The Tech Dynasty

Posts written at CNET Asia’s The Tech Dynasty

Comparing China, US Internet usage

A couple of days ago Silicon Alley Insider posted a chart displaying the differences and similarities between Chinese and US Web usership. The chart mines and melds data from the Pew Research Center and China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC, why isn’t it CINIC?). There were no huge surprises, but it does give a pretty …

May 25, 2009
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Apple Snow Leopard allows Chinese writing with trackpad

While I’m still relatively new to the Mac world, and haven’t fully embraced the hype surrounding an unquestioning allegiance to everything Apple, I absolutely adore my MacBook’s trackpad. The multitouch glass trackpad could school any of its contemporaries on how to do it right. The big and beautiful button allows me to use my digit …

May 20, 2009
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Review: The Wikipedia Revolution

When I first heard of Andrew Lih‘s new book about Wikipedia, I’m certain there was a questioning look on my face. I couldn’t help but think that a book about an encyclopedia wouldn’t be anything more than an exercise in pedantry. Much like the rest of the globe’s Netizens, of course, I knew about Wikipedia. …

May 18, 2009
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10,000 years of China tech–celebrating Chinese invention

Lets face it, in our break-neck, high-tech, don’t look back culture, China tends to get a lot of flack for being–ahem–under-innovative. The number of articles written about China’s IP infringement/piracy and massive shanzhai industry are too numerous to count. With this in mind, I thought I’d take a moment and a post to reflect on …

May 7, 2009
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Twitter is a tool, and so is Maureen Dowd

I was cruising the blogs here at CNET Asia when I came across Isabella Chen’s recent post “Twitter? Why not?“. Isabella, a fantastic blogger out of Singapore, opens her post by explaining: “To be honest, I don’t really get Twitter.” A lot of people seem to share this lack of understanding about the world’s current …

April 30, 2009
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Understanding Chinese Web site names

Since coming to China nearly half a decade ago, and even more so since taking the reins here at The Tech Dynasty, I’ve become increasingly surrounded by the facinating world of Chinese Web sites. While the West has an ever-convoluted domain pool to deal with, the Chinese are not to be outdone. What follows is …

April 21, 2009
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The Happy Wars–a battle for white-collar SNS in China

There are a lot of facets to China’s buzzing social-networking sites that amaze and amuse me. They’re not only dominating the Chinese market, their figures are pushing past global leaders as well.TenCent’s QZone announced nearly two full months before Facebook that it had reached the 200 millionth user mark. And while successful monetization has become …

April 16, 2009
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Electrolux Personal Mini Kitchen a tasty concept

Having just celebrated my second wedding anniversary, my single days are (touch wood) behind me. As such, the Electrolux Personal Mini Kitchen isn’t the most practical gadget for me, but it sure is damn cool–in a high-tech lunchbox sorta way. The concept all-in-one mini kitchen, designed by Kai Yu for the “young Chinese generation who …

April 10, 2009
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China as world’s next green tech leader?

I’m not much for predictions or speculation. I partake, but don’t put much effort or faith in it. However, when I wrote in 2005 about my high hopes that China would take on green energy, I hadn’t expected that I’d actually see the day it might come true. But a recent NYTs article, entitled “China …

April 3, 2009
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Big Brother-like spy net traced back to China

A group of researchers from the University of Toronto-based Monk Centre for International Studies have discovered a massive spy system infiltrating more than 1,200 computer systems worldwide, including those of the offices of the Dalai Lama. Dubbed by the team that found it as “GhostNet”, the system traces back to four servers–three of which are …

March 29, 2009
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Will China turn off their lights tonight?

For an hour tonight, 2,100 cities in 82 countries around the planet will shut off their lights (and other non-essential electromagic gadgets) in an effort to draw awareness and show commitment to stopping climate change. Earth Hour is an initiative created by the World Wildlife Fund, and has grown in popularity since its 2007 inception …

March 28, 2009
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