News You Might Have Missed: Time for iPhones, Public Bikes and Robots

As you get ready for a week off – hopefully far away from the madding tourist crowds – here are a last few headlines from the week. The possibility of China seeing the iPhone in the next three months (maybe as early as October) is becoming more plausible. Also coming soon: Beijing’s ambitious bike-sharing program. There’s also some magic ink and dancing robots.

Last week we mentioned rumors about the iPhone 5 appearing in China within three months; now people are speculating that we could see the latest Apple smartphone in October. The phone has already received one of three necessary approvals (a wait of five days as opposed to two months for the 4S). The remaining licenses are expected to take about 20 days. Now we’ll have to wait and see whether it’s China Telecom or Unicom who start selling stock first.

If you’ve been glancing longingly at those red-and-white bikes that have been filling up the city’s sidewalks, but you lack the Beijing hukou to rent them, your wait is almost over. The program is supposed to open to the general public by the end of October. Interested cyclists (18-65 years old and taller than 130cm) will need to get their transportation card activated for bike rental with a RMB 200-400 deposit plus an ID and/or temporary residence license. Look for a more detailed how-to guide on our blog next month.

The not-too-clever crook-of-the-week award goes to a man who thought he'd swindle someone for RMB 300,000 by signing the agreement in disappearing ink. Two days later, the lender saw that the note had reverted to a blank sheet of paper. The culprit was later convicted of fraud and ordered to pay 350,000 kuai.

Finally, here’s some video from last weekend’s College Robot-Building Competition at the Beijing University of Science and Technology. We have seen the robot future, and it boxes, plays football and dances.

Photo: beijingshots.com