<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. 297 Friday May 09, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
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<p>Come see a demo at our monthly events:<br>
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<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot W61S phone sports 5.1-megapixel camera</p>
<p>Name: Sony Ericsson Cyber-shot W61S<br>
Category: mobile phone<br>
Price: Open price<br>
Release date in Japan: May 3, 2008</p>
<p>Gadget lovers have been waiting a few months for this one: au's<br>
sharp-looking CDMA Cyber-shot W61S that boasts a 5.1-megapixel<br>
autofocus camera with features to rival 'real' cameras. Those<br>
features include 'Kaokime Lite' face recognition tech to paint<br>
faces in the best light ('Kawaiisa (Cuteness) Up!', promises the<br>
web site), and in the ongoing evolution of face recognition,<br>
'Smile Shutter Lite' - a feature that'll actually wait for the<br>
target to smile and automatically snap the shot. (Still wanted:<br>
a version that'll fix shots timed with blinking.) </p>
<p>Built-in GPS means the camera records the location of shots<br>
along with the usual digital photo data. The included Picture<br>
Motion Browser for organizing your photos will construct a<br>
Google Map with your photo locations pinpointed.</p>
<p>Camera features alone not enough to entice you? How about this,<br>
then: au Smart Sports Run & Walk, an application that lets your<br>
W61S act as your personal trainer, displaying and remembering<br>
your jogging distance, time, speed, and calories burned. GPS<br>
power lets you later see a map of the course you ran. </p>
<p>Tech details: Exmor CMOS sensor (up to ISO 1600), 3x optical<br>
zoom, macro focus (up to 3 cm), shake reduction, LED flash,<br>
automatic lens cover, 2.8 inch WVGA (480x800) screen (with<br>
Reality MAX tech borrowed from Sony's Bravia TVs), split screen<br>
for running two features at once, microSD memory, Bluetooth,<br>
GPS, EZ FeliCa (with Touch Message to exchange data among FeliCa<br>
phones by touch), 1-seg TV, TV conference (up to 5 people), au<br>
one Gadgets, and more - there's not much left out of this one.<br>
Slider-type shell in pink, white, or black.</p>
<p>More information:<br>
<a href="http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/product/au/w61s/index.html" title="http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/product/au/w61s/index.html">http://www.sonyericsson.co.jp/product/au/w61s/index.html</a><br>
(Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>ELECOM MR-A47H memory card reader goes to 47</p>
<p>Name: ELECOM MR-A47H<br>
Category: memory card reader<br>
Price: JPY4410<br>
Release date in Japan: Early May, 2008</p>
<p>In 1965, Intel co-founder Gordon Moore made the famous<br>
prediction that computing power (as related to transistor<br>
density) would roughly double every two years, and the IT press<br>
hasn't stopped quoting 'Moore's Law' since. </p>
<p>I'm going to dabble in legislative predictions of my own, with<br>
this forecast: the number of media card formats that cheap USB<br>
memory card readers claim to support will also double every two<br>
years. </p>
<p>Actually, I'm not at all certain of the number or the time<br>
progression, so we'll have to wait and watch. I'm just noting<br>
that the marketing claims are getting crazy. </p>
<p>Case in point: the ELECOM MR-A47H series. It really wasn't long<br>
ago that memory card readers claimed to handle 6 or 8 or so<br>
formats, which seemed great. Then one day, I notice they're<br>
touting upward of 14, even 20. And those new ELECOMs? Well,<br>
let's just say that if you've ever been burned by a reader that<br>
supported only 46 formats when what you needed was just one<br>
more, your ship has finally arrived - 'cause this one goes to<br>
47.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, though, ELECOM arrives at its two-score and<br>
seven by tallying up multiple types of physical formats, such as<br>
three types of microSDHC card. So without listing all the<br>
sub-types, here are the key formats covered: SD, SDHC, miniSD,<br>
miniSDHC, TransFlash, microSD, microSDHC, SD for Wii,<br>
MemoryStick, MemoryStick for PSP, xD PictureCard, CompactFlash,<br>
CF HDD, MMC, RS-MMC, MMC micro, and SmartMedia. Whew! </p>
<p>What? No NT Card or SxS? Back to work, ELECOM. (If they're<br>
anywhere close to 94 formats by 2010, I'm staking out and naming<br>
a Law.)</p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://www.elecom.co.jp/news/200804/mr-a47h/" title="http://www.elecom.co.jp/news/200804/mr-a47h/">http://www.elecom.co.jp/news/200804/mr-a47h/</a><br>
(Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>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>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
BUFFALO VH-MU01 makes Skype easier</p>
<p>Name: BUFFALO VH-MU01<br>
Category: USB Skype phone<br>
Price: JPY5320<br>
Release date in Japan: Early June, 2008</p>
<p>Many people reading this will be fans of Skype, the popular<br>
service that enables free computer-to-computer and low-cost<br>
computer-to-land-line voice calling. Typical Skype setups<br>
involve fiddling with your computer's microphone and<br>
speakers/headphones, or a USB-powered 'Skype phone' hardware<br>
