjectorFor really good projection, Sony LSPX-W1S 4K ultra short throw projector is a good choice. It provides a fully immersive experience with expansive 147-inch image and 4x the clarity of Full HD. It retails for $50,000 and is made to order.

Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000, priced at $7,999, is a more affordable product. This home theater projector combines revolutionary 3LCD reflective laser projection and 4K enhancement technology. It offers 1500 lumens of color brightness and 1500 lumens of white brightness, an unprecedented black contrast ratio, wider color gamut, richer colors and smoother gradations. The laser light source also lasts up to 30,000 hours.

Player Blu-ray is finally playing catch-up to streaming video with the launch of the first 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players. Before 4K blu-ray players could become widely available, you could choose players with image enhancing capabilities or Sony FMP-X10 4K ultra media player. It offers you 4K entertainment in one box. With it, you can download over 200 4K movies from Video Unlimited and stream Netflix in 4K. It can connect any USB external hard drive up to 4 TB. Moreover, the TRILUMINOS display produces the widest color spectrum.

ReceiverA cinematic experience requires immersive sound effects. Onkyo TX-RZ900 7.2-channel A/V receiver will serve as the center of your home theater and audio experience. It allows you to hear every detail and feel every emotion. The

TX-RZ900 custom toroidal transformer and capacitors help to reproduce ultra low frequencies down to 5 Hz, so you can feel the bass impact. Its high-current amplification system also enables enhanced control of the speakers for accurate and dynamic sound.

Spring is finally here. Many flowers bloom and trees leaf out. The occasional spring rain showers just make everything more beautiful. Why not capture the beauty around you with a smart-phone? To make most out of the springtime, a smartphone with a good camera is a must. Here are a few spring photos taken by ZTE’s flagship smartphone AXON.

The photographed place is ZTE’s Shanghai R&D center, where ZTE Mobile Devices is based.

ZTE WORLD

Spring Photos Taken by ZTE AXON ● Photos by Zhu Ping

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Plum blossoms

Tips: One of the highlights of ZTE AXON is its dual-lens (13-megapixel + 2-megapixel) rear camera with BSI CMOS sensor and dual-LED flash. Thanks to the dual-camera setup, you can snap an image at will, and then select the focus and bokeh intensity later on. The camera is good with close-ups, especially when the bokeh mode is used to achieve that professional look.

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Crabapple blossoms