Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 130 Orange 2 Project Launch
Orange Technology Office, 12th Floor, Huabei Qiang Electronics Building.

In name, Orange Technology's headquarters has moved from its small workshop in Huabei Qiang to a small office in the office building of the Shenzhen North Station business district in Longhua District, but in reality, it still operates from here.

Meeting Room 1
The air conditioner was blowing cold air, but it couldn't dispel the slightly tense atmosphere in the conference room.

The long conference table was almost full of people.

Jiang Yu, the newly recruited deputy head of the hardware R&D team, wears his signature dark blue overalls and has a clearly visible scar on his left eyebrow, giving him the impression of being a very serious person.

The design team representative was a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, nervously rubbing his hands together, because most of the people present were leaders, and he was just a fresh graduate and a nobody designer!
The representative sent by the Orange Treasure Group was Wang Teng, who still looked like a sunny young man, but his eyes were much more serious.

Having learned from the precedent of developing the Orange Treasure Input Method, He Jian was happy to send Wang Teng to represent "Orange Treasure Studio" to work for Orange.

Zhao Tiezhu from the marketing department was lounging casually in his chair, chatting unilaterally with the quiet young woman representing the customer service team.

Wang Kai from the market research team sat upright with sharp eyes, giving off a somewhat hawk-like vigilante vibe. Who would have guessed his gentle and kind nature in private!
Today's meeting is titled "Orange 2 Project Seminar." Gong Yun, who is in charge of logistics, is not involved in research and development and will not be attending.

Chen Mo sat in the main seat, with his old notebook in front of him, a pen on top of it, an invisible pressure seemingly enveloping everyone.

He had already explained the positioning and requirements of Orange 2, and gave everyone a day to prepare. Now it's time to see the results.

"Ha ha."

Zhao Tiezhu finally made the quiet customer service girl laugh out loud.

"Quiet! Let's begin the meeting!"

Chen Mo tapped the table with his fingertips, coldly scanning the conference room. His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced everyone's whispers.

Yes! I'm talking about you, Zhao Tiezhu. You were even teasing a young girl during the meeting. It seems you've become unruly as soon as Sister Gong isn't around, haven't you?

Chen Mo composed himself; it was really inappropriate to publicly reprimand this kid in this setting.

"I hereby announce that our Orange 2 mobile phone project is officially launched!"

He got straight to the point, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Our goal is to produce an engineering prototype by March next year and begin mass production and distribution by May. Time is tight and the task is heavy. Our competitors are coming soon. We are too small. We are now going against the current. There is no way back. We can only move forward, forward and forward!"

Chen Mo's gaze first fell on the newcomer Jiang Yu, as if he were giving him special attention.

Firstly, it shows that you value the other party, and secondly, it allows you to gauge the other party's worth.

If this is just a useless, ineffective weapon, Chen Mo should cut his losses as soon as possible.

Orange is involved in real industry, so its focus is naturally on pragmatism.

"Jiang Gong, hardware is fundamental, so please share your thoughts first!"

Jiang Yu sat up straight, showing no politeness whatsoever, and went straight to the point.

"Mr. Chen, the Orange 2 is positioned in the low-to-mid-range market with a clear target user group, but how can it ensure competitiveness with its 'hardware configuration that is one generation behind the market'? Does the BOM cost structure need to be re-evaluated?"

Tech people are meticulous and their sharp edges are always on display.

Chen Mo smiled. That's more like it.

How can you tell if someone has any skills or not if you don't confront them directly?

"Jiang Gong! The cost structure of Orange 2 should remain below 500 for now. The real trump card... is here!"

He tapped the table, where a "3C Certification of Yuancheng Second Generation Gaseous Lithium Battery" issued by Shenzhen Testing Institute was displayed.

"Yuancheng's second-generation gaseous lithium battery, with a capacity of 920mAh, has achieved a significant improvement of at least 15% compared to the first generation. With better quality control, it can even reach 18%."

Jiang Yu was not easily persuaded, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"The new generation of batteries is indeed an advantage of Orange phones."

“But you mentioned that Wheat will follow suit with gaseous lithium batteries next year. Even if they use the first generation, the 120mAh difference is unlikely to be a technological crushing blow.”

"Furthermore, the low-to-mid-range market is extremely price-sensitive, and relying solely on batteries, I'm afraid the Orange 2's technological support is insufficient!"

