Sunday, February 27, 2005
Posted by Peggy
4:30 PM
0 comments
DVD-BANG
DVD bang (rooms) are all over Seoul, notably in shopping areas like Meong-dong. For 13,000 Korean Won (approximately US$13), you pick a DVD of your choice from a range of Hollywood, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and art films. You will be provided a room ('bang') where you can enjoy a private screening of the DVD via a beamer onto a big screen. A typical room comfortably sits 4 people (on what looks like a wall-to-wall sofa bed with no legs), and you are welcome to bring your own snacks. In Korea, DVD bang is popular with dating couples and is considered classier than a bideobang (video room).
Other types of bang:norae-bang (karaoke room), PC-bang (computer game room), nori-bang (playroom), aga-bang (nursery room), manhwa-bang (comics rental), chaek-bang (bookstore), yak-bang (pharmacy), bokdeok-bang (real estate office).
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Posted by Peggy
6:26 PM
0 comments
PC OWNERSHIP TO DOUBLE
The number of personal computers worldwide is likely to double in the next five years, according to a recent report from a research analyst firm. An estimated 575 million PCs are currently in use globally. This figure is set to rise to 1.3 billion by 2010, thanks to the increase in ownership in emerging markets such as China, India and Russia.
Those 3 countries are expected to own more than one-third of all new PCs. China alone will add 178 million, and India will add 80 million. The US, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions, combined, are expected to add 150 million PCs in the same period. Indonesia is another growth area, with 40 million new PCs.
The growth in these emerging markets is expected to come from low-priced computers made by local companies. The analyst report came just 2 weeks after IBM sold its PC hardware division to China's number one computer maker, Lenovo, and 2 months after HP announced the release of $400 PCs in China.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Posted by Roberto
2:53 PM
0 comments
ICE: THE COOLEST SYSTEM ABOVE THE WORLD
I just took an Emirates Airline flight from Dubai and I really enjoyed the Personal Entertainment Service, called ICE (information, communication, entertainment). It offered approx 500 channels. Video and audio on demand, 40 games (including multiplayer ones), email and sms from the touch screen, laptop wi-fi e-mail (only send/receive e-mails - you cannot browse the web), BBC World news, all under passenger control. The GUI is very nice and easy to use and passengers of any age can take advantage of the extended functionalities like pausing the movie when going to the toilet or watching the view from external cameras when landing or flying above the Alps.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Posted by Roberto
2:58 PM
0 comments
SINGAPORE: THE ECONOMIC ROLLERCOASTER
Following its deepest recession since 1964 in 2001, Singapore's economy grew 1.4 percent in 2003, among the weakest in Asia, before powering ahead last year with an 8.4 percent expansion, one of Asia's strongest.
Today, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his first budget as premier, announced a two-step cut in the top income tax rate to 20 percent from 22 percent and unveiled incentives to preserve Singapore's status as a key Asian Business Centre, well responding to competitive threats coming from other parts of Southeast Asia like Hong Kong.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Posted by Roberto
2:12 AM
0 comments
PANTECH GL100: FINGER SCAN GSM PHONE
For users whose phones contain too much sensitive data for it to be lost, Pantech's new Gl100 is the first GSM phone to offer fingerprint-based security, in addition to a megapixel camera.
Fingerprint Secret Dialing
The phone supports ten "digit dial" numbers, each corresponding to a different finger.
pantech.com
Monday, February 14, 2005
Posted by Roberto
1:24 AM
0 comments
V-DAY SPECIAL: WIRELESS COUPLING
Xenofreaks Pix (approx. USD 85.-)
ilovepix.com
xenofreaks.com
Korean company Xenofreaks offers the ego visualizer, a disc-shaped mobile LED display that can be worn armband style or around the neck. This device is designed to search for icon matches on other people's devices, and owners within range can infrared each other with images or text messaqges.
Proxidating (USD 4.9 per download)
proxidating.com
Download the program into your mobile and scope her out with your Bluetooth-enabled phone, and who knows, she might be the lady right next to you at the magazine rack.
