---------------------------------------------------------------<br>Japan Inc Magazine Presents:<br>G A D G E T W A T C H<br><br>READ GADGETWATCH ONLINE AT:<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com">www.japaninc.com</a><br>The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>Issue No. 299 Friday May 23, 2008<br>Subscribers: 9467<br>SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a><br>
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<br>CALL NOW: 03-4550-2557<br><a href="mailto:info@pbxl.jp">info@pbxl.jp</a><br><br>Get your new phone system in three simple steps:<br><a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/plans">http://www.pbxl.jp/plans</a><br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
<br>========================================================<br><br>PENTAX Optio V20 seeks perfect portraits<br><br>Name: PENTAX Optio V20 <br>Category: digital camera <br>Price: Open price (about JPY30,000) <br>Release date in Japan: early June, 2008<br>
<br>Optics maker HOYA, holder of the PENTAX brand since this year's<br>March 31 merger, moves fast. Two issues ago, I wished for a<br>camera that would prevent photos of a subject in mid-blink. 'All<br>right,' said HOYA with uncanny quickness, 'here's the new PENTAX<br>
Optio V20'.<br><br>The V20 is an 8-megapixel compact digital camera with a 5x<br>optical lens, packing 51MB of internal memory and an SD/SDHC<br>memory card in a little 145-gram package. That's all fine by<br>itself; what's spiffy is the heap of facial recognition<br>
features. There's 'Face Recognition AF&AE' to automatically set<br>optimal focus and exposure for up to 15 faces, plus 'Smile<br>Capture' to automatically snap the shot when teeth gleam – great<br>
stuff, though neither features is new. Where the new PENTAX ups<br>the ante is in 'Blinking Detection', notifying you after the<br>shot if your subject made an ill-timed blink that calls for a<br>retake.<br><br>Another feature to prevent bumbled shots is 'Digital Shake<br>
Reduction.' Compensation for the photographer's own hand shake<br>is old news in cameras, but not everyone knows that recent<br>cameras like the V20 go further to reduce blur by digitally<br>compensating for your subject's movement as well. What's more,<br>
if your hands are shaking when you play back your pictures (just<br>what were you shooting?), the V20 will attempt to compensate for<br>motion there too.<br><br>Other features: 3.0-inch LCD screen, 'Digital Wide Mode' (to<br>
stitch two side-by-side snaps into one panoramic photo), ISO<br>80-6400 sensitivity, macro shooting to 10cm, movie recording<br>(640x480 or 320x240).<br><br>More information:<br><a href="http://www.pentax.jp/japan/imaging/digital/compact/optio-v20/">http://www.pentax.jp/japan/imaging/digital/compact/optio-v20/</a><br>
feature.html (Japanese)<br><br><a href="http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2008/200811.html">http://www.pentax.jp/english/news/2008/200811.html</a> (English)<br><br>========================================================<br>
<br>YAMAHA TENORI-ON goes on sale in Japan<br><br>Name: YAMAHA TENORI-ON <br>Category: musical instrument <br>Price: JPY121,000 <br>Release date in Japan: May 12, 2008<br><br>The TENORI-ON has been on gadget-watchers' radar for quite some<br>
time - the artwork/instrument has been shown off at conferences<br>and concerts in Europe from 2006, leading up to a 2008 World<br>Tour that began in Frankfurt in March and ended in Tokyo in<br>April. It's been on sale in Europe since 2007 as well. So,<br>
apologies in advance for European readers for whom this is old<br>news, but for those reading in Japan, take note: the TENORI-ON<br>can finally be yours – as soon as YAMAHA can make enough. And<br>that may take a while.<br>
<br>In case you missed the fuss over the gadget, here's the quick<br>overview: TENORI-ON is the brainchild of digital artist Toshio<br>Iwai and the Music and Human Interface Group at the YAMAHA<br>Center for Advanced Sound Technology. It's a magnesium-framed<br>
square holding a 16x16 grid of LED switches, looking nothing<br>like a musical instrument. Touching the LED switches on the<br>grid, as well as buttons on the sides, sets up repeating<br>sequences of beats, tones, and chords, all set to flashing<br>
