Facebook China

When it comes to China, Facebook should consider itself forewarned. Cracking the world’s biggest Internet population might seem an obvious ambition for the social networking giant as it trumpets its global growth before a $5 billion initial public offering, but the chances it will succeed look slim. Facebook said last week it was contemplating re-entering China, the world’s second-biggest economy, after being blocked nearly three years ago. Facebooks offering would likely face intense competition, political meddling and little commercial success.

There are just six countries in the world where Facebook is not the most popular social networking site,  Mark Zuckerberg clearly has his sights set on all six.

Japan, India and Korea currently have popular local alternatives to Facebook, and the Chinese government has no intention of lifting its ban on the site. Read the full article »»»»

No Time to Tie Your Laces!?

What is it about new technology that inspires dread in people who’ve failed through timing to grow up with it? :: Read the full article »»»»

Socially Engineered Channel Blipverts, now with more storage than a six foot stack of floppy disks

SIGGRAPH 2011 in Canada had amazing technology that will change the way we socialize with each other and how we interact with technology. Floating avatar displays, interactive table tops, the traffic control floor looked hilarious and strangely disturbing that it worked at all. A while till its released -11.11.11-, Immortals is the new movie from the producers and director of 300, grand war scenes and supernatural power are their staple but this time they have been let off the leash, this is Hollywood big budget production at its best.

Video’s presented for your viewing pleasure by everyone’s favourite IBM PC 5150, now working at seven eleven as a cash register. CHECK> Read the full article »»»»

Rupert Murdoch Guilty of Good Ratings

Our favorite mogul – yes the Rupert – is clearly all over the news with his hacking saga. More interesting though is his credability in the U.S.A at this present moment.

We may have mentioned earlier that what happens in Old Blighty stays in Old Blighty, the rest of the world truly doesn’t give that much of a hoot.

In proof of this bold statement, the American  Customer Satisfaction Index was released overnight and guess who tops the list!?

For Internet News, the most trusted portal on the interweb is Murdoch’s online version of his sensationalized Fox News www.foxnews.com, surprisingly the New York Times  www.nytimes.com online ranked woefully lowly, right  above the bottom end of the rankings :: Read the full article »»»»

China’s Celebrates 90 Years of Communism

July 1, 2011: China marks the 90th birthday of its ruling Communist Party, which when it first emerged was a tiny grouping of intellectuals, today presides over the world’s second-largest economy. Celebrations are taking place across China to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

China has a penchant for marking official anniversaries with much pomp and ceremony, has already released a star-studded patriotic film, launched a flagship high-speed rail link, and broadcast multiple revolutionary-style shows on national television. The nation’s first aircraft carrier will also go on sea trials marking the countries military might.

The CCP was established in July 1921 in Shanghai as the brainchild of a dozen intellectuals. It took power in China in 1949 after defeating a slew of rivals in a civil war  - 1945 ~ 1949 –  the rival KMT or Chinese Nationalist Party in a long – over 2 million deaths/casualties –  bloody civil war. The CPC was also instrumental in defeating the occupying Japanese Imperialist army. In his memoirs President Truman wrote of how intent he was on  ”using the Japanese to hold off the Chinese Communism” :: Read the full article »»»»

Has Our Online Social Experience Improved Our Offline Lives?

“I met my wife online, reconnected with old school friends, stay in touch with my family overseas and have a wide circle of close online friends. For those born in the internet age, this will be the norm. For those born before it, some will adapt, others will fail to adapt.” Jeremy Malcolm

There is little doubt that the social benefits of the internet far outweigh the negatives. Online tools like email and social networking sites offer “low friction” opportunities to create, enhance, and rediscover social ties that make a difference in people’s lives.

The internet lowers traditional communications constraints of cost, geography, and time; and it supports the type of open information sharing that brings people together. Electronic Social Networking is not a new concept at all. People have in one way or another been interacting with each other via some form of ‘social media’ since the 1950′s.

The modernisation of the telephone system in the 50′s and 60′s allowed millions of people to communicate quickly and cost effectively, what we see today has simply grown out of this technology. If we cast our memories back just a few short years - we may shudder when we recall –  faxes as a speedy way to communicate, internet with a ring-tone, email that strolled along slightly faster than faxes, but still less efficient than telephone.

Our digital worlds are now almost entirely linked, Facebook, Twitter, Email, Telephone all available on every digital device in our lives. Have Social Networking Sites improved our lives though?

I think if you look at the history of Electronic Social Networking, your conclusion has to be that anyone who claims to not get it must have been intentionally ignoring it, it’s been here since Telegraph and Morse Code, it’s been a slow steady grower :: Read the full article »»»»