News On Japan

Millions drawn to 'tweeting' / Crucial to confirm authorship as even politicians use Twitter service

Yomiuri — 2010-03-18 21:58:22

Twitter, a free microblogging service that lets users send and read "tweets"--messages up to 140 characters long--around the world, is quickly becoming popular in Japan. Some people, however, are using the system under false names, and the question of how to confirm authorship has become a crucial issue. Since the Japanese version of Twitter was launched in April 2008, more than 4.7 million people have registered with the service. Twitter first appeared in May 2006 in the United States. Even politicians are using Twitter. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi, for example, once posted as many as 70 tweets over two days after a major earthquake in Chile late last month. (Yomiuri)

Japan's creepiest iPhone App has its eyes on the West

appmodo.com — 2010-03-17 22:12:01

HourFace from MotionPortrait, one of Tokyo's hottest iPhone dev studios, has topped the charts in Japan since it launched in January and is now updated and better than ever. Using MotionPortrait's cutting-edge avatar-builder technology, HourFace analyzes a still photo and turns it into a living, breathing 3D movie that ages right there on the iPhone screen. Don't just take our word, or the screenshots', for it - these movies totally rock and will be the center of attention, whoever you apply the wrinkly brush to. Amaze and shock your friends - turn them into creaking old wrecks right in front of their eyes. Discover what you might look like 50 years from now - all in 3D! (appmodo.com)

Sony Struggles With Poor Sales of the PSP Go

PC World — 2010-03-17 22:12:01

When Sony launched its PSP Go last year the company had high hopes. The device was supposed to help PlayStation Portable shipments increase by almost a million units for the year and spearhead Sony's digital download push into the portable gaming market. But things haven't gone according to plan. The PSP Go is both smaller and lighter than the original PSP and represents the first major refresh of the portable gaming platform since it was introduced in 2004. (PC World)

'Therapeutic ringtones' for mobile phones create a buzz in Japan

Times Online — 2010-03-15 04:26:51

"Well . . . I can definitely feel a bit of adrenalin," says Yukari Sendo, savouring the mobile phone ringtone like a fine wine, "but it really doesn't make me want to do any housework." She flicks through a menu of alternative tunes and settles on one that offers to improve her skin tone through the power of alpha-waves. Ms Sendo and her friend Ayaka Wakabayashi are among an army of young Japanese drawn to the allure of "therapeutic ringtones" - a genre of melodies that promises to ease a range of day-to-day gripes, from chronic insomnia to a rotten hangover. Japan is no stranger to bizarre phone fads but the popularity of the ringtones is perhaps surprising given the flimsiness of the science behind them. (Times Online)

After Sony, Samsung and Panasonic Get Ready For The 3D Battle

sevensidedcube.net — 2010-03-14 12:45:16

Last week, Sony Corp. unveiled the latest in technology by introducing the 3-D Television in Tokyo. Even though it launched the product in Japan, the company plans to introduce the product in America somewhere in June while Samsung and Panasonic plan to gear up and start selling 3D sets this month. Samsung 3D and Panasonic 3D are here to rock your home cinema. (sevensidedcube.net)

Sony unveils motion-sensing game control kit

Japan Times — 2010-03-11 21:43:55

Sony has a new message for Nintendo Wii gamers: Come join us. The maker of the PlayStation 3 unveiled on Thursday its highly anticipated motion-based controller system, as it takes aim at Nintendo's dominance in gaming. With PlayStation Move, Sony hopes to lure gamers who have outgrown Nintendo, which launched the Wii in 2006 and became the first to introduce motion-detecting controllers. (Japan Times)

Sony 3D glasses to cost $133 in Japan

afterdawn.com — 2010-03-11 01:11:39

Gizmodo is reporting today that Sony Japan has announced the release of standalone shutter glasses that can be used alongside the company's upcoming 3D-supporting HDTVs. Roughly converted from yen, the Sony TDG-BR100 and TDG-BR50 active shutter glasses will cost $133 each, with a June release date. The infrared emitter necessary to drive the glasses will cost $55 extra. (afterdawn.com)

Japanese 'mosquito' reveals your date's real age

weirdasianews.com — 2010-03-10 22:25:53

Japan is famous for producing tiny electronic devices with, shall we say, unique purposes. In the past, we've seen devices for helping women understand the minds of men and making sure you take the right amount of bites when eating. Now, the latest electronic novelty making headlines in Japan promises to help you tell if your date is telling the truth about their age. The concept is simple. As people age, their hearing tends to diminish. One of the first signs of age-related hearing loss is the inability to hear very high pitched noises. (weirdasianews.com)

