Lightweight Models & Cost-Effective Scalability: Chinese “ebay”

Introduction

This blog is going to demonstrate the last pattern of web 2.0 which is Lightweight Models & Cost-Effective Scalability. As global human beings are involved into an Internet era, large companies will participate in this unprecedented dispute with some complex web services. However, for instance, the success reason of web is that hypertext theory has been overthrown, RSS has become perhaps the single most widely deployed web service because of its simplicity, while the complex corporate web services stacks have yet to achieve wide deployment.  Google Maps is another great example, which can provide a map searching service for customers, and also can be simply applied by those program masters, as it is using AJAX.(O’Reilly,2005, page 4)

Chinese “ebay”

I would like to talk about Lightweight Models & Cost-Effective Scalability with one special modern, which is called TaoBao(TB). It is a platform for consumers to consumers trading  on Internet, and it provides a business to consumers e-commerce service. The main function of TB is product e-retail, which is the largest auction platform in China, which has been set up by Alibaba in 2003. Before it was set up, ebay came to China and guided Chinese people to a new world which is shopping online.  As ebay has occupied the major markets in China, it is hard for other enterprises trying to invest in this new field. However, TB achieved success, because it has a great model. The reason of why TB achieved success is that TB focuses on the markets in  Jiangzhe area in China, which are requiring a great amount of pressure with the costs and sales of products. Fortunately, e-commercial is the best solution for those enterprises, TB just meets the requirements.(TaoBao, 2012)

The success steps of TB

1.TB built a basic e-commercial ecosphere. This activity attracts more than 1 million network sellers, who are interested in those business processes.

2.TB has combined with Alibaba, which is the biggest Internet advertising trading platform. Therefore, they can promote themselves to widely potential customers.

3. In  the world record association, TB was selected to be the Chinese biggest e-commerce sites.

the Future of TB

TB are going to take measures to bring a new individual e-commercial times, which can allow every individuals can publish their own shop, and sale their own products. The theme of society will be brought into a new field which is people first theory.

In conclusion

As I have mentioned above, TB is a typical company, which has been set up from a small model. As it has followed the rules of Lightweight Models, which are  creating more with less cost, and easier to start to set up personal online shops, and can build a scale easily.

This is the link of Taobao, when you are free, you can have a look.

References:

O’Reilly, T. (2005). What is web 2.0. Retrieved from: http://oreilly.com/pub/a/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html?page=4

TaoBao. (2012). TaoBao. Retrieved from: http://baike.baidu.com/view/1590.htm#8

The Long Tail: ITUNES STORES

The origin of long tail

In business, the long tail has been created by Chris Anderson, in 2004. The long tail theory is that, due to the cost and efficiency factors, when the goods storage circulation for the ground and channel display are broad enough, the production of commodity costs fell sharply leads to which individual can undertake production. In addition, when the sales of commodity costs are reduced sharply, almost any products which have been regarded as low demanding products can be sold, as long as those can be produced. Those requirement and products with low demands occupy the same common market share or even more than products of main stream.(ForaTv, 2006, December 5)

There is a video can help us to understand long tail more professionally.

In this video, it has mentioned what is the long tail and analysed the significance of long tail. In the past,  individuals would focus on those important people or things, and ignored the major groups, which they need spend more energy and costs, who can be noticed. For instance, in procurement process, companies will keep a watchful eye on VIP, there will be less time considering major customers. However, in Internet era, as  the costs of attention are extremely reduced, companies can be aware of those “tails” with pretty low costs, the entirety benefits of which can will be more that those “heads”.(Long tail, 2012)

ITUneS stores with long tail

iTunes Store has been introduced by Apple Inc on  January 9, 2001. It is a multifunction tool, which can not only provide customers opportunities  to listen music in advanced, but also support customers to rent or buy HD blockbuster movies and episodes of your favourite TV shows and shop for audiobooks and download apps for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.(Bhavin, 2011, para. 4 )

However, at first, Apple Inc did not allow any other brand devices to use iTunes expect MAC. Later, they released the windows version of iTunes for extensive PC users. After the service was provided in 18 hours, iTunes had sold approximately 275,000 tracks. In 2005, there was a new feature being provided, which added music videos, short films and televisions programs to the store. In 2006,  iTunes Music Store changed to iTunes Store, which is a new milestone for Apple. That means that it can allow customers download not only musics, but also movies, apps and audiobooks.

