WebProNews

Android Device, iPhone About To Rumble In China

In case you were in search of one, here's another good reason for Eric Schmidt to have stepped down from Apple's board of directors: devices relying on the Android operating system are about to take a run at the iPhone in China. 

Google, Baidu Swap Market Share In China

The second quarter of this year didn't go so well for Google in China.  According to a new report, the American search giant's market share shrunk a bit, while that of its Chinese equivalent, Baidu, managed to get larger. iResearch found that over three-fourths of all searches in China (specifically, 75.7 percent) were performed using Baidu in the second quarter of 2009.  This represents a gain of 1.6 percent compared to the first quarter.

Baidu Partners With Discovery

Discovery Communications, parent company of the Discovery Channel, and Baidu, China's largest search engine, have partnered to launch a new website focused on science and technology. "The launch of discovery.baidu.com represents an important step in building stronger brand awareness and consumer loyalty for Discovery in the key Chinese market," said Greg Ricca, President and CEO, Discovery Networks International.

China Bans Violent Online Games

China has banned websites that feature online games, which glamorize violence, saying violators will be "severely punished," state media said on Tuesday. China's Ministry of Culture said such games violated regulation on Internet administration, because they "advocate obscenity, gambling, or violence," and "undermine morality and Chinese traditional culture," a posting on the ministry's website said.

China Accuses Google Of Spreading Vulgar Content

China on Thursday expressed anger at Google for providing links on its English language search site that lead to vulgar content that violated the country's law. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang dodged a question about whether the government had played a role in recent disruptions to Google sites within China. He did make it clear that the government was angry with Google.

Baidu May Have Acquisitions On The Mind

Baidu is big; its share of the Chinese search market is close to 60 or even 70 percent, depending on which statistics firm you favor.  And Baidu may be set to grow still more, as the company's CFO, Jennifer Li, seems to be rather open-minded on the subject of making acquisitions.

China Blocks Everything Ahead of Tiananmen Anniversary

The Tiananmen Square Massacre occurred on June 4th, 1989, and it appears that the Chinese government is going to mark the 20th anniversary in its own special way.  Within the country, access to just about every major social media site has been blocked.

Android Set To Make Splash In China

As you probably know, China is the most populous country in the world, and it happens to be home to the biggest wireless market, too.  Google might be on the edge of something huge, then, as there's word that an Android-based phone will go on sale in China sometime next month. 

Cyberspies Hack U.S. Electrical Grid

Chinese and Russian cyberspies have hacked into the U.S. electrical grid and have left behind software that could be used to interfere with the system, a report said Wednesday. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence officials said cyberspies had penetrated the system repeatedly last year, without damaging it. The officials warned they could try to disrupt it during a crisis or a war.

Analyst Says Google China Still In Trouble

So much for the time, money, and compromises on censorship Google's committed in the region thus far.  Plus its new music venture.  An analyst said this morning that Google's Chinese arm won't do so well, anyway.