Our friends at Tech65 starts off this week with their weekly podcast on the following issues that dominated the tech landscape: [1] Google: A new approach to China, [2] Google Plans to Upgrade Old Billboards in Street View, [3] German government issues official warning. Do NOT use Internet Explorer until it is fixed, [4] Facebook Releases Their Version Of Retweets As Twitterfication Continues, [5] Lenovo Thinkpad Edge and X100e. Do click and check out their latest podcast here. You can now also listen to the Tech65 podcast here as well by coming to the blog post directly.

Show Notes on This Week in Asia:

• Samsung Developer Event in Zouk, Singapore: A short account on the event as Daniel and BL attended the event, and also there is an announcement on a competition or hackathon for development in March (We will put up more details once Samsung sends us the information).
• The Google Showdown with China: The press statement from Google on their decision to stop censorship on their search results and taking on the Chinese government to the extent that they might have to shut down their offices in China, sends out major ripples to the whole of Asia. We hear different views (George Godula – who is coming as a guest on our show in the coming week, BL and Tangos Chan) on the issue and the official response from the Chinese government (Source: BBC News).
• Yahoo! Southeast Asia and Friendster Partnership: The crew examine the impact of the Yahoo! Southeast Asia and Friendster partnership.
• Korea Authorities Slammed for ‘Myopic’ Approach to Wireless Banking Security: Gen Kanai and the TWIA crew discuss the adoption of the SEED protocol (a block cipher developed by the Korean Information Security Agency) and the consequence of monoculture in the Korean Internet space that does not support mobile banking on iPhones or in any browser other than Internet Explorer.
• East Asia Internet as a whole: The crew and Gen Kanai discuss about the trends and observations about the web-tech in East Asia and surprisingly, Google is not dominant in the East Asia markets. Additional References: Japan Mobile Social Networking Statistics
• The Future of Technology is: BL narrates the HP event “The Future Is” and talks about the “Blog a Trend” competition open for Singaporeans.

From This Week in Asia:

Our inaugural podcast aims to inform everyone from all over the world on what’s the latest and hot news about Web & Tech in Asia. We start with stories pertaining to online gaming, domain names and social networks in China. Moderated by John Lim, we embarked on an interesting discussion on three interesting topics:

1. World of Warcraft banned in China (Mobinode): The General Adminitration of Press and Publication (GAPP) of the People’s Republic of China tells Netease (the operator for World of Warcraft in China) that they rejected the application from Netease for the operation of WoW in China.
2. ICANN allows non-Roman characters for IP addresses (PC World): ICANN’s approval of non-Latin character domains has changed the Internet landscape in the world. We discussed the implications of having non-Roman character domains soon in Asia
3. Social Networking Landscape in China: We discuss the various dominant social networks in China: QQ, 51.com, RenRen (formerly Xiaonei) and Kaixin001.

You can subscribe the podcast via this RSS feed or iTunes Link.

BL: Hi Gang Lu, great to have you for Unconference 2009. Tell us about your background and what you have been working on lately.

Gang Lu: Thank you very much. The days in Singapore are absolutely great experience for me. I spent over 7 years in UK, did my master in engineering then PhD in computer science majoring in wireless ad hoc networks. I was working for one of the European web 2.0 super star company – Netvibes.com as its Asia business development director. Prior to that, I was a R&D working on 3G applications. I recently moved back to Shanghai. OpenWeb.Asia (OWA) workgroup which I initiated and co-founded last June is one of the key projects I am working on. Basically, the members of OWA are from all over the Asia local web industry, they can be either individuals or communities. We work together aiming to bridge the western and eastern market and also help Asian local web understand and learn from each other better. I am also doing consulting jobs to startups and help them on products and marketing. Blogging is also a very important part of my web 2.0 life, the MOBINODE.com founded by me and edited by a few international experts are now one of the most popular tech blog covering Asia especially China web news and analysis.

BL: What prompted you to start MOBINODE and Open Web Asia?

