Making Money Off Youtube

Former head of Google China, Kai-fu Lee, insists—insists—that he is not happy that Google imploded its business in China. “Seeing the work that I put in, how could I be happy to see that?” he says. In fact, in a press release all about his incubator’s companies being built on top of Android he doesn’t use the G-word once. “Given the pull out, we’ll accept the situation and do our best,” he says humbly. Yeah, accept the situation like a fox.

As Lee begins to open up more about the types of companies being created at his incubator, Innovation Works, there’s a consistent theme—Android. Whether it’s address books, music programs, video games, maps, eCommerce marketplaces or e-readers, many of Lee’s companies are hoping to take advantage of the good things about Android—namely that it’s a free, robust operating system—but customize the core smartphone applications in a way that Google won’t or can’t.

It’s interesting that I had a conversation with Lee about this topic right about the time Google CEO Eric Schmidt was delivering a keynote touting that more than 200,000 Android-powered smartphones are activated daily, going beyond just the smartphone wielding “elite.” Lee would agree with everything his former boss said. It’s just that Google isn’t well positioned to make money off the apps and services in the world’s largest market. Oops.

Lee philosophically may have issues with the lack of openness in the Chinese Web, but it’s also giving him an advantage: The most popular applications for the Android phone like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Pandora aren’t available in China, and Google’s native apps may not be the top choice of manufacturers given the search engine’s stance on doing business in the country. So Innovation Works is collectively trying to build a new Web on top of the platform that’s customized for Chinese tastes.

For example, music services that show song lyrics as they play—an essential feature for China’s karaoke loving audience. Another example is a program that automatically enters different dialing prefixes that save money on calls to certain regions. Because 3G is so expensive in China, a video program called Wonderpod downloads videos onto your phone from your laptop at work, so you can watch them without having to stream them on the commute home. An eReader software company lets you read 60% of the book for free then asks for a payment to read the rest. Because of rampant piracy, there’s no chance of selling eBooks without giving anything away for free, but once people are hooked, if they enjoy it, they’ll pay for the rest of the book out of convenience, Lee argues. The incubator is making a few, broad platform plays with an Android-based operating system called Tapas, an analytics tool for developers called Umeng and Ascending Cloud, a publisher of social games.

At most, Lee’s mobile companies are getting a couple dollars per user for these apps so these ideas only become huge companies with massive scale. This can’t be just a game played for the top of the pyramid. And there’s no question in Lee’s mind that Android will be bigger in China than the iPhone, because the cost differential is much more pronounced. Because there aren’t many Android models in the US, hardware makers can price the phones close to the iPhone, but in manufacturing-heavy China prices will almost certainly be driven down much faster.

Lee says the Android devices coming out next year—including manufacturers his companies are working with—cost $200 to $300 per phone. He expects that to fall to around $100 the next year, and possible fall below $100 the year after that. The iPhone will never experience that kind of competitive pressure because only Apple makes it. (Although I could show you plenty of cheaper versions with the an Apple-like logo in the dodgy markets of Shenzhen…)

And there are no carrier subsidies in China, because 80% of phones are bought independently from airtime. So an iPhone will cost around $600. Already Android will enter the market at half the price. For a big swath of the Chinese population that will make a difference, especially if those prices can get under $100 per phone in just a few years with features more tailored for the market.

In a lot of ways, this is a strategy that would only work in China—it’s all about volume and counts on a market with hyper-aggressively competitive gadget manufacturing. But with billions of dollars in venture capital sloshing around China, the market to build the best mobile apps could be as cutthroat as the competition to win the hardware wars. Lee has recently inked some strategic partnerships with Foxconn, Chunghwa Telecom, MediaTek Inc and a raft of global investors to help his chances of being the one to profit from the opportunity.

He’s also moved Innovation Works from Google China’s building to a new location that features what any incubator needs—a hologram that greets you at the front door. I’m not kidding. He told his designer he needed it to look different than any other office and from the look of the pictures, he succeeded. His mobile bets are less certain. But if he wins he’ll have at least one guy to thank: Sergey Brin. A big juicy market opportunity is a lot better parting gift than a watch.

Normally, we assume you’ve missed a few posts here and there because you’ve been outside enjoying the last days of summer. But given the impending Hurricane and crippling heatwave, we sincerely hope you’ve been inside this past week. So what’s your excuse?

If you still have catching up to do, we’re back with another list of resources from the past week or so.

