Xiaomi started as a software company with MIUI as its sole product. Lately, the firm’s Android skin is being criticized worldwide for a wide variety of issues. Hence, the tech giant has been trying to resolve the matter by delaying the MIUI 13 release. We have been learning more about the upcoming features of the next version of MIUI in the last few days. According to the latest information, Xiaomi’s Android devices may lose an iconic uniqueness.

Ever since Xiaomi started selling smartphones, it has been popular among the modding community. In fact, its devices are most favored by developers. That’s because Xiaomi is known for allowing bootloader unlock and releasing proper kernel sources, unlike most Chinese OEMs. Secondly, the company’s devices offer a better price to performance ratio and are also affordable when compared to products from other brands.

If you are one of those custom ROM users of Xiaomi, you should be familiar with the fastboot screen on your devices. For years, this screen has had a picture of a rabbit fixing an Android with a blue-colored ‘FASTBOOT’ text below it. No other OEM has this sort of uniqueness. Unfortunately, the company has removed it in the latest MIUI Weekly Beta release.

According to a report by ITHome, Xiaomi has now replaced the image with a simple yellow-colored ‘FASTBOOT’ text for the fastboot screen in MIUI Beta 21.11.16 release. It is a known fact that the new changes in MIUI are first introduced in the weekly beta channel. However, not all of them make their way to the stable channel. If Xiaomi really intends to change the fastboot screen, it will be most likely be introduced with MIUI 13 update.

Xiaomi has been shedding its past as time moves on. The rabbit in the fastboot screen is none other than the company’s official mascot. It is known as Mitu in China, while internationally it’s called Mi Bunny.

In the past few years, Xiaomi has removed Mi Bunny (Mitu) from almost everywhere in international markets. It can be currently only seen in error pages on Mi.com, in addition to the fastboot screen, which is also going away.

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Xiaomi will be hosting an event tomorrow (August 11) to launch its 10th anniversary limited edition products such as Mi 10 Ultra, Redmi K30 Ultra, and more. At the same conference, the company will be also unveiling new figurines of its mascot “Mitu” aka “Mi Bunny” according to a teaser by Mi Home Weibo account.

“Mitu”, popularly known as “Mi Bunny” has been Xiaomi’s official mascot since the company’s inception. The firm uses its mascot in a number of its products. For instance, it can be seen on error pages of  Xiaomi websites and even on the fastboot screen of the company’s smartphones.

Also, there are multiple themes and AOD styles based on Mitu in “MIUI Themes” store. Further, just like any other company with a mascot, Xiaomi also sells figurines (action figures) of Mi Bunny.

The Chinese smartphone maker introduces new models of Mitu figurines occasionally on the occasion of festivals and achievements. But the upcoming models will be limited editions to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Xiaomi.

Most of the Mi Bunny merchandises and figurines are limited to China. Since the forthcoming ones are special for Xiaomi, it may be available in global markets as well.

UP NEXT: Lei Jun: No new Mi MIX phone this year, Mi MIX Alpha won’t be mass-produced

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Xiaomi will be launching a new gadget for kids on May 27 which happens to be the international Children’s day. The product is dubbed Mi Bunny Reading Pen, designed to serve as a learning aid for children. The gadget will cost just 199 yuan (~$28) when it goes on sale at 10 AM on May 27.

The Mi Bunny Reading Pen adopts a simple, portable, yet beautiful design. The design and features are almost similar to the Machine Island AI Reading Pen that was launched in January this year. It is manufactured using materials that meet the US FDA food contact standard. The device has a built-in speaker that is loud enough. There is equally a story player and there is a button to playback the story with just a click.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi is 9 Years Old: We Document Its Journey & Major Milestones!

This is an optical pen and it houses 22 beautifully-readable picture books, which are specially designed for enlightenment. It comes with the content of the Mi Bunny story machine, as well as the walking story machine. The device supports the addition of up to 500+ picture books. There is also bilingual learning (English and Chinese) which makes learning in Chinese and English easy.

