The octacoreHikeX2 has now been listed and available to try at Hike stores across China and come equipped with Mediatek’s NFCrival “Hotknot”.
The latest phone from Hike gets all the bells and whistles which we expect from an early 2014 octacorephone including 2GB RAM, 32GB memory, 1920 x 1080 display, 5 mega-pixel camera and 13 mega-pixel rear, but also boast new technology from Taiwanese processor maker Mediatek.
Gizchina News of the week
The HikeX2 is the first smartphone to ship with Mediatek’s HotKnot system, a rival to NFC, which allows the transfer of data by touching the screens of compatible phones together. Of cause if you want to make use of the feature you will need to find another HikeX2 user for now, but plenty of other Chinese phone makers are likely to adopt the technology throughout the year.
Hike have also done a rather grand job of the design of the new X2 which feature very little in the way of bodywork above and below the screen and also has barrow bezels.
I do not see much future for the HotKnot at all – first of all, terrible name. Second, it is a proprietary technology, while NFC is open, well-defined, and used by most of the devices looking for short-range communication. NFC is also an ISO standard – and while MTK could go for standardization too, I don’t think they’ll give up the necessary technical documentation to have it done.
Besides these points, it is a huge market problem – it brings further fragmentation. Even if it spreads, and say, 50% of all short-range communication enabled devices will get it, it screws up the current system. Smart tags now will have to have two different coils built in for both communication protocols, and half of the world will be incompatible with the other. This is a Catch-22 problem – if they copy too much of NFC, they’ll infringe the patents, and get the devices banned from most of the international market. But if they don’t, it won’t be compatible – and as NFC is already widespread, it will be quite a task to replace it.
And if there weren’t enough points on why NOT to adopt this technology, here’s a last one: touch the SCREENS? The most fragile, only information-displaying part of the device? It is simply stupid. Use HotKnot 5-10 times, and you have a screen in worse condition than after two years spend in a pocket without any protection. I know that many people like the foils, cases, etc., but I’m one of those who like it pure and protect their devices. No foil for me, no case, no cover, nothing. Touching phones together by the screen? No thanks.
Hotknot 2nd generation announcement:
“Dear customers since the 1st generation Hotknot was too dangerous for too many devices, we chose to adopt a new form of knotting, you simply have to hump the receiving smartphone with your device, and the faster you hump the faster the transfer!”