Our Social Media section can help you gear up for Fantasy Football season, Watch the US Open, or break down the news with some insightful infographics. Tech and Mobile offers a guide on making your own ringtones, using class='blippr-nobr'>Gmail’sclass="blippr-nobr">Gmail priority inbox, and a slew of iPhoneclass="blippr-nobr">iPhone tips and tricks. Business comes packed with SEO tips, response plans to social media attacks, and advice on incorporating your startup.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

id="more-372470">

Social Media/>

• Top 10 Fantasy Football Sites to Help You Win/> Here are 10 websites that might give you the winning edge over your fantasy football competition.
• 10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube /> class='blippr-nobr'>YouTubeclass="blippr-nobr">YouTube isn’t just for kittens, cute kids, and confabulating celebrities. It’s also home to some of the most inspiring historical moments ever captured on camera.
• 7 Services That Will Suggest Things You Like/> Unlimited choice (especially on the web) is not always a good thing. These 7 sites use can help narrow down the agonizing list of possibilities in a variety of areas.
• 5 Fun FarmVille Accessories/> 80 million virtual farmers can’t be wrong! Show off your social gaming addiction with these 5 hilarious accessories.
• HOW TO: Follow the US Open with Social Media/> We’ve collected some easy, free and totally legal ways to watch and follow the US Open on the web and via social media.
• 10 of the Web’s Most Insightful News Infographics/> A picture is worth a thousand words. But if you include an entire database, make it interactive, and add filtering options, the word-to-picture exchange rate is even better.
• How Social Data Built a Better Health Care App/> It’s not often that the U.S. government uses social media or open source data to solve a problem, but the NIH’s recent project “Pillbox” is an exception with a lot of potential.
• HOW TO: Score the Best Fashion Deals on the Social Web/> Just because the economy is still depressed doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be. Check out all these great discount fashion destinations on the social web.
• Social Media Grammar: The “Checkin” Conundrum/> So you want to write about class='blippr-nobr'>Foursquareclass="blippr-nobr">Foursquare, but is it “check in,” “checkin,” or “check-in?” We have the answers, which are sure to please even the sternest grammarian.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow class='blippr-nobr'>Mashable’sclass="blippr-nobr">Mashable social media channel on Twitterclass="blippr-nobr">Twitter and become a fan on Facebookclass="blippr-nobr">Facebook.

Tech & Mobile/>

• HOW TO: Make Free iPhone Ringtones/> You don’t need to spend extra money to turn your favorite song into an iPhone ringtone. You can do it right in iTunes. Here’s how.
• 6 Job Search Tips for Aspiring Programmers/> 6 job search tips from the people who hire programmers about how you can land your dream job.
• 8 Free BlackBerry Games Worth Downloading/> Need a break from the e-mail influx? Sneak away and grab one of these free and fun BlackBerry games.
• Gmail Priority Inbox: 5 Tips for Better Productivity/> We’ve identified a few more complex tips for those of you looking to maximize productivity and use some of the less obvious features of Priority Inbox.
• 10 Useful iPhone Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks/> We’ve put the iPhone 4 through its paces and come up with some handy tips and tricks that will help you get more out of your Apple-flavored mobile.
• Why the Apple A4 is the iPod Touch’s Killer Feature/> The most significant addition to Apple’s new iPod is the inclusion of the same chip capably powering the iPhone 4 and the iPad — the Apple A4.
• HOW TO: Get Started with HTML5 Boilerplate/> HTML5 Boilerplate is one of the most interesting new projects aimed at giving designers and developers a template for integrating HTML5 into their sites.
• 15 Essential Back to School Podcasts/> If you need some help getting back into “learning mode,” these podcasts will open your ears to a wealth of insight on science, history, economics, literature, math and more.
• HOW TO: Track Hurricane Earl Online/> Want to know how Earl will affect your Labor Day weekend plans? Check out these resources for tracking the hurricane.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Business/>

