Xiaomi gets another new convert as Steve Wozniak drops into Beijing HQ

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has long since discovered the magic key that helped him escape from Apple’s walled garden. Now he’s free to go anywhere, say anything, and use any device he feels like. Today, Wozniak – aka Woz – dropped into the HQ of Chinese startup phone-maker Xiaomi.

According to former Google and Android VP turned Xiaomi executive Hugo Barra, who just posted a photo and some details to his Google+ page [1], Woz is a new convert to their phones. Woz declared that it’s “very emotional for me to be a part of Xiaomi now” – a reference to him using a Xiaomi Mi3 (not working for the ambitious phone-maker).

Barra says that Woz had more advice for those in attendance at Xiaomi’s New Year celebration in Beijing;

Always make sure your products are better than what any other human being could make.

Xiaomi sold 18.7 million of its Android-based smartphones in 2013. It operates just in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The firm, founded by serial entrepreneur Lei Jun, will expand to Singapore next.

Wozniak is staying in Beijing all weekend. He’ll be at the capital’s GeekPark tomorrow, and then he’ll be back at Xiaomi on Sunday for a “dialogue” with Lei Jun in front of invited guests. We’ll be there to hear what the pair have to say.

(Editing by Josh Horwitz)