PandaPassport.com – China Blog

Via Gizmodo, here’s a commercial that ran on Chinese tv in Shenzhen for an iPhone knock-off.

Considering that these spots do show on state-run television, I’m surprised that commercials that explicitly prove China to be producing such knock-offs aren’t from the airwaves. Maybe the censorship boys are too busy watching titty-vids on youku instead?

Much like the Chinese Wii knock-off, this iClone doesn’t even try to look different. Read the rest of this entry »

One of my co-bloggers over at CNET Asia, Jonathan Gardner, reports on a Digitimes article regarding the apparent leaking of Apples new iPod line-up, before the big announcement is officially made.

Apple has scheduled a big event for tomorrow, titled “The Beat goes on.”

According to the Digitimes article listed above, here are some details of what to expect from the new iPod line-up:

• iPod Video – Widescreen, an operating interface similar to the iPhone, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
• iPod Nano – Increased storage capacity, iPhone-like interface, price to remain unchanged
• iPod Shuffle – Increased storage capacity, price to remain unchanged

But even more interesting, is what some are speculating about this event.

Will they finally release the Beatles catalogue for iTunes?

Will Steve Jobs reunite surviving Beatles members Paul and Ringo for the event?

It’s worth noting that Apples tag line for the event, “The Beat goes on,” is the exact same as the final words on the Beatles last press release:

When the spinning stops — that’ll be the time to worry, not before. Until then, the Beatles are alive and well and the beat goes on, the beat goes on.

Update: As expected, new iPod nanos. I like to call ‘em the fatty.

And the phoneless iPhone, the new iPod Touch:

No Beatles talk however. So that speculation was all for naught…

For anyone here in China who uses Skype to chat with family and friends in your home country, you may want to check out Sightspeed.com.

Like Skype, you can get a free or pro account. But for the most part, you can do everything you need with a free account. If you did however want to try the pro account, there is a 30 day free trial for skype users.

The pro account has a neat record feature which would be very cool for anyone who wants to make a video podcast.

With regards to the China Blogosphere, I’m surprised that no one has started using the Pamela Skype recorder to make a neato radio show yet.

I’d love to give it a try.

Maybe if my schedule clears up…

You know, I always thought the life of a farmer would be pretty neat. Aside from all that waking-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn crap, it seems like a pretty quiet and peaceful lifestyle.

Screw the urban rat-race, screw technology and all that jazz, right?

Well, here’s one Chinese farmer who doesn’t quite fit the bill.
The man learned how to build robots all on his own!

See more:
Boing Boing
Gizmodo

Well, I finally replaced my old Nokia cell phone. It had seen me through about 3 long and bumpy years in China, but I think it’s definitely time to set her out to pasture.

For a replacement phone, I went out on a limb and bought a Blackberry 7100 cell phone. Yes, a Blackberry in China. I wasn’t aware that you could get them in China yet, but apparently you can. Much to my surprise, a Chinese friend of mine had bought one. For 700RMB no less.

So yesterday I headed down to the cell phone market to see what I could track down. I walked up to the first lady-vendor:

Me: Got any Blackberries?
Lady: Ah? [looks questioningly at coworkers]
Coworker: Wait a minute, I know where to find one. [goes off to another stall]
(wait ten minutes)
Coworker: I’m back. Here ya go.
Me: How much?
Coworker: 7000RMB.
Me: Ha ha ha ha. I think you’ve been misinformed. It should be about 700.
(coworker goes off again, then returns)
Coworker: It’s 850RMB.
Me: My friend bought one for 700RMB. I can come back tomorrow with him, and get it for 700, or you can give it to me now. Is 700 ok?
Coworker: Ok, ok, ok. 700 is ok.

I hate bargaining…

I still need to play around with this phone a bit to figure out all the features. I still haven’t configured my email yet, but I’ll get to that later. I am a bit disappointed that I can’t send Chinese text messages, although there is a Chinese interface option in the settings. But I don’t send that many Chinese text messages all that often these days anyhow.

The China/Blackberry story has been an intriguing one so far. From tales of Chinese spies in Canada stealing Blackberry technology, to China Unicom producing a strangely similar Redberry device – it’s been an interesting story to watch.

So June 29 is the big day when the iPhone goes on sale. And I’m sure everyone is counting down the days until they can either buy the damn phone, or get away from the barrage of coverage it’s getting. I’m not gonna get into it too much, but there are a couple of China angles to the iPhone media orgy. One of those angles I’ll get into later this week over on LRB.

But lets start with what had to be an inevitable story. That being the first Chinese iPhone copy, a video of which has been put up on youtube. I’ve posted the three part series below. Oddly enough, I recently came across Apple’s official iPhone tour as well, which I have to admit is somewhat better produced, no matter how much I want to kick that nerdy guy in the nads.

If he says “revolutionary” one more goddamn time…

Anyway, nuff said. On to the videos: Read the rest of this entry »

Made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China’s first locally developed processor is known by many names. The Longxin (??) or Dragon Chip as it’s called in China, is otherwise known as the Loongson.

Oddly enough, it’s been dubbed with the English name of — get this — Godson.

No joke.

All the same, it’s possibly a fitting moniker for the potential savior that could deliver China’s tech reputation into the realm of respectability. There are also the implications that a home-grown processor will have on military technologies and national security, hence the funding and support from the Chinese government.

Can they compete with Intel’s performance? Hardly… But given the fact that AMD lost $611 million (check under the sofa cushions guys!) and has only $1.2 billion left in the piggy bank — well, it might be time for another player to jump on the CPU scene, no matter how small they might seem.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that PC maker Zhongke has expressed interest in using the Godson, and has pitched the idea to the One Laptop Per Child ($100 Laptop) project.

In any case, making computers more affordable in China is certainly a positive step. In fact, a Sichuan PC maker has already released a 1000RMB desktop (which converts to about $130US). Godson seems to get along best with a Linux OS, which will cut costs even further since a non-pirated Windows purchase might require more cash than the PC itself! Indeed, with some exceptions, the Godson won’t even be able to run a Microsoft OS since it uses an instruction set based on MIPS.

The first Godson to enter the market is the Godson 2E, and the 2F or the Second Coming of Godson, is reportedly not far off…