Rebirth 08: Rise from copycat phones

Chapter 318: Zhiyun wants to enlarge the satellite?
Both Xu Shenxue and other senior executives of Zhiyun Group have high hopes for the S15MAX mobile phone.

After all, in terms of technological progress, the S15MAX mobile phone, with its unique 3D face recognition technology, has brought about changes in innovation and application, which are almost the same as the S10's first-ever press-type fingerprint recognition technology. The change is very big.

It can even be said that it has changed people's habits of using mobile phones!
Before the use of fingerprint recognition technology, people needed to enter a password to open their mobile phones. Due to the high frequency of mobile phone use, people often had to enter their mobile phone passwords dozens of times a day, which was very annoying.

This also led to the fact that in the early days of smartphones, a considerable number of people did not set screen passwords: entering passwords was too troublesome.

However, if you do not set a password, the data and personal information in the phone cannot be protected.

After adopting fingerprint recognition technology, the step of entering a password is omitted in daily use. You can unlock the phone by simply pressing your finger lightly, especially when combined with a series of technologies such as 'raise to wake', tap the screen to wake up, and press the HOME button to wake up.

This makes the use of mobile phones very convenient.

It was from this time that screen passwords became widely used when people used Zhiyun S series phones.

It was at this time that Zhiyun began to promote mobile phone data security on a large scale, and later launched the security core, which randomly encrypts data directly from the hardware level, claiming to be the most secure mobile phone in the world.

This set of fingerprint recognition technology, which extends to a series of smartphone features such as mobile phone usage and data security, has become a benchmark for the smartphone industry, allowing Apple, Samsung and other mobile phone manufacturers to catch up.

Apple is catching up fairly quickly, but Apple and other manufacturers behind it only started using fingerprint recognition technology last year.

Mainly, Wanjin Technology, a fingerprint recognition company under Zhiyun Group, only supplies products to Zhiyun Group and Weiku Electronics, and does not supply fingerprint recognition modules to other companies.
The press-type fingerprint recognition module that Fruit developed through the acquisition of a fingerprint recognition company is not supplied to the outside world.

At the same time, the above two fingerprint recognition companies have established a very strict patent wall in the field of press-type fingerprints, making it difficult for other companies to bypass it in the early stages.

So at this time, they can only wait for the third fingerprint recognition manufacturer to develop this technology.

The third company is China's Qianding Technology. They started working on fingerprint recognition technology very early. After several years of research and development, they finally developed their own press-type fingerprint recognition module, and then began to supply it to Samsung and other mobile phone manufacturers.

So last year, we could see a lot of mobile phone manufacturers starting to use fingerprint recognition modules on mid-to-high-end mobile phones, including Sixin, Huawei, Zhongxing, Dami and other companies all started using fingerprint technology at this time.

There are front fingerprint, side fingerprint and rear fingerprint.

Therefore, in a sense, last year was the year when fingerprint recognition technology was widely popularized, and it was not just the exclusive technology of Zhiyun and Fruit.

The fingerprint recognition technology launched 10 years ago has brought about tremendous impact and is one of the key technologies that has driven Zhiyun Group to grow into a global giant.

When the S10 was first released, many people bought Zhiyun S series phones because the fingerprint recognition technology of Zhiyun phones was very easy to use.

This mobile phone directly laid the foundation for Zhiyun Group to become a world-class giant.

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By the time the next series of mobile phones, including four consecutive generations of S series phones, S111, S12, S13, and S14, had arrived, although the performance of the phones had gotten better and the screens were bigger, many other innovative technologies had also been introduced.

However, in terms of strategic impact, none of them is as great as the S10: because the S10 is the first mobile phone equipped with a press-type fingerprint recognition module, it has created a new mobile phone usage model and laid the foundation for Zhiyun Group.

Now, Zhiyun Group is preparing to launch another innovative product that can change users' usage habits after fingerprint recognition technology: 3D face recognition technology.

The function of this technology is actually very simple. It allows you to automatically unlock your phone the moment you pick up the phone, without entering a password or pressing a fingerprint.

Just pick up your phone and use it!
Of course, in some special circumstances, it actually becomes more troublesome. For example, if the phone is placed on the table, using the S14 phone with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, the user can unlock it directly by simply pressing the HOME button with their finger.

If using the S15MAX, you need to lift it up slightly with the screen facing you to unlock it.

To be honest, in some special usage scenarios, press-type fingerprint recognition is more convenient than 3D face recognition.

However, in most common usage scenarios, 3D face recognition has an overwhelming advantage!

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Originally, Zhiyun Group planned to use 15D face recognition and under-screen fingerprint solution in the new generation of S3MAX, but later gave up.

The main reason is that Zhiyun Group’s under-screen fingerprint technology is not ideal at present.

