MSN Groups will be GONE!

this is what i received from MSN groups! wonder how successful Yahoo groups or Google groups are doing!

Dear MSN Groups Customer,

As a valued MSN Groups or MSN Communities Web Folders customer, we want to notify you that the MSN Groups service will close on February 21, 2009 and you will have the opportunity to move your group to our new partner service, Multiply. We understand the importance of keeping your group together, so we partnered with Multiply to create a migration process that moves your group to their service to preserve your online community and its history. Read on to find out about how to kick off the automatic migration of your group to Multiply.

We realise this may be unexpected, so before presenting your options we want to briefly share why we've made this decision.

Why? 
Because we are dedicated to providing our customers with the most current and user friendly technology available today we made the difficult decision to close the MSN Groups service. This decision is part of an overall investment to update and re-align our online services with Windows Live. In the long term we believe that closing the service is the best way to continue to offer innovative and effective services that help you stay in touch with the people you care about. We plan to launch a new Groups service in the coming weeks, but unlike MSN Groups, Windows Live Groups will focus on offering a place for small groups to collaborate. Multiply is available now, making it your best option today for continuing to share and communicate together online.

Options for moving your group to a new service
We've listed some options and resources below to help you decide what to do with your group.

• Option 1: Automatically move your group and its data. We have established a partnership with Multiply, an online group and media sharing service so our users can choose to migrate their group to Multiply's service. Choosing this option is free and easy to use: Multiply will move the Group's content on your behalf and invite members to re-join your group in its new location. To begin the migration click here.
• Option 2: Start again on another service. You can start from scratch and create your group on a different service but we recommend having your Group moved automatically by Multiply. This will enable your Group to transition easily and continue to enjoy the community you have created.
• Option 3: Start again on Windows Live Groups. To further expand our mix of communications and sharing services, Windows Live will launch a new service this autumn, Windows Live Groups. We plan to launch Windows Live Groups to the public in the coming weeks as a service that helps small groups or clubs collaborate online.

Options for MSN Communities Web Folders users
If you use save files to the MSN Communities web folders (also known as "My Web Sites on MSN" or the web folder "My Groups"), these services are part of MSN Groups and will therefore will also be closed on February 21, 2009. We recommend that if you store files online using MSN Communities web folders that you back up these files locally, then upload them to another online storage service such as Windows Live SkyDrive. For more details on how to find and move files saved to your web folders, visit the MSN Groups Resource Center.

Your Next Steps 
We have sent this letter to each MSN Groups user, whether member or manager. If you are:

• A member or user of MSN Groups: Check with your group manager to determine whether they plan to migrate the group.
• A manager: Visit the MSN Groups Resource Center to learn more about your options and consider soliciting feedback from your group members about what they would prefer to do, when and how. The Resource Center also provides a sample splash page you can use to notify your members that the group will move. If you're ready to move the group now, click here.

What to Expect between now and the closing date
Between today and February 21, 2009 the MSN Groups service will remain the same as it is now. We will remove the option to add more storage to your group but other features will remain until the service is shut down and you can use it the same way you do today until the date of closure.

Where can I learn more?
You probably have more questions, and that's why we created a website to address them. Please visit theMSN Groups Resource Center at any time for the most up to date answers to common questions, information about migrating your group to Multiply, contact information for our support staff, and important dates.

Our support staff are equipped to answer your questions and guide you through issues that may arise as you decide what to do with your group. They are ready to help so don't hesitate to contact them at MSN Groups Customer Support with your questions.

We thank you for using our services and regret any inconvenience this may cause.

MSN Groups, Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our online Privacy Statement.

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052

Incentives to Go Mobile with Xiaonei.com

Not sure if this is healthy to do this!

unless they've got a deal with China Mobile for Data transaction usage revenue sharing!

http://xnimg.cn/actimg/wap/index.html

if you refer a friend to register via mobile you can get 5 points.

if you refer a friend to log in via mobile, you can get 1 point.

if you are top on the list for cumulated points, you can win a cell phone or cell phone top-up cards worth 200 or 100 RMB. 

What's going on there? what's behind the true "Going Mobile" promotion?

Facebook has never done that... especially with iPhone, people do what they want to do, via mobile internet access. However, wireless access is not very pervasive yet in China. WTH, is xiaonei trying to do with the students who are yet to gain their financial stability?

Information is overloaded over there and I don't enjoy visit xiaonei as much as facebook.  I have to say... the activity feed on xiaonei to me, 80% are spams. they just keep on feeding and feeding... you know... no container in this world has an indefinite capacity.  if this continues to grow, it will scare people away... it is just too much!

Very Interesting Q&A about China

Q: Do Chinese eat dogs?
A: Yes. And cats. Especially on our "Thanks receiving" day. Besides, turkeys are our favorite pets. In China only the most uneducated eat turkeys. 

Q: China is becoming strong. Does your government want to take over the world?
A: Yes, absolutely. As soon as we become powerful, we will invade Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Q: Why doesn't your government give Tibet back to its monks?
A: Because the monks want to help the Seminoles take back Florida.  

Q: Are the products made in China very cheap?
A: Yes. Were we using slaves, the price would be even cheaper. 

Q: You have 1.4 billion people. Now what do you want to do with it?
A: Find a new planet. Kill the native people there, and move in. 

(forwarded from a post on xiaonei.com)

while facebook is hyped, google continues its hype outside US

is this statement true?
I guess so!
Google continues to expand it's operation overseas and over 50% of the revenue generated by Google are from overseas.

I spotted an MSN status as "Dreaming for Googleplex... Mountain View,CA"

I mentioned to some of my friends to try apply jobs at Google but they gave a "virtual face" - "duh". Don't talk about it... it's impossible for me (them) to get in, seemingly!

It is definitely not the case. I still remember when Youtube recruiter knocked on my door one day via email and I seriously thought that might be a spam. Then I asked my friends who are in Google to check if that person exists and she does.  Much later, I realised it was my good friend their who brought us to see Chad referred me and got me the chance to get my door knocked on. 

So my friends, as one Chinese brand (361), used "nothing is impossible" as their slogan. and adidas started "impossible is nothing" as their slogan. 

the fact is that "impossible is meaningless" now. 

so... go for it!   dream and fly higher! 

wish all the best to my dear friends in different countries, doing great stuff! 

You guys all rock!

the new macbooks

the new macbook and macbook pro are out!
check it out!
www.apple.com =)

new facebook homepage - nice

wow... I just loaded www.facebook.com earlier on.
I found that there is an updated home page. I was so surprised and delighted. =)

wanted to upload a captured picture but I could not.
do check it out at www.facebook.com