• HOW TO: Respond when Social Media Attacks Your Brand/> Here are three examples of companies that received negative attention on social media and how you can learn from their mistakes or successes.
• How CEOs Will Use Social Media in the Future/> Whether they use it for recruiting, scouting, public engagement or social CRM, CEOs will need to have a firm grasp on social media if they want to stay ahead of the curve.
• 3 Winning Alternatives to Online Sweepstakes/> Many brands aren’t aware that running an actual sweepstakes promotion has many legal ramifications. These 3 alternatives can be just as engaging, but without the complications.
• HOW TO: Incorporate Your Startup at the Right Time/> Once you’ve decided that incorporation is right for your business, what’s the best time to do it? There are a number of paperwork and tax-related factors to consider.
• 4 Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts/> Search rank can be a powerful way to drive readers and customers to your site. Check out this advice on how to make your business blog more class='blippr-nobr'>Googleclass="blippr-nobr">Google-friendly.
• A World Without E-mail: One Man’s Vision of a Social Workplace/> Luis Suarez has a dream: no more e-mail. He discusses working remotely from a paradise island and the benefits of keeping all his business correspondence social.
• 8 Funding Contests to Kick Start Your Big Idea/> Does your startup need an investment to get off the ground? These competitions might prove a good source of VC … if you can win.

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

For more Social Media coverage:

class="f-el">class="cov-twit">Follow Mashable Social Mediaclass="s-el">class="cov-rss">Subscribe to the Social Media channelclass="f-el">class="cov-fb">Become a Fan on Facebookclass="s-el">class="cov-apple">Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

robert shumake

ABC <b>News</b> and Facebook team up for election coverage - Lost Remote

ABC News is also partnering with Yahoo! News to do election polling, with results posted on both sites. In addition, the network will be doing daily 15-minute webcasts beginning October 25th at 6:45 am, the idea being that the webcast ...

The Hockey <b>News</b>: Fantasy Pool Look Column: Fantasy Pool Look: Late <b>...</b>

Looking to pick up a producer in the late-rounds of your draft? The Dobber has a few suggestions.

Mosley and McMullan &#39;star&#39; in <b>News</b> of the World phone-hacking <b>...</b>

City University panel discuss just how far reporters should go in pursuit of a story.

robert shumake

ABC <b>News</b> and Facebook team up for election coverage - Lost Remote

ABC News is also partnering with Yahoo! News to do election polling, with results posted on both sites. In addition, the network will be doing daily 15-minute webcasts beginning October 25th at 6:45 am, the idea being that the webcast ...

The Hockey <b>News</b>: Fantasy Pool Look Column: Fantasy Pool Look: Late <b>...</b>

Looking to pick up a producer in the late-rounds of your draft? The Dobber has a few suggestions.

Mosley and McMullan &#39;star&#39; in <b>News</b> of the World phone-hacking <b>...</b>

City University panel discuss just how far reporters should go in pursuit of a story.

robert shumake

Former head of Google China, Kai-fu Lee, insists—insists—that he is not happy that Google imploded its business in China. “Seeing the work that I put in, how could I be happy to see that?” he says. In fact, in a press release all about his incubator’s companies being built on top of Android he doesn’t use the G-word once. “Given the pull out, we’ll accept the situation and do our best,” he says humbly. Yeah, accept the situation like a fox.

As Lee begins to open up more about the types of companies being created at his incubator, Innovation Works, there’s a consistent theme—Android. Whether it’s address books, music programs, video games, maps, eCommerce marketplaces or e-readers, many of Lee’s companies are hoping to take advantage of the good things about Android—namely that it’s a free, robust operating system—but customize the core smartphone applications in a way that Google won’t or can’t.

It’s interesting that I had a conversation with Lee about this topic right about the time Google CEO Eric Schmidt was delivering a keynote touting that more than 200,000 Android-powered smartphones are activated daily, going beyond just the smartphone wielding “elite.” Lee would agree with everything his former boss said. It’s just that Google isn’t well positioned to make money off the apps and services in the world’s largest market. Oops.

Lee philosophically may have issues with the lack of openness in the Chinese Web, but it’s also giving him an advantage: The most popular applications for the Android phone like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Pandora aren’t available in China, and Google’s native apps may not be the top choice of manufacturers given the search engine’s stance on doing business in the country. So Innovation Works is collectively trying to build a new Web on top of the platform that’s customized for Chinese tastes.

For example, music services that show song lyrics as they play—an essential feature for China’s karaoke loving audience. Another example is a program that automatically enters different dialing prefixes that save money on calls to certain regions. Because 3G is so expensive in China, a video program called Wonderpod downloads videos onto your phone from your laptop at work, so you can watch them without having to stream them on the commute home. An eReader software company lets you read 60% of the book for free then asks for a payment to read the rest. Because of rampant piracy, there’s no chance of selling eBooks without giving anything away for free, but once people are hooked, if they enjoy it, they’ll pay for the rest of the book out of convenience, Lee argues. The incubator is making a few, broad platform plays with an Android-based operating system called Tapas, an analytics tool for developers called Umeng and Ascending Cloud, a publisher of social games.

