The Next Web’s Weekly Recap: Google vs. China, Nexus One Sales and Haiti Support

Welcome to The Next Web’s Weekly Recap. Subscribe to The Next Web’s Podcast (iTunes or XML) where we analyze, rant and have fun with the weekly tech news. Also, make sure to check out The Next Web Conference 2010 (the dates – the vibe – buy tickets).

This week saw the possibility of Google leaving China, less than stellar initial sales results from Google’s Nexus One phone as well as donation technology becoming a big part in raising money for the Haiti relief effort.

The Next Web Podcast: Episode 6
Check out this week’s podcast where we discuss China’s firewall, whether Bing is losing its luster, more Apple tablet rumors, Android news, Cokes new social media push, a cardboard computer that actually works and some Facebook news. As always, we also discuss and bring our perspectives to local tech issues from around the world.

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Google To Leave China?
Google has always had a shaky relationship with China. In order to serve the Chinese market, Google has had to sacrifice some of its core values by censoring search results. While not ideal for Google, the alternative of ignoring China’s billion plus population was a business decision they could not make. This week however, that position may have changed. A cyber attack seeking to grab emails of human rights activists is thought to have been conducted by the Chinese government. In reaction, Google stated that there were going to stop censoring Chinese search results and if China didn’t approve they were going to leave the country. Ironically, China censored Google’s announcement on the censorship attempting to hide the debate from its citizens. We’ll keep you posted how this one plays out. For now, the US Government is staying out of the drama.

Nexus One Progress
Although Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak confessed that he loves the Google phone, the initial sales results have been less than stellar with Vodafone selling more UK iPhones in a day than the Nexus One sold worldwide in a week. It was also announced that Android updates have to pass Google’s review teams? That sounds App Store-ish and is sure to upset devoted Android users who love the fact that the platform is open.

Technology used to Support Haiti
The tragedy in Haiti has been all over the news recently and many have turned to technology and social media to support the effort. The most popular method people have been using is mGive. The service allows you to donate to support the Red Cross Haiti relief effort by simply texting HAITI to 90999 to give $10. The donation is then simply added to your mobile phone bill. As of a couple days ago, the text donation effort has pulled in over $4 million.

Quick Hits

• The purchase sharing tool Blippy is now open and has announced a group of high profile investors.
• Does Tweetdeck allow users to communicate even when Twitter is down? Dave Winer investigates the possibility.
• The long awaited Google Drive was released (well, sort of) – details here.
• Yelp is set to challenge Foursquare and Gowalla by adding check-ins to their mobile applications this week and Martin asks whether auto check-ins will be the next big thing. Twitter is still trying to figure out their location strategy with only 0.23% of tweets currently being geotagged.
• Check out SpotifiTunes, a great service that allows you to stream your iTunes library online using Spotify.
• Starbucks is one of the leading brands using social media, check out how they do it.
• Facebook FINALLY adds replying to messages/wall posts via email, details here.
• Crazy story about how Facebook united a former Guantanamo Bay Guard with a prisoner.
• Coke, on of the biggest companies in the world, is replacing campaign sites with social media.
• Popular video site Vimeo has added mobile video support.
• If you’re into fashion you must check out this list of the top fashion apps for the iPhone.
• Check out Twendly, a great tool for finding experts on Twitter.
• Facebook will begin to offer free McAfee Software to some users.
• The world’s first marketplace for Facebook Fan Pages launched this week.
• If you’re looking for a simple, clean and slick app for organizing meetings check out Ketchup.
• If you have an iPhone you must check out Pastfire.
• Many of Google’s acquisitions in 2010 are likely to be real estate related.
• NewsCred relaunches: build a personal newspaper in five minutes.