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Xiaomi Mikey, a copy of Kickstarter’s Pressy?

Yash GargMarch 29, 2014

Not many are aware of this, but Xiaomi makes more than just cool smartphones; the company is known for its merchandise and addons as well, apart from other consumer electronics products.

Earlier today, Xiaomi showcased the MiKey, which is basically a 3.5mm plug designed to work with your Xiaomi smartphone. Not only will it protect your smartphone from dust, but it’ll actually act as an accessory using which you can control your device. The design is pretty straightforward — there’s just one button on the plug, which also helps keep it limited in size.

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Depending on the number of clicks, certain applications/shortcuts can be assigned. Say for example, you are a sting operator. You require the services of your Xiaomi’s camera on short notice. You can simply assign one click to trigger the camera shutter/video, saving you the time and effort.

From what we make from the chart, the MiKey can recognize up to 10 clicks, which you can use to trigger different actions on your Xiaomi smartphone. The Xiaomi MiKey will go on sale starting 8th April for 4.9 Yuan ($0.80), which is perhaps when you can start ordering the accessory from your favourite reseller.

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About the author
Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91

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They dubbed this https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/556341540/pressy-the-almighty-android-button?ref=most_funded
March 30, 2014
Where can i order it?!?
- Mombaj
  March 30, 2014
  Use Latin letters on English speaking board,
- boonesimpson
  March 31, 2014
  Its a copy of pressy, which I have 2 on the way from kickstarter, but the knock offs are already available here.
  http://www.dx.com/p/3-5mm-plug-shortcut-key-for-android-cell-phone-silver-black-304463#.UzlniPBdWN8?r=10277869
  - Arash
    April 1, 2014
    - Michelangelo B.
      April 3, 2014

They dubbed this https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/556341540/pressy-the-almighty-android-button?ref=most_funded
Juanjo
March 30, 2014
This is a copy of Pressy! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/556341540/pressy-the-almighty-android-button
March 30, 2014
Where can i order it?!?
- Guest
  March 30, 2014
  Use Latin letters on English speaking board,
- boonesimpson
  March 31, 2014
  Its a copy of pressy, which I have 2 on the way from kickstarter, but the knock offs are already available here.
  http://www.dx.com/p/3-5mm-plug-shortcut-key-for-android-cell-phone-silver-black-304463#.UzlniPBdWN8?r=10277869
- Guest
  April 1, 2014
  The app is also given on the link!
- Michelangelo B.
  April 3, 2014
- - But Pressy can’t be bought right now, can it?
  - Rob
    March 31, 2014
    Press costs a lot more and Kickstart order have to be shipped. And it’s been a while since I have gotten an update email about it. I think it was delayed until mid may.

egoi7t
March 30, 2014
many people want dedicated button for camera, it is strange that it wasn’t done before Xiaomi, so simple and rational
- fgdfg
  March 30, 2014
  - March 31, 2014
    didn’t know that, but pressy is still pre-sale, and unfortunately for pressy it will be smashed by its competitors
    - Kevin Cagle
      March 31, 2014
      Xiaomi is just blatantly stealing the authors IP. Xiaomi is somehow involved with Pressy production in China and shipping them bunk product while they rush this complete ripoff to market.
Arash
March 30, 2014
This is a copy of Pressy! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/556341540/pressy-the-almighty-android-button
Cuerex
March 30, 2014
- - - April 2, 2014
      nothing, substantive. perhaps the pressy is better quality.
      so for US$27, by 35 MiKeys and have extras if you break them or loose them…

Jay
March 30, 2014
Holy Christ! That’s some innovation, and a killer at it!
Thank you for sharing Yash.
Ivo001
March 30, 2014
People think this is innovative, but it is not very different to Pressy, it’s just much cheaper.
- April 2, 2014
  Irrelevant. Pressy builds on the foundation of other ideas that came before it. It’s quite simple internally, and so there isn’t much differentiable that others could do.
bobo
March 30, 2014
- But Pressy can’t be bought right now, can it?
- Guest
  March 31, 2014
  Press costs a lot more and Kickstart order have to be shipped. And it’s been a while since I have gotten an update email about it. I think it was delayed until mid may.

egoi7t
March 30, 2014
many people want dedicated button for camera, it is strange that it wasn’t done before Xiaomi, so simple and rational
- Guest
  March 30, 2014
  It was done before Xiaomi;
- egoi7t
  March 31, 2014
  didn’t know that, but pressy is still pre-sale, and unfortunately for pressy it will be smashed by its competitors
- Kevin Cagle
  March 31, 2014
  Xiaomi is just blatantly stealing the authors IP. Xiaomi is somehow involved with Pressy production in China and shipping them bunk product while they rush this complete ripoff to market.

Guest
March 30, 2014
- Yash Garg
  March 30, 2014
  Not exactly this, but yeah ‘Pressy’ as it is known as, goes for $27 apiece.
- Guest
  March 30, 2014
  what is the difference between this and pressy?
- Guest
  March 30, 2014
  Same idea, the difference may be in configuration of the hardware – no of clicks etc
- Dave Weinstein
  April 2, 2014
  nothing, substantive. perhaps the pressy is better quality.
  so for US$27, by 35 MiKeys and have extras if you break them or loose them…

Guest
March 30, 2014
Holy Christ! That’s some innovation, and a killer at it!
Thank you for sharing Yash.
Ivo001
March 30, 2014
People think this is innovative, but it is not very different to Pressy, it’s just much cheaper.
- Dave Weinstein
  April 2, 2014
  Irrelevant. Pressy builds on the foundation of other ideas that came before it. It’s quite simple internally, and so there isn’t much differentiable that others could do.

