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Old 15-05-2014, 22:58
jabbamk1
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I think it's about time I made an official thread for Xiaomi rather than create a new thread each time.

Xiaomi are now the 6th largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide as of March 31st 2014. They are also the creators of the very popular MIUI (Pronounced My UI) ROM that powers their smartphones and has been ported to over 200 devices. Xiaomi was founded back in 2010 as an Internet services company who created the MIUI ROM and ecosystem based on Android. As MIUI became popular Xiaomi decided to create their own hardware to go along with their software. Unlike Apple, Xiaomi decided to follow the business model of Amazon/Google by selling powerful hardware at cost price and make the majority of their revenue from their market app, game center, and various other online based services.

To date Xiaomi have released many consumer electronics products from Phones, TV's, Routers, Charging banks, set top tv boxes etc... They are currently one of the up and coming manufacturers in China and in 2013 their revenue exceeded $5.22 billion. Xiaomi has come a long way from 2010, it is estimated that this year they will ship over 60 million smartphones + other products.

For more on Xiaomi you can read this article I wrote by clicking here.

Xiaomi's new products-

Today Xiaomi have launched two new products. The Mi Pad and the Mi TV 2. The Mi Pad is a 7.9" tablet with an IPS screen from Sharp that has a resolution of 2048x1536. The amazing screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 which is the latest version. The tablet is also powered by the most powerful processor in the world, the mighty Nvidia Tegra K1 complete with a desktop quality Kepler GPU, Xiaomi are the first company ever to use this processor in any device. Just like Xiaomi's last phone, the Mi3 which was powered by the unrivalled Snapdragon 801 and Nvidia Tegra 4, the Mi Pad from Xiaomi is too the most powerful device on the market at the time of release. The tablet has an 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera designed by Sony, it has 2GB of LPDDR3 Memory and a 6700mAh battery from LG Electronics. And at just 8.5mm thick the Mi Pad is without a doubt the most beautifully designed and most powerful tablet for all your needs.

There will be two models of the device, a 16GB model at ¥1499 (£145) and a 64GB model at ¥1699 (£160). Both models support Micro SD Card expansion up to 128GB. Xiaomi have once again proven they can release the best products at the best price.

Here is a product video

The second product that Xiaomi launched today is the worlds most powerful 4K smart TV. The beautiful 49" display designed and manufactured by LG is powered by a Mediatek MStar processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of memory which can be expanded up to 64GB through a Micro SD card. The TV run's MIUI (TV Edition) which allows you to stream content via the internet/bluetooth etc... (basically smart tv features). The Mi TV 2 comes with a new Dedicated 11-key remote + gesture remote app. Another nice feature here is the audio part. CEO Lei Jun said that in order to keep the TV's thickness at 15.5mm, his team decided to store the speakers in separate parts: a wired audio bar with the mid-range and treble drivers, and a Bluetooth subwoofer with the 8-inch driver. Better yet, you can also use this kit with your mobile devices via Bluetooth.

How much do you think this 4K tv will cost? Well I'll tell you. At just ¥3,999 (£380) It's the cheapest and most powerful 4K tv on the market.

Here is a Picture of the TV

The Xiaomi Mi Pad will be available at the end of next month whilst the TV will start shipping at the end of this month.

This thread is for those interested in following Xiaomi and discussing the up and coming company. There is a huge buzz around this company at the moment and I can't wait to see their plans for international expansion as well as the latest products they are going to release this year. Anyone here want to follow Xiaomi with me or interested in any of their products?
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Old 15-05-2014, 23:56
enapace
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Do you have a recommendation for an import company that deals with Xiaomi or a good place to buy them from. Would be extremely interested in getting a Mi Pad beautiful small tablet that can replace my terrible Samsung small tablet which I absolutely hate and never use anymore on screen buttons don't line up with screen properly so u go for 4 and hit 2 infuriating as hell. But don't always like to carry my iPad around with me have been considering getting an iPad mini retina till I heard about this earlier today,
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Old 16-05-2014, 00:14
jabbamk1
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Do you have a recommendation for an import company that deals with Xiaomi or a good place to buy them from. Would be extremely interested in getting a Mi Pad beautiful small tablet that can replace my terrible Samsung small tablet which I absolutely hate and never use anymore on screen buttons don't line up with screen properly so u go for 4 and hit 2 infuriating as hell. But don't always like to carry my iPad around with me have been considering getting an iPad mini retina till I heard about this earlier today,
I use AliExpress most of the time. I'd probably be able to recommend one once the product is out officially.