In conclusion 

We can analyse from iTunes’ development journey, Apply has made a long tail, and it helps iTunes achieve success. iTunes Store has been to number one music store in the world. It provides more than 10 billion tracks to be downloaded.

References:

Wiki, 2012. Long tail. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Tail

ForaTv. (2006, December 5).ForaTv – Identifying “The Long Tail” – Chris Anderson. Retrieved from:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yku0GTrcuw&feature=fvwrelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IM0iySVVLs

Bhavin. (2011, October 9). iTunes Store: Leveraging The Long Tail  [Web log post]. Retrieved from: http://bkb90.wordpress.com/category/web-2-0/7-leveraging-the-long-tail/

Perpetual beta: QQ

According to our lecture slides, perpetual beta is the keeping of software or a system at the beta development stage for an extended or indefinite period of time. It is often used by developers when they continue to release new features that might not be fully tested. Perpetual beta software is not recommended for mission critical machines. However, many operational systems find this to be a much more rapid and agile approach to development, staging, and deployment.(Wiki 2012)

I am going to show a video which is demonstrating people’s life in perpetual beta.

As those people mentioned, that makes people more consider those tools they use, they are involved into those processes of creating and improving software. That is a global activity, customers would like to try those tools, and tend to be a developer, which can help them to achieve their goals.

Beta QQ

As the last blog post has introduced QQ. In this post, I am ready to keep this route to analysis that tool. According to O’Reilly mentioned, one of the perpetual beta features is releasing early and releasing often.(2005, Sep 30). Tencent QQ has released totally 6 versions of Beta from 2009 to 2011, which are: QQ 1.0 beta 1,  QQ Concept beta 3, Tencent Messenger beta 3.3, QQ2011 beta (Traditional Chinese), QQ2011 beta 3 build 0115, QQ2011 beta 4 (Simplified Chinese) .  As we can see, those beta were released more frequent in 2011. In 2012, there was a new beta being released with Tencent QQ, which is QQ2011 beta 4. In QQ2011 beta 4, it improves software update methods. Customers can select software update methods-the system will automatically install it when there is an update, when they are installing it or from the system configuration. In addition, there will be another option which is reminding me when there is an update without installing.

 There will be three new functions in it: the function of voice and video chat has been upgraded which allow users make video chatting more clearly and fluently; multiaccount can login at the same time which will dramatically reduce operating time; recommending friends is another useful function, users can provide 5 friends to their other friends at one time. Those useful functions were created based on internal and external of company.

In conclusion:

 Widely customers provide their requirements and suggestions so that companies can come true those tasks and achieve the goal of attracting more users.

As we can see, there are a number of merits which companies apply one of the web 2.0 pattern of perpetual beta. The customer would like to involve into the process of building up and improving those tools, and companies can save their cost and realize customers’ requirements easily.

In case there will be some would like to try this amazing tool, I will provide a link to you. An amazing trip start from here. That download link is for both mac and other operation system.

References:

Perpetual beta. Wikipeida. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_beta

Lifeinperpetualbeta. (2010, May 4). Life In Perpetual Beta Trailer. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YTJfS3FfZo

 O’Reilly, Tim (2005-09-30). What is Web 2.0. Retrieved from: http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html?page=4

Software above the level of a single device:QQ

As social tools : Wikies, Blogs, Facebook and Twitters can be implemented not only PC platform, but also other devices.This blog is going to demonstrate the fifth pattern : Software above the level of a single device.

The feature of that pattern is that web 2.0 is no longer limited to the PC platform. (Tim 2005)That means nearly all software can be applied in some platforms, like palm computers, and mobile devices.  People are more interested in convenience of applying those web applications. 

Most web tools can be used with PC and Mobile devices. I am going to introduce a new tool, which will be used by most chinese users, which is QQ.

Based on a great number of user(online QQ accounts exceed 160 million on 19th april 2012 ) , advanced central processing system, and powerful data-storage system, QQ has been one of the biggest and  most poplar web tool in World.

In Feb 1999, Tencent developed an instance message software OICQ( later named QQ) which has all the functions of OICQ, like MSN. The first net paging real-time communications service was being released by QQ. Then other great functions had been successfully created such as chatrooms, games, internet storage, and internet dating services.(Tencent QQ 2011)

The reason of why QQ has been widely used is that QQ can support multiple platform, like PC, Mobiles, palm computers. The current version of QQ2012 could be applied on  Windows XP, Vista, 7. In addition, as we all know, some softwares are not supported by  MAC operating systems, in 2005, QQ has developed the tool for MAC users. For the mobile platform, the Android and IOS are available as well.

