Thursday, August 23, 2007

Everything goes wireless with one USB stick!


As I have mentioned not long ago, I am forced to constantly move from one place to another due to the nature of my current position. If you are in the same situation as I am or simply want to save internet service costs, I introduce to you “Windy 31”, a portable USB like wireless internet router.

A Korean based networks and systems company, Mavericks Systems says that this tiny USB like device acts as a wireless LAN card, wireless AP, and wireless router, all in one. It includes IEEE 802.11 b/g which allows speeds up to 54Mbps.

As you can see, three of the most needed functions for wireless internet users are all included within this tiny device. It also works under Windows XP as well as Windows Vista without installing extra CD programs.

It means you could use this device as a wireless LAN card by simply plugging this device into the computer’s USB port. Also if you plug this device into a PC that is connected to the internet, by acting as an AP, it allows nearby computers to access the internet.

Using its router function, it is recommended that 32 computers (up to 253 computers) to simultaneously access the wireless internet using this device. Worried about setting each IPs? No worries, for each IPs are set automatically due to its Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol that is embedded.

Limited to PCs only? It also allows WiFi handsets, PDA, Nintendo DS, PSP, and many others to access the wireless internet.

Worried about security? It complies with 64/128 bit Wired Equivalent Privacy and Wi-Fi Protected Access security standards and Media Access Control address filtering and firewall security function that it ensures users to feel safe when using it.

Think about how much money you can save with this little device. Think about how much time and effort you can save using this little device. I believe the kind of device such as this will make everyone’s lives easier.

What do you think the upgraded version of this product would turn out to be?

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Ready and fully loaded to give Korean mobile insights: iMobicon!




Finally next week, from August 22nd to 24th, one of the biggest annual mobile business conference sponsored by Informa telecoms & media and KIPA (Korea IT Industry Promoting Agency) is about to occur here in Seoul, Korea.

iMobicon offers the chance to understand why the Korean mobile market is so successful and to learn and take best practices from the nation's experience. The event is an excellent platform to network and make business partnerships which will enhance any Asian market business strategy or benchmarking projects.

The conference will feature agenda setting keynote sessions, and streams discussing the most exciting industry issues in the Korean and global marketplace. I strongly believe this will be an excellent opportunity to share experiences and gain glimpse of the future global mobile evolution for all those participating.

It’s truly an honor for me to be selected to chair one of the tracks of this meaningful conference. The topic of the track I am responsible for is “Embracing Mobile Entertainment Trends to Drive Revenue”. As other various speakers are expected to speak related with the topic, I will be the first to speak with the title, “Understanding the Evolution of User Generated Content, from Mobile perspective”. As you could probably predict from the title of my speech, the key focus of my speech will be to answer the question: “What can Korea’s mobile UGC experiences provide to the World?”

I sincerely hope to meet many of you interested in this field.

For more information, visit http://www.imobicon.co.kr/eng/.

Friday, August 10, 2007

My daughter’s teacher is Mr. UGC!


Web 2.0 refers to a second generation of web-based communities which allows users to participate and share amongst themselves.

User Generated Contents (UGC), a part of Web 2.0 concept, is so popular these days. Just go to sites such as YouTube. You will see millions of videos uploaded and viewed by millions of people from around the world.

Common factors for most UGCs are that they are fun and interesting. That’s it. Yes you get a good laugh at it, but there’s nothing more to it. Or sometimes they contain scenes of violence that are not appropriate for the younger generation.

Therefore as a father, I’ve always been precautious about what my daughter is exposed to online. Especially now that my daughter is enjoying her break from school, her time spent online has increased.

However, I’m relieved to see that many teachers have started creating channels at UGC sites such as Pandora.tv to upload their own UGCs for the students, which the students were not able to learn in schools. This is a different concept from Mega-study. Mega-study is a professional online learning site which the students can go and learn online for pay.

Because these UGCs uploaded by the teachers are provided for free, these channels are becoming very popular among the student. There is one teacher in particular who goes by the name of “Young-Chun”, who uses masks used in movies to teach English. Many feel that this is very effective because it’s fun at the same time educational.

The most positive effect this teacher based UGCs brings I believe is that it allows love and openness between teachers and students to grow. Teachers aren’t making these UGCs to make profit. When the students realize that the teachers are taking their precious time to make these videos for THEM, they wouldn’t just blow it away.

I hope this trend of teacher based UGCs would spread to other nations; that it would bring positive learning effects for our next generation.