Apps Battlers Line Up

It's only been five days since we invited submission for the upcoming Battle of the Apps III on 30th May 2012 and we already have five brave contestants.  (I'll list them in order of submission not preference).

1. Intuition Rubicon Mobile Learning Platform

Within 12 hours of opening the contest, we have our first brave contestant with a good business but not catchy name, "Intuition Rubicon Mobile Learning Platform". Since June 2007, their app has been downloaded 400,000 times! You can find it on the Apple Apps Store here.

This app "allows companies to push, track & record training, sales or compliance courses videos or podcasts across all devices iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android and WinMob".

2. Fonetic Cantonese

Our 2nd contestant within 24 hours of contest launch is "Fonetic Cantonese", which they describe as "helps overseas Chinese people and other foreigners speak Cantonese instantly thanks to the more than 3,000 words & phrases you can 'hear' plus you can read the phonetic translations (Western PinYin)." This witty app has been downloaded 3,000 times since December 2012.

3. Coach's Clipboard


And the competition heats up! Our 3rd contestant for Battle of the Apps is a tool created by J Plus Corp to help coaches draw and animate plays on their mobile device (iOS, Mac, Android, etc) using their fingers. Coaches can move players, ball, draw lines and animate their plays/formations then easily share their plays via email or export them. 

Ranked "#1 paid sports iPad app" in Dec 2012. 10,000 downloads since it's launch on in June 2009. You can find it on iTunes.

4. Talking Phrasebooks

Our 4th contestant is a new offering from the prolific mobile developers at S4BB, which is a "Talking Phrasebook" for holiday trips to countries that speak Bavarian, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Russian, Urdu, and - is this a language? - Oktoberfest! (Correction, "Oktoberfest Bavarian"). If you have a BlackBerry (70 million still do!), you can download it from their App World.


5. Chi Fan

Now that we've settled our linguistic curiosities, it's time to eat. Our 5th contestant for Battle of the Apps III is "Chi Fan" a guide to cooking Chinese food by Bess Inc. Already downloaded 100 times since its launch on 14th May 2012. Download the iPhone app here.

We're still recruiting contestants and sponsors so do spread the love using this link - http://j.mp/wwv58.

Battle of the Apps III - Call for Contestants

Calling all entr-app-reneurs!

As a continuation of our popular "Battle of the Apps" series, we are once again inviting app creators, developers and publishers to compete in a live contest in the heart of Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong party area. [Read about the last contestants here]. All apps welcome, be it on iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows, Chrome or Symbian (TV, tablet or smartphone).

Networking will start at 6:30pm, with the battle from 7:15pm on 30th May 2012 at Bisous, 9/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St, Central, Hong Kong.

See who else is coming on Facebook and spread the word using the short code "http://j.mp/hkappsbattle3".

Each contestant will have 5 minutes to show off their creation and will have 2 minutes for questions from the floor. Due to time limitations, there will be a maximum of 10 contestants with prizes for the winners.

At the end of the evening, the audience will vote with their feet fingers (good, old fashioned, analogue stickers!).

The most popular app will win great prizes and a full interview slot at an upcoming Web Wednesday with all the associated promotional benefits.

If you're a contestant, sign up to join the fray below. Otherwise, do help me spread the word so that we can attract a wide range of contestants.

Fill out my online form.

LinkedIn Opens Office in Hong Kong

Today, LinkedIn officially set up shop in Hong Kong. They were kind enough to invite me to attend as "media" and I reciprocated by posting salient points from their speeches on Twitter (@webwednesday). See the screen cap below.

Plukka eShop at Web Wednesday

Calling all online bargain hunters!

As cross-border social commerce becomes the rage, we've invited Joanne Ooi, Founder of Plukka.com, to take the hot seat at this month's Web Wednesday Social Mixer on 25th April 2nd May 2012.

Joanne describes her business as "a revolutionary social shopping experience and online store offering chic, covetable fine designer jewelry at savings of 70-90%". But I prefer the TechCrunch version, "Plukka is social shopping with a group buying twist — more jewelry buyers means a lower price for everyone".

Watch this "how does it work?" video to understand the value of group shopping via Plukka:



Sign up and spread the word via Facebook.

As per usual, there's a HK$100 entrance fee, which includes one complimentary drink, an enlightening talk, high-quality networking and the chance to win lucky draw prizes.

Our lovely assistant, Vivian, will issue a receipt if you need one. (For students, you can get in for HK$50 without free booze). Thereafter, all standard drinks will be charged at special happy hour prices.

Do spread the word as we may have some great jewelry to give away, if we can twist Joanne's arm. If not, you'll still meet some great people and learn how to start an internet business in Hong Kong selling primarily to the United States.

