It's time for another link round-up. I got delayed from Christmas and New Year and trying to catch up on stuff at work. I've taken some new responsibilities so I get less time to goof off there. Anyway here are my picks for interesting or noteworthy links for the last couple of months. Yes I know January isn't done but whatever.
It's finally happening. After Kakao already launched their English mapping service, Naver is finally going to release their own multi-lingual service. Hope the whole UI gets a refresh too, and it'd be nice if the desktop version got this too. Kakao's English mapping only works in the mobile app. I've noticed though that Google is improving a lot of their English placenames for Korea, slyly through the Local Guides it seems.
I think we're also seeing some of the reason the government didn't want to release detailed map data to Google. Yes, there's the blurring of "sensitive" sites. But I suspect that high-detail map data is more valuable domestically for testing autonomous cars. Korean conglomerates already compete with Google now in phones (Samsung vs. Pixel), streaming video (Naver V / TVcast vs. YouTube), and now cars (Hyundai vs Waymo). See:
Anyway don't take my word for it. Bring on more links.
Thanks for reading. See you next month.
Links for December 2017 - January 2018
Top Story
It's finally happening. After Kakao already launched their English mapping service, Naver is finally going to release their own multi-lingual service. Hope the whole UI gets a refresh too, and it'd be nice if the desktop version got this too. Kakao's English mapping only works in the mobile app. I've noticed though that Google is improving a lot of their English placenames for Korea, slyly through the Local Guides it seems.
I think we're also seeing some of the reason the government didn't want to release detailed map data to Google. Yes, there's the blurring of "sensitive" sites. But I suspect that high-detail map data is more valuable domestically for testing autonomous cars. Korean conglomerates already compete with Google now in phones (Samsung vs. Pixel), streaming video (Naver V / TVcast vs. YouTube), and now cars (Hyundai vs Waymo). See:
- Hyundai to use HD maps to field self-driving cars at 2018 Winter Olympics | TechCrunch
- LG Electronics join forces with HERE Technologies for self-driving cars
- Map War: Autonomous Vehicle Industry Competes to Secure Mapping Data | BusinessKorea
- SK Telecom gets approval to test self-driving cars in Korea
- SKT, Here Technologies to create maps for driverless cars-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily
Anyway don't take my word for it. Bring on more links.
Tech Stuff
Respect to Local Rules: Facebook to Pay Taxes and Network Fees in S. Korea | BusinessKorea - Now let's see if they can get YouTube to do the same. I mean come on, how much bandwidth is Facebook taking up? Late night club/noreabang self life-streaming can't be that big a strain. My guess? This is a way for both to stick it to Google/YouTube. Enemy of my enemy or something.
Chinese hacker arrested for stealing client data from software firm - more in English on that ESTsoft hack I mentioned before.
Search Naver at your voice command-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily - Naver Search now is basically just as capable at voice-triggered searching and actions as Google. Neat.
Bitcoin craze triggers graphics card buying spree - I said it on Twitter, and I'll say it again: forget Bitcoin. I should have invested in graphics card manufacturers. At least their sales are legit and don't have a looming shutdown over their heads.
KT GiGA Genie LTE - YouTube - Advertisement showcasing a "day in the life" of using their portable smart speaker.
Has Naver, the Google of South Korea, Found a Way to Save Struggling News Outlets? - The Atlantic - Yes?... But not really.
AlphaGo - THE MOVIE. Enough said.
The unintended consequences of AI that startups need to avert - Not about Korea, but neat read about the problems when AI doesn't share our sensibilities of how to play the game. How can you convince a computer that cheating is wrong when its goal is to find the most efficient way to win? How do you convince a human for that matter?
Unicorn Rising: How This South Korean PayPal-Backed Startup Churns $1B A Month - More on Toss.
South Korea has highest smartphone data charges among major countries : International : News : The Hankyoreh - I really noticed this recently. Friend back home has a $40/month unlimited LTE data package. Jealous.
Cisco Talos highlights malware campaigns brewed from North Korea - Huge reason to make sure you update your Hangul Office. I hate how it makes me approve updates several times a week. I know plenty of folks who just dismiss it. This is how viruses spread.
CES proves that wireless earbuds are the way of the future - Article about those Mars earbuds made by Naver, which use Papago for real-time in-ear translation.
Korean Cryptocurrency Case Filed to the Korean Constitutional Court: Korean Bitcoin Updates - Nice plain-English look at this complex issue.
This Korean Life
KEB Hana Bank for Expats - Overseas Travel Insurance offered when exchanging foreign currency - Real simple way to get yourself some "just in case" insurance. Just exchange $300. Pretty simple.
Getting Driving License in Korea
English Video Tutorial For How to Use ZigBang, Korea's most popular real estate app to help you find apartments
- Google calls 'comfort woman' whore - Oops. I've seen lots of examples of Google's onebox results being wrong. I've given plenty of feedback on it, but who knows if anybody reads that.
End of Year Lists You Might Have Missed (Goodbye 2017)
YouTube Korea Blog: 2017 Top World and K-Pop Music videos (Korean language)
These Are The Most Tweeted Keywords By Koreans In 2017 | Soompi
- Most popular names for babies in 2017 - K-POP, K-FANS
10원 Tips: Top Daum / Kakao searches in Korea for 2017
Olympics
Gusts Of Popular Feeling: The search for Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium - Neat ride-along series as Matt visits the actual stadiums and gives sneak peaks at what is going on right now. Spoiler alert: he finds the city of Pyeongchang itself pretty lacking in Olympic spirit. Forgot how much I love blogs that really take you on a trip. People criticize Naver for relying too much on blog search results, but so many high quality blogs out there really give you in depth tours that provide more than official channels.
What?
Thanks for reading. See you next month.
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