Jiang Yu's unfinished meaning is clear; Mr. Chen, you are being overly optimistic.

Chen Mo did not directly refute, but turned to Wang Kai and asked.

"Wang Kai, in our market research, what 'non-core' configurations, besides the core hardware, do our competitors tend to cram into their mid-to-low-end models?"

Considering the excessively long mass production cycle of developing chips, screens, and storage units using system-level black technology, Chen Mo naturally couldn't touch these self-developed components right now, thus deliberately creating difficulties for the research and development.

Wang Kai deftly opened the folder, speaking clearly and quickly:
"Mainly divided into three categories:"

I. Audio-visual entertainment: Dolby audio certification (requires a dedicated decoding chip), HDMI output (high patent fees for the interface);
II. Enhanced Interaction: Gyroscope + Vibration Motor (gaming phones are favored by users), NFC Near Field Communication (adoption rate <5%, requires chip support);
III. Appearance Differentiation: Multi-colored interchangeable back covers, 3D curved glass back covers (high cost, fragile).

After listening, Chen Mo tapped his fingers on the table like he was playing the piano, picked up the market research documents, and rejected them one by one.

"Audio chips, HDMI, NFC? Patent tariffs and uncontrollable costs make them a direct pass!"

Is Orange Technology now getting into chip manufacturing?

Even the simplest audio chip is unrealistic. Not to mention there's no chip talent at all, he can't accept the mass production cycle that often takes years.

"3D glass back cover? It's all show and no substance, poor practicality, PASS!"

While the 3D curved glass back cover of the previous generation was stunning, it received a lukewarm response after its release, and most users in later generations were unaware that such a phone could clearly see its internal structure.

As for the users who bought it, they learned their lesson after it was dropped once. It's a design where users don't buy it and the creativity outweighs the innovation.

"As for colorful back covers? They're low-tech and won't create a distinctive brand image, so PASS!"

Finally, Chen Mo's fingertip stopped on the "gyroscope + vibration motor" and locked onto it.

"The Orange 2 will use a self-developed gyroscope sensor (mechanical) and vibration motor, along with a new battery, to create a technological leap!"

"what?"

The young male design representative and the young female customer service representative looked surprised. "We're a mobile phone company, why do we need to develop our own gyroscope sensor and vibration motor?"
Jiang Yu raised his hand directly, expressing his doubts in a cautious but clear manner.

"Mr. Chen, if I may be frank, gyroscopes and motors are barely noticeable in daily use, especially among low- to mid-range target users. Trying to create a 'technical feature' based on this is questionable in terms of market acceptance, and the results are unlikely to meet expectations."

Before Chen Mo could even speak, some people started to get restless.

"You're fucking talking nonsense!"

Zhao Tiezhu sat up straight with a bang, his voice booming.

"Jiang, you're new here and don't understand. When has our General Manager Chen ever made a mistake? Batteries, Android—weren't they all brilliant decisions? Who are you to question them?"

Well, Chen Mo made several crucial decisions based on his memories from his previous life, which almost earned Zhao Tiezhu a "genius halo" in the company.

"If President Chen says it's okay, then it's definitely okay. I, Zhao Tiezhu, am betting my life on it!"

He patted his chest, as if to say, "Anyone who questions Brother Chen is no good."

Jiang Yu's face stiffened slightly, and he thought to himself: This marketing manager looks "old," but he's acting like a greenhorn.

Furthermore, is the research and development of Orange Technology a one-man show by President Chen, with no room for technical discussion at all?
"Zhao Tiezhu!" Chen Mo's voice deepened, his face turning cold: "Mind your meeting discipline. If you make any more noise, Supervisor Gong will be required to take notes throughout the next meeting!"

Although Chen Mo understood that the kid meant no harm and was just instinctively protecting himself, would Jiang Yu misunderstand him?

Fortunately, the words "Manager Gong" acted like a spell, instantly deflated Zhao Tiezhu, who shrank back into his chair and muttered reluctantly to Jiang Yu.

"Sorry, Engineer Jiang, I just have a loud voice and I'm very outspoken. Please don't take it to heart!"

His second half of the sentence still stubbornly defended the "genius halo" surrounding Chen Mo.

"But Mr. Chen's judgment has never been wrong!"

Chen Mo immediately shifted the focus back to the main topic, looking at Jiang Yu with a gentle yet firm tone.

