Wordle

I stumbled across this site some time ago but couldn't get it to work properly because I was on an (oldish) Mac but now that I have a brand spanking new Mac computer it works! (have to turn the Java preferences console on though). It's loads of fun.

Here are (supposedly) the most commonly used words on my blog. Who would have thought I used the word 'save' that many times? Weird!

Apple stores

An Apple store will open in my hometown of Sydney in just 2 days and Apple plans to increase their presence in China by building their first store there (in Beijing, not Shanghai) though).

No iPhone for China / Macbook Air

January 14, 2008

Apple, China Mobile Call Off iPhone Launch Talks

By REUTERS

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Apple Inc and China Mobile have called off talks to launch the U.S. firm's popular iPhones in China, dashing speculation the device will hit the country's store shelves soon.

Shares in China Mobile, the world's largest cellular operator, sunk to an intraday low minutes after the news, sliding nearly 3 percent to HK$130.00 in late afternoon trade.

The iPhone, a cellphone that accesses the Internet and plays music, sells for about $500 in the United States -- about double the average monthly salary in China. News that the two telecoms giants were in talks over the device's potential launch in the world's largest telecoms arena helped Apple's stock climb more than 10 percent on November 13.

"Our parent has terminated talks with Apple over the iPhone," a spokeswoman for listed China Mobile said, confirming several unsourced Internet reports. She would not elaborate.

Experts said last year that the iPhone would have to navigate a spate of technical, content and fee issues unique to China, including a standard revenue-sharing agreement that China Mobile would be sure to dislike, before any launch could proceed.

The iPhones -- one of the hottest gadgets to hit U.S. and European stores in 2007 -- might also be incompatible with China because of their "locked" SIM cards. That meant the device would not be able to piggyback another operator's network.

It's unclear what Apple, which has declined to comment on the issue, planned now for China.

China Unicom, the smaller of the country's only two wireless carriers, said in 2007 it had no plans to bring the device into the country but was open to the idea.

Some say it doesn't matter anyway because you can buy an iPhone from the States and get it unlocked for use here, or get a fake iPhone here. Personally it doesn't really interest me that much.

and in other news.. the Macbook Air was released. The ultra slim, ultra light new laptop computer from Apple. It looks nice and all but it doesn't interest me either.



and look! someone is certainly quick off the mark. A manila envelope made of vinyl for your new Macbook Air.

Harry Potter and the Chinese Porcelain Doll

Been having soooo much trouble accessing my Blog for the last few days, weeks.. Just then I finally got back into it and the language was back in Chinese - ARGH. Either my computer is stuffing me around or the Great Firewall is/was. Anyway.. these are posts I wrote ready for posting before.

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China - the land of the fakes! Piracy

OK we all know about China's fake industry - LV handbags, Chanel sunglasses, Gucci wallets, Ralph Lauren Polo t-shirts, North Face jackets, DVDs, etc etc..

Little did you know that China has fake EVERYTHING. If this isn't enough to scare people off I don't know what is - hahaha.

Here are some fake things I have heard about recently.

1. Fake eggs

See this link

Makes me sick thinking about it but hopefully we haven't bought nor eaten any fake eggs!!

2. Fake Colgate toothpastes (which are genuine Colgate!)

Although there is a Colgate factory in China, apparently the ingredients of the toothpastes are not the same as in the US, Australia or other Western countries. Apparently there is a dangerous ingredient inside. Great! Just when I thought a reputable global brand meant that something was 'safe' and when we had bought about 6 tubes when we first arrived... <_<

3. Fake Apple iPhones



This one is quite ingenius actually. And note the Windows chime... hilarious! The Chinese have rebadged the iPhone as tPhone and included a removable battery plus a host of other extra features. At first glance it looks exactly like the iPhone too. Check out the YouTube video.

and now...

4. Fake "Harry Potter" books!

See this link