My Digital Online Diary

According to BBC News, a new search engine and social network provider called Goojje has appeared online in China. This site contains very similar branding to Google, and the final syllable “jje” sounds similar to the Mandarin word for older sister (jiejie).

Goojje’s search results appear to be filtered for sensitive content in accordance with Chinese regulations. Google has recently objected to those restrictions, but the new site appears to be urging it to remain in China. Google said on 12 January that hackers had tried to infiltrate its software coding and the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, in a “highly sophisticated” attack.

The California-based firm – which launched in China in 2006 – said it would remain in China only if the government relaxed censorship. Goojje has a message on its site which reads: “Sister was very happy when brother gave up the thought of leaving and stayed for sister”.

While Goojje sounds like “sister”, the word Google sounds similar to the Mandarin word gege, which means “big brother”. Google has declined to comment.

According to technology analysts at Deloitte, there will be “Tens of millions” of tablet computers will be sold in 2010. The keyboard and mouse-free devices are likely to be a top trend among consumers, they anticipate. This prediction fuels rumors that Apple is set to unveil a tablet-style computer at a press event it is hosting on 27 January. However, the impact of tablet sales on the burgeoning e-reader market could be substantial, the report said.

“For every million net tablets sold there will be a corresponding impact on e-readers,” said Jolyon Barker from Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications department. The company’s report, which forecasts the tech trends for 2010, describes tablets as “the Goldilocks of devices (not too big, not too small)”.

The graphics, software, and user interface were underwhelming, not well connected to cellular or WiFi networks, and, most important, they have largely served as work-oriented data-entry devices. By contrast, an easy-to-use, consumer-focused device used primarily for media and web browsing is much more likely to be widely accepted by the market. Read the rest of this entry »

Can you help the planet just by searching the web? Well, we don’t just think you can. We know you can! Little search engines that could support your favorite causes and save energy – and are as free and as easy to use as Google. Want to try the following:

• GoodSearch (http://www.goodsearch.com)- powered by Yahoo, it donates 50% of revenues to a charity you choose each time you search.
• Blackle (http://www.blackle.com)- an unofficial black version of Google that uses less energy than the white version on some screens (for a more colorful option, try The Green Spider).
• CatchTomorrow (http://www.searchenginecorp.com)- customizable news, weather, and search options; donates 50% of revenues to the public school district of your choice.
• Green Maven (http://www.greenmaven.com)- though it’s not for charity, this Google-based search engine yields results from green-related websites only.

Changing your search engines to this one would give you the benefits of same good results. These search engines pull their results from the Google or Yahoo databases. You can also donate to charity. Get on the donation train – each search you do via a charity search engine generates about $0.01 for good causes (the money comes from the ads on search-engine sites). And, you can save energy. Some engines have a dark background color instead of white, which when viewed on older, CRT monitors – consumes 20% less energy than typical engines. So, better check those search engines now!

Nowadays, most online shoppers are no longer contented to shop without talking to real people. It is deemed that having live chat system gives shoppers the confidence that they are being taken seriously by the seller. They feel reassured that any time they will have easy access to live person because lengthy delays in email communications are becoming unacceptable.

In a seller’s point of view, putting this system means increase in sales and revenue as well as customer satisfaction. It gives the company the chance to reach out to their customers and answer questions in real time, which then vanish their hesitation.

Nokia versus Apple?

The world’s biggest mobile phone maker, Nokia has said that it is suing its US rival Apple for infringing patents on mobile phone technology for the iPhone. Nokia said it had not been compensated for its technology, and accused Apple of “trying to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation”. The 10 alleged patent infringements involve wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption. The breaches applied to all models of the iPhone since its launch in 2007, Nokia added.

Finland’s Nokia said that it had agreements with about 40 firms – including most mobile phone handset makers – allowing them to use the firm’s technology, but that Apple had not signed an agreement. The vice president of Legal & Intellectual Property at Nokia, Ilkka Rahnasto said that the basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for. Apple is also expected to follow this principle.

He added that during the last two decades, Nokia had invested approximately 40bn euros ($60bn) on research and development. While earlier this month, Nokia posted its first quarterly loss in a decade amid falling sales. Analysts said that the poor results had come partly as customers turned from Nokia models to the iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry.

Meanwhile, Apple reported profits of $1.67bn in the three months to 26 September – partly due to a 7% growth in iPhone sales.