However I'm not sure it's the best idea to import as import tax will push the price up plus there is no warranty support in the UK. Only if you're in China or the other countries Xiaomi are in would I recommend buying one. If you want to take the risk then go ahead though but maybe in the UK the Nexus 7 would be a better purchase due to warranty and price.

Also the availability outside China is probably going to be limited until the second half of the year due to the low production numbers in the first couple of months.

But yeh, for what locals get it's an unbeatable price and the tablet is without a doubt the best on the market.
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Old 16-05-2014, 08:34
calico_pie
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But seriously, are they just taking the piss?
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Old 16-05-2014, 12:27
d123
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LOL

So they use their own skin which makes Android look like iOS and produce a tablet that is a straight copy of the iPad Mini.

It's no wonder they won't be selling outside China, perhaps they think Apple won't notice the iPad clone if they don't sell it outside China .
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Old 16-05-2014, 12:34
jabbamk1
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I see you're back with your pro Apple stance.

You should know that the Xiaomi Mi Pad is more powerful than the iPad Mini and the software is much better as well. MIUI has certain features that even stock Android or iOS don't have. Xiaomi have actually made a much better product than the iPad Mini and at a better price. If anything Apple should be ashamed.

Maybe you should do your research before criticising.

It's no wonder they won't be selling outside China, perhaps they think Apple won't notice the iPad clone if they don't sell it outside China .
Hmm, this will be sold in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore to start with followed by Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico.

So not sure where you got your info from.

I must say I really hate this Anti China stance that people seem to have. Xiaomi are innovating both on the software and hardware side and delivering products and services better than the likes of Apple and Microsoft yet they are being criticised for being a Chinese company.
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Old 16-05-2014, 13:16
calico_pie
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I see you're back with your pro Apple stance.

You should know that the Xiaomi Mi Pad is more powerful than the iPad Mini and the software is much better as well. MIUI has certain features that even stock Android or iOS don't have. Xiaomi have actually made a much better product than the iPad Mini and at a better price. If anything Apple should be ashamed.

Maybe you should do your research before criticising.
Its not a "pro Apple stance".

It was merely an observation that both the hardware, and the promotional shots of the hardware, bare an uncanny resemblance to Apple both Apple products, and Apple marketing shots.

I don't need to do any research to see that much!

Would you disagree that much? If so, that's absurd. If not, then hey! By your own logic you now apparently have a "pro Apple stance"!
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Old 16-05-2014, 13:21
calico_pie
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I must say I really hate this Anti China stance that people seem to have. Xiaomi are innovating both on the software and hardware side and delivering products and services better than the likes of Apple and Microsoft yet they are being criticised for being a Chinese company.
I don't think they are being criticised for being a Chinese company.

If they are being criticised then I think its just in a lighthearted way about how uncannily similar both the product itself, and accompanying promotional shots are to Apple products and promotional shots.
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Old 16-05-2014, 13:30
jabbamk1
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Its not a "pro Apple stance".

It was merely an observation that both the hardware, and the promotional shots of the hardware, bare an uncanny resemblance to Apple both Apple products, and Apple marketing shots.

I don't need to do any research to see that much!

Would you disagree that much? If so, that's absurd. If not, then hey! By your own logic you now apparently have a "pro Apple stance"!
You seemed to imply it was a joke product.

It's not hard to see today that pretty much every company has similarities to other. Why do you think Apple sued Samsung. Also have a look at this Sony webpage. Remind you of the Apple site at all? It's a fairly common theme across product webpages now to be designed in this style. Doesn't mean Sony's product is a joke or anything.

http://www.sonymobile.com/gb/product...eria-tablet-z/
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Old 16-05-2014, 13:45
calico_pie
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My only implication was that there were striking similarities.