The two under-screen fingerprint technology routes under development were successively rejected by the technical committee.

The first is the photoelectric sensing technology route, which is being pursued by many domestic manufacturers. The technology is simple and the cost is controllable. This technology route can be simply described as: a layer of CMOS sensor is built under the screen, and the active light-emitting characteristics of the OLED screen are used for photoelectric sensing, and then fingerprint information is collected and unlocked...

This technology seems to sound good, with low cost and simple technology, but it cannot collect biometric information and is easily deceived... It cannot distinguish between fingerprint molds and real fingerprints. Some early optical under-screen fingerprint technologies with poor technology cannot even distinguish whether it is a photo.

In other words, security is not good...

Its security is probably about the same as 2D facial recognition. It’s not that great, but it’s definitely better than not setting a password and running around naked…

Or to put it more bluntly, it is better to use 2D face recognition directly. It is simple, convenient and low-cost. Except for the insecurity, it is good in every way...

Moreover, this 2D facial recognition can also be promoted as facial recognition to take advantage of the popularity of Zhiyun S15MAX 3D facial recognition.

We can promote it like this later: There is a difference between Zhiyun’s 3D facial recognition and my 2D facial recognition, but the difference is not big. Zhiyun’s just has an extra D at most, but... they are both facial recognition, and they are both high-end black technologies.

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In the many promotional slogans of Zhiyun mobile phones, data security is elevated to a very important level. If you make an under-screen optical fingerprint with poor data security performance that can be easily deceived and unlocked, then the serious data security risks in Zhiyun mobile phones will become headlines in countries around the world!

Ordinary mobile phone manufacturers can do whatever they want, using 2D face recognition, optical under-screen fingerprint technology, and no one will say anything. They may even think your innovation is awesome...

But this is not the case for mobile phone manufacturers like Zhiyun. If the S series mobile phones have any defects, they will be magnified and then subjected to overwhelming public opinion.

Therefore, the photoelectric sensing technology route developed by Zhiyun Group is currently not available due to technical defects, resulting in poor safety.

But it is worth mentioning that Weiku Electronics is very interested in this technology and has begun negotiations with Wanjin Technology, a subsidiary of Zhiyun that is engaged in unlocking solutions.

Xiaolan focuses on cost-effectiveness and technological trends, but never advertises how safe their phones are, so it is enough as long as the security is acceptable.

However, Weiku Electronics will not be able to use the photoelectric under-screen fingerprint technology this year. It would like to use it, but Zhiyun does not allow it.

This year's 3D face recognition and full-screen display are the focus of S15MAX. Zhiyun will not come up with a new competitor with under-screen fingerprint to steal the limelight from S15MAX.

Therefore, although Zhiyun Group has the optoelectronic under-screen fingerprint technology, it does not use it itself and will not provide it to Weiku Electronics for the time being. It will just be left there and will not be shipped until the second quarter of next year at the earliest.

And even if the products are supplied, they will only be supplied to Weiku Electronics and will not be sold to the outside world...

In this case, we will have to wait until early next year to see the new generation of Xiaolan MAX mobile phones equipped with this photoelectric sensing under-screen fingerprint technology.

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The second under-screen fingerprint technology route is the ultrasonic route. Zhiyun Group currently invests most of its under-screen fingerprint technology resources in the ultrasonic technology route. Another company that also attaches great importance to this technology is Sixing.

The characteristic of the ultrasonic technology route is that it has very good security, which can reach or even exceed the level of traditional fingerprint recognition technology... This is its biggest advantage and the core reason why Zhiyun invests heavily in continued development.

However, under current technical conditions, ultrasonic fingerprint technology still has technical defects such as slow unlocking speed, inability to accurately identify fingers with water or sweat, and very high cost...

Nowadays, if you ask Wanjin Technology to develop a complete set of ultrasonic fingerprint modules, the price will definitely be more expensive than a 3D face recognition module!

Of course, its higher cost is nothing for the Zhiyun S series mobile phones. If the effect is really good, then you can grit your teeth and use it. But the problem is that there are still some technical defects in this ultrasonic technology: the unlocking speed is too slow and the recognition accuracy is not very good.

Therefore, Zhiyun Group is continuing to promote this technology but has not yet used it.

A similar situation exists at four-star brands. They all see the benefits of ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint recognition, but there is no way to solve the technical defects in the short term, so they can only continue research and development.

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Under current technical conditions, there are two major under-screen fingerprint technology solutions: photoelectric sensing technology is not safe; ultrasonic technology is too slow to unlock...

So when it came to developing the S15MAX mobile phone, the project team of Zhiyun Group simply did not use the above two under-screen fingerprint technologies and directly used a 3D face recognition technology.

It is worth mentioning that they have actually tried to add a side fingerprint to come up with a 3D face recognition + side fingerprint solution.

