<div dir="ltr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><div>This week's Gadget Watch looks at several announcements from</div><div>Sony, including new Walkmans and BRAVIA TVs, plus a couple of</div>
<div>lower-rent gadgets. </div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------</div><div>Japan Inc Magazine Presents:</div><div>G A D G E T W A T C H</div><div><br></div><div>READ GADGETWATCH ONLINE AT:</div>
<div><a href="http://www.japaninc.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">www.japaninc.com</a></div><div>The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div>Issue No. 313 Friday September 12, 2008</div><div>Subscribers: 9467</div><div>SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:</div><div><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/free_sign_up</a></div>
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<div>========================================================</div><div><br></div><div>New Sony BRAVIA line-up includes world's thinnest TV</div><div><br></div><div>Name: Sony BRAVIA ZX1, W1, XR1, and X1 series </div>
<div>Category: digital TVs </div><div>Price: see below </div><div>Release date in Japan: October 10 and November 10, 2008</div><div><br></div><div>Sony recently announced its new BRAVIA flat-panel TV lineup: 8</div><div>new models in 4 categories, with some impressive bragging</div>
<div>points. </div><div><br></div><div>The first models to hit shops will be the X1 and XR1 series,</div><div>screens with Full-HD (1920x1080) resolution and a contrast ratio</div><div>of 3,000:1. The two series' shared selling point is 'BRAVIA</div>
<div>ENGINE 2 PRO' technology, incorporating what Sony calls the most</div><div>advanced realization of its 'Digital Reality Creation'</div><div>technology for rendering pictures. The XR1 series further tweaks</div>
<div>its RGB LED backlighting to increase dynamic contrast to an</div><div>impressive 1,000,000:1. It also offers an improved version of</div><div>Sony's 'Motionflow 120Hz' technology, which interpolates frames</div>
<div>to boost 60 frame-per-second video to an effective 120 frames</div><div>per second. </div><div><br></div><div>Next up: The W1 series further upgrades the Motionflow tech to</div><div>'Motionflow 240Hz', what Sony calls the 'world's first 4-speed</div>
<div>display' offering unmatched crispness and smoothness of display</div><div>for sports and other fast-moving scenes. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally, the ZX1 series' claim to fame is a record-setting</div><div>
9.9-mm slim profile; the ultra-thin 40-inch TV is an amazing</div><div>12.2 kg light. Of course, that svelteness leaves less room for</div><div>internal components. The ZX1 lacks the above series' video</div><div>enhancements, and in its quest to downsize, outsources the usual</div>
<div>gaggle of input/output connectors to a separate 'Media Receiver'</div><div>box that sends video to the screen via 'BRAVIA 1080 Wireless'.</div><div>There's nothing on the display unit itself but a power cord and</div>
<div>single HDMI connector. With its barely-there thinness and lack</div><div>of cables, Sony calls the ZX1 the ultimate big-screen TV for</div><div>freedom of placement in any room layout.</div><div><br></div><div>The X1 and XR1 series go on sale October 10, and the W1 and Z1</div>
<div>series on November 10. Model names and prices are below. (It's</div><div>easy to decode: after 'KDL-' comes the screen size in inches,</div><div>followed by the series name.)</div><div><br></div><div>KDL-40ZX1: JPY490,000</div>
<div>KDL-46W1: JPY400,000</div><div>KDL-40W1: JPY290,000 </div><div>KDL-55XR1: JPY750,000 </div><div>KDL-46XR1: JPY600,000 </div><div>KDL-52X1: JPY530,000 </div><div>KDL-46X1: JPY430,000 </div><div>KDL-40X1: JPY320,000</div>
<div><br></div><div>More info (Japanese):</div><div><a href="http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200808/08-0828/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200808/08-0828/</a> </div>
<div><br></div><div>========================================================</div><div><br></div><div>Thanko USB Nandemo Charger 2 morphs to fit your batteries</div><div><br></div><div>Name: Thanko USB Nandemo Charger 2 </div>
<div>Category: battery charger </div><div>Price: JPY1480 </div><div>Release date in Japan: September 5, 2008</div><div><br></div><div>Thanko's 'USB Nandemo [Anything] Charger 2' offers to</div><div>consolidate your gadget charging needs - mobile phones, digital</div>
<div>cameras, and PDAs - into one USB-powered unit. Not via a</div><div>hydra-like nest of power connectors to fit any device, but via a</div><div>universal charger that morphs to fit a variety of device</div><div>batteries. </div>
<div><br></div><div>It's actually pretty simple. The Charger draws power from a USB</div><div>cable connected to your PC. The base is essentially a big</div><div>plastic clip, with two metal contacts whose distance is</div>