pulses of light, letting you create rich synthetic 'sonic<br>textures' that... ahh, forget it, there's really no way to<br>describe it. This is one you have to see in action to<br>appreciate; follow the links below. <br>
<br>There's only one place to buy in Japan, and that's the official<br>YAMAHA TENORI-ON website. It went on sale May 12, but purchasers<br>swamped the site, with those able to complete the purchase<br>process quickly snapping up the initial lot of 100 units.<br>
Another lot of 100 ships in early June, and is spoken for. To<br>get yours, keep an eye on the website for availability updates,<br>or watch the online actions (though Japan's preferred Yahoo!<br>auctions aren't showing any for offer at the moment).<br>
<br>In the meantime, you may be able to catch a demo at one of<br>several locations in Japan (see link below), including Spiral<br>Records (Minami Aoyama), Tower Records (Shibuya), and NTT Inter<br>Communication Center (Shinjuku) in Tokyo. <br>
<br>More info: <a href="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2008/08042501.html">http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2008/08042501.html</a><br>(Japanese)<br><a href="http://www.yp-video.jp/tenori-on/">http://www.yp-video.jp/tenori-on/</a> (Japanese sales site)<br>
<a href="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tenori-on/shops/index.html">http://www.yamaha.co.jp/tenori-on/shops/index.html</a> (Japanese<br>demo locations)<br><a href="http://tenori-on.yamaha-europe.com/uk/">http://tenori-on.yamaha-europe.com/uk/</a> (English)<br>
<a href="http://tenori-on.yamaha-europe.com/uk/see/">http://tenori-on.yamaha-europe.com/uk/see/</a> (English video links)<br><br>========================================================<br><br>SolidAlliance Baketan 2 updates the cutting edge of<br>
ghost-detection technology<br><br>Name: SolidAlliance Baketan Strap 2 <br>Category: portable 'obake' spirit detector<br>Price: JPY1980 <br>Release date in Japan: May 8, 2008<br><br>Tokyo-based gadget monger SolidAlliance and Kanagawa-based<br>
mobile phone strap maker StrapyaNext have lifted the veil from<br>the new 'Baketan 2' ghost-detecting phone fob. Baketan 2 updates<br>the earlier hit 'Baketan Strap' fob with the addition of<br>'Kotodama Tuner' spirit detection and dead-to-living speech<br>
translation technology. Kotodama Tuner tech is a 'world's<br>first', say the companies - and I for one don't doubt it. <br><br>Baketan 2 has two modes. 24-Hour Mode, as the name suggests, is<br>your full-time watchdog. 'It may look like it's doing nothing,'<br>
says the press release, 'but it's continuously searching for<br>ghosts; it'll flash a red light only if an evil spirit appears.'<br>Yikes!<br><br>If you'd rather steel yourself first before receiving spooky<br>
surprises, go proactive with Search Mode. Press the center<br>button and receive a light in one of five colors to indicate<br>who's in the vicinity: red for bad ghosts, blue for good, etc.<br>At the same time, you summon the Kotodama Tuner (which takes its<br>
name from certain ancient magical beliefs). The Tuner uses a<br>'unique algorithm' to translate the 'spatial energy' of ghosts<br>into human speech. (Sort of like those dog-to-human translator<br>novelties of a few years back.) You may hear things even when no<br>
ghosts are present, as the Tuner will play back 'messages' left<br>behind by departed departed. 'I hear dead people!', you'll<br>whisper creepily.<br><br>Knowledge without action is itself dead, though. With, say, a<br>
WiFi detector, you know exactly how to act on a positive report:<br>surf some sites, check your email, and explore files your<br>Starbucks neighbors have left unprotected. What to do with grave<br>news of a lurking ghost, though? You're on your own for dealing<br>
with the good ones, but Baketan 2 takes care of the bad ones:<br>calmly give the center button a long press to activate 'Barrier<br>Mode', which sends poltergeists packing. Don't worry about<br>collateral nuisance, as the inventors have made the barrier<br>
completely undetectable by humans. Now that's high tech!<br><br>In physical incarnation, Baketan 2 takes the shape of the curved<br>'magatama' beads associated with ancient tombs, is emblazoned<br>with mystic words, and comes in two unearthly shades: Itako<br>
(female blind shaman) White or Onmyou (Yin-Yang) Black. <br><br>More info: <a href="http://ghostradar.jp/index1.html">http://ghostradar.jp/index1.html</a> (Japanese)<br><a href="http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/12_55_880.html">http://www.strapya-world.com/categories/12_55_880.html</a> (English<br>
