It has been impossible to ignore Xiaomi this year. The 'Apple of China' is eating into competitors' market share by doing the opposite of Apple— involving consumers in the development of its products. The company is applying software development processes to its hardware development, launching its phones in small batches, assimilating feedback and modifying accordingly. CEO Lei Jun would do well to stop emulating the late Steve Jobs on stage, but Xiaomi, which expanded into India in July and Indonesia in September, still stands up as one Chinese brand showing real innovation and the potential to go the distance.