Field of Cole - Fukushima Earthquake eBook

[This is a guest post to remember the people of Fukushima and to promote an ebook, created by a friend.]

On 11th March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake (also known as "311 Earthquake") happened.

Thirty minutes after the magnitude-9 earthquake, monstrous tsunami waves crashed into the whole region of the Tohoku shores. Many towns were destroyed and the death toll and number of missing people went beyond 20,000 at one point.

The author of this book, Misukoso, watched the disaster unfold on television news and became deeply emotional by these sorrowful events. These comics are the author’s interpretation of the events based on true stories of the survivors and victims extracted from the local news.

The stories included are:

• A policeman who died in honor of saving civilians;
• A nurse who regretted not being able to save a patient;
• A middle-school student who got separated from her mother after having a fight with her;
• A dog who wouldn't separate itself from its owner even when the tsunami approached... and many more.
• The book consisted of nine short stories and an essay column.

The title of the book "Field of Cole" was derived from the author’s experience when she went volunteering at a disaster site. Soon after the author uploaded a few of these comics on her blog, they became widely talked about over Twitter. Follow @misukoso (Tweets in Japanese).

More than 30,000 people read the comics and were moved to tears reading these comics which got published in Japan later. Then, six months after the earthquake, the series of comics were published in Japan in a book form.

As a condition for publishing the book, the author asked the publisher that all her royalties from the book be donated to the disaster victims and the book be translated into English and distributed as an e-book, so that people all around the world will have the opportunity to know more about people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and their experiences.

We hope this comic e-book will help the readers think about and remember the people in Tohoku, who are toiling in the long process of recovery.

Download the eBook for Kindle here

Misukoso was born in Niigata prefecture. After graduating from the Faculty of Policy Management of Keio University, worked for a while, and went back to school doing her Waseda University Graduate School of Accountancy.

As she describes herself on her Twitter profile (@misukoso), "会計系の大学院生。自意識をこじらせたオタク。著書「いつか、菜の花畑で」（扶桑社）。生い立ちについては、このページを御覧下さい。"

Intel Outside at Web Wednesday HK

Calling all ultra-nimble digerati,

As governments around the world tighten their belts, we bring you the expanding universe of ultra-thin computers and invite Intel Corp into our midst.

A regular and vocal member of the Web Wednesday audience, Peter Dingle will be sharing with us the future of computing, be it tablets, ultra-thin laptops, brain plug-ins or holographic touch screens. Peter is the Interactive Marketing Manager for Intel in APAC so has plenty of great and inside-out stories to share.

Check out Intel's latest creative move, "Pop-Up Theatre", 60 ultrabooks, choreographed to create the first human digital billboard. We're keen to see this pop up in the bustling streets of Hong Kong!



Keep your eyes peeled! Beware! More importantly, be there! Sign up on our Facebook event invite.

Our 56th social mixer will take place at Bisous, 9/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. Doors open at 6:30pm and burlesque dancers hit the stage at 9:30pm. The talk will start around 7:15pm so come early to mix and mingle with the 150-200 other digerati.

As per usual, there's a HK$100 entrance fee, which includes one complimentary drink, an enlightening talk, high-quality networking and the chance to win lucky draw prizes.

Our lovely assistant, Vivian, will issue a receipt if you need one. (For students, you can get in for HK$50 without free booze). Thereafter, all standard drinks will be charged at special happy hour prices.

Please do spread the word, as we have some great gifts to give away and some even more memorable ultra-phat people for you to mingle with!

Puma Social speaks at Web Wednesday HK

Calling all after-hour athletes and local digerati,

As part of this year's Social Media Week, which is happening in 12 cities around the world, we have the pleasure of inviting you to mix with the local internet crowd, digital fashionistas, social entrepreneurs and media executives at Bisous, on Wednesday 15th February. Sign up on Facebook.

I have the pleasure of interviewing Adrian Toy, Head of Marketing for Puma in Asia. Puma has been running some very creative campaigns using social media, under the theme "Here's to the after hours athlete" so Adrian will share his learnings using social media to engage consumers across various Asian countries. Visit Puma Social's website, Facebook, Renren and Sina Weibo.



As per usual, there's a HK$100 entrance fee, which includes one complimentary drink, an enlightening talk, high-quality networking and the chance to win lucky draw prizes.

Our lovely assistant, Vivian, will issue a receipt if you need one. (For students, you can get in for HK$50 without free booze). Thereafter, all standard drinks will be charged at special happy hour prices.

For more on Social Media Week, visit Hong Kong website and follow the Twitter hashtag, #smwhk.

Please do spread the word, as we aim to break last year's record of over 300 guests!