Arash
March 30, 2014
Kudos to Pressy Team for the idea! The device is unbelievably simple and efficient.
Has Xiaomi got the rights for manufacturing this device?
★Marco Gö†ze
March 30, 2014
- Guest
  March 30, 2014
  It will definitely work with any Android Device.
- ★Marco Gö†ze
  March 30, 2014
  Ty, does xiaomi publish the neccessary app as apk or do we even will see it in the playstore?
- Yash Garg
  March 31, 2014
  Not sure about that, don’t think it will

Guest
March 30, 2014
Kudos to Pressy Team for the idea! The device is unbelievably simple and efficient.
Has Xiaomi got the rights for manufacturing this device?
- ★Marco Gö†ze
  March 30, 2014
Chris Rowley
March 31, 2014
I would not trust this to work as planned nor be supported very well.

Chris Rowley
April 1, 2014
I would not trust this to work as planned nor be supported very well.
andro
April 1, 2014
it was pioneered by pressy, was on kickstarter months back.
andro
April 1, 2014
it was pioneered by pressy, was on kickstarter months back.
4lexO
April 1, 2014
Xiaomi stole the idea. I bought Pressy Button. I prefer pay 27$ for an innovative idea rather than chinese copy ! If you want pay 0,59$ stealers, do it. But you will pay stealers.
- ratese
  April 4, 2014
  pressy are scammers only, nothing else.
- Dumbass
  April 6, 2014
  You’re a dumbass most ideas are stole, yet you only target Chinese. Fucking bias piece of shit.

4lexO
April 1, 2014
Xiaomi stole the idea. I bought Pressy Button. I prefer pay 27$ for an innovative idea rather than chinese copy ! If you want pay 0,59$ stealers, do it. But you will pay stealers.
- Guest
  April 5, 2014
  pressy are scammers only, nothing else.
- Guest
  April 7, 2014
  You’re a dumbass most ideas are stole, yet you only target Chinese. Fucking bias piece of shit.

Guest
April 2, 2014
OK. I’ve got a very basic question. Will it work with non-Xiaomi devices?
Presumably, there’s an app that needs to be loaded to make the device do anything. Or is there?
Now, for all you folks complaining about “lack of innovation”, the Pressy is NOT innovative. people have been sticking things into holes that they don’t belong in for a long time. Women know that men have been trying to “go in though the out door” since… well… forever.
Anyone walking around Hong Kong or Shenzhen will see that tons of people have bought plastic dongles that plug into the headphone jack. In fact, while I can’t remember the phone, I do remember an old device that used the headphone plug as the anchor for a stylus on a lanyard.
None of you would be crying “foul” if Xiaomi made a stylus. No cries to burn them at the stake to defend the honor of the Galaxy Note. Nor should you. The only difference here, other than the fact that Samsung “stole” the stylus from some earlier products, is that Pressy is a kickstarter project, and so a company doing the same thing as a garage inventor MUST be evil.
Overall, I think that Pressy fails the obviousness rule, it’s not clear HOW the Pressy creator is planning on suing people that “copy” his work, but I don’t think it will be for patent infringement. Perhaps, he’ll sue them on the basis of “causing him emotional distress”… 😛
The outrageous part is that the Pressy costs US$27. Clearly Xiaomi are making a profit, and they’re selling their version for $0.80. Regardless of how “high quality” Pressy claims to be, the gap in price is ridiculous. Pressy’s creator is pissed off because he want you all to fund his lifestyle. He’s afraid of competition because he’s selling his gadget with a 10000% margin.
Guest
April 2, 2014
OK. I’ve got a very basic question. Will it work with non-Xiaomi devices?
Presumably, there’s an app that needs to be loaded to make the device do anything. Or is there?
Now, for all you folks complaining about “lack of innovation”, the Pressy is NOT innovative. people have been sticking things into holes that they don’t belong in for a long time. Women know that men have been trying to “go in though the out door” since… well… forever.
Anyone walking around Hong Kong or Shenzhen will see that tons of people have bought plastic dongles that plug into the headphone jack. In fact, while I can’t remember the phone, I do remember an old device that used the headphone plug as the anchor for a stylus on a lanyard.
None of you would be crying “foul” if Xiaomi made a stylus. No cries to burn them at the stake to defend the honor of the Galaxy Note. Nor should you. The only difference here, other than the fact that Samsung “stole” the stylus from some earlier products, is that Pressy is a kickstarter project, and so a company doing the same thing as a garage inventor MUST be evil.
Overall, I think that Pressy fails the obviousness rule, it’s not clear HOW the Pressy creator is planning on suing people that “copy” his work, but I don’t think it will be for patent infringement. Perhaps, he’ll sue them on the basis of “causing him emotional distress”… 😛
The outrageous part is that the Pressy costs US$27. Clearly Xiaomi are making a profit, and they’re selling their version for $0.80. Regardless of how “high quality” Pressy claims to be, the gap in price is ridiculous. Pressy’s creator is pissed off because he want you all to fund his lifestyle. He’s afraid of competition because he’s selling his gadget with a 10000% margin.