A team of first-line early childhood education experts who contributed to the development of the product has tailored it for Chinese children of 2 years and above. It can help in improving the core competencies of cognition, language, psychology, socialization and self-care. There are over 1200 knowledge points, 2000+ English words crammed inside the resources on the pen.

Up Next: Xiaomi Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini – Bluetooth version launched for 149 Yuan (~$22)

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Xiaomi has launched a new product, the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini – Bluetooth version. This is the second model of such product the company is launching. Mi Bunny is actually the company’s mascot until it thought of bringing the mascot to life. The product was the unveiling of the Mi Bunny smart assistant named Kuri. The brand then launched the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini around this time last year. This is the second iteration of that product with the iconic bunny design but this version comes with Bluetooth support. 

In terms of appearance, this version is not very much different from the first model. This model comes with a compact and portable design with a height of 14cm. The device packs 16GB of built-in storage can it can play music that can aid the child to drift off to sleep. The machine is pre-installed with high-quality story content which aids in the development of the child’s IQ and enlightenment. It will use big data feedback to filter out the baby’s favourite stories from more than 350 pieces of the best children’s stories and rhymes.

Read Also: Xiaomi Mi Bunny Smartwatch 3 (4G version) with AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass 3 launched

The biggest highlight of this version is the Bluetooth connectivity feature it packs. With Bluetooth connectivity, the Mi Bunny Story Machine Mini can be paired with a smartphone and used as a speaker to play contents from the phone or media player. The device will go on sale at 10 AM on February 1 via Xiaomi Mall, TMall, and other online retailers. The 149 yuan price tag is the same as the price of last year’s model.

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Among the various subsidiaries that make up the Mi brand, the Mi Bunny sub-brand is focused on the production of children toys and other products meant for children. The Mi Bunny product catalogue keeps growing by the day including stuff like the Mi Bunny children smartwatch, Mi Bunny Children scooter, train track building block, school bags, and several others. Xiaomi has just launched yet another kiddies product, this time it is the Mi Bunny Animal Park Building Blocks.

The building block uses an animal park theme and comes with a total of 61 blocks. The blocks are large in size, thus eliminating the chances of the kids swallowing any piece. Each of the building block pieces is manufactured using safer ABS material and they meet the standard requirements of the US FDA in terms of food contact materials. The production takes cognisance of arc angles where there is the need for such, like the block that will serve as the head of the animals. The building blocks come in four different colours; yellow, red, green and blue. 

Read Also: Xiaomi’s Mi Bunny Mascot is Now A Smart Assistant called Kuri

The Mi Bunny Animal Park Building Blocks set is priced at 69 yuan ($10) only and will be on sale on September 20th at 10:00 am. The sales would run simultaneously on Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi flagship store on Tmall, Jingdong, and on Mi Home offline stores in China.

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Even if you are not a Xiaomi fan, you should recognize it’s Mi Bunny mascot. The Mi Bunny has now evolved from being a mascot to being a smart assistant speaker named Kuri.

Kuri was released at this year’s edition of CES which has seen a lot of manufacturers including automobile makers debut products that have voice control or some sort of artificial intelligent assistant built-in.

The smart speaker works as a kids’ companion that reads stories out loud to them and helps them develop their speech and social interaction. Xiaomi says it can read from a database of 10,000 different books. In addition to that, you can also use it send and read messages on the WeChat messaging app and use it to access Xiaomi’s voice assistant.

When you talk to Kuri it’s ears lights up, and while it’s facial expression is sort of fixed it is welcoming and will be loved by kids. Kuri gets better at speech recognition as interactions become more frequent and you can also pair it with the Kuri companion app.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Gets Three New Colors: Pink, Green and Purple

Kuri is about 20-inch tall and is covered in food grade AB casing that is resistant to wear from being tossed around by toddlers. There is an 1800mAh battery which should last for up to 7-hours on a single charge.

It costs just ¥199 ($29) but will only be available in China like it’s other products, the Pearl White Mi MIX, the Mi TV 4, and the Mi Router HD launched at CES.

(Source)

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