Sina Weibo App - Weico

Since I started my Sina Weibo, its been quite a ride, I guess its geographic circumstances... but everyone I met here in Beijing has a weibo account and instead of asking my mobile number or email, they asked for my weibo ID.

Thanks to my good pal Foniz, which has been cruising on weibo for a lot longer than I do. He shared with me this really cool weibo app - Weico and I have to say after using it, I really don't want to use anything else.

To start with, here is the list why I like it:
  • Design wise its really clean and not straight clones from Twitter or Sina weibo own's iPhone apps.
  • Got lots of different themes, my favorite is the Fish Eye, cool sleek soothing blue.
  • If you are already following someone on weibo, you can easily use the "@" sign to mention that person, instead of manually typing it (which sometimes result in typo).
  • The pound or hashtag is not there yet as the function above, hopefully it will be soon and it should include the latest trending topics.
  • The built-in lomo camera effects, pretty much like Instagram, but different (so again not straight clone).
  • If you've been categorizing the people you follow into lists or groups, then this is the right app as you can filter out streams now by groups.
  • Built in check-in location, you can either use your geotag or sync via JiePang.
  • Best of all it's free, you can download it here :)

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Flipboard from Sina Weibo

I guess social network concepts and mobiles are not the only one copied in China, but also iTunes app. Check-out this one SinaMag, which is very very similar to Flipboard. It streams content only from Sina Weibo right now, maybe in the future they can combine it with Kaixin001, Renren or other Weibo channels. The app also has several magazines available for reading, but very limited at the moment.

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Schweppes Facebook Profile App

Schweppes taps into the new power of Facebook profile, the apps allow you to have fun with your photos (minus the fuzziness of arranging your photo one-by-one).
Here is an intro of the app on YouTube.

The app is pretty straight forward, you do have to like Schweppes first before getting access to use the app. You the upload and adjust your photo, hit save. Your cropped photos will then be saved under your personal photo albums named Schweppes Profile. You will have to tag it, but here is how a tiny bug kicks in and scramble your photo slightly. You have to tag based on the instruction, just hover over the photos it will be named "tag first, tag second, and so on...". I would recommend you tag and save, then check your profile to see if everything is in order.

After launching the app around end of October last year, Schweppes fan base reached a new height of fan growth, have a look at the graph below. It almost doubled in the last 3-months.

Have fun!

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Instagram

I have just recently discover Instagram iPhone app and really loving it.
It allows me to take great snapshots and applying different styles on each photo.
You can also check if your friends are using Instagram via Facebook or Twitter and follow their photo posts, as well as give them a like.

The app also allows you to easily push and post your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare (I guess Foursquare is partnering with Instagram to compensate for their lack of photo uploading capability like Facebook Places or Gowalla) and Flickr.
I have posted several samples on how it looks like on each post, as well as several photo effects you can apply.
It's really simple to use and fast to upload onto multiple sites at once.

Start using Instagram today, simply download it here for free.

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Apple app: Hong Kong leading newspaper reached 17,000 iPad users

Within four weeks of South China Morning Post launch of their app, it has been downloaded by over 17,000 users.
I was not surprised, iPhone is already leading the market in Hong Kong as the number 1 preferred mobile phone.
When iPad finally enters Hong Kong market, people were jumping all over the place to try and get hold of the piece of tech. It was amazing when I was in several tech store in Hong Kong listening to people going around asking if the store have stock iPad, but most of the answer are "you'll have to get on the waiting list".

Second factor to consider is, in 2008 the media research already shows that people are spending more time on Internet versus print media - newspaper, magazine and TV. The reach is a lot faster, the city is perfect with the telecommunications infrastructure, with PCCW dominance on WIFI hotspot all around the city just helps technology like iPad.

Media will definitely need to have online and offline presence, the tech is working and people love it. Interested to know how this will shift the landscape of journalism. I mean news are on your hand, you don't have to wait anymore for morning paper, no more piling up papers and throwing them off or cluttering your desk. Some tech are able to make the news read it for you.

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