There was no implication as to the spec or quality of the product itself.

I don't think that Sony page looks as specifically like anything - although the single long page is a bit of a trend just now.
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Old 16-05-2014, 14:09
qasdfdsaq
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Chinese companies have always had a huge reputation for making knock-off clones that look (and sometimes act) like popular mainstream devices at a much cheaper price. Apple has nothing to do with it. They did it with Samsung devices, they did it with Nokia devices, they did it with Sony Ericsson devices, Apple's just popular right now and so clones are also popular.

But yes, trying to sell that in Europe would run into all sorts of patent infringement issues. After all if Samsung can make a device that they didn't even try to look like an iPhone and was designed before the iPhone and still get sued for copying iPhone, what chance do these much smaller companies have of passing off something that is quite deliberately attempting imitate the iPhone>
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Old 16-05-2014, 21:24
klendathu
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The problem is availability .

People want UK dispatch , UK delivery and UK warranty .

Simple .

It's easier to get hold of £300 worth of Coke than a £300 Chinese flagship-slaying monster
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Old 17-05-2014, 09:41
TheBigM
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It's even using the same plastic as on the iPhone 5C. Jabba stop being so defensive about Chinese products for once and recognise they've deliberately made something as similar to the iPad Mini Retina as possible in look and feel.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/15/57...android-lovers
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Old 17-05-2014, 12:14
jabbamk1
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You guys are so brainwashed it's unreal. Since when did Apple have a patent for using coloured plastic?

Want to see something that's going to prove you all wrong. Well here is the Xiaomi Mi2s. It was released in April 2013 before the iPhone 5C was even revealed.

Here are the colours that the product was released in (same plastic as well)-
http://www.chinaphonereview.com/wp-c...i2S-Colors.jpg

And here is the Mi Pad which was announced recently with it's colours.
http://images.fonearena.com/blog/wp-...omi-MiPad1.jpg

So you tell me. Who copied who here?

So what If it looks similar to an iPad. Xiaomi have taken the good stuff that works and put it into their product. Every company does that. Also everyone seems to forget that MIUI is the most customisable UI in the world. Apple don't let you customise anything. So if you don't want the flat look you can change it.

Doesn't mean it's a joke product. This is a much much much better product than the iPad and Xiaomi have a much better business model than Apple do from a consumer point of view.

I seriously don't understand this "If it comes from China It's a joke product that rips off X company" view. That's like saying every phone with a keyboard ripped off blackberry or every phone with a touch screen ripped off the iPhone.
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Old 17-05-2014, 12:47
jabbamk1
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You guys are so brainwashed it's unreal. Since when did Apple have a patent for using coloured plastic?

Want to see something that's going to prove you all wrong. Well here is the Xiaomi Mi2s. It was released in April 2013 before the iPhone 5C was even revealed.

Here are the colours that the product was released in (same plastic as well)-
http://www.chinaphonereview.com/wp-c...i2S-Colors.jpg

And here is the Mi Pad which was announced recently with it's colours.
http://images.fonearena.com/blog/wp-...omi-MiPad1.jpg

So you tell me. Who copied who here?

So what If it looks similar to an iPad. Xiaomi have taken the good stuff that works and put it into their product. Every company does that. Also everyone seems to forget that MIUI is the most customisable UI in the world. Apple don't let you customise anything. So if you don't want the flat look you can change it.

Doesn't mean it's a joke product. This is a much much much better product than the iPad and Xiaomi have a much better business model than Apple do from a consumer point of view.

