Gold Digger Buzz on Chinese Forums

 

 

 

Thanks to French blogger Olivier from Marketing Chine for this xx

 

This video by Aussie animation production Studio Joho is creating quite some buzz on Chinese forums where it is named 别以为打败boss就能过关, or “Don’t think it’s over once you win over the boss”…(as in the boss in video games, although it makes sense in real life too).

 

Why is it making a hit here ? Let’s just say young and vigorous males in China, besides having a huge pressure to struggle let alone to succeed, have to deal with high expectations from the ladies here.

 

No, it is no shocker there are all kind of diggers everywhere, but China is the kind of country where men are perceived naturally as providers – it is common practice that the guy buys an apartment for the couple before even getting engaged.

 

Any comments ladies & gentlemen?

April 20, 2010 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Google in China, 99.9 percent boring

Death by boredom or Will Google in China Cliffhanger

Death by boredom or Will Google leave China Cliffhanger

 

The Financial Times just published an article creating a huge buzz - 32 million search results for the term “China Google 99.9%”. Quote :

 

“Google has drawn up detailed plans for the closure of its Chinese search engine and is now “99.9 per cent” certain to go ahead as talks over censorship with the Chinese authorities have reached an apparent impasse, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking.”

 

I am truly impressed by this information. Honestly? A “person familiar with the company’s thinking” saying Google is “99.9 per cent certain”  to leave? Give me a break.

Is this article saying anything we don’t know? No. It just contributes to remind us ”Meanwhile, in a far, far away land called China, Google is almost sure, but not quite to leave”. What do you think will happen ?

 

99.9% Leave

Google leaving China? Only Google.cn. The whole R&D center based in Beijing will unlikely poof! and disappear, because a) innovation is one of the  of the G b) this would affect the company’s long term strategy and c) Chinese brains are less expensive then US ones. Let’s not talk about Androids phones in a market of 700 million subscribers…

 

0.1% Stay and compromise. I’m sure the PR guys in their sharp suits will come up with some brilliant plan to cover up both China and Google’s pretty faces and make everyone happy for ever after.

Perhaps that’s about time for Google to change their legendary “Don’t be Evil”. I suggest : “Don’t be boring.”

 

Who knows ? Maybe in the next episode, an anonymous insider will communicate some useless information. And maybe Kelly and Dylan will tell Brenda what happened last summer.

March 12, 2010 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , | 1 Comment »

Top Chinese Tech & Online Trends for the Year of Tiger

bambook

 

New Year, new trends…Time to have a look around what’s going on here in China. What’s disappointing and odd however is to write a post about trends and using words like “blocked” and “banned”…Anyway, let’s see what we’ve got here…

E-Books

When a major online game company moves to litterature and sets up an independant e-book unit, there is no doubt about the growth in the e-book sector for 2010. This trend, causing issues of IPR, will also bring up opportunities for technology devices and content – let’s follow the evolution of digital novels and authors. To be followed : the latest Chinese e-book Bambook (in Chinese 连环书) launched by Shanda with 3G and wifi functions.

 

Cloud Computing

New government policies encourage domestic market growth, banning foreign-funded cloud computing firms from participating in this sector in China (sigh again…). Domestic firms like Kingsoft will continue reinforcing their applications suites as cloud computing services like Salesforce and GoogleDocs are still partially blocked here.

 

Chinese Search Engines & Mobile search

With Google’s threat of pulling the plug out of China, it is no surprise local rivals positions will be be even more dominating the search market : Baidu, Sogou and other smaller search engines will move to mobile phones with mobile-ready applications for targeting China’s 223 million mobile netizens.

 

Technology Events

Financial crisis and diminished budgets caused a high percentage of canceled events in 2009. This year should see more technology-related events, conferences and training programs in China and surrounding regions. Shanghai Expo should also be a trigger for top meetings.

 

Online Video Crackdowns

2008 and 2009 were certainly years of online restrictions, not only for foreign players like Youtube and Facebook, Google’s move but also for local privately-funded companies. Online video sharing websites are certainly the most targeted, hence a possible alliance between giants like Youku, Tudou and Baidu. Foreign investment in that sector is not recommended…

 

Viral ads

More rules to the online sector will lead to a more structured market and online content providers will look for optimizing their content to strengthen their positions. Meanwhile, booming numbers of China’s netizens will draw the attention of publishers for cost-effective solutions. This is where I’d put my 2010 budget.

What do you think?

Source : ChinaTechNews

February 15, 2010 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

The End of Google China?

 

 Google China closing

 

 

Following cyber-attacks identified as Chinese’s on private information figuring on Google.cn and 20 other major IT, media, finance and technology companies, Google has published on its official blog an official announcement :

 

“We will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.”

 

So, what are the consequences if Google was to shut down Google.cn :

 

x Business : Baidu will gain most marketshares coming from publisher’s paid search programs as well as Bing and other less significant homegrown search engines. Google owned about 36% of search engines market share in China in 2009 4th quarter.

 

x Ethics : Google would gain more credibility in the West after it was critized for “adjusting” to Chinese local market requirements, i.e. sourcing censored search results

 

But honestly, is this alleged attack the real kick for this major decision and is this a smart move ? If Google was making more bucks in China would it leave? Now that the market doesn’t look like a promised land anymore, ethics, on which Google had closed eyes before, are invoked to justify a possible departure – perhaps not to “lose face”.

I understand the commercial decision, as well as the good intentions of some people towards the censorship issue. But strategically, this looks like a big step. Backwards. What do you think?

To find out more (and see how this will affect your SEO in China) check the links from SEO company Them.Pro and the official Google blog.

To be followed…

 

 

January 13, 2010 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Mystery Google or What did the person just before you search for?

 

Mystery-Google-Get-Somebody-Elses-Search-Result 

 

Coffee Break.

What did the person just before you search for? The magic (and the answer) is on Mystery Google. Type in what you search for as usual and get the previous searcher’s results. Randomness guaranteed : I typed “Buzz and the City” and got “eat yogurt, walk miles, you\’ll drop the weight. Not fat? post it again.”

 

Enjoy (and no, definitely not fat)

December 15, 2009 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , , | 3 Comments »

Taobao TV?

 

taobao-logo-blog-shanghai

 

Leading online shopping site Taobao is still buzzing with 2 news on Sina involving TV stations.

 

Hunan TV is rumored to partner with Taobao for launching a joint e-business service. The Chinese TV networks, known for successful TV shows like Super Voice Girl (American Idol’s Chinese version) and #1 ranking in national audience behind CCTV group channels, launched a new online shopping channel called Golden Eagle Web which business unit is allegedly conducting negotiation with Taobao.

 

Another online TV shopping project launched on dec 2nd between Taobao and Wasu – Hangzhou cable TV operator. Wasu viewers will be able to purchase items from Taobao via the TV channel and also have access to Koubei.com, a Taobao subsidiary site featuring lifestyle content.

 

Does Taobao has ambitions for spreading its influence to inland TV networks in each regions? To be followed..

 

Source CMMI

 

December 12, 2009 | BuzzandtheCity | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »
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