Line, WeChat: Asian social networks move to conquer Europe

 

Move aside Facebook and Skype. Asian social networks, already hugely popular on their continent, have set their sights on Europe where they could prove stiff competition for their US rivals.
China's WeChat and Japan's Line, which let users make free calls, send instant messages and post funny short videos and photos, take attributes from Facebook, Skype and messenging application WhatsApp and roll them all together.
This week, Line executives travelled to France and Italy for a public relations offensive aimed at raising awareness of the mobile app, which already counts some 230 million users around the world including 47 million in Japan alone.
The social network has already taken root in other parts of Europe.
In Spain, for instance, Line has forged heavyweight partnerships with football clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, brands such as Coca-Cola or tennis star Rafael Nadal.
FC Barcelona, for instance, has a home page on the app where it posts photos that has already drawn more than 8.2 million friends.
Line even has a permanent office in Spain, where it counts some 15 million users already.
A French version of the mobile app, meanwhile, is to be launched before the end of the year.
One of the main selling points for Line, which was launched at the beginning of 2011, is its "stickers" -- funny, cartoon-like figures that express emotions in a way deemed far more original and fun than traditional emoticons.
On WeChat, users can post figures that move about dancing, blowing kisses or punching the air. Both social networks also supply a selection of "stickers" that users have to pay for.
"We're betting a lot on this new form of communication with stickers," Sunny Kim, assistant director general of Line Europe and America, told AFP on a trip to Paris.
This part of the business represents 30 percent of Line's overall turnover and in July alone, users bought eight million euros ($10.8 million) worth of stickers.
The company makes the rest of its money on the sale of games integrated in the mobile app (50 percent) and from partnerships and products on the side.
Line's logo is green with a conversation bubble inside, and looks remarkably similar to the icon of WeChat, which began in January 2011.
Already translated into 19 languages, the social network has 500 million users, including 100 million outside of China, and plans to launch in France towards the end of the year.
While Line has Real Madrid, WeChat has enrolled the help of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi, who has become ambassador of the brand and has filmed a commercial for the social network.
But WeChat -- which belongs to China's web giant Tencent -- is also banking on the huge Chinese diaspora to expand.
"The French of Chinese origin or the Canadians of Chinese origin, for instance, are the bridge between China and the rest of the world," said Renaud Edouard-Baraud, who heads up an Asia consulting branch of the BNP-Paribas bank and advises WeChat.
Many brands keen to tap into the giant China market also have a presence on WeChat.
Companies can for instance use geolocalisation to pinpoint the exact location of Chinese users when they are visiting Europe, and send them promotional offers to lure them into their shops.

 http://news.yahoo.com/line-wechat-asian-social-networks-move-conquer-europe-123355816.html

High tech car door

This is certainly great for anyone who has difficulty getting In and out of a car. Someone had a bright idea in England . Wonder how long it will take to get this on the market in Australia, Japan and the U.S. ? Click here: Disappearing Car Door http://www.flixxy.com/high-tech-car-door.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCFW5dS92E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAtkoje4-eM

Tie Color

Tie Color

The Meaning behind the Silk

Tie color is one of the best ways to convey your personality through fashion. Learn also how to match your tie and shirt.


Whether you are aware of it or not, the color of your tie can influence the people around you. So before tying that knot in the morning, consider what personality traits you are conveying through the color of your tie.

Red Ties

Reds are a power color, symbolizing wealth, strength, and passion. Many cultures also find special meaning in the color red, such as good luck.

If you are going into a meeting where you need to lead your business team to a hard-won victory, Red is an excellent choice for a tie color. Try a solid colored, ruby red silk tie for the ultimate power effect.

Oranges also fall into the same category, though they are an even bolder style choice.

Blue Ties

Blue is a calming, soothing color which radiates peace and tranquility. If you are going into a hostile meeting with tense parties, then Blue is an excellent color choice.

But just because blue is peaceful, does not mean it is a weak color, it is persistent and everlasting, like waves upon the shore.

Try mixing blue with red or yellow to add a power dynamic to the tie color scheme.

Yellow Ties

Yellow is a complex color. In the English language it has connotations of cowardice, indicated by terms like "yellow-bellied coward".

But yellow is also the color of the sun, representing its radiance and vitality. If you are going to wear a Yellow Tie, make sure you have the personality to carry it off by being outgoing and forthright.

Yellow also mixes very well with blues and creates a striking effect in patterns and Stripes.

Black Ties

The Black Tie is closely associated with very formal events. In fact, very fancy gatherings or parties are often known as "black tie" events. You should truly save your black ties for these special events.


But black can be used very effectively as a color in Patterned Ties, especially when combined with white. Don't discount black as a tie color, just save the solids for special occasions. Learn how to dress up for a black tie event.

Green Ties

As any businessman knows, the color of money is green! What better way to attract money to you than by wearing a Green Tie?


The color green is also seen as a symbol of rebirth and growth, and is a good way to project yourself as a team player who is growing in knowledge and skills.