shop page)<br><br>========================================================<br><br>Short items<br><br>Spotted elsewhere in the news:<br><br>1) Tokyo-based Princeton Technologies announced a big 8GB entry<br>in its ultra-light (8-gram) line of 'Xiao Jr.' USB drives. Comes<br>
with shiny blue LED light, and access to free 'SecretZip' and<br>'MySHELTER' software downloads to keep your data secure on the<br>tiny drive. Open price. <br><a href="http://www.princeton.co.jp/product/flashmemory/pfu2ju.html">http://www.princeton.co.jp/product/flashmemory/pfu2ju.html</a><br>
(Japanese)<br><br>2) From late July, Fujitsu will offer the MHZ2BK, a 250GB<br>2.5-inch 7200rpm ATA3.0Gbit/s hard drive that the company says<br>is the industry's largest-capacity drive rated for 24-hour<br>continuous operation. It should see use in enterprise servers,<br>
ATM machines, POS systems, etc.<br><a href="http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2008/05/">http://www.computernews.com/DailyNews/2008/05/</a><br>200805200514837A83562020.htm (Japanese)<br><br>3) Fan of the SONY a350 digital SLR camera? There's a new<br>
limited edition model that swaps the usual black body color for<br>elegant 'Silky Gold' tones. It's available from May 19, for<br>delivery in mid-June, for JPY99,800 from Sony Style. Only 200<br>sets available, so move fast. <br>
<a href="http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Product/Dslr/A350kn/index.html">http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Product/Dslr/A350kn/index.html</a><br>(Japanese)<br><br>--------NEW GADGET BLOG: TEKRONOMICON.COM------------------<br><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.<br>See the gadgets introduced in Gadget Watch,<br>with photos and more at: <a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com">www.tekronomicon.com</a><br>
<br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>++EVENTS<br>----------------------------------------------------------<br>Marcus Evans Events - Supported by J@pan Inc<br><br>Compensation and Benefits Forum, 27th – 28th May, Tokyo<br>
<a href="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<br>
<br>3rd Annual LNG World, 15th – 16th July 2008, Tokyo<br><a href="http://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.<br><br>Leveraged Finance Japan, 29th – 30th July 2008, Tokyo<br><a href="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.<br><br>'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>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>Start a Company in Japan<br><br>Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 31st of May, 2008<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>For more details:<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar">http://www.japaninc.com/entrepreneur_handbook_seminar</a><br><br>---------- Metropolis and eigoTown.com Party --------------<br><br>
Metropolis-Tokyo's favorite lifestyle magazine and<br>eigoTown.com - Japan's premier English language learning<br>website - join together on June 14, 2008 to bring you<br>The Metropolis and eigoTown.com Party.<br>
<br>Roppongi hotspot Alife will host over 500 revelers for an<br>evening of fun with people from different backgrounds<br>coming together to eat, drink and make friends!<br><br>Tel: Metropolis(Will Thompson) 03-45502759.<br>
Nearest stn: Roppongi. <a href="http://www.metropolis.co.jp/party">www.metropolis.co.jp/party</a><br><br>CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME<br><br>-------------------- ICA Event - June 25 ------------------<br><br>Speaker: Henry Ng, Head of Professional Security Services<br>
-Asia, Verizon Business<br><br>Topic: Bridging the Security Management Gap:<br>How to Move from Point Solutions to Process<br><br>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a><br>
(RSVP Required)<br>Date: Thursday, June 25, 2008<br>Time: 6:30 Doors open includes light buffet<br>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)<br>Open to all-venue is The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br>
<a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map">http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map</a><br><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>++END<br>