Xiaomi, the company often referred to as China's Apple, has teamed up
with the Android Open Kang Project (popularly known as AOKP) for its
MIUI 7 custom user interface based on Android 5.1 Lollipop.
The news
was confirmed via AOKP's official blog that revealed both Xiaomi and
Team Kang were working closely on MIUI 7, which will debut on the next
flagship smartphone, the Mi 5. For the uninitiated, AOKP develops custom
Android ROMs for smartphones and tablets, much like what Cyanogen does with CyanogenMod.
The blog
said, "With all the pieces of the deal in place, I wish to announce
that all Team Kang members are working with Xiaomi on a new and
refreshed MIUI 7, which will be finally based on Android 5.1, and be
coming on the Mi 5."
The company revealed that MIUI 7 is
internally codenamed MiKangy, which will see a new take on the Android
UI. It added that the new UI will include popular features from top ROMs
such as CyanogenMod, ParanoidAndroid, Omni, and AOKP to "create an
experience which completely submerges the user in his own world."
The
ROM maker stresses that the upcoming UI of the Mi 5 will evolve with
the user and after few months of usage, the UI of each Mi 5 handset will
have personalised features.
According to the company, MarcLandis
will lead the technical development of MIUI 7 aka MiKangy, while Zaphod
will oversee the product development.
The ROM maker also claimed that the tie-up with Xiaomi won't affect the future of AOKP, discarding any acquisition rumours - if any.
Xiaomi
earlier this week announced a price cut for the Mi 4, which ties-in
well with the company's plans for the Mi 5 release expected this year.
The Xiaomi Mi 4 will retail at CNY 1,799 (approximately Rs. 18,000) for the 16GB variant down from the previous price tag
of CNY 1,999 (approximately Rs. 20,000). While a 'lite' variant of the
Xiaomi Mi 4 with 2GB of RAM instead of 3GB, will retail at CNY 1,699
(approximately Rs. 17,000) - a CNY 100 price cut from the earlier price
of CNY 1,799. Notably, both the Mi 4 variants would be available at
reduced priced starting April 8.