Chinese Tech CEO Compares Apple To Adolf Hitler As Part Of Smartphone Promotion

Chinese billionaire and CEO of video site LeTV Jia Yueting took a stab at Apple on Friday in a bizarre graphic comparing the company to Adolf Hitler. The image posted on Yueting’s official Weibo page -- which was meant to tease its first smartphone -- depicts Hitler wearing a red armband with the Apple logo in place of a swastika.

The dictator's caricature positioned in front of caution tape and warning signs is meant to depict the Apple experience. On the other side of the image were children, sunshine and windmills meant to represent the Android experience. “Crowdsourced and freedom vs. arrogance and tyranny,” the text on the image read. “How can we change so that we can improve the industry?”

Yueting’s post accompanying the image went on to criticize Apple’s approach to smartphones:

“Apple's closed loop model greatly curbs technological innovation, hinders the industrial progress and hurts the interests of users,” an excerpt reads according to a rough translation. It’s all believed to be part of an effort to promote LeTV’s first smartphone, the Android-based and bezel-less X900.

While the smartphone won’t officially launch until next month, specs could include a 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon processor, 20.7MP camera and 4GB RAM, according to Gizmo China.

Though comparisons between Android and iOS are common, Google and smartphone manufacturers have usually chosen more subtle ways to poke fun at Apple instead of stooping to comparisons to the Nazis.