Moreover, although QQ is popular in China, they published a standard as International QQ  available in 6 languages English, French, German, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. Therefore, QQ has been a global web tool.

QQ company has designed games, which can be supported by mobile and PC devices. As a general entertainment tool, QQ games can attract more users to use as it is easy to be operated and can decrease data usage.

In addition, based on QQ powerful processing system, Weixin has been created, which is like talk box. Weixin can post not only literature, but also images and voice messages.

I had mentioned a number of great functions QQ created. However, there will be some demerits with it. As there are a great amount of users, one problem is leaking privacy. In the back of the QQ processing system, when users try to implement it, there will be an opportunity to make it happen, unless users have to use fire wall to prevent that.

References:

Tim O’Reilly.(2005).Design Patterns and Business Models for the next generation of software. Retrieved from: http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html?page=4

Tencent QQ.(2011). Tencent QQ. Retrieved from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tencent_QQ

Rich User Experience

Before we start to talk about one of web 2.0 pattern of rich user experience, I would like to introduce some backgrounds of it.

The web was being designed to deliver “applets” and other types of active content within the web browser in 1992 by Pei Wei. In 1995, JAVA had been involved in order to transfer those small programs. Few years later, Rich Internet Applications have been created by Macromedia, so that flash can not only transfer multimedia content, but also be GUI-style application experiences.

The potential of the Internet relay the whole application was not the main trend before Google imported Gmail. Soon afterwards, the technique, which has been implemented by Google, is called AJAX.

AJAX is not just one technique, it includes few techniques:

–Conducting XHTML and CSS to achieve all kinds of standard display.

–Utilizing Document Object Model to achieve dynamic display and interaction.

–Applying XML and XSLT to achieve data exchange and operation.

–Using XMLHttpRequest to achieve asynchronous data retrieval.

–binding all the stuff which have mentioned above with JavaScript.

Gmail has provided some interesting innovations, which combines the power of Internet and usability with user interface which close to PC interface. At the meantime, PC platform of other mail applications are increasing IM and present ability from another side to occupy this area.

As web 2.0 companies, there are 7 principals who have to follow,to be their core competitiveness:

1.service,rather than packaged software, which has scalability of high benefits.

2.Controlling the unique, difficult to rebuilding data source, and there will be more abundant if there are more users.

3.Regarding users as common developers.

4.Harnessing Collective Intelligence.

5.Expressing the power of the long tail through self-service of customers

6.Software exceed a single device.

7.Lightweight type user interface, development mode, and business mode.

As the great example, Google can be the leader of web 2.0 tools. Google has developed a number of functions, like Google Docs, Google Group, Google Maps, etc. Nearly all tools of Google are building based on those 7 principles. Google Docs is a great example. The documents of Google Docs can be edited and posted by any members in that group, and also whenever and wherever they want, they just need simply login their Google account, and do it. That is the best way to represent that 7 rules.

Do you think is there any other functions or tools they have not founded yet, if so, just tell Google. I believe Google can solve it before any others, because they know what customers want.

References:

http://n7457952.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/twitter-a-rich-user-interface-in-140-characters-or-less/

http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html

 

Talk Box

This blog is going to represent API. I do believe that if there is anything people want to understand or study, they have to know the meaning or the basic theory of it. Therefore, I would like to show a video to demonstrate what is an API?

I think you must have a brief idea about API after watch that short video. With my personal view, I would like to say that API is a principle of web tools to limit users’ behavior: every web 2.0 tool users has to follow that rules implement it.In this blog, I am going to analyse two web 2.0 tools : Talk Box

As the most famous symbol— Iphone has brought a revolution of mobile phone. Because not only its pattern designs, but also its luxuriant multifunction. Talk Box, which was brought by Iphone, is one of the most useful tools. The idea of design is from a question-should there be an easier, faster messaging way? Therefore, Talk Box was created from the desire of the people.

 As the original  requirements, Talk Box needs to make users message easier and faster. What do you think is the best way to solve this issue? Yes, the answer is voice message, which can decrease customers’ typing time.  Because it just needs to press one button and simply say your message, therefore, every users can apply it easily. Moreover, there is not necessary  downloading and uploading voice notes, that is dramatically reducing customer wait time.

There is another function, it is called collaborative experience. As a traditional Internet conversation is one to one,  however, that function can make customers talk to few users in the same circumstance. In Talk Box, the limited number of people is 9, who can talk under the same topic.

