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Chinese New Year is just around the corner. With the help of current technology, this Chinese New Year will be a special one. Let’s see what current technology can do for you for the coming CNY.
1. GPS
Pai Nian (Visiting friends and relatives house) for Ang Pao is the most important activity during Chinese New Year. Without Pai Nian, the whole CNY will not be meaningful because no Ang Pao = No CNY.
With the help of GPS and Satellite software like Garmin and Tom Tom Navigator, you’re able to locate your friends and relatives house without any hassle. Especially for friends and relatives who stay far away from the city or friends that you’ve lost contact for years, you can simply request for their GPS coordinates and your GPS device will guide your Ang Pao route.
2. Facebook
If you’re wondering what Facebook can do for you during Chinese New Year, here’s a suggestion…
First, wish all your friends happy CNY regardless of race and send them a virtual gift or ang pao. Second, create a RSVP event, gather all your friends to discuss and plan for group visit. An ang pao hunting event! Third, update your status. Tell others where you are and what are you doing so that your friends are able to join you. More people = more fun! Fourth, after visiting a friend’s house, don’t forget to upload the photos you’ve taken and don’t forget to tag them! Fifth, if you hate being visited by relatives and friends (or if you’re anti social) Facebook can help. Ignore them, turn on your PC and start Facebooking (play games). Start Facebooking only after you snatch your Ang Pao.
3. Twitter
Just like what you did in Facebook, you tweet your latest location and event with your iPhone. Let your followers contact you and join for Ang Pao hunting.
4. Digital Photo Frame
Visited by relatives and friends during CNY is pretty usual. Don’t just chit chat with small talk. Share your stories and impress them with your digital photos. A physical photo album is good but not as good as a digital photos frame that can store thousands of photos and stream photos from your computer through bluetooth or WIFI. Forget about your dusty photo album, Digital Photo Frame FTW!
5. Google Latitude
Google Latitude gives you the exact location of our friends and family. With Google Latitude, we able to locate and notify friends and relatives near our place so that we can pay them a visit or visit a place together.
6. Ipod / Mp3 player / Media Player
For those who’re going back to their home town for CNY, a long and boring journey is unavoidable. If you plan to relax or sleep for the whole journey, an MP3 player like iPod or iPod Touch is your best companion.
7. PSP / NDSL
If you plan to stay awake on the way back to your hometown, a portable gaming console is a must! For serious portable gaming, there’s not much choice out there. Try PSP (normally for guys) or a casual game oriented portable gaming console such as NDSL (normally for girls). If you’re bored with your PSP, you can always transform it to a portable media player. 4.3 inch screen for movie FTW!
8. Wii / PS3 / Xbox360
If you have kids visiting you, a gaming console is a must. Keep the kids and teenagers entertained. I’m not advocating violence but fighting games like Tekken and Street Fighter are always fun. Better live with the noise than the kids breaking all your other stuff.
9. PayPal for Angpau
If you can’t visit your kids or relatives during CNY, the least you can do is transfer some money to them. Besides Western Union and Maybank2u, PayPal is simple and fast, but note there is a 3-4% charge.
10. Skype / GTalk / MSN / Yahoo Messenger
Unable to visit your friends and relatives – Fret not! Audio and Video Conference with Skype, GTalk, MSN or Yahoo Messenger… do an online virtual Pai Nian (visit) and renew your friendships
pays to live green
February 6th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I never knew about Google Latitude. Thanks for letting me know about this cool tool, I will be checking it out.
Lee | UseGet
February 6th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
I think Iphone or blackberry should be included also to get connect with everyone during Chinese New Year
G Web
February 6th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Living in South Africa and having a western new years date of 31 December, Iam thrilled that I can ride 6 – 7kms on my moto
rcycle to be in Cyrildene in Johannesburg, a quaint area that has become a Chinese hub with the best restaurants and supermarkets. There is bound to be celebratyions there.
Nicole Price
February 6th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
This is a very nice take on an otherwise mundane topic. Mankind is certainly making living easier as days go by.
foongpc
February 7th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Haha! I like this post! And I want to go angpow hunting!! Yes! Yes! : D
Nicole Price
February 7th, 2010 at 2:19 am
The Nokia N900 should be on this list as well.
Table Tennis Cover
February 7th, 2010 at 10:11 am
10 very good tools and utilities to use. I didn’t know about Google latitude either until I read this post. It never ceases to amaze me what Google comes up with..
used tires
February 7th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
I tested Google Maps version 3.0.2 on a Blackberry Bold and Blackberry 8700. The software still feels like version 1.0, and accuracy and reliability need improvement before Latitude can reach its potential. For the time being I’ve uninstalled Latitude from my Blackberry, but will install it again when the next version is released.
Till then,
Jean
vektör
February 7th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Mankind is certainly making living easier as days go by.
La Digue
February 8th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Great tips. Indeed, these can be really useful. The GPS is a great way to find friends and relatives. Facebook and Twitter as well are great way to organise events for the CNY.
mayormeor
February 8th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Me thinks the ICT cannot replace the traditional type of how we are celebrating our own festival. you can send a animated flash card to your friends, but the old skool trick is still very pleasant, using a mail. But facebooks,twit or anything it just a technology to spreed large among of information. The best way is always the old ways. Daa..
Ian
February 8th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Interesting the point on PayPal: I think payment methods (micro payments) via cell phone – and smartphone- will be the next big thing…
pen tablet
February 8th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I wonder how far will bring us iPad, that is pretty new and may be the first of some new kind of technology that gives and ability to totally mobile interaction.
Aluminum Case
February 9th, 2010 at 3:14 am
Current technology definitely is making it easier to connect with family and friends. Also it helps us enjoy those special events even more. Google Latitude sounds cool….there have been many times when trying to meet up with a friend that I would love to know exactly where they are.
kayyu izle
February 10th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
This is a very nice take on an otherwise mundane topic.
Bidet
February 11th, 2010 at 5:20 am
Those are some great tips, I never knew about Google latitude before. It seems like a great way to see where your friends are and meet up with them.
Metin2 Hile
February 11th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
I think Iphone or blackberry should be included also to get connect with everyone during Chinese New Year
rosario
February 13th, 2010 at 2:13 am
For the time being I’ve uninstalled Latitude from my Blackberry ..
Dyson DC23
February 21st, 2010 at 9:25 am
haha..good post. I brought along and installed the wii at my mother-in-laws home during dinner…the tennis game was a hit and i managed to get the kids exhausted so that i could have some free time afterwards lol
Jaguar Service
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
I loves twitter and facebook as i am currently using this two to connect with my fans.
Program
March 4th, 2010 at 3:03 am
I think Iphone or blackberry should be included also to get connect with everyone during Chinese New Year
Bitkisel Tedavi
March 16th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Mankind is certainly making living easier as days go by.
mobile phone
April 28th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I thought that big purchases weren’t really a part of the chinese new year tradition….isn’t it suppose to be small little gifts?
sell your textbooks
July 6th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Great ways to keep you up to date in the vast technology world.
sell your textbooks
August 6th, 2010 at 5:04 am
These 10 things everyone should have!