"Jiang Gong! It's normal to have technical concerns, but sometimes it's necessary to guide users to perceive the unique features of a technology. You don't need to worry about the source of the hardware; I have a micro-motor factory in Chongqing."

Take a look at Lei Jun's austenitic 304 stainless steel mid-frame. It's educational and entertaining, and many users now know about the technical features of this mid-frame.

He paused briefly, as if recalling something, before continuing.

"I have a small factory called Qianke Micro Motor in Chongqing. I will personally coordinate to ensure that the gyroscope and motor samples are delivered to you before February next year!"

Chen Mo stared at the scar on Jiang Yu's eyebrow, then instructed, "Jiang, you need to reserve sufficient space inside during the hardware layout phase."

"Qianke Micro Motor?"

Zhao Tiezhu's eyes widened: "Brother Chen! When did you plant such a mine in Shancheng? How come I didn't hear a word about it?"

Chen Mo smiled calmly: "I just casually invested a little bit of my spare money, it's just a small gamble."

He dealt with Zhao Tiezhu with a nonchalant remark, thus silencing the curiosity of everyone present.

Everyone in the company was curious about just how much money their boss, this tech upstart, actually had.

Then, Chen Mo turned to the design team representative, the young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, who was tightly gripping the open folder and looking somewhat nervous.

For employees with limited initiative, he simply assigned them tasks.

"Design team, your core task is to prioritize practicality and ensure that the Orange 2 achieves the maximum screen-to-body ratio allowed by the hardware. The ultimate goal for future Orange phones is a full-screen display with a completely uninterrupted front!"

"A full-screen display!" The young male design representative's voice trembled, sweat beading on his forehead. "Mr. Chen, this... earpiece, front-facing camera, sensors..."

"You need to learn to break free from fixed mindsets!"

Chen Mo guided the young designer to begin thinking…

"Can the earpiece be miniaturized and flattened?"

As for the camera's position, could it be adjusted to a corner? We could even explore under-display camera solutions in the future!

Design should be bold and forward-thinking; implementation is the R&D team's job!

This hidden solution under the screen was like a thunderbolt, shaking everyone to their core.

The young male design representative's eyes lit up, and his mind suddenly clicked.

"Yes, Mr. Chen! Understood! We'll study the feasibility of a solution immediately!" "No need to rush!" Chen Mo reassured him, "Slow and steady wins the race."

“Orange does not pursue the absolute symmetry aesthetics of Apple. We are determined to follow the screen ratio route and eventually reach the other side of full screen. Your design team can follow this direction.”

Jiang Yu stared at Chen Mo with a complex expression.

Full-screen?
The concept was too advanced, and the technological gap was huge. He suddenly felt that Orange's salary was too hot to handle.

"I cannot do it, Your Majesty!"
But the matter-of-fact certainty on Chen Mo's face still inexplicably ignited a glimmer of expectation in Jiang Yu.

Mr. Chen is certainly a tech-savvy person; perhaps he really does have a solution!
Next, it was Zhao Tiezhu's turn to talk about the supply chain.

He composed himself and said seriously, "President Chen, with the upgrading of hardware, the suppliers of core components such as chips, screens, and storage need to be reshuffled."

"Maritime Silk Road. Currently, we only have the K3V1 improved chip, which is two generations behind, and no mature new generation products. Should we activate the alternative plan and seek a new main chip supplier? Otherwise, the risk of our Orange 2 production ramp-up will increase dramatically!"

Chen Mo closed his eyes and pondered, the news about the "Great Fire Dragon" K3V2 (40nm process, plagued by heat and compatibility issues) from his previous life flashing through his mind.
If Hai Si could transform the little fire dragon K3V1 into an ice phoenix, what about K3V2?
He decisively decided: "For chips, we should prioritize HaiSi. Contact Manager He and inquire about their new product plans. If they can effectively control the power consumption of the new product before May 2011 and promise to fully adapt it to Orange OS 2.0, HaiSi will remain our main chip supplier for Orange 2!"

"Ah! They're still using the Maritime Silk Road?" Zhao Tiezhu was stunned, and blurted out in his anxiety, "Brother Chen, their new product is still in its infancy. What if, I mean, what if the chip fabrication fails, our supply chain will be waiting for chips!"

"Nothing unexpected!"

Chen Mo's eyes blazed: "Go and negotiate! Go and conduct the assessment!"