The third advantage is borderless and free. Whenever and wherever the customers want to talk or hear from  any others, they can send and receive messages.

The last great function is that Talk Box can sync with multiple contact lists. As long as users sync their phone number with talk box, it can help them guide their contact into talk box contact list. Since customers have selected one of their phone number and sync it with talk box, even though they use different phone number ,they can still have the ex-contact list. Customers do not have to worry about losing contact with their friends.

However, I would like to say that there is still a demerit: as talk box can be only installed for iPhone and android, other phones can not apply it. There will be a number of people using other phones,like Nokia. I would suggest that if they can develop the platform of Talk Box, it will be the most popular chatting tool.

Reference:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcHhwsTIK_o

http://www.logomoose.com/pending-logos/talk-box/

http://talkboxapp.com/en/intro

Data Is The New Intel Inside

This blog is going to talk about Data in nowadays. Since it will be much more important  with storing data, more Internet users prefer using Internet store their schedule, proposals, prospects, or even diaries, to bringing a number of paper documents. Many companies are going to apply a very large server to save data. As usual, before I start to demonstrate my blog, I am going to represent a video, which is talking about Google Data.

We can realise some information about Google inside organization from that video. There are a number of functions in Google,like Docs, Groups, News.

 

 

Have you ever used this tool before?If not, I really suggest you should try it. Google Docs makes creating and collaborating on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations simple. Everyone who has the authority can edit and save those documents. People can share those information with other members, as long as they are in the same platform. In addition, we can control who has access, like ourselves, team mates and whole group. This tool likes wiki, users can save their information directly after they login google account.

• Upload Word documents, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML or text files(or create documents from scratch)
• Invite others by email to edit or view your documentsImport .xls, .csv, .txt and .ods formatted data
• Import existing presentations in .ppt and .pps file types
• You can save your documents and spreadsheets to your own computer in DOC, XLS, CSV, ODS, ODT, PDF, RTF and HTML formats
• Use formatting and formula editing so you can calculate results and make your data look the way you want it
• Share and edit presentations with your friends and coworkers
• View your documents from your mobile phone

Those points are the functions of Google Docs.As those convenient points, every users would like to apply it.

 

 

As another essential tool in Google, Google Groups gives widely users a lot. Like I did last two semesters, we can usually work team problem out with it. Just a simple post, every group member can receive those news through their recent login email or Google Group. Users do not have to be worried about finding a suitable communicate tool to be in touch with team members. We can also attach files with it. Moreover, we are not afraid of storing information, Google has enough space to help us, as they have many large servers. We just need to remember write and post.

 

The third important tool is Google News. Users can know a great number of news through Google News, even though they do not have to watch TV. As Google has a quite large platform, several news agent will post news through it. In addition, Google users can also post some interesting topics. If you would like to find the newest news, I would say “Google News is the best choice for you”. It will be updated few seconds, and also we can find some hot topic news.

In conclusion, as this blog has discussed three Google tools: Docs, Groups, News. We can see data has been saved in many ways, which makes people’s life easier and better. Like Google Docs can make people save and share documents. Google Groups can save the group information on the Internet, whenever there is a problem with team members, they can find the useful information through Google Groups. Phone, Email, Self-service online support will be offered.

References:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-3bdWCOSMQ

http://www.excelmicro.com/services/googleapps/googledocs

http://www.companylogos.ws/googlegroupslogo.html

http://www.alltechnologynews.com/antitrust-stop-the-investigation-on-google-news.html

Google Adsense

Since we can see, this blog is going to discuss Google Adsense. Before I start my post, I would like to talk about a controversial topic-what is Web 2.0. As my personal habit, I usually post a video before I start to demonstrate my blog.

Although that is the definition of Web 2.0, there are still a great mount of definition of it. Of course, there will be some slightly differences between that. However, the definition of  Web 2.0 patterns is always the similar content. This blog is going to talk about Google Adsense.

Like a partner, we have to mention DoubleClick (DC). DC can help develop and provide Internet ad services. Agencies, markets and publishers who serve customers, are their clients.

However, it is a rudiment of the internet era. Although it regards software as a service, DC is limited by its business model. That concept is focus on publishment, the customers of ad, and scope, but it is not concentrate on participation, and customers.

All kinds of websites publishers can through displaying their potential google ads on those websites with a free, simple way to make a great mount of profits. In addition, AdSense can provide Google search to those site users. Based on the search results pages, Google can earn money.

