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Apple Rival Xiaomi Coming To U.S. With Android Set-Top TV Box

Xiaomi, Apple ’s ( AAPL ) Chinese smartphone rival, this year plans to launch a 4K TV streaming device in the U.S. featuring Google’s Android software. Xiaomi made the announcement at Alphabet ‘s ( GOOGL ) Google I/O developer’s conference on Wednesday. The item will compete with Roku, Amazon.com ’s ( AMZN ) Fire TV devices, Apple’s set-top box and Google’s own Chromecast streaming sticks, as well as Web-connected TV sets featuring Google’s Android software. Xiaomi’s Android-based TV system will be its first hardware product sold in the U.S. Xiaomi’s online store so far has sold only accessories in the U.S. However, Xiaomi has sold set-top TV boxes in Asia that stream HD-quality video. Hugo Barra, vice president for global at Xiaomi, joined the company in 2013 after leaving Google, where he had worked on mobile products and the Android mobile operating system. “This is a significant milestone for Xiaomi,” Barra said in a statement released at Google I/O . Xiaomi’s 4K streaming device will provide apps such as Netflix ( NFLX ) and YouTube, as well as Dish Network ’s ( DISH ) Sling Web TV service. In China, Xiaomi will be one of the first smartphone makers to feature virtual-reality technology that Google has put into Android N, the new version of its mobile operating system. Samsung and HTC also plan to sell Android-based mobile phones with the VR mode. Xiaomi was the top smartphone seller in China in Q4, followed closely by China’s Huawei, with Apple down at No. 3.

Apple Rival Google Revs Up Android Auto, Targets Infotainment

Aiming to shoot past  Apple ‘s ( AAPL ) CarPlay, Alphabet ’s ( GOOGL ) Google hopes to woo auto makers with its new Android N operating system, which can be used in infotainment systems, as well as smartphones. Google unveiled an “auto-centric” variant of Android N at its Google I/O developer’s conference on Wednesday. Google also announced that Android Auto will include the Waze traffic app as part of its navigation system. “This is very important, as the major screen projection systems (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) have relegated the user to only the native navigation Apple or Google map application, but the Waze application has tremendous popularity,” Egil Juliussen, an analyst at research firm IHS Automotive, said in a report. Apple and Google have revved up efforts to integrate their smartphone technologies with auto communications systems. QNX Software Systems, a subsidiary of BlackBerry ( BBRY ), has also pushed into Web-connected infotainment and telematics systems, along with AT&T ( T ). Apple and Google have faced challenges because of the lengthy design cycles for autos. While Apple’s CarPlay technology is built around its iOS software, some automakers have preferred open-sourced technologies, analysts say. At the developer’s conference, Google showcased the Android N software working in a Maserati Ghibli equipped with a 15-inch screen. Google said it has added Wi-Fi capability to “Android Auto,” a move Apple took in 2015. IHS Automotive says Android software has been built into infotainment systems on new Honda ( HMC ) and Renault vehicles. “ General Motors ( GM ) and Harman ( HAR ) announced a tie-up to build Android-based infotainment systems for GM vehicles,” said the IHS report. “This $900 million contract will (create) a new next-generation infotainment system powered by Android by the end of 2016 — it’s possible that those vehicles will be powered by this (Android N) embedded system.”

4 Stocks Trading Near Or In Buy Range Before Earnings

Loading the player… Alphabet ( GOOGL ), Microsoft ( MSFT ) and Starbucks ( SBUX ) were all near buy points ahead of their most recent quarterly reports, but have since dropped from those levels after issuing weak results. On the other hand, Facebook ( FB ) and Amazon ( AMZN ) had formed bases and were propelled higher by their strong earnings. Here’s a look at four stocks that are trading near or in buy range ahead of their quarterly reports later this week: Applied Materials ( AMAT ), Autodesk ( ADSK ), Eight By Eight ( EGHT ) and Campbell Soup ( CPB ). Campbell Soup You may not think of Campbell Soup when you think of top stocks, but the maker of packaged food has a high IBD Composite Rating of 92 out of 99. The company is expected to report Friday an earnings increase of 3%, a big slowdown from two quarters in a row of roughly 30% bottom-line growth. Revenue is expected to fall a fraction. Campbell breached support at the 50-day line Wednesday in above-average volume but was able to finish the session just above the line. Shares are now about 5% below their all-time high reached as the stock cleared a flat base buy point of 65.58. The stock is trading 3% below that pivot. Eight By Eight Eight By Eight is a telecom services firm with an 85 Composite Rating. Earnings are expected to drop 60% while revenue climbs 25% when it reports Thursday. Shares tried to break out of a cup-with-handle base with a 12.05 buy point Wednesday, but closed the session below that level. The stock is 13% below its January peak. Applied Materials Applied Materials is expected to see earnings grow 10% on a fractional sales decline. The chip equipment maker, which reports Thursday, has a Composite Rating of 66. Shares are trading in buy range from a cup base the stock initially cleared in March. The stock ran up as much as 11% in the following weeks, but has since pulled back about 8% from its high reached one month ago. Autodesk And computer software firm Autodesk is expected to swing to a loss of 14 cents a share on a 21% decline in revenue when it reports Thursday. The company has a 49 Composite Rating. Shares recently breached support at the 50-day line and are dipping back below buy range from a cup-with-handle base. The stock is now about 12% below its December peak.