London’s plan to grow up might go down, Elon Musk’s quest to make electric cars cool, and funny anti-Rob Ford ads appear in Toronto. Plus: Learning from streets in Vietnam, Paris, and Manhattan. All this and more in this week’s Urban Reads.
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This week’s roundup includes sex, violence, and truffles—the last of which is not unlike the drug trade, with a surprisingly shady underside. So, without further ado, here’s this week’s R-rated landscape reads.
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In most countries, using social media as a means to voice your displeasure of the government and/or policies is accepted and considered legal to a certain extent, but it seems that there are countries where it is not allowed, and Vietnam is one of them. This new law was announced this week and will see citizens arrested and fined if they were to post on social media where they criticize the government. While the law itself is fairly vague (perhaps purposely so), it states that it will punish those who use social media to spread propaganda against the state or spread reactionary ideologies.
There are those who oppose this new law, with the US Embassy in Hanoi expressing their deep concern and has reached out the Vietnamese officials, stating, “Fundamental freedoms apply online just as they do offline.” Nonprofit organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation have also spoken out against this on their blog, claiming that “Internet freedom has gone from bad to worse in Vietnam.” We’re not sure if the Vietnamese government will change their mind or stance on this matter even when faced with pressure from the outside, but in the meantime it looks like bloggers and journalists who might not be fans of the current government will have to watch what they say.
Critiquing The Vietnamese Government On Social Media Could Lead To Fines/Arrests original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Unfortunately, decrees such as the one just approved in Vietnam are seemingly becoming more common, not less. Similar outcries were voiced after both Iran and Belarus laid down draconian laws about how their citizens were to interact with the internet, and now Vietnam is being shelled by residents and outsiders alike for a new decree that essentially bars the sharing of outside news. The specific verbiage states that “personal electronic sites” (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) “are only allowed to put [sic] news owned by that person.” In other words, sharing of information from “press organizations or government websites” is now outlawed, as is the act of providing “general information” on profiles and blogs. Exact punishments are apparently still being drafted, but whatever arises, you can bet that the Vietnamese government is going to take a huge amount of flack for crossing this line.
Filed under: Internet
Via: TechDirt
Source: Bangkok Post
When James Speed Hensinger was 22, he’d already spent nine months fighting in Vietnam, spending his nights in perpetual fear of snipers hiding in the mountains above. So come April of 1970, after fielding multiple nighttime attacks from a single sniper and his AK47, the 173rd Airborne Brigade—of which Hensinger was a part—decided to hit back with an arsenal of insane proportions.
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In Vietnam, it’s common to use bamboo baskets to catch fish and eels. Less common? To find the same type of bamboo structures supporting an entire building. This open-air beauty is the Kontum Indochine Cafe, in central Vietnam, and it looks like it’s supported by 15 giant bamboo fishing baskets.
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HTC might be making another push into the very affordable Android phone market with the Desire 200. As teased a few months back and joining the now-official Desire 600, the smartphone pulls together a 320 x 480 3.5-inch screen, 1GHz processor and Android 4.0. It sounds a whole lot like the UK-bound Vodafone Smart Mini, which has been priced at just £50 on pay-as-you-go. HTC does put in a little more effort, however, including its Sense UI, front-facing speakers like the HTC One and a 5-megapixel camera on the entry-level device. According to thegiodidong, the Desire 200 also houses 4GB of storage, expandable up to 32GB through microSD and the whole package will land in Asian markets soon. Watch it get handled after the break or visit the source for a closer look.
Update: According to the video, the loudspeaker resides on the back of the Desire 200. It looks like those front grills are largely for design reasons — we just wanted BoomSound a little too much…
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: Fone Arena
Source: thegiodidong
After first being rolled out in Korea in February, the LG Optimus G Pro is now coming to other Asian markets. With the announcement on May 30, LG’s flagship 5.5-inch Android “phablet” will debut in Hong Kong in June followed by Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia over the course of the month.
The full press release with explanation of its specs and features is below:
___________________________________________________________
LG OPTIMUS G PRO ARRIVES IN ASIA
Fully Packed with Advanced UX and Features, LG’s Biggest Smartphone
Offers Asian Consumers Differentiated Smartphone Experience
SEOUL, May 30, 2013 — LG Electronics (LG) is demonstrating its commitment to the premium smartphone market in Asia with the introduction of its flagship smartphone, Optimus G Pro, in the rest of the region. Originally introduced in its home market of Korea earlier this year, the 5.5-inch display Android device is being rolled-out in the rest of the region starting on May 30. The smartphone will debut in Hong Kong in June followed by other Asian markets including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippine, Vietnam and Malaysia throughout the month.
“LG’s Optimus G Pro sets a new benchmark in the over 5-inch display smartphone category which is catching on with consumers everywhere who aren’t interested in owning both a phone and a tablet,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Asian customers are leading many of today’s technology trends and we’re confident Optimus G Pro will find a large following in this region.”
The Optimus G Pro is equipped with the swift Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, which features a 1.7GHz Quad-Core CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. Combined with other industry-leading features such as a long-lasting 3,140mAh battery and 2GB RAM, LG’s Optimus G Pro is one of the most advanced smartphones currently on the market today. With its expansive 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD IPS display delivering a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels at 400ppi, the Optimus G Pro provides razor sharp images and wide viewing angles as well as a comfortable in-hand experience and great “pocketability.”
Backed by powerful hardware features, the Optimus G Pro also comes packed with differentiated UX features, such as:
• Dual Camera and Dual Recording: The Dual Camera and Dual Recording functions allow users to capture pictures or videos with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously for a unique picture-in-picture experience;
• VR Panorama: The VR Panorama allows shots of entire horizontal and vertical environments for a full 360° view;
• Pause and Resume Recording: The Pause and Resume Recording feature allows for the recording of short snippets of video which can then be viewed as one continuous file.