Gang Lu: Everyone knows that Asia has a massive web and mobile market, but unfortunately the knowledge the western audience has is still very limited. There are loads of stories happening everyday here but there is just not much channels through which people can understand more. On the other hand, Asian industry actually has learnd a lot from US and EU, e.g. people use and study Facebook, Twitter etc, but in fact we did not pay enough attention to our neighbours and Asian market such as China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and so on we have similar culture. One startup from US or EU countries can become an international one within a week, but it is hardly to find a pan-Asia web service. Asian web needs more communications!. So I started writing about the local industry in English and also initiated the OWA with friends in different countries/regions, we have one important mission: Open up Asia web.

BL: What is the focus of MOBINODE? Where do you see it going in the next three years?

Gang Lu: I started MOBINODE back to 2006. At beginning it only focus on China web news, later thanks to my job in Netvibes, I got chances to meet with many great people who working in different web services, video-sharing,sns,media etc which help me think more about local industry. Together with other editors who joined me from Japan, Denmark, China, Neitherland and US, MOBINODE now covers news, insider stories and more important, the analysis about Asia web/mobile industry, focus on China. MOBINODE is now still more personal style and we dont really have plan for the next three years, now we just want to discover more great stories and deliver more professional and independent market analysis which I think they are the key for its growth.

BL: We understand that MOBINODE has won the Best Tech Blog for China Blog Awards in 2007. What do you think are the essential ingredients for success?

Gang Lu: Two weeks I was invited by Tencent to moderate a panel in its Tencent MIND 2009 conference. I said to the audience, people know me or MOBINODE or OWA not because I have not done great works, the reason is actually very simple, it’s because the content and concept we are talking about is all about China and Asia which will play an important role in global industry in near future and people wants to know more about them, and we are lucky to be the first messengers in connection with both western and eastern web. Another reason people like this blog I think is we are Talking to, Thinking of and also Practicing the China web, so we are writing the first-hand stories and thoughts instead of doing translation from Chinese to English.

BL: How does the OpenWeb Asia bring people from all different parts of Asia together? What do you see are the next steps for the workgroup?

Gang Lu: OWA is a non-commercial workgroup and all the members are doing this together because we believe it is a very valuable project. OpenWebAsia08 conference for example was organized by some the members. It is the first truly pan-Asia conference focus on web and mobile industry, and we invited local entrepreneurs, leaders and influential people from Asia local industry as well as global industry and create the stage for them to communicate. We also worked with other organizations to bring Asian companies to greater stage, for instance, we were working with NetExplorateur forum which is organized by French Senate early this year and help them discover the best Asian startups. For the first time, 8 startups from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan are awarded the TOP100 most innovative projects 2009. What’s next? I hope we can build a good ecosystem all over the places, e.g. being involved with local events in which more ideas can be exchanged and more great companies and individuals can be discovered and introduced to OWA annual conference presenting to Asian audience, then from there, OWA can also work closer with other parties in US/EU and bring Asian companies to global stage.

BL: What do you think are the three most important traits for an entrepreneur?

Gang Lu: Leadership, Passion and Honesty.

BL: If a Singaporean entrepreneur is interested to set up a business in China, what is your advice for him or her?

Gang Lu: Although there are many foreign companies which did not work out in China, I feel optimistic about Singaporean entrepreneurs coming to China. Obviously they have the advantage of understanding Chinese culture (at least language is not a big issue for many of them) and also being closer to western culture. I know that Singapore has a very good infrastructure and the government is quite supportive to young entrepreneurs, but we have to admit that Singaporean market is relatively small and China is a place right now full of potentials. The question is how to use these advantage. I think the most important thing is to talk to the local entrepreneurs and grassroot and understand what the Chinese users care about, which most of the foreign entrepreneurs do not do.

First of all, I would encourage Singaporean entrepreneurs to bring their startups and even ideas to China.