Later I found out that this was unnecessary...

A special feature of the front fingerprint, which cannot be replaced by other unlocking solutions, is that you place the phone on the table and then press the unlock button directly. You can unlock and check information without picking up the phone.

Whether using the front HOME press-type capacitive sensing fingerprint technology, the photoelectric sensing fingerprint technology under the screen, or the under-screen ultrasonic sensing fingerprint technology, although the technologies are different, the usage scenarios are actually the same.

This usage scenario cannot be replaced by facial recognition or side and rear fingerprints.

The use scenario of this front fingerprint technology can complement the 3D face recognition technology to a certain extent. If the rear fingerprint or side fingerprint mode is used, you need to pick up the phone to use it... This usage scenario is not a problem for mobile phones with only a single fingerprint unlocking solution.

The previous Xiaolan MAX6 used rear fingerprint technology, and many users gave it good reviews and provided a decent user experience, which attracted many mobile phone manufacturers to follow suit.

Last year, some domestic manufacturers also launched mobile phones with side fingerprint technology solutions, which were also recognized by some consumers.

But the problem is... Zhiyun S15MAX, it is equipped with 3D face recognition technology that makes unlocking faster, more convenient and more secure.

This technology, combined with small functions such as 'raise to wake' and 'tap the screen to wake', will make the process of unlocking the phone extremely simple and convenient.

When you pick up your phone and look at the screen, the screen will automatically light up and unlock successfully... You don't need to do anything extra, just pick it up and use it!
If you pick up your phone and still need to use the side fingerprint or rear fingerprint to unlock it, that is a completely unnecessary action!

The engineers of the S series mobile phone project team abandoned this solution after trying it out: it added extra costs and was of no use.

Do more!
Finally now...the S15MAX mobile phone only has 3D face recognition technology!
Equipping a 3D face alone is a technology that, under current technical conditions, takes into account many aspects such as mobile phone usage scenarios, data security, and cost control, and is not a rash decision.

If possible, Zhiyun's engineers would like to develop an under-screen fingerprint technology that is both secure and fast to unlock, in addition to 3D face recognition technology.
In the eyes of Zhiyun’s mobile phone engineers, 3D face recognition + some kind of safe and efficient under-screen fingerprint technology is the best technical solution.

Can perfectly integrate two major mobile phone usage scenarios:

Scene 1: Pick up your phone and use it!
The second scenario: Don’t pick up your phone to use it!

Unfortunately, both under-screen fingerprint technologies are not very good at present, which led to the expected bankruptcy of Zhiyun’s engineers.

To this end, Wanjin Technology, a subsidiary of Zhiyun Group that mainly provides various unlocking solutions, is now working hard on new under-screen fingerprint technology, trying to come up with an under-screen fingerprint technology that is secure enough and can unlock efficiently.

Their technological progress is also quite good. They are actively improving ultrasonic fingerprint technology to make recognition more accurate and faster.

Wanjin Technology is promoting a new generation of ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint technology. If it can be developed, it can be used on S series mobile phones and coexist with 3D face recognition technology.

However, this new ultrasonic fingerprint technology solution is quite difficult. In addition to solving the technical problem, it also needs to address the problem of high cost.

So...it is still unknown when the Zhiyun S series mobile phones will be able to use 3D face recognition and ultrasonic under-screen fingerprint technology.

Wanjin Technology reported that if everything goes well, the technical problems can probably be initially resolved next year, but it is difficult to say how exactly.

No one can guarantee technical matters... The 3D facial recognition technology was delayed by a year, otherwise Zhiyun would have launched the S14 MAX last year.

In view of the importance of 3D facial technology, Xu Shenxue also visited Wanjin Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhiyun Group. He not only met with the management, but also communicated with core technical personnel and handed over the progress of various current technical routes.

After inspecting Wanjin Technology, Xu Shenxue went to Huaxing Technology for inspection.

Although Huaxing Technology is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhiyun Group, Zhiyun Group has still acquired more shares through multiple rounds of capital increases and currently controls 63% of the shares, achieving controlling power.

So it is okay to say that this is a subsidiary of Zhiyun Group.

In addition to Zhiyun Group, the shareholders of Huaxing Technology also include TCL, a domestic panel manufacturer and TV manufacturer, as well as Four Star, LG and Sharp. It can be said that it has integrated the best screen technologies from home and abroad.

The LCD screen they developed is of world-class standard. At the same time, their newly developed OLED screen is currently at the same technical level as Four Star's self-developed OLED screen technology, and is even cheaper.

Even Apple is currently in contact with CSOT to explore the possibility of using CSOT's OLED screens.