"If the new products from HaiSi do not meet the standards or cannot be adapted to our system, you have the full authority to decide whether or not HaiSi chips should enter our Orange 2 supply chain. This is your responsibility, and you make the decision!"

Zhao Tiezhu felt the heavy trust and pressure, and nodded emphatically: "Understood! Brother Chen! I will personally ensure that the Maritime Silk Road project is approved before it is allowed to proceed!"

"For the screen and storage, as you instructed before, Brother Chen, prioritize reputable domestic mid-range products. As for other non-core components, reuse Orange 1's suppliers to the greatest extent possible to ensure stability!"

"it is good!"

Chen Mo nodded; the supply chain had been calculated.

Jiang Yu looked at Zhao Tiezhu, his "peer," with a look of surprise. He was truly flexible and knew how to call President Chen, who was more than ten years younger than him, "brother." Jiang Yu was truly impressed.

Wang Teng, from the Orange Treasure team, was in charge of Orange OS 2.0. Ever since he learned that Chen Mo had personally worked on Orange OS 1.0, his eyes had been filled with admiration for Chen Mo's technical skills.

From now on, Wang Teng will have two idols.

"Mr. Chen, Orange OS 1.0 was truly optimized by you personally. It was compressed from 280MB to 150MB. It's a miracle! Please take me on as your apprentice!" This senior programmer was completely powerless against the genius.

Chen Mo waved his hand, smiling as he covered up his embarrassment, saying, "I was forced into it back then. People will do anything when they're desperate. It was just a matter of luck!"

He doesn't know that much. He's just an average programmer. He relies entirely on his memories of taking on multiple jobs in his previous life to pay off debts and copying mature Android optimization solutions from later generations of great programmers.

Then, Chen Mo changed the subject and got straight to business to avoid being bothered by Wang Teng.

"Orange OS 2.0 will be based on Orange OS 1.0 and will be developed in depth."

In short, it's just a reskinned, customized UI of Android 2.3.1.

There are two main points:
First, remove the 10MB multitasking mode that was disabled in Orange 1 due to hardware limitations;
Second, completely remove the 20MB drawer mode from the Android system to save more RAM for users, and ensure there are no critical/blocker or major bugs.

"In addition," he added, "the 10MB battery reserve bug patch from Orange OS 1.0.1 has been compressed and integrated into the Orange OS 2.0 underlying layer, including the synchronized integration of Orange Treasure Input Method, to ensure a smooth basic system experience for users."

Wang Teng quickly took notes, then looked up and tentatively asked, "What about App Store? Is it also integrated into the system's underlying layer?"

This was clearly at the behest of He Jian from "Chengbao Studio," and Wang Teng, a simple-minded young man, would never have thought of such a way of testing the waters.

Chen Mo glanced at him with a half-smile: "App Treasure is an independent product of Orange Treasure Studio. It can be pre-installed at the factory and does not need to be deeply bound to the Orange System!"

Wang Teng, realizing he'd been seen through, scratched his head sheepishly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“The third item!” Chen Mo’s gaze swept over Wang Teng and Jiang Yu: “Add a battery display icon to the upper right corner of the system notification bar.”

Wang Teng was taken aback: "Battery display? This seems simple, but it's not just a software issue; it also requires hardware sensor support, right?"

He looked at Jiang Yu, seeking approval: "You're right, aren't you, Engineer Jiang?"

Jiang Yu frowned as well: "President Chen, there is currently no miniaturized NTC power sensor suitable for mobile phones on the market. This function seems simple, but it cannot be implemented."

Chen Mo raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a smile.

"Who says you have to rely on hardware to solve the user's need for battery level display? Software algorithms can do it too!"

He presented a solution that caught the eye of the technical staff present.

"We can design algorithms to analyze power consumption patterns under typical screen-on times and combine them with memory usage weights to virtually indicate the remaining battery level!"

Of course, Chen Mo didn't forget that he had tried to copy the design of a low-end phone and cleverly changed the 4-bar battery display to a percentage display. Then, it took 30 seconds for the 20% battery to be displayed, which immediately exposed his mistake.

Chen Mo emphasized: "We do not pursue precise percentages. The battery icon is displayed in 4 sections, allowing for a 25% error. If the error is reduced to within 20% through subsequent algorithm optimization, it will be upgraded to a 5-section display!"

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Jiang Yu's eyes gleamed with a sudden surge of light. His previous doubts about the self-developed gyroscope and motor vanished, replaced by shock and admiration.