About Gang Lu: Asia web business advisor, known speaker, founder and chief editor of MOBINODE.com, co-founder of OpenWeb.Asia Workgroup. OpenWeb.Asia is the first independent workgroup focusing on Asia Internet industry, and is also the organizer of OpenWebAsia conference which is the first truly pan-Asia web technology event bringing together executives, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists from throughout Asia. With strong academic background in wireless communications, years of research and development experience in mobile industry and international business management in web industry, Gang Lu is very passionate about the Open Web concept and plays very active role in building efficient channels among Asian local markets as well as between Asia web and global industry. Gang Lu was the Asia Business Development Director of Netvibes.com, the world leading personalized homepage and widget technology provider. He is one of the first introducing Widget economy and Open Platform into Asian market. Prior to joining Netvibes, he was in charge of research and development of Multimedia Messaging Service platform and 3G applications in Dialogue Communications Ltd. a leading mobile messaging service provider in UK. Gang Lu is awarded the Best Expert 2009 by iResearch . His personal blog MOBINODE.com covers the Internet market news in Asia especially focus on China, was also voted as the best China Tech Blog in 2007 and 2008. He is also the guest editor of the world top web2.0 blog ReadWriteWeb.com. Gang Lu has MSc, PhD in wireless communications from the University of Sheffield, UK.

The Actionscript Conference (TAC) is a community conference with the focus on Flash Platform. It will be held on 19th October. 2008. Singapore in National Library, Singapore. For the attendants, they will see themselves immersed in a day of learning, knowledge exchange, and networking. TAC aims to bring topics on Actionscript 3.0, Flash development, Enterprise Flex, AIR, Integrating of Flash and other Platforms, and building Rich Internet Application to its audience. TAC is organised by the Singapore Flex Usergroup. We aim to create a conference for the developers, by the developers. For those who are interested to do a micro-sponsorship like Phlook or help out in the conference, please go to their TAC website for more information.

Editor’s Note: SG Entrepreneurs is happy and honoured to be part of this new Asia web initiative. Press Release: We are very excited to announce the OpenWeb.Asia Workgroup, the first workgroup in Asian Internet industry. OpenWeb.Asia Workgroup is a network of premium blogs focused on the Asian Web industry. These sites build efficient channels between Asia web and global industry, and also enhance the inter-communication of local Internet markets.

The web industry is changing. Web platforms is becoming more open and eventually we need open data. ‘Open’ is the hottest keyword and the trend of Internet market. Asia is the most wanted market in the world, but it seems still an isolated place lost in translation.

What people do know about Asia web? Baidu has been recognized as the leading Chinese search engine; Tencent has a massive user base; Mixi is the leading portal in Japan and the Japanese mobile market is very mature and special; Naver is the giant dominating Korean market and Cyworld is probably the only social network actively running out of Asia… What else? Internet is a global service, and is also a culture thing.

Due to the language barrier, many interesting stories have never been discovered by the global audience.

In Europe, there is LeWeb3 annual event for European bloggers and companies; globally, there are a number of conferences such as Web2.0 Expo, but there are only a few focused on Asian web companies. A startup in a European country may soon become a popular name in Euro, but in Asia, people rarely hear the news out of their neighbouring countries and region.

Asia needs to open-up. Asia needs more stages where the local web industry can represent themselves. Asia needs more channels that can help local market in each country and region communicate and cooperate.

The editors of member sites of OpenWeb.Asia workgroup are all working closely in the local web industry of different Asian countries and regions. Currently workgroup has members from China, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, HongKong and it is expected to expand to other countries/regions in Asia soon.

As a representative of Asia web, this workgroup will actively participate various global industry events and establish partnership with global Internet authorities.

With the aid of this workgroup, we hope that the latest industry information, concept and technology can be better translated and adapted to Asia and more local companies and activities can be recognized and heard by the global market.

Asia must be a more active member of the global Internet industry in near future. So what is the first big thing coming out of the workgroup? We are very happy to say that the plan for the first pan-Asia Web2.0 conference is to be announced. Many thanks to Chang of Web20Asia.com, he is leading the organizing team this year. Global and local market leaders, startups, venture capitals, local officials are all welcome to this conference to share the vision of the future of Asia web.

