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<p>The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan<br>
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Issue No. 286 Friday January 11, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
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<p>****COMING OUT SOON: J@PAN INC MAGAZINE'S****<br>
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Healthcare Services Directory, disasterous risk to Japan -<br>
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Name: Casio EXILIM PRO EX-F1<br>
Category: Digital still camera<br>
Price: Open Price; estimated around 130,000 yen<br>
Release date in Japan: Late March 2008</p>
<p>The Gist: After the smashing success of last year's Face<br>
Recognition technology in digital still cameras, Casio was<br>
tasked with coming up with a response. And this may be it:<br>
the EXILIM PRO EX-F1 is the "world's fastest consumer digital<br>
camera."</p>
<p>At 6MP, the EX-F1 may not turn any heads. This camera's<br>
specialty is found in its movie functionality. You can record<br>
Full HD video at 1920x1080 (60i), 1280x720 video (30p), or<br>
standard definition (640x480) video. All of which are in MPEG-4<br>
AVC/H.264 codecs, by the way. Well maybe that's not so special,<br>
but Casio doesn't call this the "world's fastest" for no reason:<br>
it offers three "slow motion" recording modes as well. 512x384<br>
videos can be recorded at 300 frames per second. 432x192 videos<br>
at 600 frames per second. And 336x96 videos at a smashing 1200<br>
frames per second. Ever seen those awesome videos of people<br>
popping water balloons or shooting apples in ultra slow motion?<br>
That's the kind of video this camera can record. Casio suspects<br>
this particular functionality will be popular with the<br>
hobbyists, scientific, and educational communities. </p>
<p>Taking a cue from previous Casio Exilim models, this unit has<br>
"Past Continuous Recording," where as many as 60 frames<br>
(at 60fps) can be recorded before you push the shutter<br>
button. The idea here is that humans tend to react slowly<br>
(or not at all) when it comes to special moments like when a<br>
bat contacts a baseball. This feature makes it so that you're<br>
constantly "recording" what is going on, but only when you press<br>
the shutter button will something actually be saved.</p>
<p>Speaking of saving, you can do so using the SD/SDHC, MMC, and<br>
MMCplus slot. Casio has said that the EX-F1 has a "large"<br>
internal memory as well, but they have not decided on a specific<br>
number yet. This large internal memory is likely required by the<br>
slow-motion video modes; regular flash memory formats probably<br>
don't read/write fast enough to handle recording 1200 frames per<br>
second.</p>
<p>Additional features include "Flash Continuous Recording," where<br>
up to 20 images can be taken (7 images per second) with the<br>
flash. If you use the camera's integrated LED instead of the<br>
flash, you can speed things up to as many as 60 frames per<br>
second. The camera's lens is a 12x zoom, and the LCD screen<br>
is 2.8-inch with a resolution of 959x240. </p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2008/ex_f1.html" title="http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2008/ex_f1.html">http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2008/ex_f1.html</a><br>
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Come see PBXL in action at Cisco Japan HQ:<br>
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--------- PBXL Hosted Business Communications -------------<br>
================================================================<br>
Name: Sony mylo COM-2<br>
Category: Portable audio/video/internet<br>
Price: $300 USD<br>
Release date in Japan: Unknown</p>
<p>The Gist: Amongst the heap of products announced at this year's<br>
Consumer Electronics show, one of the most tangible is the new<br>
iteration of the Sony mylo. While Sony Japan has not yet<br>
publicized plans for release of the device in Japan, the<br>
previous mylo was indeed released in Japan.</p>
<p>The mylo does not have a fantastic reputation. While the device<br>
offered video playback, audio playback, basic internet/messaging<br>
functions, and some other goodies, many users found it to be<br>
clunky, slow to respond, and limited in capabilities.</p>
<p>With the mylo COM-2 Sony has attempted to address some of these<br>
shortcomings. The design is similar to that of the previous<br>
version, where a screen slides up to reveal a QWERTY keyboard.<br>
But that screen is now far better; it's a 3.5-inch screen with a<br>
resolution of 800x480. That pixel density puts the mylo's screen<br>
well past the displays found even in many of the latest mobile<br>
phones (even in Japan). Hopefully that resolution will assure<br>
you get crisp and easy-to-read text. Get ready for fingerprints<br>
galore too, as the new screen is also a touchscreen.</p>
<p>For internet communication, you'll enjoy access to 802.11b and<br>
802.11g networks. Communication options include Google Talk, AOL<br>
Instant Messenger, Yahoo IM, and Skype. The browser (NetFront,<br>
which is the same browser used by the PSP) also now features<br>
Flash Lite 3 support, giving you access to YouTube videos and<br>
similar multimedia sites. A podcast and RSS aggregator are also<br>
available for keeping up with news without having to open pages<br>
all the time. Sony USA has also announced free WiFi access at<br>
participating McDonald's locations (in the US only, as far as we<br>
know) way out until the end of 2010.</p>
<p>Another nice addition is a 1.3MP camera. While 1.3MP may not<br>
help win you a Pulitzer Prize, the inclusion of a camera is<br>
perhaps a jab at the iPod touch, which does not have a camera.</p>
<p>Video format support has also expanded to handle H.264 video, so<br>
add that to the vanilla MPEG-4 support. For audio, MP3, ATRAC,<br>
and DRM-enabled WMA files are supported. JPEG, PNG, and BMP<br>
images can also be viewed. If the device's internal 1GB of flash<br>
memory is not enough, it offers a Memory Stick Duo slot for<br>
expansion.</p>
<p>With the internal battery, the new mylo lasts for 20 hours<br>
playing music, 6 hours talking via Skype, and 7 hours playing<br>
video. </p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/36jthp" title="http://tinyurl.com/36jthp">http://tinyurl.com/36jthp</a><br>
================================================================<br>
------------------- Financial Times------------------------</p>
<p>Established in 1888 and published in 23 major cities, the<br>
Financial Times is essential reading for the global business<br>
community, providing news in print and online around the<br>
clock to more than 1.3 million readers worldwide.</p>
<p>In both its print and online versions, the FT has a reputation<br>
for authority, balance and depth of coverage.<br>
With 400 specialist journalists in 70 offices around the<br>
world, and unrivalled access to global business and government<br>
leaders, the FT 's global business intelligence and insight<br>
will help you start the day fully briefed on significant<br>
events in business, politics and finance.</p>
<p>FT newspaper and FT.com (one year subscription - 310 issues)</p>
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================================================================<br>
Name: Warner Bros. Entertainment announces exclusive support for<br>
Blu-ray Disc</p>
<p>The Gist: While not a specific product, of significant<br>
importance to the consumer electronics industry this past week<br>
was Warner Bros. Entertainment's announcement that they will<br>
soon be producing only Blu-ray Discs.</p>
<p>To give a bit of background, there are two "next generation<br>
optical disc" standards competing to find their way into the<br>
homes of customers across the world. Blu-ray Disc is being<br>
championed primarily by Sony, but Gadget Watch readers will be<br>
perfectly familiar with many of the other names backing it:<br>
Panasonic, Sharp, and Pioneer also have a hand in developing<br>
Blu-ray compatible products. HD-DVD, on the other hand, is<br>
pushed by Toshiba and Microsoft. Blu-ray's way into many homes<br>
is via Sony's own Playstation 3 console. Much like Sony took a<br>
bit of a gamble putting a DVD drive into all of their<br>
Playstation 2 consoles, they've also taken a bit of a gamble<br>
putting a Blu-ray drive into every Playstation 3. But answering<br>
right back is Microsoft, who offers a low-cost, external HD-DVD<br>
drive for their Xbox 360.</p>
<p>But the January 4th announcement from Warner Bros. wasn't about<br>
hardware. It was about software. Without offering content, any<br>
disc player is going to be useless. As a result we found much of<br>
the "battle" between the two formats being played out by huge<br>
movie studios. 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Buena Vista<br>
(Disney), Lionsgate, MGM, and a few other smaller movie studios<br>
had already pledged their support for Blu-ray. And by "support"<br>
we mean exclusive support, such that the studios' movies<br>
are only available in one disc format. For HD-DVD, support came<br>
from Paramount Pictures, Universal, Warner Bros., and New Line<br>
Cinema.</p>
<p>A few years back, however, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema<br>
decided they would release titles in both formats.</p>
<p>Getting to 2008, January 4th marks the day Warner Bros. and New<br>
Line Cinema decided to abandon HD-DVD and produce movies only in<br>
Blu-ray (beginning May 2008). That leaves the HD-DVD camp in a<br>
difficult position, as its two remaining exclusive supporters<br>
(Universal and Paramount Pictures) are likely feeling the heavy<br>
pressure to bring this format war to a close.</p>
<p>Despite a cancellation of a HD-DVD press conference, Toshiba has<br>
continued to remain upbeat on HD-DVD at this year's Consumer<br>
Electronics Show. They point to excellent sales of HD-DVD<br>
players and discs during the holiday season; some HD-DVD players<br>
could be found for under $200 USD. Unfortunately for HD-DVD,<br>
however, Paramount Pictures may also be moving towards Blu-ray<br>
despite their supposedly exclusive contract. Financial Times<br>
reports that Viacom-owned Paramount "is understood to have a<br>
clause in its contract with the HD-DVD camp that would allow it<br>
to switch sides in the event of Warner backing Blu-ray," which<br>
is exactly what happened. With the scales now tilted heavily in<br>