Wang Teng's mouth was slightly open, and the young male design representative forgot his nervousness.

Although Zhao Tiezhu didn't understand the technical details, the expressions on everyone's faces said it all.

Hmph! My brother Chen has come up with another "secret weapon"!
"This is truly a brilliant way to break the deadlock."

Jiang Yu sighed softly, his gaze towards Chen Mo completely changing.

This completely bypasses hardware limitations!
He suddenly felt a surge of anticipation for the gyroscopes and motors that the small factory in the mountain city called Qianke Micro Motor would provide before March of next year.

The young female customer service representative gave the final speech, summarizing user feedback.

"Mr. Chen and other leaders, the main points of user feedback include:"

The Orange 1's earpiece has a slight distortion at maximum volume;
The charging port (miniB) becomes slightly loose after being plugged and unplugged multiple times;
Under strong light, the screen brightness adjustment is sometimes not sensitive enough.

Our customer service team suggests that Orange 2 optimize these details.

Chen Mo carefully noted it down.

"Good! Details determine success or failure. We need to make targeted improvements to the hardware, design, and system."

At the end of the meeting, Chen Mo reiterated the time limit, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room.

"Hardware, design, systems, supply chain—keep each link tightly under control. Mass production is scheduled for May next year. If anyone in any link fails, I will hold them accountable. Meeting adjourned! Wang Kai, stay behind!"

Everyone got up and left.

As Zhao Tiezhu passed by Jiang Yu, he nudged him with his elbow, winking and looking smug, as if to say, "See, I didn't lie to you, Brother Chen is just that awesome!"

Jiang Yu shook his head with a helpless smile. How could this person his age be so carefree? But he felt much more at ease.

Only two people remained in the meeting room.

Chen Mo patted Wang Kai on the shoulder.

"The market research team did a great job in getting Jiang Yu hired. I've asked the finance department to approve a special bonus of 3 yuan for your team. I hope you'll keep up the good work!"

Wang Kai felt relieved and smiled.

"Thank you, Mr. Chen!"

He secretly thought to himself that he could also take a share of this money, which would be just enough for An Xiaoquan's living expenses.

Just as Wang Kai left, Chen Mo's phone rang.

The screen displayed "Viagra".

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, his face initially showing a hint of embarrassment at being caught red-handed, which quickly turned into a smile as he answered the call.
"Hey, Viagra?"

"Hahaha! President Chen! Boss Chen!"

Shen Yiwei laughed heartily, without any hint of anger, but rather with a touch of teasing.

"You've been hiding your true colors, haven't you? The head of Orange Technology, trying to poach my talent, that's not very fair!"

Chen Mo sensed the magnanimity in the other person's tone, and his embarrassment dissipated. He laughed heartily and said, "Brother Wei, I was wrong to do this. I apologize to you. I'll treat you another day. You choose the place, and there will be plenty of good food and drinks. Let's have a good get-together!"

"Good job! You've really made something of yourself now!"

Shen Yiwei laughed loudly, then changed the subject, his tone becoming slightly teasing, like an older brother.

"However, no matter how successful you are, Mr. Chen, in my eyes, you will always be Little Chen!"

"Absolutely!" Chen Mo laughed even more heartily: "Brother Wei, you will always be the best guide on my hiking journey. See you another day when you have time!"

He put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, a relieved yet slightly smug smile on his face.

After poaching the R&D director that Blue Factory valued for the future, Wei Ge not only didn't turn against him, but he can still joke around with him like this?

Back when he was still working in a small workshop in North China, this was a scenario he would never have dared to dream of.

"Ha, this feels really good!"

Chen Mo muttered to himself, with the lighthearted joy of a young person experiencing their first success.

When Wei Ge took the initiative to call, it certainly wasn't just to catch up; he must have his own reasons. But Chen Mo felt completely at ease.

Is the dinner party another day just for friends to catch up, or is it for discussing business?
Chen Mo's eyes gleamed with confidence, a confidence built upon his own strength.

"Who cares! We'll deal with whatever comes our way!"

Chen Mo trusts Wei Ge's character; they should just talk things out openly and honestly.

He stood up, stretched, and felt completely relaxed.

While Chen Mo's rise in personal status brought him some sense of accomplishment, the higher he stood, the fewer people he could befriend.

In comparison, the pure friendship he forged with Shen Yiwei during numerous extreme treks holds a heavier place in his heart.

(End of this chapter)