<p>---------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Japan Inc Magazine Presents:<br>
G A D G E T W A T C H</p>
<p>READ GADGETWATCH ONLINE AT:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/" title="www.japaninc.com">www.japaninc.com</a><br>
The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Issue No. 296 Friday April 25, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" title="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a> </p>
<p>========================================================<br>
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<p>Come see a demo at our monthly events:<br>
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<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Pioneer SE-DRS3000C headset offers wireless theater sound</p>
<p>Name: Pioneer SE-DRS3000C<br>
Category: wireless headphones<br>
Price: Open price (about JPY40,000)<br>
Release date in Japan: Mid-May, 2008</p>
<p>Pioneer's SE-DRS3000C system combines a 2.4GHz wireless<br>
transmitter (TRE-D3000) with receiver headphones (SE-DHP3000)<br>
for untethered listening within a 30m range. Its '3x3<br>
transmission system' sends data three times, while automatically<br>
choosing the best of three frequencies, to ensure against data<br>
loss from surrounding radiowave interference. To keep the sound<br>
as clean as the source, the transmitter applies no compression<br>
to the data. Supported bandwidth is 10Hz to 24kHz.</p>
<p>The unit's headphones incorporate large 50mm drivers and Dolby<br>
Headphone technology, with buckskin pads to cradle the ears. A<br>
48-bit processing DSP recreates clear sound from formats<br>
including Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Sound EX, Dolby ProLogic<br>
II, DTS, MPEG-2, AAC, and PCM. </p>
<p>The 'phones run on a lithium-ion battery; drop them onto the<br>
transmitter unit to recharge. The transmitter (not the<br>
headphones, as reported on many English-language gadget blogs)<br>
weights 720g; the 'phones are 350g (20% lighter than Pioneer's<br>
previous wireless models).</p>
<p>Wireless headphones are of interest to anyone who wants to roam<br>
a bit while listening to high-quality sound. But Pioneer notes<br>
that AV fans with home theater setups are the category's key<br>
market, and promises a true movie theater-quality listening<br>
experience for buyers of the kit. Unless you always watch movies<br>
alone, however, you may need extra headphone units; Pioneer is<br>
glad to oblige for JPY26,250 per set. </p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://pioneer.jp/press/2008/0415-1.html" title="http://pioneer.jp/press/2008/0415-1.html">http://pioneer.jp/press/2008/0415-1.html</a> (Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================<br>
----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Marcus Evans Events - Supported by J@pan Inc</p>
<p>Compensation and Benefits Forum, 27th – 28th May, Tokyo<br>
<a href="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13778" title="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13778">http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13778</a><br>
This event provides Japanese firms the 'how-to' of investing in<br>
their employees to sustain their businesses. Supported by JSHRM</p>
<p>3rd Annual LNG World, 15th – 16th July 2008, Tokyo<br>
<a href="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13569" title="www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13569">www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=13569</a><br>
This event focuses on key operational aspects of LNG business<br>
and current market dynamics to succeed in this competitive<br>
market.</p>
<p>Leveraged Finance Japan, 29th – 30th July 2008, Tokyo<br>
<a href="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=14126" title="http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=14126">http://www.marcusevans.com/html/eventdetail.asp?eventID=14126</a><br>
This event provides the opportunity for participants to assess<br>
the buyout & leveraged buyout activities in Japan.</p>
<p>'J@pan Inc readers are entitled to a 10% discount upon<br>
registration with Ms. Esther Wong.'<br>
Contact: +603 2723 6736 Email: <a href="mailto:estherw@marcusevanskl.com">estherw@marcusevanskl.com</a><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA8 takes a dive</p>
<p>Name: Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA8<br>
Category: digital still and video camera<br>
Price: Open price (about JPY50,000)<br>
Release date in Japan: Late May, 2008</p>
<p>Upon releasing its Xacti DMX-CG9 video camera (Gadget Watch 293)<br>
on April 18, Sanyo announced the next iteration to arrive in<br>
late May: the DMX-CA8. Like the DMX-CA65 that debuted in mid<br>
2007, the new CA8's claim to fame is water resistance for<br>