favor of Blu-ray given Warner's announcement, it seems Paramount<br>
Pictures also switching to Blu-ray would prove fatal for HD-DVD.</p>
<p>The ultimate goal of a resolution of this format war, of course,<br>
is to eliminate confusion for consumers and offer a unified<br>
optical disc for High Definition content. By having two<br>
competing formats, many consumers have simply held off (saying<br>
they'll "wait it out") buying a next-generation disc player<br>
entirely, which of course has impacted revenues for all firms in<br>
the industry. Given the minor technical differences between<br>
Blu-ray and HD-DVD, providing customers with only a single<br>
choice of next-gen optical disc is preferable for all parties<br>
involved. </p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080107/tc_nf/57579" title="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080107/tc_nf/57579">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080107/tc_nf/57579</a><br>
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/ypm2wh" title="http://tinyurl.com/ypm2wh">http://tinyurl.com/ypm2wh</a><br>
================================================================<br>
================================================================<br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Liam McNulty<br>
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<p>------------------- Financial Times------------------------</p>
<p>Established in 1888 and published in 23 major cities, the<br>
Financial Times is essential reading for the global business<br>
community, providing news in print and online around the<br>
clock to more than 1.3 million readers worldwide.</p>
<p>In both its print and online versions, the FT has a reputation<br>
for authority, balance and depth of coverage.<br>
With 400 specialist journalists in 70 offices around the<br>
world, and unrivalled access to global business and government<br>
leaders, the FT 's global business intelligence and insight<br>
will help you start the day fully briefed on significant<br>
events in business, politics and finance.</p>
<p>FT newspaper and FT.com (one year subscription - 310 issues)</p>
<p>Normal retail price:<br>
JPY219,647<br>
You pay:<br>
JPY90,720 ( Saving you 54%.)</p>
<p>If you would like to subscribe please call our dedicated<br>
customer service team on 0120-341-468 or<br>
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-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>--------------------- MIDEMNET FORUM ----------------------</p>
<p>MUSIC BUSINESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE</p>
<p>26/27 January 2008, Cannes, France, at MIDEM, the world's<br>
music market. MidemNet Forum brings you an invaluable<br>
update on how digital is driving the music business<br>
forward, changing it rapidly and radically. Over 2 days of<br>
intense conference sessions and serious networking<br>
opportunities. You will debate and engage with more than<br>
1,300 key international executives and play an active role<br>
in shaping the future of the industry.</p>
<p>Speakers: Janus Friis, Co-Founder, Joost, Kazaa and Skype;<br>
Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO, Vivendi; Tero Ojanpera, EVP & CTO,<br>
Nokia; Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi.<br>
The earlier you register, the less you pay. Hurry, seats<br>
are limited! <a href="http://www.midem.com/" title="www.midem.com">www.midem.com</a></p>
<p>------Metropolis Magazine Valentine`s Glitterball-------</p>
<p>Glitterball is back!<br>
Tokyo's favorite party makes its triumphant return on<br>
February 14, 2008-Valentine's Day.<br>
An institution for nearly a decade, the Metropolis-hosted<br>
Glitterball was on hiatus this year due to the closing of<br>
Velfarre nightclub, but 2008's version promises to be better<br>
than ever.</p>
<p>Roppongi hotspot Alife will host over 1,000 V-Day revelers<br>
for a night of eating, drinking, dancing, making friends-and<br>
who knows what else.<br>
Prize drawings, swag bags, and Tokyo's funnest crowd will make<br>
the reborn Glitterball the highlight of the Tokyo social calendar.</p>
<p>CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME<br>
<a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/glitterball" title="www.metropolis.co.jp/glitterball">www.metropolis.co.jp/glitterball</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>---------------- ICA Event - Jan 16 -----------------------</p>
<p>Event: New Year Mixer Party-Joint event with<br>
the American Chamber (ACCJ)</p>
<p>Overview: An evening of fun, games, salsa dancers, dancing,<br>
prizes, drinks, and delicious food<br>
Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/" title="http://www.icajapan.jp/">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a><br>
(RSVP Required)</p>
<p>Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2008<br>
Time: 7:30-9:30, includes open bar, finger food.<br>
Open ended nijikai at same location<br>
Cost: 6,000 yen (members), 6,500 yen (non-members)<br>
Open to all-venue is 57 - Roppongi 4-2-35, Tel. 03-5775-7857</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fiftyseven.co.jp/" title="http://www.fiftyseven.co.jp/">http://www.fiftyseven.co.jp/</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>