I seriously don't understand this "If it comes from China It's a joke product that rips off X company" view. That's like saying every phone with a keyboard ripped off blackberry or every phone with a touch screen ripped off the iPhone.
Does the Xiaomi Mi TV 2 rip off anything? Seems no one has mentioned that product yet.
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Old 17-05-2014, 13:14
Aye Up
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You guys are so brainwashed it's unreal. Since when did Apple have a patent for using coloured plastic?
Really? Its no secret your love of chinese born/made handsets, but attacking someone when reasonable comparisons are made is somewhat petty frankly

I like the look of these devices but given they are very unlikely to get any traction in the west (given America's fear of chinese companies), I honestly don't see the point. There have been several handsets released by chinese maufacturers over the last 18 months and very few have gained any foothold in the west. Its why EE is launching a Huawei phone under its own branding. None of the chinese companies have the marketing or branding clout compared to that of say Apple or Samsung. I am always interested where the next flagship device is coming from....however I don't see the relevance or point discussing chinese made devices when they are very unlikely to see the light of day in anywhere but East Asia.

I think the problem I have is as mentioned but also we have to take your word for it, don't get me wrong your input is great and valuable but these devices you mention are things us joe public will never be able to test.

I keep reading the next big phone is coming from a chinese company....it has this and that but its release is somewhat restricted, whats the point of discussing devices that are unlikely to ever be released in the European market?
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Old 17-05-2014, 13:29
jabbamk1
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Really? Its no secret your love of chinese born/made handsets, but attacking someone when reasonable comparisons are made is somewhat petty frankly

I like the look of these devices but given they are very unlikely to get any traction in the west (given America's fear of chinese companies), I honestly don't see the point. There have been several handsets released by chinese maufacturers over the last 18 months and very few have gained any foothold in the west. Its why EE is launching a Huawei phone under its own branding. None of the chinese companies have the marketing or branding clout compared to that of say Apple or Samsung. I am always interested where the next flagship device is coming from....however I don't see the relevance or point discussing chinese made devices when they are very unlikely to see the light of day in anywhere but East Asia.

I think the problem I have is as mentioned but also we have to take your word for it, don't get me wrong your input is great and valuable but these devices you mention are things us joe public will never be able to test.

I keep reading the next big phone is coming from a chinese company....it has this and that but its release is somewhat restricted, whats the point of discussing devices that are unlikely to ever be released in the European market?
Fair enough, maybe a bit petty.
But I'm not a fan of people who lump every single China made product under the "cheap/knock off" category. Yes there are loads of knock off manufacturers in China but Xiaomi are not one of them. They are a serious contender at the moment who have just knocked HTC out of the top 10 global manufacturers and entered at number 6 themselves. They are up there with Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Lenovo and LG in terms of global shipments and sales. They have a very unique business strategy that benefits the consumer and this is what people like about them. They are not a knock off company.

I agree, a lot of Chinese manufacturers just sell their devices domestically. They are starting to go International starting with the rest of Asia and then expanding into the Middle East and Europe and then Western Europe and North America eventually. Xiaomi are still very young in their overseas expansion whilst Lenovo and Huawei are further along.

Xiaomi is a company to watch if you're interested in the global smartphone industry as they have literally come out of nowhere in the past 3 years. Sure it's not available in the UK but it won't stop hardcore fans importing the products. And besides, people still discuss worldwide companies despite living in a country they don't serve. People have interests like that, it's like supporting a domestic sports team in a different country that only plays there.

This thread is just to raise awareness and discuss Xiaomi's strategy and products and whether they will continue to grow. Yet it seems people just want to have a go at them for releasing a product in 5 colours....
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Old 17-05-2014, 13:45
calico_pie
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You guys are so brainwashed it's unreal. Since when did Apple have a patent for using coloured plastic?

Want to see something that's going to prove you all wrong. Well here is the Xiaomi Mi2s. It was released in April 2013 before the iPhone 5C was even revealed.

Here are the colours that the product was released in (same plastic as well)-
http://www.chinaphonereview.com/wp-c...i2S-Colors.jpg

And here is the Mi Pad which was announced recently with it's colours.
http://images.fonearena.com/blog/wp-...omi-MiPad1.jpg

So you tell me. Who copied who here?

So what If it looks similar to an iPad. Xiaomi have taken the good stuff that works and put it into their product. Every company does that. Also everyone seems to forget that MIUI is the most customisable UI in the world. Apple don't let you customise anything. So if you don't want the flat look you can change it.

Doesn't mean it's a joke product. This is a much much much better product than the iPad and Xiaomi have a much better business model than Apple do from a consumer point of view.