Be careful to avoid the negative connotations of green as a tie color however; you wouldn't want people to see you as "green with jealousy". Save that kind of energy for improving yourself instead.

Brown Ties

A brown tie projects the image of a very down-to-earth, practical man. This is a color that says "I can get the job done". It may be a bit boring, and without excitement, but it is a solid and reliable color. What employer wouldn't want a reliable employee?


You can spice up a Brown Tie with more powerful colors like red, which makes an excellent contrast to the earthy color.

Whichever color of tie you choose, keep in mind that it can have an effect on your professional presentation. Play to your natural taste in colors and enjoy patterns as well.

 http://www.tie-necktie-video.com/tie-color.html

Best apps new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c owners should download right now!

By Rene Ritchie, Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013 a 10:12 pm

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There are almost a million apps on the iOS App Store. Sorting through them can be an incredible pain. That's why we've done it for you. These are the very best, most must-have apps for new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c owners. Download them now!

Just get a brand new iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c, or a new iPhone or iPod touch of any kind? iOS 7 comes with a ton of fantastic built-in apps, from iMessage to Camera, Mail to Safari, and prompts you to download not only a bunch of Apple apps, like iBooks and Podcasts, but integrated apps like Twitter and Facebook as well. It's enough to get anyone off to a great start, but only a start. Among the almost million App Store apps are a bunch of other really good apps that even casual users can get a ton of benefit from. Here are some of our favorites!
Note: We're not duplicating any of the built-in or suggested-by-Apple apps in this list; we'll do separate articles on best replacement apps! This is for different and additional stuff. The extras! We'll also be updating and adding to this list often, whenever new or just plain better apps come along. So, bookmark and share it, and come back often!

Dropbox online storage

Dropbox is a cloud storage and sync service that, on the Mac, can make sure anything in its special folder is kept safe online and mirrored on any other Mac you install it on. On iOS, the Dropbox app gives you near-line access to all the same files. What's more, Dropbox provides a powerful integration for developers that allow many other apps to tie into their service and use them for cloud storage and sync as well. The apps are free, as is a small amount of storage. More storage is available via promotions and, of course, for a price.

• Free - Dropbox for iOS - Download now
• Free - Dropbox for OS X - Download now

Shazam music identification

If you've ever been walking through a store, or watching a TV show, or enjoying a tasty beverage when a great song started to play, you've likely had the urge to identify the song and maybe even buy it immediately. Well, with Shazam you can! Simply launch Shazam, tap the screen, and a long as the music is loud and clear enough, and well known enough to be identifiable, Shazam will find it. You'll get not only the name, but the ability to share your discovery, and even find it in the iTunes Music store if you so wish. It really is like magic!

• Free - Download now

Air Video HD streaming

There are a ton of options to watch video on your iPhone, including buying or streaming directly on your device. But what about all those old, legacy format videos on your Mac or Windows PC hard drives? All those home movies you've made or DVDs you've - legally in your jurisdiction - ripped and stored for safe keeping? Air Video HD is for those. Run the small Air Video Server app on your desktop, and then not only can you stream any video, in any format, transcoded on-the-fly to your iPhone, but you can re-stream it to your Apple TV via AirPlay as well. Air Video is a video junkies best friend.

• $2.99 - Download now

Launch Center Pro quick actions

iOS is great at launching apps, not so good at launching actions. That's where Launch Center Pro comes in. Drop it on your Home screen or Dock, and every time you tap it it presents you with an array of quick actions, from going to websites, performing searches, contacting specific people, tweet out a message, create a todo, and much, much more. If you like how easy iOS is to use, but wish you could do more with it, Launch Center Pro is for you.

• $3.99 - Download now

Screens 3 VNC

Screens lets you use your iPhone to remotely view and interact with your Mac or Windows PC. Using such a tiny screen to control such a big screen might seem difficult if not impossible, and indeed it does work better on the iPad, but Screens does a great job making it as usable as possible even on the iPhone. It's long been the dream of every IT professional to run their server room from poolside, and every home technologist to run their desktop from the sofa. Screens makes that a reality.

• $19.99 - Download now

1Password login management

While Apple teased iCloud keychain for iOS 7, they haven't yet deployed it. Luckily the folks at 1Password have a much more robust app you can use for that, and even more. It can't access Safari the way Apple can, but it does have a built in browser and support for all your logins, credit cards, licenses, accounts, and more. And 1Password can sync them across devices and platforms. Plus, with its own master password, you can unlock your phone without worrying about unlocking everything else.

• $14.99 - Download Now

Kahn Academy educational archive

Kahn Academy is one of the best products of education and the internet, and with the Khan Academy app for the iPhone, you have free access videos on topics ranging from kindergarten, advanced science, humanities, history, and more. You can even download the videos to watch offline. If you're in school or you have kids in school, get Kahn Academy.