Let’s enjoy the Asia web!

1) Virtual World Roundup: Hipihi, Novoking and UOneNet

• Distinguish the virtual worlds: (i) worlds with no purposes – 2nd Life vs (ii) gaming worlds like World of Warcraft which coveted 80% of the market.
• Useful facts and statistics for the news: HiPiHi: 48,000 registered users, NovoKing: 10,000 registered users while UOneNet: <1,000. By comparison, Second Life has 13.5 million “residents.” One thing to note is that all three are still in their private beta.
• Talk about the differences in thinking between US and China virtual world creators: for example, Xu Hui sees the virtual worlds as a 3D version of web browser for the future.
• Virtual world for kids – Penguin Club (http://www.penguinclub.com).
• Commerce on virtual worlds – featuring First Meta (http://firstmeta.com).

2) Interview with Daniel Cerventus Lim.

• Co-founder of Ideapreneur (http://ideapreneur.net).
• Supporting orgasnisation of NetBash – a fringe event at the WCIT.

3) Letters

• Are we too China focused in our content?
• Email you comments / feedback to geekgoddessshow@gmail.com

For more info, do visit our website: http://thegeekgoddess.tv

The Digital Movement, together with Google and IDA, brings to you an exclusive evening with the VP of Engineering and Chief Internet Evangelist of Google, Vinton G. Cerf. Come down on the evening of 23 May 2008 to discover Vint’s perspective of the up and coming trends of the Internet and find out what great stuff he is doing in Google! Vint will be covering on the topic of “Tracking the Internet into the 21st Century” before engaging the audience in any discussion and questions that you might have!

As a “father of the Internet”, Vinton Cerf will share his perspective on the future trends of the Internet in the 21st century. The Internet has been constantly evolving and Web 2.0 has driven enormous changes in recent days. Along with the rapid economic development in Asia, the largest Internet user population is also found in this region. How will the Internet shift in the future, and how will our lifestyles change with the shift? Vint will share what it takes to meet a bright new future of the Internet.

• Date : 23rd May 2008 (Friday)
• Time : Registration starts at 6.30 pm
• Venue: Suntec Convention Centre Level 3 Room 325

Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided.

Please visit our website at www.thedigitalmovement.org or direct your browser to this URL to register here.

Biodata:

Vinton G. Cerf is vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. He is responsible for identifying new enabling technologies and applications on the Internet and other platforms for the company.

Widely known as a “Father of the Internet,” Vint is the co-designer with Robert Kahn of TCP/IP protocols and basic architecture of the Internet. In 1997, President Clinton recognized their work with the U.S. National Medal of Technology. In 2005, Vint and Bob received the highest civilian honor bestowed in the U.S., the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It recognizes the fact that their work on the software code used to transmit data across the Internet has put them “at the forefront of a digital revolution that has transformed global commerce, communication, and entertainment.”

From 1994-2005, Vint served as Senior Vice President at MCI. Prior to that, he was Vice President of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI), and from 1982-86 he served as Vice President of MCI. During his tenure with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from 1976-1982, Vint played a key role leading the development of Internet and Internet-related data packet and security technologies.

Since 2000, Vint has served as chairman of the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and he has been a Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1998. He served as founding president of the Internet Society (ISOC) from 1992-1995 and was on the ISOC board until 2000. Vint is a Fellow of the IEEE, ACM, AAAS, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the International Engineering Consortium, the Computer History Museum and the National Academy of Engineering.

Vint has received numerous awards and commendations in connection with his work on the Internet, including the Marconi Fellowship, Charles Stark Draper award of the National Academy of Engineering, the Prince of Asturias award for science and technology, the Alexander Graham Bell Award presented by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, the A.M. Turing Award from the Association for Computer Machinery, the Silver Medal of the International Telecommunications Union, and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, among many others.

He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from UCLA and more than a dozen honorary degrees.