I seriously don't understand this "If it comes from China It's a joke product that rips off X company" view. That's like saying every phone with a keyboard ripped off blackberry or every phone with a touch screen ripped off the iPhone.
No-one is saying its a joke product.

I do take offence to your suggestion that I've been brainwashed though.

Whatever else, there is no denying the physical similarities to Apple products, and no denying the similarities in the marketing shots.

Are you saying you don't see the similarities?
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:09
jabbamk1
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Whatever else, there is no denying the physical similarities to Apple products, and no denying the similarities in the marketing shots.

Are you saying you don't see the similarities?
Marketing shots are marketing shots. I see similarities between every company.

The product itself is similar to the iPad but it's not the same.

The Xiaomi MiPad measures 202.1 x 135.4 x 8.5mm at a weight of 360g. where as the iPad Mini with Retina display measures at 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm at a weight of 331g. Power buttons are different, control buttons are different, speaker placement is different and one thing to remember is that the Xiaomi MiPad is far better than the iPad Mini w/ retina display. it outperforms in every single category.
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:19
DevonBloke
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If I buy the 4K TV will a skier shoot out of the screen every time I turn it on?
I mean there will be snow everywhere, then it'll melt. My carpets will be ruined and my cats don't like swimming.

Sorry, Jabba.... just trying to lighten the atmosphere!
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:22
klendathu
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Leaving aside the trivial Pad bickering , you still haven't answered the problem of availability Mr Jabba .

It's all very well trumpeting high-end specs for not much money .

But the fact is Mr Average can't buy one of these things in the UK .

Which is what they want to do .
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:27
jabbamk1
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If I buy the 4K TV will a skier shoot out of the screen every time I turn it on?
I mean there will be snow everywhere, then it'll melt. My carpets will be ruined and my cats don't like swimming.

Sorry, Jabba.... just trying to lighten the atmosphere!
Haha, Not sure on that one mate. It's a 4K skier though if that makes any difference to you?

Leaving aside the trivial Pad bickering , you still haven't answered the problem of availability Mr Jabba .

It's all very well trumpeting high-end specs for not much money .

But the fact is Mr Average can't buy one of these things in the UK .

Which is what they want to do .
This thread is for those interested in following Xiaomi and discussing the up and coming company. There is a huge buzz around this company at the moment and I can't wait to see their plans for international expansion as well as the latest products they are going to release this year. Anyone here want to follow Xiaomi with me or interested in any of their products?
It's not available in the UK. As mentioned above this thread is for people who are interested in following Xiaomi as a company. Read my post to Enapace, I told him buying it is a hassle and even discouraged him from it.

I'm not saying we should all rush out and buy it because it's not available officially here in the UK. This thread is just to follow one of the up and coming tech companies in Asia.

Surely you know people who follow foreign sports teams or discuss other foreign goods.
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:45
calico_pie
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Marketing shots are marketing shots. I see similarities between every company.

The product itself is similar to the iPad but it's not the same.

The Xiaomi MiPad measures 202.1 x 135.4 x 8.5mm at a weight of 360g. where as the iPad Mini with Retina display measures at 200 x 134.7 x 7.5mm at a weight of 331g. Power buttons are different, control buttons are different, speaker placement is different and one thing to remember is that the Xiaomi MiPad is far better than the iPad Mini w/ retina display. it outperforms in every single category.
I think you're being blind to it then - do you really see marketing shots that look quite as similar as these?

And it seems ridiculous to try to argue that they don't look the same because the exact physical dimensions are slightly different is absurd. Its like arguing that the iPad Air and iPad Mini look completely different. They don't - they're just different sizes.

Performance is moot, seeing as people are only talking about the appearance - and there's no getting away from the similarities there. So this idea that anyone thinking there are similarities have been brainwashed is a little offensive.
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Old 17-05-2014, 14:50
jabbamk1
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What If i said it was an ipad Mini. Would you stop posting in this thread?

Like I said above, it's similar to an iPad Mini but it's not the same at all.
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Old 17-05-2014, 15:51
klendathu
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Tough crowd
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