Apps for Hong Kong Part 3

Category: Tech Today

Continued from Apps for Hong Kong Part 2

South China Morning Post

I subscribed to the South China Morning Post using iOS' Newsstand during a business trip to Taipei but wasn't able to use it in Shanghai for obvious reasons. Sure, Hong Kong has open access to the Internet and various news sources, but South China Morning Post can give you a detailed overview of events happening in the city and China as well without any cuts or censors messing with the content.




The free SCMP subscription is actually pretty complete with columns on opinion, current events and world news. Layout isn't as straightforward as Flipboard but really mimics a newspaper where you shuffle around parts of the publication. If you're really interested in understanding Hong Kong, then this English digital newspaper is a must. I was actually grabbing a quick breakfast in Tsim Sha Tsui when news broke about Edward Snowden staying at one of the swanky hotels close to the bay. And no, I didn't notice any CIA spooks in black.

Basic Travel Apps

Most smartphones are already equipped with the essentials for traveling:

1. Weather app - Hong Kong's weather can be fickle. It's generally warm and there's always plenty of sunshine until a sudden tropical thunderstorm hits. Any weather app can help you decide whether you want to hit Ocean Park or just stroll around Harbour City.

2. Currency Converter - I always tell people to stay home and shop online or your own country rather than hunt for bargains in cities like HK. Unless you lost your precious camera on the way to Southeast Asia, I don't really recommend buying electronics in the upscale department stores in Admiralty or even the side alleys dotting Times Square. Hong Kong is definitely more upscale than it was in the early 90s and late 80s and you can get a better deal in places like Manila, Ho Chih Minh, or Bangkok. However, with U.S. dollar rates swinging like Spidey chasing after Hobgoblin, it's a good idea to have a currency converter on your device. Pick one that still works offline. If you're staying for only a few days, a rough estimate is still pretty useful especially when you decide to shell out a few hundred HKDs for that rare book at Page One or that Japanese Blu-Ray movie on sale in HMV (both of which I actually did).

If you really are well off or just want to buy electronic products available in Asia (check Newegg or Amazon first!), visit the Fortress chain of electronics store. I hadn't visited one in over a decade and was surprised they were still around. An American couple was checking out the new Nikon 1 J1 and a Panasonic Lumix ILC. The sales guy patiently explained the differences between models and allowed them to try out a Sony NEX3N to compare camera performance. Prices weren't that attractive but they do cut a few HKDs here and there to make a sale - ask for value-adds like SD cards and camera straps before shelling out those dollars.