shooting in rain, snow, or even underwater (up to 1m - fine for<br>
splashing or shallow snorkeling, not deep dives). A porous film<br>
covering the microphone and speakers allows air but not water to<br>
pass through, while digital sound processing reduces watery<br>
noises under the waves. (Even if you don't plan to shoot in<br>
surf, water resistance is great for any gear by allowing serious<br>
cleaning when things get grimy.)</p>
<p>Movies are saved in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format, at up to 60 frames<br>
per second in VGA (640x480) mode. Still photo size is as high as<br>
3456x2592, or a digitally-processed 4000x3000. Still photos shot<br>
during movie recording max out at 1600x1200. </p>
<p>Other specs are in the ballpark of previous Xacti models:<br>
ergonomic 'pistol-grip' body with 2.5-inch LCD screen, 44MB of<br>
internal memory plus SD/SDHC memory card slot, 5x optical zoom<br>
(with another 12x digital zoom), flash, shake reduction, face<br>
recognition (up to 12 faces during still shooting, 6 during<br>
video), 1-cm close-up shooting, and USB 2.0 connection.<br>
Operation menus are Japanese only. Weight is 258g; colors are<br>
white, blue, or black.</p>
<p>Additional info remains sparse on the product site. Unlike the<br>
product text introducing the DMX-CG9, so far there's no<br>
marketing claim of 'Easy even for women', but give Sanyo time. </p>
<p>More info:<br>
<a href="http://www.sanyo-dsc.com/products/lineup/dmx_ca8/index.html" title="http://www.sanyo-dsc.com/products/lineup/dmx_ca8/index.html">http://www.sanyo-dsc.com/products/lineup/dmx_ca8/index.html</a><br>
(Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Behind the luxury Cosmic Shiner exclusive mobile </p>
<p>Name: SoftBank Cosmic Shiner exclusive<br>
Category: mobile phone<br>
Price: JPY399000<br>
Release date in Japan: March 2008</p>
<p>Remember the bubble days, when sushi came with gold flake and a<br>
Van Gogh went for five billion yen? These days the world is all<br>
about 100-yen shops and $2500 Indian cars and $100 laptops. But<br>
you can relive Japan's good-time bubble feel with the JPY399,000<br>
(about $4000) 'Cosmic Shiner exclusive' mobile phone. </p>
<p>A joint production of solutions provider Mobile Factory and haut<br>
monde consultants/coordinators Venus International, the opulent<br>
keitai is based on Toshiba's 3G-only 'funfan 815T' and is sold<br>
by SoftBank Mobile. That model, with its customizable menu<br>
screen and inner/outer panels, bills itself as offering 240<br>
million configuration combinations. That's made the 815T a<br>
natural base for many TV character and celebrity 'collaboration<br>
models' - and now, a mobile for the gentry.</p>
<p>The team behind the Cosmic Shiner state that it's clearly<br>
targeted at Japan's 14.7 million-member 'wealthy class', defined<br>
by net personal assets of JPY100,000,000 (essentially<br>
millionaires in US dollar terms). 'If we set a clear target<br>
[market], and meet its needs with added value and services, we<br>
could create a mobile phone for the wealthy class', says Mobile<br>
Factory President Akito Goto. </p>
<p>'Naturally, everything had to be first-class', adds Venus<br>
International CEO Akane Enokido. First came three swappable<br>
exterior panels by famed fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto,<br>
including one panel (dubbed Luxe) encrusted with 14 diamonds.<br>
Then there's the beautiful hand-crafted lacquerwork 'tebunko'<br>
box to store it all. On the service side, purchasers get a<br>
year's enrollment in Benefit One's 'Prestige Gold' concierge<br>
service, offering 'lifestyle support' that ranges from discounts<br>
at top hotels and restaurants, to coordination services for<br>
cruises and private jet flights. 'With the diamond panel and the<br>
tebunko box, the 399,000 price is quite inexpensive', CEO<br>
Enokimoto assures. </p>
<p>Bargain or not, there may be shoppers of modest means who'll<br>
consider scraping up the capital and have some fun pretending to<br>
be one of the Ferrari-driving glitterati for a while.<br>
Unfortunately for them, the 'exclusive' at the end of the<br>
product name isn't just more decoration. To discourage the<br>
riffraff, would-be buyers need to first acquire a special ID<br>
from upscale, limited-availability magazines like SEVEN HILLS or<br>
SEVEN SEAS, neither of which you'll find at the local konbini.<br>
Alternately, you can reqest an ID online, but there's a vetting<br>
process to keep IDs away from paupers. Yet another means of<br>
snaring an ID is via introduction from a purchaser, who<br>
presumably won't bestow such largesse upon the proletariat. But<br>
even those channels may leave you on the outside looking in:<br>
Mobile Factory is chasing after its desired buyers by<br>