Fortunately, Google followed Chris Anderson’s indication (the long tail) – the power of the little websites provide great majority information of the internet.

DC’s products require sign a formal contract,and put those ads into a limited market like a few thousands of websites. However, compared with DC, Google put those ads into every web pages. Moreover, they avoid those publishers’ favourite pattern. Applying a  pattern of text advertising, which can reduce interference and sensibility.

As this blog has compared DoubleClick with Google AdSense. We can see that GA put more attention on service, which can attract more users, and publishers and ads companies. Because it is so easy to apply, it is unnecessary to sign a formal contract for publishing a simple ad. And ads have wider impact, as most web pages can appear it. In addition, service will be more popular and supporting in nowadays.

References:

Flexbeta.”What is Web 2.0″.September 10, 2006.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LzQIUANnHc

Wiki. “DoubleClick”. Last modified March 10 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DoubleClick

http://www.duoblogger.com/google%E2%80%99s-dfp-%E2%80%93-direct-ads-and-adsense-combined-easily/3445/

http://wangyueblog.com/2011/08/11/google-adsense-2/

Google.”What is a google AdSense?”. http://support.google.com/adsense/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=9712

O’Reilly, Tim. September 30, 2005. “What is web 2.0”. http://oreilly.com/web2/archive/what-is-web-20.html

Google

Through those two study semesters,I got a brief idea about how to use google to make our work easier and more sufficiently,since google group and google docs are very suitable for my study.Before I demonstrate google group and google docs ,I would like to show a video about how to easily use google group in our daily life.

I believe if you can watch that video carefully ,you must know how to use it with our work.I have worked with it very well.I am going to show some evidences which can show how it works very well with others.Firstly,everyone who wants to use google group has to creat a google account,that is easy and probably just needs 2 minutes.Here is my google group:

We can see there are two groups ,one is for INB346,and another is for INB123.In addition,we can also find that top right button,after we click that ,we can creat a new google group.I believe that if you watch that video,you will know how to add members .

Now,let’s see that inside view.For instance,after I click INB346,we will see some main topics.We can find there are 6 specific topics,which shows how we know each members and how we manage our team.For example,we do not have to meet face to face to consider our assignment,and we can chat through it and divide our tasks into pieces.When each member finish their part ,we can get together to discuss which part should be improved and what information can be added.

In addition,as I mentioned above ,we need to collect all parts what each member did,therefore ,google docs is the best social tool we should consider.Since that limits of authority can be controlled.When we creat a new document,we can set everyone or particular people can see and add information.

In conclusion,we can see there are a number of benefits using Google group and Google Docs.We can save much time,and communication with face to face is not essential at all.Whenever we got an idea,we could post it on google,and others could solve it ASAP.There are also some relevant definitions:Google DOCS,Basic Tour of Google DOCS

A Social tool : Wiki

Nowadays,more and more web 2.0 technologies are being used to develop buisness.Since those tools can enhance business strategies.As our social activity is going to be faster and faster,we can achieve the latest information from those tools,even though we do not have to go outside.Today I am going to talk about Wiki.There is a video we can realize why it is useful for us and how to simply use it.

Before I discuss Wiki tool,I would like to introduce that background for you.What is Wiki:

Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.

Wiki is unusual among group communication mechanisms in that it allows the organization of contributions to be edited in addition to the content itself.

Like many simple concepts, “open editing” has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical users.(2002)

Let’s focus on Wiki in business.There are a number of merits.For example,a game shop through using Wiki can gain what is costumers’  favorite game,and which games they should increase product and which should decrease. They can also gain some feedback through Wiki.For instance,since everyone can edit and save it,customers can put their advice or some own case on Wiki,and the managers can try to improve this ,after they correct or fix it ,they can also give the answer to all customers .As the same time,they enhance their business brand .

If I am going to run a company and try to get help from Wiki,there are a number of ways I should follow.First,I need to work with my team to build a specific information which is really relating to our business.For example,if I am running a restaurant,in my Wiki,I will set up a page where customers can discuss what they like and how should we improve ;another page we can put our menu on ,therefore every potential customers can know my restaurant’s meal easily.Second,I would like to find an experienced staff who are professional with Wiki.Since everyone can edit and save those information,we have to hire a professional staff charge it .Therefore,we can gain some feedback from Wiki and also protect ourselves.

Reference:

http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki