GW-290 -- The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan

[gadgetwatch at mailman.japaninc.com]

---------------------------------------------------------------
Japan Inc Magazine Presents:
G A D G E T W A T C H

READ GADGETWATCH ONLINE AT:
www.japaninc.com

The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan
----------------------------------------------------------------
Issue No. 290 Friday Febuary 29, 2008
Subscribers: 9467
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up

GADGETWATCH WRITER WANTED:
Due to other time commitments, Liam McNulty will be unable to
continue writing the GadgetWatch Newsletter. We thank Liam for
all the hard work he has put in and wish him well.

If any reader feels that they could take over the role, please
contact peter.harris at japaninc.com

========================================================
Name: Kenwood Kseries Silver Limited
Category: Home audio/video
Price: 212,800 yen
Release date in Japan: Already available

The Gist: Kenwood has begun taking orders for a CD receiver and
speaker setup they're calling the 'Kseries Silver Limited,'
where the limited refers to the fact that only 50 sets will be
available. And those 50 aren't to be found in stores; you must
order directly from Kenwood via their website.

This limited edition set consists of the R-K1 receiver and
LS-K1000 speakers. The price of these two independent components
adds up to the cost of this Kseries Silver Limited set, so
you're essentially getting a limited edition model for no
additional cost. The limited edition varies from the regular
edition in that it features a 11mm-thick aluminum panel on the
front bezel, giving the system added stability to reduce
extraneous vibrations. And that should make it sound better, so
there's little reason to complain.

The CD receiver is also known as the 'Kseries Esule,' as it was
released in December 2006. It features an integrated AM/FM tuner
as well. 'Supreme EX' is available for CD playback, a function
which restores audio signals above 20kHz. The signal to noise
ratio is over 110dB, so expect clear playback.

More info:
http://www.kenwood.co.jp/newsrelease/2008/20080222.html
========================================================
Name: Sports USB Flash Memory
Category: PC peripheral
Price: Open Price; estimated around 3,680 yen
Release date in Japan: Mid-March 2008

The Gist: Green House continues on the path to glory with their
introduction of the "Sports USB Flash Memory" line of USB
devices, all shaped like sports equipment. In the lineup we have
a soccer ball, an American football, a golf ball, a bowling pin,
a baseball, a basketball, and soccer shoes. Surely every member
of your family can appreciate at least one of the sports
represented above.

Green House says every single one of these USB memory devices is
hand-made. That won't really affect the capacity, which is 1GB,
but it supposedly gives them a more realistic feel. While the
sizes vary depending on the model you've chosen, most seem to be
around 35x35x56mm, making them just large enough to be a
nuisance in your pocket.

More info:
www.green-house.co.jp/products/memorycard/usbflash/sports/
======================================================
----------------------------------------------------------
PBXL IS HOSTED IP TELEPHONY: SOFTPHONES FOR HIGH MOBILITY

With intuitive PBXL softphone service, off-site
never means off-line.
Teleworkers, traveling execs, even satellite offices
use our softphones everyday to stay connected.

PBXL uses trusted Cisco tech that delivers not similar,
but the SAME functionality as our industry-standard handsets.
03 Tokyo numbers. Voicemail. Conference calling.
Every feature is bundled into the service with no hidden charges.

Softphones from PBXL: Always open for business.

For more details / contact us:
www.pbxl.jp
03-4550-2557
info at pbxl.jp
-----------------------------------------------------------

========================================================
Name: Sony Walkman NW-A820 Series
Category: Portable audio/video
Price: 8GB: 28,000 yen, 16GB: 38,800 yen
Release date in Japan: March 20, 2008

The Gist: Back in 2004, a Sony-owned subsidiary (Aiwa, which
basically longer exists) released a portable audio player called
the XDM-S710BT that featured integrated Bluetooth functionality.
This allowed the player to connect to mobile phones so it could
pause/play music when phone calls came in, and it could be used
as a microphone so you didn't need to dig your phone out of your
pocket. Additionally, in 2006, Sony released a Bluetooth
transmitter that fits into the WM-PORT of certain Walkman models
at the time.

So to call the NW-A820 series 'Sony's first to support
Bluetooth' wouldn't be wholly accurate. While it may have taken
over 3 years for Sony to come up with another player with
integrated Bluetooth, this new A820 series is the first of the
Walkman line to do so. The 8GB NW-A828 and 16GB NW-A829 will
available in black, white, and pink colors. Additionally, Sony
plans on offering a 16GB gold colored model via SonyStyle, so
keep an eye out there as well.

The Bluetooth support of Aiwa's portable audio player was
primarily aimed at interfacing with your mobile phone, but the
NW820 series offers Bluetooth for a wireless connection to
headphones. It supports Bluetooth 2.0's A2DP and AVRCP profiles,
giving you the ability to hear audio from music and videos on
your headphones. Pairing with your headphones takes only a few
clicks, and needs only be done once. While the Bluetooth feature
is operating, a blue LED on the bottom corner of the unit will
illuminate. Unfortunately the included headphones do not support
Bluetooth, so if you really want to enjoy the A820 series'
wireless function, you'll need to ready your own Bluetooth
headphones or get an adapter for your existing ones.

Of course you're not limited to just headphones. Sony has
released several Bluetooth compatible products in the past few
months, such as Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth component systems,
and the Sony Rolly. So this announcement of a Walkman with
Bluetooth isn't exactly surprising.

For file support we see MP3, WMA, AAC, HE-AAC, ATRAC, ATRAC
Advanced Lossless, and WAV for audio, then MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 for
video. It's worth noting that the HE-AAC support of this new
player allows it to be compatible with the 'au x Sony Music
Project,' giving users cross-platform (au mobile phone, Sony
Walkman, Sony NetJuke, PC) freedom for their Chaku-Uta Full
songs.

Further hardware specs include a 2.4-inch 320x240 dot LCD
screen, slide switch for integrated noise canceling
functionality, direct recording from Cds/MDs at up to 1.4Mbps
(WAV) or 256Kbps (ATRAC3plus), and 10/36 hour battery life for
video/audio playback when not using Bluetooth.

More info: http://www.sony.co.jp/walkman/
========================================================

GADGETWATCH WRITER WANTED:
Due to other time commitments, Liam McNulty will be unable to
continue writing the GadgetWatch Newsletter. We thank Liam for
all the hard work he has put in and wish him well.

If any reader feels that they could take over the role, please
contact peter.harris at japaninc.com

================================================================
STAFF
Written by: Liam McNulty
READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
Gadget Watch online archive:
http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch
Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page

SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up

ADVERTISING INFORMATION
To advertise in this newsletter, contact: ads at japaninc.com

FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS
We welcome your viewpoint: editors at japaninc.com
NB Please do not reply to this newsletter
-- it's outgoing only, so we won't get it!
Technical problems: webmaster at japaninc.com
Copyright (C) 2008 Japan Inc Communications KK.
All Rights Reserved.

GadgetWatch mailing list
GadgetWatch at mailman.japaninc.com
http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/gadgetwatch

++EVENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------
Start a Company in Japan

Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 1st of March, 2008

If you have been considering setting up your own company,
find out what it takes to make it successful.
Terrie Lloyd, founder of over 13 start-up companies in Japan,
will be giving an English-language seminar and Q and A on
starting up a company in Japan.
This is an ideal opportunity to find out what is involved,
and to ask specific questions that are not normally answered
in business books.
All materials are in English and are Japan-focused.

For more details: http://japaninc.com/terrie_lloyd/

------- Job Fair for International Students & Careers ---------

The JOBFAIR will be held on March 8th in AKIHABARA.
This JOBFAIR is the biggest event for international students
and foreigners who are thinking about a career change in Japan:
50+ companies will attend seeking internationally-minded people!

JOBFAIR participants will have an opportunity
to visit company booths and ask HR about careers.

Some companies may have interviews on the day.
The JOBFAIR provides a great chance to meet many companies and
learn about them what they do and the people they need in a
short period of time.

DATE: March 8th /11:00 - 18:00
PLACE: at AKIHABARA
http://www.jobfair.jp/jp/JB5001LG.php?j=12&banner_id=rfb00009
----------------------------------------------------------------

++END
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.japaninc.com/pipermail/gadgetwatch/attachments/20080229/ef2de8c3/attachment.html