At most, Lee’s mobile companies are getting a couple dollars per user for these apps so these ideas only become huge companies with massive scale. This can’t be just a game played for the top of the pyramid. And there’s no question in Lee’s mind that Android will be bigger in China than the iPhone, because the cost differential is much more pronounced. Because there aren’t many Android models in the US, hardware makers can price the phones close to the iPhone, but in manufacturing-heavy China prices will almost certainly be driven down much faster.

Lee says the Android devices coming out next year—including manufacturers his companies are working with—cost $200 to $300 per phone. He expects that to fall to around $100 the next year, and possible fall below $100 the year after that. The iPhone will never experience that kind of competitive pressure because only Apple makes it. (Although I could show you plenty of cheaper versions with the an Apple-like logo in the dodgy markets of Shenzhen…)

And there are no carrier subsidies in China, because 80% of phones are bought independently from airtime. So an iPhone will cost around $600. Already Android will enter the market at half the price. For a big swath of the Chinese population that will make a difference, especially if those prices can get under $100 per phone in just a few years with features more tailored for the market.

In a lot of ways, this is a strategy that would only work in China—it’s all about volume and counts on a market with hyper-aggressively competitive gadget manufacturing. But with billions of dollars in venture capital sloshing around China, the market to build the best mobile apps could be as cutthroat as the competition to win the hardware wars. Lee has recently inked some strategic partnerships with Foxconn, Chunghwa Telecom, MediaTek Inc and a raft of global investors to help his chances of being the one to profit from the opportunity.

He’s also moved Innovation Works from Google China’s building to a new location that features what any incubator needs—a hologram that greets you at the front door. I’m not kidding. He told his designer he needed it to look different than any other office and from the look of the pictures, he succeeded. His mobile bets are less certain. But if he wins he’ll have at least one guy to thank: Sergey Brin. A big juicy market opportunity is a lot better parting gift than a watch.

Normally, we assume you’ve missed a few posts here and there because you’ve been outside enjoying the last days of summer. But given the impending Hurricane and crippling heatwave, we sincerely hope you’ve been inside this past week. So what’s your excuse?

If you still have catching up to do, we’re back with another list of resources from the past week or so.

Our Social Media section can help you gear up for Fantasy Football season, Watch the US Open, or break down the news with some insightful infographics. Tech and Mobile offers a guide on making your own ringtones, using class='blippr-nobr'>Gmail’sclass="blippr-nobr">Gmail priority inbox, and a slew of iPhoneclass="blippr-nobr">iPhone tips and tricks. Business comes packed with SEO tips, response plans to social media attacks, and advice on incorporating your startup.

Looking for even more social media resources? This guide appears every weekend, and you can check out all the lists-gone-by here any time.

id="more-372470">

Social Media/>

• Top 10 Fantasy Football Sites to Help You Win/> Here are 10 websites that might give you the winning edge over your fantasy football competition.
• 10 Incredibly Inspirational Moments on YouTube /> class='blippr-nobr'>YouTubeclass="blippr-nobr">YouTube isn’t just for kittens, cute kids, and confabulating celebrities. It’s also home to some of the most inspiring historical moments ever captured on camera.
• 7 Services That Will Suggest Things You Like/> Unlimited choice (especially on the web) is not always a good thing. These 7 sites use can help narrow down the agonizing list of possibilities in a variety of areas.
• 5 Fun FarmVille Accessories/> 80 million virtual farmers can’t be wrong! Show off your social gaming addiction with these 5 hilarious accessories.
• HOW TO: Follow the US Open with Social Media/> We’ve collected some easy, free and totally legal ways to watch and follow the US Open on the web and via social media.
• 10 of the Web’s Most Insightful News Infographics/> A picture is worth a thousand words. But if you include an entire database, make it interactive, and add filtering options, the word-to-picture exchange rate is even better.
• How Social Data Built a Better Health Care App/> It’s not often that the U.S. government uses social media or open source data to solve a problem, but the NIH’s recent project “Pillbox” is an exception with a lot of potential.
• HOW TO: Score the Best Fashion Deals on the Social Web/> Just because the economy is still depressed doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be. Check out all these great discount fashion destinations on the social web.
• Social Media Grammar: The “Checkin” Conundrum/> So you want to write about class='blippr-nobr'>Foursquareclass="blippr-nobr">Foursquare, but is it “check in,” “checkin,” or “check-in?” We have the answers, which are sure to please even the sternest grammarian.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow class='blippr-nobr'>Mashable’sclass="blippr-nobr">Mashable social media channel on Twitterclass="blippr-nobr">Twitter and become a fan on Facebookclass="blippr-nobr">Facebook.