• Smart Video: Smart Video recognizes the position of the viewer’s eyes and automatically plays or stops the video without any manual input from the user.
Key Specifications:
• Operating System: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
• Processor: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm? Snapdragon™ 600 Processor
• Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels / 400ppi)
• Memory: 16GB / microSD (up to 64GB)
• RAM: 2GB DDR
• Camera: Rear 13.0MP / Front 2.1MP
• Battery: 3,140mAh (removable)
• Size: 150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4mm
• Colors: Indigo Black, Lunar White
# # #
About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 87,000 people working in 113 offices around the world. With 2012 global sales of USD 45.22 billion (KRW 50.96 trillion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solution – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG Electronics is a 2013 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.
Following our previous post on Taxis in Asia’s most developed cities we decided to take the bumpier road and provide a round up of taxis in four of Asia’s emerging metropolises.
1- Bangkok: Tuk-tuk
Overview: uncomfortable, overpriced and inefficient. You are better off taking a regular taxi. Then again tuk-tuks have become synonymous with transportation in Bangkok and worth taking for a short ride just for the experience.
Price: Should be negotiated with the driver before riding. Be prepared to haggle tough… then again you will still get ripped off whatever price you agree on anyway.
Pimped out disco light tuk-tuk.
Bonuses: Interesting pimped out interiors with various kinds of decoration. A great way to experience the heat, congestion, and intensity of Bangkok, but probably not recommended if you are severely jet-lagged or hungover.
Haggling with a tuk-tuk driver.
Warnings: Often drivers will ask you to visit a shop (or two, or three) so that he can receive gas coupons from the shop owners in exchange for bringing them business, so always refuse this and insist on going to your destination. Avoid picking up tuk-tuks right outside of tourist areas and instead walk a couple of blocks and hail one off the street. Be prepared for a bumpy ride so don’t indulge in too much Thai food and beer before riding!
2- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Motorbike taxi
Overview: In Ho Chi Minh its better to be on a motorbike than off one, as its often much safer to catch a bike ride somewhere than try to walk it. Motorbikes are also more capable of navigating through the chaotic and dense traffic, narrow backstreets and old neighborhoods than the buses or regular taxis.
Price: Its always good to ask a local friend or hotel staff about the average price of getting from A to B by motorbike taxi, obviously expect to pay a bit more than locals and be sure to settle the price before jumping on and strapping your helmet.
Bonuses: relatively cheap, safe, fast and exciting. What better way to experience getting around Vietnam than they way most locals do!
Warnings: The driver may pretend to know your destination and instead take you somewhere else and hope to escape with his fare before you realize so make sure you are at the right place before paying! This happened to me a couple of times. Most importantly- always wear a helmet! Its the law in Vietnam so don’t suffer the penalty fine.
Average price from Ho Chi Minh Airport to downtown: Around 70,000 Dong ($US3-4)
3- Mumbai: Taxi
Overview: widely available, safer, cleaner and more comfortable than auto-rickshaws and for the most part fairly priced. Older taxis such as the black and yellow Padmini, ubiquitous with old ‘Bombay’ are slowly fizzling out of the traffic scene in favor of newer air-conditioned models.
Price: Rs19 ($US0.35) for first 1.5Km, Rs12.35 ($US0.23) per additional Km.
Bonuses: Cheap, metered, and several cab companies including MeruCabs and TabCab offer services allowing you to book pick ups online and through the phone which is often allot more reliable especially if travelling for business or getting to airports on time.
Warnings: If taking a regular taxi rather than a fleet taxi then always make sure that the driver re-sets the meter, especially if he is using a mechanical meter. You can check for the reliability of the rates by carrying a ‘rate-card’ available at the airport since some drivers will carry a fake rate-card with higher prices. Often drivers are reluctant to take you short distances, in this case offer them a flat rate. Most importantly do not get into a taxi if they say the meter is not working!
4- Kathmandu- Taxi
Overview: Kathmandu isn’t exactly a sprawling metropolis but the fact that taxis in and around the city take you across some spectacular Himalayan scenery is worth a mention. Most taxis in Kathmandu are small, cozy Suzuki Marutis which barely fit two passengers let alone their luggage.
Price:most drivers are willing to go by meter for short trips at the rate of Rs 8 ($US0.09) for every 200m although to/from major tourist destinations you have to negotiate the price. Since Nepal is a poor country and prices in general are cheap its not worth arguing to much to save a few cents.
Bonuses: a cheap, convenient way to get to cross the emerging city, access amazing Himalayan views and check out historical towns. From my experience taxi drivers in Kathmandu were super friendly, invited us to lunch, smoke and educated us about Nepali life.
Warnings: By law taxis are required to go by the meter, but in a corrupt state as Nepal officials have turned a blind eye to this. Not going by the meter for longer journeys means you will probably be asked to pay 5-10 times the metered price so negotiation is necessary. But if you are in a hurry just settle the deal quickly otherwise you will find yourself wasting time haggling or arguing about using the meter. If you have a larger budget its worth using transport arranged by your hotel, tour operator or company.
The next time you travel to Vietnam, make sure you check out their 85 milion dollar fire-breathing dragon. An 85 million dollar glowing neon fire-breathing dragon, that is. It can breathe both fire and water.
Did I mention that it is also part of a bridge? The bridge spans the Han River in the port city of Da Nang. This color changing dragon lights up using 15,000 Philips LEDs.
Why can’t we have awesome bridges like this in the U.S.? Probably because all the LARPers would gather there and form a dragon-worshipping cult.
Also sword-wielding geeks would climb up on the head to get their picture taken. Check out the video to see the dragon in action.
[via Geekologie]
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