Unboxing Asia

China's Internet crackdown: Anonymous, political intrigue and blackouts

Chinese authorities continue their crackdown of online 'rumors'. Is now the right time to launch an attack on the Great Firewall?

April 12, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in CXO

China's mysterious Internet outage; speculation over a 'kill switch'

Temporary blackouts leave China's Internet users unable to access many Chinese Web sites as well as other unblocked foreign sites. Chinese Telecoms deny any network issues.

April 12, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Enterprise Software

China's Internet firms urged to prevent the spread of online rumors

A paper released by the 'Internet Society of China' is calling for Internet firms to prevent the spread of online rumors, as Chinese authorities continue their web crackdown.

April 8, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in China

Japan's infidelities: Cheaters traced through electronic travel cards

Japanese travel cards like Pasmo are being used by investigators to track unfaithful partners. As a result, the company has shut down its travel history services.

April 8, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Tech Industry

Is any gadget worth a kidney? Five arrested in China over illegal organ transplant

Five people have been charged in China over an incident in 2011, where a seventeen-year-old boy sold his kidney to afford new Apple products. Now his health is failing.

April 8, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Apple

Square Enix teams with Prada for Final Fantasy fashions

To celebrate Final Fantasy's 25th anniversary, Square Enix has teamed up with Prada to produce a series of special images, using characters from the game to model menswear.

April 4, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in CXO

China's state-run People's Daily launches $83.6 million IPO

People's Daily, a Chinese news source and government mouthpiece, has launched a $83.6 million IPO in Shanghai in an attempt to keep up with competitors.

April 4, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in China

Education with Augmented Reality: AR textbooks released in Japan (video)

A Tokyo publishing company has released textbooks that support Augmented Reality on smartphones. With apps downloadable for free, this textbook displays how AR might be a more practical choice than an iPad for classroom tech.

April 4, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Hardware

Dear Twitter: Zuckerberg isn't in China, he's in Tokyo

Despite reports that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was in China, he arrived in Tokyo today to meet the prime minister and surprising guests at the Mobile Hack event.

March 28, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Mobility

Tim Cook visits Foxconn, meets Chinese VP to broker intellectual property agreement?

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook has visited a Foxconn plant and met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang as he continues his visit in the country.

March 28, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in China

'Vocaloid keyboard' makes virtual live performances possible: video

Yamaha have revealed their latest step in synthesized vocals, a Vocaloid Keyboard, which can be used to produce live performances of virtual singers.

March 27, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Enterprise Software

Google Street View gears up for Japan's tourist season

For Japan's Cherry Blossom season, Google has released a special edition of Street View with information for tourists in English, Japanese and Chinese.

March 27, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Google

iPad 3 cleared for sale in China, despite trademark dispute

Apple's Wi-Fi iPad 3 model has passed certification in China, and is clear for sale, despite the ongoing trademark dispute between Apple and Proview.

March 27, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Mobility

Japanese court challenges Google over 'autocomplete' results

The Tokyo District court has sided with a Japanese man who claims that Google's autocomplete function is an invasion of his privacy.

March 25, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Google

China and Japan could be saving the global box office

The MPAA has released statistics from 2011, and the global box office is up 3 percent. Despite a decline in U.S. and Canadian markets, heavy growth in China and other international audiences is rescuing cinema from a slump.

March 22, 2012 by Hana Stewart-Smith in Collaboration