In Japan, getting a tattoo means you can never go home

Kotaku — 2010-03-09 22:42:27

At last night's launch event for Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada showed up with a Fal'cie symbol from the game tattooed on his hand. He tweeted that he "probably" would not be able to return to Japan. Wada, of course, was being lighthearted. The tattoo, of course, is fake. It appears in the game, and this is a publicity stunt. It is worth noting that there has been a bizarre thread of sorts in which game execs have gotten game titles tattooed on their bodies. Actually, it's not really that big of a trend. As far as Kotaku can tell, Wada is the second to do this. The first is former Microsoft exec Peter Moore who apparently got Halo 2 and its release date tattooed on his arm. (Kotaku)

Onkyo's computer stands in for TV; Thanko aids shy phone users

Japan Times — 2010-03-09 22:30:00

Onkyo opts for a very different form of computer in the shape of its new DE411. Apart from being an all-in-one design, the DE411 also nixes a high-powered processor in favor of the low-powered, 1.6-gigahertz Atom 330 chip, one of those that netbooks favor. It compensates somewhat for the lack of computing muscle with a Nvidia ION chip set. In line with its all-in-one brethren the Onkyo product would look at home in a lounge room, with a digital TV tuner to help in the process and a simple stand at the back to prop it up to a watchable angle. (Japan Times)

More about going wireless on the move

Japan Times — 2010-03-08 22:09:30

In reply to a computer user seeking advice on "Going wireless on the move" (Lifelines, Jan. 5), M.H. wonders why Bic Camera ( www.biccamera.com ) and Emobile ( www.emobile.jp/en ) were mentioned, but not UQ WiMAX ( www.uqwimax.jp/service/trywimax/ ). UQ WiMAX has two payment plans: a flat rate of about ¥4,500 a month and a "per packet" rate with a ¥380-minimum, ¥4,900-maximum monthly fee. (Japan Times)

Sony to Begin Worldwide 3D TV Launch in June

PC World — 2010-03-09 07:43:48

Sony will begin selling 3D TVs in Japan on June 10 and worldwide at about the same time, it said Tuesday. A firmware upgrade to its PlayStation 3 console that adds 3D support and other 3D-compatible home electronics products will also be available to coincide with the television launch. Sony's first two sets, which are 40- and 46-inch models, will come bundled with two pairs of 3D glasses and will cost ¥290,000 (US$3,215) and ¥350,000 respectively. In July it will launch six further sets: 52- and 60-inch models that come with 3D glasses and four "3D-ready" models that have 3D circuitry inside the set but require the purchase of glasses and an infrared transmitter. (PC World)

Digital camera makers focus on single-lens models

Yomiuri — 2010-03-08 03:08:19

While the digital camera market remains sluggish due to the lingering economic recession, small and lightweight single-lens cameras are selling increasingly well. Though expensive compared to their compact counterparts, these single-lens digital cameras with good image quality and portability are growing popular, especially among women. (Yomiuri)

Panasonic to tie up with Best Buy on sale of 3-D TVs in U.S.

MarketWatch — 2010-03-08 03:14:49

Panasonic Corp. plans to join hands with leading U.S. electronics retailer Best Buy Co. on the sale of televisions capable of projecting three-dimensional images, company sources said Sunday, according to Kyodo News. With the tie-up, the Japanese appliance manufacturer, which is set to put on sale a 3-D TV in the U.S. market next Wednesday ahead of its launch in Japan, wants to beat competitors such as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., they said. (MarketWatch)

Apple: iPad to go on sale April 3

UPI — 2010-03-06 23:39:28

The much-anticipated iPad tablet will go on sale April 3, Apple announced. The more expensive 3G wireless version won't be available until late April, the company said Friday. Apple said all models of the iPad tablet will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in late April. (UPI)

Firms plug into solar power generation

Yomiuri — 2010-03-06 00:18:09

Major electric appliance manufacturers are pouring resources into improved solar power generator lineups and production capacity. The companies displayed their latest products at PV Expo 2010, a three-day trade show of solar power generation products that ran through Friday in Tokyo's Ariake district. In addition to the resumption last year of state subsidies for home owners who buy solar generators, a system has begun obliging electric power companies to purchase surplus electricity generated by the equipment at double the previous price. (Yomiuri)