add-on, which may still entail some mousing around to use.</p>
<p>BUFFALO Inc.'s new VH-MU01 isn't the first Skype phone handset,<br>
but promises to transform your Windows PC-based Skyping into a<br>
more phone-like experience. The white or black handset is<br>
generously described as 'stylish', and in fact isn't too bad<br>
looking. It plugs into a USB port, and will require some initial<br>
setup - but after that, you'll be using it like a good<br>
old-fashioned phone. All the buttons you need to make and<br>
receive calls, including Skype software controls and extra<br>
niceties like volume control, are on the unit; no need to mess<br>
with the PC.</p>
<p>That alone will let you talk for free to other Skype users<br>
anywhere on the globe. For more fun, sign up for FUSION<br>
Communications' new 'FUSION de Skype' service, which grants your<br>
Skype phone a regular FUSION IP-phone 050 number and lets you<br>
call regular land lines or mobile phones via the FUSION IP-Phone<br>
network (free if you call a FUSION IP-Phone 050 number). Early<br>
sign-ups for the service save about JPY2300 on various fees.</p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://buffalo.jp/products/new/2008/000705.html" title="http://buffalo.jp/products/new/2008/000705.html">http://buffalo.jp/products/new/2008/000705.html</a><br>
(Japanese)<br>
FUSION de Skype: <a href="http://www.fusioncom.co.jp/fusion_skype/" title="http://www.fusioncom.co.jp/fusion_skype/">http://www.fusioncom.co.jp/fusion_skype/</a><br>
(Japanese)</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Marketing News: JAXA COSMODE PRODUCT brands space products</p>
<p>The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) - itself behind<br>
more than a few gadgets, like the KAGUYA lunar explorer orbiting<br>
the moon and the KIBO International Space Station module<br>
launching June 1st - announced the JAXA COSMODE PROJECT logo<br>
progam for consumer-oriented products developed with JAXA<br>
involvement. From May, products qualifying for the mark will<br>
fall under one of three categories and existing cooperative<br>
programs:</p>
<p>1) Collaboration: Products developed in collaboration with JAXA<br>
under its Space Open Laboratory (a JAXA program to coordinate<br>
projects with academia and industry, not a physical laboratory)<br>
2) Spin-off: Products using JAXA patents or technology, under<br>
its Intellectual Assets Use Program<br>
3) Space Certified: Products certified by JAXA for space mission<br>
use, under the Space Japanese Food Certification Program and a<br>
similar proposed program for non-food items. (11 food makers<br>
already produce 28 food products for ISS mission use.) </p>
<p>Like any good logo, the COSMODE design has some meaning behind<br>
it. It represents a total solar eclipse, revealing a letter C<br>
formed by infinite stars - that is, the infinite products that<br>
space exploration will birth. Keep an eye out for<br>
COSMODE-branded products at stores near you. (My bet: the first<br>
time you'll see the logo in the wild will be on instant ramen.)</p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/cosmode.html" title="http://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/cosmode.html">http://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/cosmode.html</a> (Japanese)<br>
Space food pictures: <a href="http://iss.jaxa.jp/spacefood/index.html" title="http://iss.jaxa.jp/spacefood/index.html">http://iss.jaxa.jp/spacefood/index.html</a><br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Timm Tuttle<br>
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<p>--------NEW GADGET BLOG: TEKRONOMICON.COM------------------</p>
<p>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.<br>
See the gadgets introduced in Gadget Watch,<br>
with photos and more at: <a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/" title="www.tekronomicon.com">www.tekronomicon.com</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</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>----------- Metropolis and eigoTown.com Parties -----------</p>
<p>Metropolis - Tokyo's favorite lifestyle magazine and<br>
eigoTown.com - Japan's premier English language learning<br>
website - join together on May 10, 2008 to bring you<br>
the Metropolis and eigoTown.com Party!</p>
<p>Roppongi hotspot Alife will host over 500 revelers for an<br>
evening of fun with people from different backgrounds<br>
coming together for eating, drinking and making friends.</p>
<p>CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME</p>
<p>Website: <a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/party" title="www.metropolis.co.jp/party">www.metropolis.co.jp/party</a></p>
<p>-------------------- ICA Event - May 15 ------------------</p>
<p>Speaker: Ron DiCarlantonio, founder and CEO of iNAGO Group</p>
<p>Topic: How are Japanese companies innovating<br>
in Customer Service?</p>
<p>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: Thursday, May 15, 2008<br>
Time: 6:30 Doors open includes open bar and light buffet<br>
Cost: 4,500 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)<br>
Open to all - venue is The Foreign Correspondents'<br>
Club of Japan</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map" title="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map">http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>