Finally, it’s the end of the week. But what have we been reading and sharing around the office?

Here’s a quick round up of the content that grabbed our attention. Pop back later to see what our UK and US offices have being checking out as well.

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No Sex Party please, we’re Google

The Australian Sex Party has lodged formal complaints against Google with the US Department of Justice and the Australian competition watchdog, accusing the search giant of corrupt practices and unlawfully interfering with the conduct of a recent Victorian byelection.

Originally published 13-Sep-2012 

6 sci-fi technologies you’ll soon have on your phone 

Cellphones define our times in the way that cars defined the early 20th century: They’re the clearest, most tangible sign that we truly live in the Future. Impressive new cellphone technologies are being developed each week, and there’s no telling what wonderful procrastination possibilities our portable speak-boxes will have in a few years.

Originally published 09-Sep-2012 

How Amazon localised for China

For western companies, China is probably the hardest country to localize for. But Amazon is trying hard in China and has come a long way… 

Originally published 12-Sep-2012 

Make digital experiences so good, customers can’t help but give you money: Kaushik

Marathon Sports, Mannings and Ocean Park are three brands that Avinash Kaushik, Google’s digital marketing evangelist, loves – but not online.

Originally published 13-Sep-2012 

Social anxiety

The social media manager has a key role for many brands. But can he or she really be called a marketer?

Originally published 10-Sep-2012 

Sydney is region’s third strongest city brand, Melbourne is fifth: Marketer survey

Sydney has the third strongest city brand in Asia Pacific, with only Singapore and Hong Kong ahead of it, according to a survey of senior marketing and advertising executives by Ogilvy PR. 

Originally published 09-Sep-2012 

Independent agencies strike out at Sorrell

In an interview with AdNews during his visit to Australia last week, Sorrell said it was becoming difficult for indie agencies to survive, arguing a trend to consolidation was becoming more prevalent… 

Originally published 12-Sep-2012 

Facebook targets Japan’s booming advertising market, as it overtakes local rival Mixi

These days Facebook dominates almost every market worldwide but the social network has added a new string to its bow after it hit 15 million active users in Japan, overtaking previously dominant rival Mixi in the process.

Originally published 13-Sep-2012 

China to issue 4G licenses within a year

China plans to issue 4G licenses for LTE TDD networks within around a year, according to a top government official, speeding up the original timetable for deployment of the high-speed networks in the country. 

Originally published 12-Sep-2012 

FaceDeals: Facial recognition activated deals

Perhaps the coolest (and scariest) piece of social innovation… FaceDeals is a deal platform and hardware solution combined to deliver check-in deals based of facial recognition detection when customers walk through the doors, automatically checking them into the location, and texting them a deal to claim at the point of sale

Originally published 03-Sep-2012