Tech & Mobile/>

• HOW TO: Make Free iPhone Ringtones/> You don’t need to spend extra money to turn your favorite song into an iPhone ringtone. You can do it right in iTunes. Here’s how.
• 6 Job Search Tips for Aspiring Programmers/> 6 job search tips from the people who hire programmers about how you can land your dream job.
• 8 Free BlackBerry Games Worth Downloading/> Need a break from the e-mail influx? Sneak away and grab one of these free and fun BlackBerry games.
• Gmail Priority Inbox: 5 Tips for Better Productivity/> We’ve identified a few more complex tips for those of you looking to maximize productivity and use some of the less obvious features of Priority Inbox.
• 10 Useful iPhone Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks/> We’ve put the iPhone 4 through its paces and come up with some handy tips and tricks that will help you get more out of your Apple-flavored mobile.
• Why the Apple A4 is the iPod Touch’s Killer Feature/> The most significant addition to Apple’s new iPod is the inclusion of the same chip capably powering the iPhone 4 and the iPad — the Apple A4.
• HOW TO: Get Started with HTML5 Boilerplate/> HTML5 Boilerplate is one of the most interesting new projects aimed at giving designers and developers a template for integrating HTML5 into their sites.
• 15 Essential Back to School Podcasts/> If you need some help getting back into “learning mode,” these podcasts will open your ears to a wealth of insight on science, history, economics, literature, math and more.
• HOW TO: Track Hurricane Earl Online/> Want to know how Earl will affect your Labor Day weekend plans? Check out these resources for tracking the hurricane.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Business/>

• HOW TO: Respond when Social Media Attacks Your Brand/> Here are three examples of companies that received negative attention on social media and how you can learn from their mistakes or successes.
• How CEOs Will Use Social Media in the Future/> Whether they use it for recruiting, scouting, public engagement or social CRM, CEOs will need to have a firm grasp on social media if they want to stay ahead of the curve.
• 3 Winning Alternatives to Online Sweepstakes/> Many brands aren’t aware that running an actual sweepstakes promotion has many legal ramifications. These 3 alternatives can be just as engaging, but without the complications.
• HOW TO: Incorporate Your Startup at the Right Time/> Once you’ve decided that incorporation is right for your business, what’s the best time to do it? There are a number of paperwork and tax-related factors to consider.
• 4 Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts/> Search rank can be a powerful way to drive readers and customers to your site. Check out this advice on how to make your business blog more class='blippr-nobr'>Googleclass="blippr-nobr">Google-friendly.
• A World Without E-mail: One Man’s Vision of a Social Workplace/> Luis Suarez has a dream: no more e-mail. He discusses working remotely from a paradise island and the benefits of keeping all his business correspondence social.
• 8 Funding Contests to Kick Start Your Big Idea/> Does your startup need an investment to get off the ground? These competitions might prove a good source of VC … if you can win.

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable’s business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

For more Social Media coverage:

class="f-el">class="cov-twit">Follow Mashable Social Mediaclass="s-el">class="cov-rss">Subscribe to the Social Media channelclass="f-el">class="cov-fb">Become a Fan on Facebookclass="s-el">class="cov-apple">Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

robert shumake

ABC <b>News</b> and Facebook team up for election coverage - Lost Remote

ABC News is also partnering with Yahoo! News to do election polling, with results posted on both sites. In addition, the network will be doing daily 15-minute webcasts beginning October 25th at 6:45 am, the idea being that the webcast ...

The Hockey <b>News</b>: Fantasy Pool Look Column: Fantasy Pool Look: Late <b>...</b>

Looking to pick up a producer in the late-rounds of your draft? The Dobber has a few suggestions.

Mosley and McMullan &#39;star&#39; in <b>News</b> of the World phone-hacking <b>...</b>

City University panel discuss just how far reporters should go in pursuit of a story.