Apple also wants to use OLED screens in the future. However, in the field of OLED screens, currently only Samsung and Huaxing Technology have mature and available high-quality OLED screens, while the others are still a bit behind.

At the same time, in order to ensure the security of the supply chain and bargaining power, even if Fruit mainly uses four-star screens, it will find a second supplier to provide a small part of the screens, otherwise Four-Star will take a heavy toll on Fruit.

The 28 model of the supply chain is a common model in the industry, and manufacturers will do so whenever possible.

Unless there is really no second supplier.

Nowadays, there is a second choice for fruits, and that is Huaxing Technology.

Although Zhiyun and Fruit are in extremely fierce competition and have fought each other to a bloody bitter end, they still cooperate in some areas, and there is possibility of cooperation in some areas in the future.

That's how it is to make money!
We cannot simply distinguish between friend and foe and then make a one-size-fits-all decision...

After looking at the situation at Huaxing Technology, Xu Shenxue continued to inspect the situation of several other major supply chain manufacturers without stopping, some of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the group, and some are holding subsidiaries.

As we walked along, it was already mid-July.

At this time, the S15 series of mobile phones have entered full mass production mode, and at the same time, various news about Zhiyun's new generation of mobile phones are flying around in the outside world.

The marketing department of Zhiyun Group took advantage of the situation and released all kinds of true and false news or fanned the flames, launching a large-scale marketing campaign.

Among the numerous pieces of news, people have various speculations about Zhiyun's new generation flagship phone.

But one thing is certain, that is, Zhiyun will definitely launch a heavyweight new flagship mobile phone with major innovations this year.

This news has been confirmed by many people in the industry.

After all, the supply chain of the S15MAX mobile phone is also very large. Even if various confidentiality measures are taken, with the large-scale mass production of the S15MAX mobile phone, various information will always be leaked.

Even if Zhiyun tries its best to keep it confidential, it can only ensure that some highly confidential information is not leaked, such as 3D face recognition technology and the core appearance feature of the mobile phone: the notch screen.

Therefore, the outside world's perception of Zhiyun's new generation of flagship is still confusing.

This also makes ordinary consumers and even competitors in the industry curious and pay attention.

Is Zhiyun really going to launch a big satellite this year? Is it going to come up with some black technology?

Otherwise, the confidentiality wouldn't be so strict.

According to anonymous sources, the new flagship's partners have signed extremely stringent confidentiality agreements. Once the relevant confidential information is leaked, they will face extremely high compensation!

This situation has not been seen in the past few years... Although Zhiyun's new mobile phones have been kept strictly confidential in the past two or three years, when they are approaching the release date, most of the details have been guessed.

Especially last year's S14 mobile phone, before it was officially released, all kinds of information were already flying around... Even photos of the phone's appearance had been circulated. At that time, the only thing that was still kept secret was the wireless charging technology.

The same is true for the previous S13 mobile phone. It was said to be confidential, but people already knew most of it before it was released.

However, although there are various news about this year's S15 mobile phone, the leaked information shows that the S15 mobile phone is just ordinary, not much different from last year's S14 mobile phone. This is inconsistent with the rumors that Zhiyun is going to make major innovations.

There is a problem with Zhiyun this year!
Many friendly competitors, such as Apple and Four Star, are worried about this.

Four stars are all fine. After all, it is only the third in the high-end mobile phone field, and their new flagships were released in the first half of the year. They have been sold for several months, the sales volume is almost reached, and the results are also good. In the second half of this year, they can rest assured to watch the fierce competition between Apple and Zhiyun.

Especially look at the fierce competition between these two companies in August and September!

But the pressure on fruit is particularly great.

In the past few years, Zhiyun has been ahead of the fruit industry every year...For this reason, there has been a lot of R&D investment in fruit and various technological innovations in order to catch up with Zhiyun.

But this year, something seems a little off.

Zhiyun seemed to be planning a big move, but he didn't even know the specific information, let alone how to respond.

This is not a good sign!

Soon, it was August, and Zhiyun Group had already begun promoting its upcoming flagship phone launch.

And some news was released one after another, and for the first time it was officially acknowledged that Zhiyun will launch a new and groundbreaking new model this year.

Although Zhiyun has not announced what the new model will look like, it has still attracted great attention from consumers and competitors!

A large group of friendly competitors are already rubbing their hands, and the design teams are ready, just waiting for Zhiyun to release a new flagship, and then they will directly copy it!

I just don’t know what their expressions will be when they see this 3D facial recognition and realize there is nothing left to copy!
Especially the engineers at Fruit, I wonder how they felt when they saw Zhiyun take the lead in releasing 3D facial recognition.

They have actually invested heavily in 3D facial recognition, but the current technological progress is not good enough to be put into practical use.

At this time, Zhiyun launched the product first and they must have felt like vomiting blood!

(End of this chapter)