• Free - Download now

Tripit travel planner

Pair Tripit for iPhone with a Tripit account and the iPhone becomes your virtual travel assistant. Simply email any flight or hotel confirmations to TripIt and they'll automagically get logged and displayed on your iPhone, along with helpful maps and additional information to make your travel safer and easier. Basic accounts are free, but if you're a frequent traveler and faster, more meaningful alerts would be beneficial to you, a paid account is more than worthwhile.

• $0.99 - Download now

Reeder 2 RSS reader

Reeder lets you save and organize RSS feeds from all your favorite websites - like iMore! in one convenient app. Since Apple dropped RSS support from Safari, and Google dropped Google Reader, it's been a challenging year for news junkies. Luckily Reeder has rebooted with support for a ton of new sync services, and has once again regained its spot at the top or feed mountain.

• $4.99 - Download Now

Google Search (with Google Now predictive results)

Google Search not only provides text and voice-based search, as the name implies, but also incorporates Google Now technology. That means it uses your location, calendar, and the information Google knows about you and your contacts to provide predictive information for you, presented on easy to use, easy to dismiss cards. Weather, travel, and more shuffle up, and can be shuffled away. It's not the same, native experience you get on Google's own Android, and it's not the same as Apple's Siri, but if you're willing to trust it with your data, it's a useful feature to have around.

• Free - Download Now

iMore for all your Apple info

Yes, we're working hard on the iMore for iOS 7 app, but you can get the classic iMore app right now. With it, all the latest iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac news, app and accessory reviews, how-tos, podcasts, editorials, and more are available right on your iPhone, whenever and wherever you want them.

• Free - Download now

http://www.imore.com/best-apps-new-iphone-5s-and-iphone-5c

RFID Blocking Wallets

With personal ID technology increasing so too does the risk of identity theft. Protect personal information stored in your RFID chip on your passport or credit card with these wallets that block out transmissions.

Information About Buying An RFID Blocking Wallet

Individuals day-to-day lives have been dramatically improved by all kinds of technological advancements. For instance, it is difficult for almost everyone to imagine going through life without such commonplace devices as computers, cell phones, television sets, and washing machines. It it weren't for modern progress, however, none of these items would have ever been invented. One of the most popular advancements right now is the RFID chip.

Within these chips, all sorts of information about a person can be found, including his or her age, place of residence, birthdate, and social security number. Furthermore, they can be laden with facts about specific accounts, like banking accounts and credit card accounts. Today, lots of companies place RFID chips in the cards that they issue. For example, insurance companies have started putting RFID chips inside of their clients' cards; when these are scanned, information about a person's medical background can be discovered.

There are all kinds of benefits that come with the usage of RFID chips. These chips, though, like all kinds of technology, can have a dark side. Thieves can buy RFID scanning devices that allow them to steal people's information by penetrating their wallets. If you want to prevent this sort of identity theft from disrupting your life, you should seriously consider purchasing an RFID blocking wallet.
Do RFID Wallets Look Different Than Normal Wallets?

Lots of individuals fear that RFID blocking wallets will look noticeably different when compared to standard wallets. It is extremely hard to detect this, though, in actuality. Most of the time, RFID wallets are manufactured with linings that block RFID scanning devices from functioning correctly. Outwardly, however, RFID blocking wallets have a decidedly mundane appearance. Most of the wallets are leather; you can even buy personalized styles.

Where Are RFID Wallets Sold?

If you would like to invest in an RFID block wallet, there are a wide range of retailers that can help you. Most people turn to the internet when they begin thinking about buying one of these wallets. People who are interested in purchasing RFID blocking wallets can place their orders through a wide range of different internet-based shops. Prior to paying for an item on the internet, it is a good idea to look at the prices that are featured on a variety of sites.

You can also buy RFID blocking wallets from craftspeople in your area. If you opt to find an individual who knows how to make wallets like this, you will have the ability to place a personalized order. For example, you might want your wallet to be embossed with your initial. Ever-increasing numbers of buyers are opting to invest in personalized RFID blocking wallets.

 http://somegreattravelluggage.blogspot.com/2013/01/information-about-buying-rfid-blocking.html

RFID Credit Card Theft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVerEMooek8

Banco de china

Bank of China

Chinese architects have also made a dent. The Bank of China Tower was designed by American architect IM Pei of Chinese origin and is one of the most recognizable buildings in Hong Kong

The building; highest point is at 288 meters, the last terrace at 305 meters and then has two masts that reach the maximum height of 367.4 meters.

It was built in 1989 and is located near the Central MTR station. It was the tallest building in Asia until the year 1992, and was the first built outside the United States in overcoming the height of the 305 meters.

The building consists of four triangular towers of glass and aluminum, all of varying heights, emerging from a triumphal podium of beautiful granite. Geometric changes that occur as the building rises into the sky are the most intriguing aspect of the tower. The sharp angles and points of interest make an appearance - a contrast with flat architecture that dominates the city - silver reflective glass used in the tower creates items that reflect the light on sunny days and at night, when Hong Kong is radiant with all kinds of artificial light.

http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Bank_of_China_Tower