22 kg of gold, 79 kg of silver 'mined' from cell phones

Yomiuri — 2010-03-06 00:18:09

A total of 22 kilograms of gold, worth about 70 million yen, was recovered from used cell phones that had been collected in a campaign by the government, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry announced Friday. About 567,000 used cell phones were collected during the campaign, which started in November in an effort to recycle precious and rare metals used in mobile phones. In addition to gold, 79 kilograms of silver, 5,670 kilograms of copper and two kilograms of palladium were recovered, the ministry said. (Yomiuri)

PlayStation 3 leap-year bug fixed

Asahi — 2010-03-04 04:57:43

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. said a leap-year bug in its flagship PlayStation 3 console that locked out countless gamers on Monday and Tuesday is no longer causing disruptions. All models of the console except the latest slimline version were affected by a software glitch that incorrectly treated 2010 as a leap year. March 1 did not register because the machines "read" Monday as Feb. 29. (Asahi)

Illegal Net access jumps to record high in 2009

AP — 2010-03-04 09:05:36

Police uncovered and took action in a record number of cases of unauthorized access to Internet sites in 2009, a National Police Agency survey showed Thursday. The number of cases in which illegal Net access was recognized by police surged 22.1 percent from the previous year to 2,795 in 2009, the highest since the agency began compiling data in 2000. The number of cases in which arrests and other police actions were taken jumped 45.6 percent to 2,534, also the highest, the agency said. The figure jumped more than nine times from 2005 and 84.7 percent of the cases involved fraud using Net auction sites. (AP)

Rumor: Japanese game programmers report low salaries

gamers.com — 2010-03-03 06:24:25

It would be, like, totally glamorous and exciting to be a programmer for a game company in Japan, right? Maybe not so much. According to anonymous responders on Japanese super-forum 2ch, salaries for game programmers are far below what you'd expect for a tech job in one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in. "¥130,000 for 256 hours of work a month," one poster reports. (gamers.com)

Fujitsu builds nation's fastest supercomputer

Yomiuri — 2010-03-02 06:32:43

Fujitsu Ltd. has developed the country's fastest supercomputer for the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, it has been learned. The supercomputer, which began operating at the agency on Monday, can perform 186 trillion calculations per second, making it the 19th-fastest supercomputer in the world. The previous national record holder was the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology's Earth Simulator, which was capable of performing 122 trillion calculations per second and ranked 31st in the world. (Yomiuri)

Digital camera firms struggling to stand out

Yomiuri — 2010-02-28 21:59:19

Taking crystal-clear photos is no longer enough to stand out from the pack in a crowded digital camera market. With the spring selling season just around the corner, manufacturers have been adding new functions to their cameras to win over customers and, they hope, put a brake on sliding prices. Fierce competition pushed manufacturers to improve photo sharpness and clarity to the point where it is now common even for compact models to take photographs with resolutions of up to 10 megapixels. (Yomiuri)

Youths driving demand for mobile phone videos

Japan Times — 2010-02-25 21:19:54

Cell phone videos are growing in popularity, especially among young people enthralled with the convenience of being able to indulge in a moment of spontaneous fun. Driving the medium's appeal are improvements in throughput and screen size, as well as unique software that service providers are cooking up to attract more customers. One man said the videos are a great way to kill time. (Japan Times)

Tokyo Game Show 2010 to be held Sept. 16-19

AP — 2010-02-26 08:22:55

The Tokyo Game Show 2010 will be held from Sept. 16 to 19 at the Makuhari Messe convention center on the outskirts of Tokyo, with an eye to drawing a larger crowd from Asia, the organizer of the world's key video game software and hardware expo said Friday. The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association said this year's expo, which marks its 20th anniversary, aims to lure more visitors from Asia by creating the first business forum that will gather Asian gaming industry experts and businessmen to discuss the future of the game market in the region. (AP)

Appliance sets diversify

Yomiuri — 2010-02-24 21:44:50

Every year supermarkets and other retail outlets offer special discounted sets of home electrical appliances aimed at people who will begin living by themselves from April--the start of the new academic and fiscal year. This year, however, is seeing a wider variety of such sets as many people are tightening their belts because of the ongoing recession and plan to buy only the minimum number of items they need. Sets are available at such outlets as major home appliance retail stores and some supermarket chains. The items most sought by people living by themselves are, in order of priority, refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves and rice cookers. (Yomiuri)