Despite it being the week in the run-up to Chinese New Year, there was a very surprising new gadget, plenty of new statistics, and lots of other news sprouting out of the Chinese web:
1. RedPad is the Tablet Custom-Made for China’s Cadres, Costs Twice as Much as an iPad
The so-called RedPad appeared out of nowhere a few days back, and we were the first to break the news in English. To the astonishment – and soon to be chagrin – of Chinese netizens, this Android tablet that’s made especially for the country’s politicians looks way over-priced. Why exactly? One day later, its makers responded and explained.
2. China Internet Penetration Map 2012
So, you might have noticed that we like maps and charts and stuff. And after CNNIC released its recent report on internet usage in China, one of the key datasets that we were eager to look at was internet penetration by province. Turns out it all makes for a neat interactive graphic…
3. China Hit 513 Million Net Users in 2011
Meanwhile, the big picture is that China’s web usage has exploded in the past few years, so that it has now officially cracked the half billion barrier.
4. Baidu Breaks Ground on New International HQ – But Not in Beijing
Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), China’s biggest search engine, earlier this week broke ground on a new campus building that will eventually be home to 10,000 employees. And though it’ll be a new “international HQ,” it won’t be based in the capital, Beijing.
5. Chinese Military-Developed Game “Glorious Mission” Being Used For Military Training?
When it was first announced, China’s Glorious Mission drew immediate comparisons to the U.S. Military’s America’s Army, and with good reason. And now a video news report seems to suggest it’s being used for training… Or not.
6. China’s The9 Lands Anelka, Shanghai Shenhua in Endorsement Deal
On a lighter note, the Chinese gaming company, The9, splashed the cash to land a worldwide endorsement deal with the French footballer Anelka, who currently plays for Shanghai Shenhua.
Bonus: Chinese New Year tech stories
As a bonus, check out the four newest stories for the year of the dragon on our ‘Chinese New Year’ tag. Gong xi fa cai, or Kung hei fat choi!
That’s all for this week, folks! For our full spread of China coverage, you can subscribe to our China RSS feed.