Here’s the flyer for the event:

The Maps and Mobile Unconference will be happening on 21 May 2008 in NUS Extension, Park Mall (Opposite Dhoby Ghaut MRT station) from 6.30 to 10 pm. The event is organized by Barcamp, Singapore PHP User Group, Entrepreneur27 (Garag3), and it is the first developer community event sponsored by Google Singapore. In this event, our focus will be on how start-ups and big companies focus on how to create value with the use of Maps API (from Google) and also looking at applications which are delivering interesting mobile services to the customers. If you are interested to turn up, either go to the Barcamp wiki or facebook event to RSVP your name and designation. Here are more details for the event.

• Date/Time: 21 May 2008 (Wednesday), 6.30 pm – Registration starts
• Venue: NUS Extension, Park Mall, Opposite Dhoby Ghaut
• Theme: To bring in professionals and enthusiasts who are working on map applications in the Internet and mobile applications. A time of sharing among local hacker communities, developers, industry players and Google engineers.
• Organizers: Barcamp Singapore, Singapore PHP User Group and Entrepreneur27 (Garag3)

Here is an outline for the program:

• 6.30 – 7.30 pm Registration & Networking
• 7.30 – 8.10 pm Introduction and followed by 2 keynotes
  1. Keynote 1: Overview of Google Maps API – Derek Callow (Head of Marketing) and Andrew McGlinchey (Geo Product Manager for SE Asia) from Google Singapore)
  2. Keynote 2: Secured Mobility – Gerard Lim, Chief Technology Officer, Bak2u
• 8.10 – 10 pm Breakout sessions (Maximum 4 start-ups/projects demo)
  1. Breakout Session 1: Maps – in the main room chaired by Jon Petersen (SinGeo) and we have 10 minutes demos by several companies utilizing Google Maps API – SinGeo, Shoplette, Lilihood and Homespace and finally, Nokia Map APIs by Gary Chan (Business Development Manager, Nokia).
  2. Breakout Session 2: Mobile Applications with 10 minutes demos by several companies in Mobile – Cinepura – iPhone app, TenCube, Widgeous and Mobile Sorcery
• 10 pm – Supper Time!

Registration is closed for demos. But do bring your demo along and talk to the developers around the unconference.

Food and Drinks will be provided. We are planning to cater for 100-120. If there are more people turning up, we will step it up. :)

Sponsor: Google Singapore
 

Organizers:

Supported by:

Related Links:
[1] E27, Barcamp Singapore II: Maps and Mobile!
[2] Barcamp Singapore, Event Wiki

In this book, Fannin divided the book into three parts. She explored the rise of Chinese internet companies from the perspective of the entrepreneurs. She picked the six most successful companies which she labelled the copycats, i.e. there is a western counterpart to these companies doing exactly the same thing. In this group, she picked Baidu, Alibaba, Dangdang, Chinacars,  Oak Pacific Interactive and Bokee. Of the six, I am more familiar with Baidu and Alibaba. She explored a bit more in depth about the founders. From the group, there are two groups of founders. Either these founders have spent their time in the US or they are made in China. She also described some of the strategies how these local companies have given the tech giants such eBay, Paypal and Google a hard time.

The next part of the book deals with the investors. Of interest, she discuss why some venture capitalists from Silicon Valley (Perkins, DFJ and Sequoia) have moved to China while some do not. For example, Guy Kawasaki is one of those who did not want to go to China. In fact Don Valentine, the godfather in Silicon Valley has once felt that China is too far and too foreign, and crippled with intellectual property theft, immature stock exchanges and regulatory problems before 2003, and he changed his mind after Sequoia has deeply invested in China. The last part of the book, the author identified the innovators, and selected five of them: Lingtu, Oriental Wisdom, Pingco, Maxthon and Lattice Power Corporation.

If you are looking for a book to give you a headstart on the up and coming Chinese tech companies, then Silicon Dragons will be a good one to start off with.

Author’s note: This review is first published in his personal blog.