More China Groupon Ads

If you are in China recently, you'll see a lot more of Groupon ads from different websites. Its just blanketing the whole city, on every channel you can imagine - banner ads, bus, TV, posters and so on. According to Gang Lu, China tech Internet expert the Groupon industry in China is spending millions and millions or RMB to promote their service superiority.

Direct quote from Technode, below are the amounts some of the Groupon sites will spend on advertisements:
  • Groupon.cn said that in 2011 they will  spend RMB 550millions (~$83.7millions).
  • It’s said that Lashou‘s $50millions capital, most of them will be spent on the advertisement;
  • Nuomi (RenRen or Oak Pacific Interactive company) said their budget is RMB 200millions (~$30.4millions).
  • It’s RMB 130millions (~$19.8millions) for Meituan and Manzuo is RMB 100millions (~$15.2millions).
Although I felt each service provides the same deals, I guess its just a matter of 'numbers game' in China - which is race for how many users they can garner. I would be interested to know how much is Dianping and Gaopeng (official Groupon China) plans to spend for ads in China, any takers?

According to Tencent latest presentation:
  • In 2010, Groupon users in China has grown 250x times.
  • By end of 2010 there are 18,750,000 Groupon users in China, with a total transaction value of RMB 8.9 billion.
  • It's a 760 million dollar industry, globally.
  • Groupon US refused Google buyout at USD 6 billion.
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Youku Launches Online Video Store

It looks like Youku has found itself a second wind, paid movie, just noticed this couple days ago.
In the past you can watch any new or old big-screen movie on Youku for free, typically it is from a user that obtain the pirated content and uploaded it. But since Youku gone IPO all of these contents were erased.

Youku now launches their latest feature and possibly a new source of revenue - Youku Store.
Currently it is priced at RMB 20 per month for unlimited access to their entire movie database that includes classic or new cinemas. Or you can just go RMB 3 per movie that you want to watch, but only valid for 3 days.

China is currently on the uprising as Asia's largest eCommerce, with online shopping leading the numbers game. But latest report from CNNIC summarizing 2010, online video takes up over 62% of China netizen online activities representing 283 million people in China watching video/tv/cinema online. I suspect Tudou to be launching the same feature soon, as I've noticed most of the videos have started being deleted. This maybe a step for China in legalizing online content and copyright.

Might also a step bringing closer for iTunes into this market for their video, tv or music store, it is after all a big market that can't be ignored. Now if Apple can install Youku as a default app on their iPhone, iPad and Apple TV perhaps instead of Youtube.

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Flock Social Media web-browser

After raving reviews and heighten buzz of RockMelt (which by the way made 2010 top 10 Twitter technology trends).

It appears a similar web browser has been around - Flock, founded back in 2005 (so yes Flock has been around a wee bit longer than RockMelt).

It has more or les the same concept as RockMelt, but instead of focusing on Facebook and Twitter, it also integrates other social media site - Flickr, YouTube and Linkedin.
I was pretty much surprised by Flock, with Chromium based technology it is incredibly fast.

You also get the benefits from Google Store of different apps you can install to your web browser. I have already found several apps that I really like - Awesome Screenshot, url shortener and Delicious bookmarks.

I also like the clean-cut design, compared to RockMelt which splits and takes up your left and right side of the bar. Flock's design is simple enough that everything is all on the right-side, you can gaze at your convenience, you can sort by your favorite channels and it streams live.  Aside from that you can also add your favorite RSS and ATOM feeds, so it does offer a lot more.  You also get the option of creating your online secure profile, where you get to store your bookmarks and other channel preference so you can travel easier.

I am still test-driving it but it is looking pretty good so far and with my bookmarks now saved under my Delicious (but I am a bit pissed that Yahoo! is abandoning Delicious sucks that I have to switch), I am thinking of switching from Firefox to Flock... should I?

I have to admit the constant updates from your multiple streams can be a bit overwhelming as it constantly flows on and on, although you get to switch off/on what you want to see.

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Apple: Upgrade on Email System - MobileMe

Everyone that knows me, knows that I love design and innovative or cutting edge products and nobody does it better than Apple, or at least public wise.

I was so excited today when I saw the new design and layout of the new MobileMe account, the layout seems bigger. Slight improvement on response time and better looking. For me the design and feel does matter a lot. There was some glitches still as this is still a testing phase I guess, when you delete an email an move on to the next one, the preview pane or window got stuck on the old one, no matter new or other email you clicked on. The new mail composer is also looking very chic and more font customization, etc.

Anyway, great delivery - an email notifying it's my turn now, linking to the website on what's new and exciting feature they have. I'm hoping they will upgrade the address book, photo, calendar, etc too (like the one on iPad, wouldn't that be cool?). In today's Internet evolution, I guess you cannot wait until your product is "fully perfect", selecting several audience as your guinea pig might actually do you product better, as they can provide you real user experience. Announcing via email, linking with your company blog will also deliver a lot of more powerful product experience. But, keep it simple & neat.

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China Online by the Numbers

1 Billion hours spent online in 2009, more than US and Japan combined.

37 Billion dollars of transaction value in e-commerce.

137% expected online shopping growth by 2012.

What can I say, the numbers speak for themselves. China will still be in the driving seat in terms of numbers, especially with the Gen-Y taking lead on Internet front.

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