Tamagotchi Connection (USD 18.30)
The latest kawaii (cute) Tamagotchi from the Japanese Toymaker Bandai allows owners to matchmake their pets, exchange gifts, marry them and even encourage them to breed via the infrared port :)
Asian Websites dedicated to lonely hearts:
Online Movie Dating www.gomoviedate.com
Let's do lunch @ lunchactually.com
SMS them @ friendx.com
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Posted by Roberto
8:58 AM
0 comments
FROM PUSH-TO-TALK TO PUSH-TO-VIEW
LG Electronics has developed the world's first push-to-view mobile phone, which enables multi-user video conferencing. Push-to-view, or PTV, is a development of the concept of push-to-talk phones that use walkie-talkie technology.
PTV allows a user to send real-time moving images to more than one person at the same time. Recipients of the video stream can also join the video conferences. LG plans to commercialize PTV services for top global mobile carriers that offer wideband code division multiple access, or WCDMA, service.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Posted by Roberto
9:01 AM
0 comments
KOREA: FOOD PAPARAZZI ARE MAKING MONEY
The sikparazzi, a combination of the word sik (food) and paparazzi, are digital-camera-toting whistle-blowers that take advantage of laws offering cash rewards to citizens who report violations of food safety standards by restaurants and food manufacturers. In the first nine month of 2004, 10567 food safety violations were reported to the Korean Food and Drug Administration.
The increase in reports has led to a decline in violations. There was a similar decline in traffic accidents and insurance costs after the rise of the chaparazzi (cha meaning car) who documented violations of traffic laws.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Posted by Roberto
9:00 AM
0 comments
KOREAN FINANCIAL MARKET
Large companies plan to buy up their own shares. Steel giant Posco will buy 2 percent of its total shares over the next three months, spending about 331 billion won ($322.5 million). Hyundai Motor will buy 12 million shares and Samsung Electronics will invest 2 trillion won this year in its own shares.
When major blue chip firms buy back their own shares, it may not boost the market, but it will at least prevent it from slipping.
Posted by Roberto
8:59 AM
0 comments
KOREAN ONLINE GAMEMAKERS LISTED ON NASDAQ
Gravity, developer of the online game "Ragnarok" is the second Korean game developer to be listed on the U.S. secondary market, behind Webzen, the creator of MU, a multiplayer online game. Webzen went public in December 2003 whereas Gravity in February 2005. Gravity reported a net income of $21.2 million and revenue of $48 million in the first nine months of last year.
Posted by Roberto
8:56 AM
0 comments
JAPAN: FUJI TV
The Tokyo-based Fuji TV, the biggest broadcaster in Japan, will not form an alliance with Livedoor, the fastest-growing Internet company in Japan.
Nippon Broadcasting holds a 22.5 percent of Fuji TV.
Fujisankei Communications Group is the largest media business in Japan.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Posted by Roberto
8:57 AM
0 comments
THE ERA OF THE MEGA JET
The Airbus A380 has two decks running the length of the plane, with dual-lane staircases at the front and rear, four aisles, and 80 meter wingspan and seating for up to 850 passengers (compared to 410 passengers on a Boeing 747). The A380 is lighter than the 747, quieter and flies a longer range.
It is likely that any airport runaway that can handle the 747 can handle the A380. A larger plane could help to relieve congested airports.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Posted by Roberto
6:33 AM
0 comments
SOUTH KOREA: LABOUR UPDATE
According to the results of a survey of 6700 workplaces with five or more employees, released by the Korean Ministry of Labor, the average wage per worker was 2.18 million won (a little above USD 2180.=), up 5.4 percent from 2.07 million won in November 2003. However, the inflation-adjusted wage index only rose by 1.7 percent.
The working hours were cut by 20 minutes, down from 45.5 hours a week in November 2003. Economic growth without a significant increase in the number of jobs is likely.
Hyundai, Samsung, Daewoo, LG (Lucky Goldstar) and SK (Sunkyong), account for more than a third of the total sales of all South Korean companies and 50% of the country's exports.
Full country name: Republic of Korea
Area: 99,373 sq km
Population: 48 million
Capital City: Seoul (pop 10.3 million)
People: Korean
Language: Korean
Religion: 25% Christianity, 25% Buddhism, Confucianism, Shamanism, 50% none.
Government: republic
Major Industries: Shipbuilding, cars, machinery, electronics, chemicals, textiles
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, China
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