proactively mailing out invitations with pre-approved IDs, and<br>
there are only 1000 Cosmic Shiners available. 'We want it to be<br>
a status symbol keitai for purchasers', adds Ms Enokimoto. </p>
<p>The immediately apparent flaw in it all, of course, is that<br>
people toss out old cellies on a whim as makers churn out new<br>
models. But the Cosmic Shiner team has you covered on that<br>
front: in addition to repair services, purchasers can have the<br>
diamond panel recycled into cufflinks or other accessories when<br>
moving on to another phone. </p>
<p>So if you want to join the keitai (and future cufflink)<br>
aristocracy, good luck. One warning beforehand: there's no<br>
upper-crust mobile service plan to go with the phone. Once<br>
you're through the gilt door, you'll have to slum it with the<br>
herd via a rank-and-file Softbank White Plan. </p>
<p>If it's all sounding shallow, rest assured that there's a<br>
potential positive side as well. Ms Enokimoto notes that she<br>
wants to see Japan reach the levels of personal contribution to<br>
charity that she saw while growing up overseas. Down the road,<br>
Cosmic Shiner exclusive owners will be invited to parties aimed<br>
at raising money for good causes, though specifics aren't<br>
available yet.</p>
<p>Official site: <a href="http://exclusive.coraboruta.co.jp/" title="http://exclusive.coraboruta.co.jp/">http://exclusive.coraboruta.co.jp/</a> (Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Short items</p>
<p>Spotted elsewhere in the news:</p>
<p>1) From April 18, Iiyama will fix you up with a new 15-inch XGA<br>
(1024x768) LCD ProLite E383S-5/-5B monitor for only JPY24800.<br>
Contrast ratio 600:1, luminance 250cd/m2, built-in 1.5W stereo<br>
speakers, 3 kg.<br>
<a href="http://www.iiyama.co.jp/products/lcd/15/PLE383S-5/" title="http://www.iiyama.co.jp/products/lcd/15/PLE383S-5/">http://www.iiyama.co.jp/products/lcd/15/PLE383S-5/</a></p>
<p>2) JVC is mulling withdrawal from the Japanese television<br>
market, citing low market share and falling prices for<br>
flat-screen TVs. According to BCN (Business Computer News)<br>
retail sales data for March 2008, JVC's share of LCD and plasma<br>
TVs was a mere 2.0%, compared with 11.6% for Matsushita, 12.6%<br>
for Toshiba, 21.4% for Sony, and 41.2% for Sharp. JVC is<br>
expected to announce a decision on April 25.<br>
<a href="http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2008/04/" title="http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2008/04/">http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2008/04/</a><br>
20080416144093B9897A2020.htm</p>
<p>3) METI reports several instances of IO DATA LANDISK HDL-160U<br>
external drives emitting smoke. If you have one, discontinue use<br>
and stay tuned for recall or other information from IO DATA.</p>
<p>--------NEW GADGET BLOG: TEKRONOMICON.COM-----------------------<br>
In collaboration with Gadget Watch, Gadget blog Tekronomicon<br>
offers a detailed look at select gadgets - shiny and strange,<br>
from gizmo ground zero in Tokyo. See the gadgets introduced<br>
in Gadget Watch and more, with photos, at <a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/" title="www.tekronomicon.com">www.tekronomicon.com</a><br>
----------------------------------------------------------------<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>Start a Company in Japan</p>
<p>Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 31st of May, 2008</p>
<p>If you have been considering setting up your own company,<br>
find out what it takes to make it successful.<br>
Terrie Lloyd, founder of over 13 start-up companies in Japan,<br>
will be giving an English-language seminar and Q and A on<br>
starting up a company in Japan.<br>
This is an ideal opportunity to find out what is involved,<br>
and to ask specific questions that are not normally answered<br>
in business books.<br>
All materials are in English and are Japan-focused.</p>
<p>For more details:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar" title="http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar">http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
================================================================<br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Timm Tuttle<br>
READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS<br>
Gadget Watch online archive:<br>
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Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page" title="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters_main_page</a></p>
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<p>FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS<br>
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Copyright (C) 2008 Japan Inc Communications KK.<br>
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