<div>adjustable. Take out your device's battery, place it on the</div><div>base, adjust the contacts so they touch the battery's points of</div><div>contact, and let the clip hold things in place while for a 5V</div>
<div>recharge. </div><div><br></div><div>It's a nifty idea, though with drawbacks. The device has to be</div><div>one with a removable battery (so no iPhones/iPods), and the</div><div>battery has to have two side-by-side metal contact points</div>
<div>(generally, that means the flat batteries in mobile phones, and</div><div>some cameras, PDAs, and game machines). Removing your phone's</div><div>battery for a recharge is a bit more of a hassle than using its</div>
<div>regular recharger. Further, you need to have a PC handy to</div><div>supply power, or a wall outlet-to-USB connector. All in all,</div><div>unless you really have the need to power a variety of battery</div><div>types, it may be easier to just make sure you take your gadgets'</div>
<div>normal rechargers with you on travels.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, it can be handy at times to have an extra means of</div><div>charging on hand. For those wearing down the phone battery</div><div>often, the following may be even better: the USB Nandemo Charger</div>
<div>mini. It's similar to the above but plugs itself directly into a</div><div>USB port without a cable (like a USB drive), and is intended</div><div>only for 3.6/3.7V batteries (generally phone batteries). The</div>
<div>upside: it's a tiny keychain, easy to always have on hand.</div><div>Cheaper, too, at JPY980.</div><div><br></div><div>More info (Japanese): </div><div><a href="http://thanko.jp/usbcharger2/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://thanko.jp/usbcharger2/</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>========================================================</div><div><br></div><div>New S730F Walkman improves noise cancellation abilities</div><div><br></div><div>Name: Sony Walkman S730F Series </div>
<div>Category: portable audio player </div><div>Price: About JPY27,000 (16GB)</div><div>Release date in Japan: October 11, 2008</div><div><br></div><div>Everyone on the planet knows Sony's fabled 'Walkman' portable</div>
<div>casette player that revolutionized music appreciation in 1979.</div><div>There are those, though, who don't realize that the Walkman name</div><div>still lives, in a growing line of music player products. These</div>
<div>include the MD (MiniDisk) Walkman, the CD Walkman, and yes, even</div><div>cassette Walkman models, should you still be hanging on to your</div><div>80s mix tapes. </div><div><br></div><div>As you'd expect, though, the primary Walkman format for the past</div>
<div>five years has been digital audio players with hard disks or</div><div>flash memory. Like all other portable music players, this form</div><div>of Walkman (technically dubbed the Network Walkman) has had its</div><div>
lunch thoroughly nabbed and devoured by the iPod, with no sign</div><div>yet of a respite. But it soldiers on, keeping the Walkman name</div><div>on its feet and offering maverick audiophiles a few features</div><div>that the iPod doesn't.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Sony recently announced several new configurations in the S</div><div>Series of Walkmans, including the S730F. The player carries</div><div>forth the S700 series' key feature, noise cancellation (which</div>
<div>requires use of the included headphones). Hit a switch at the</div><div>bottom of the unit, and the Walkman will digitally filter out</div><div>3/4 of the surrounding noise, letting you play your music at a</div><div>
comfortably modest volume even in noisy environments. (Or just</div><div>use the feature without music, to reduce noise during study or</div><div>sleep.) A nice added ability: you can use noise cancellation</div><div>while an external sound source plays through the Walkman via its</div>
<div>audio input. Sony suggests it's a good way to enjoy a standard</div><div>in-flight video system, with the Walkman cutting out engine</div><div>noise. </div><div><br></div><div>The Walkman's iPod-like aluminum body is only 7.5-mm thick - the</div>
<div>thinnest in Walkman history, says Sony. (That's still over a</div><div>millimeter thicker than the new iPod nano, and at 46 grams,</div><div>almost 10 grams heavier.) The vertically-oriented, two-inch</div><div>320x240 screen is similar to the nano's. Video playback (MPEG-4,</div>
<div>H.264 AVC, WMV) is a decent 30 fps, and uses the screen held</div><div>sideways. </div><div><br></div><div>Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, AAC, HE-AAC, and</div><div>Sony's own ATRAC. The Walkman wants to add some automation to</div>
<div>your music selection: it analyzes music tracks and automatically</div><div>creates 'channels' such as Active, Relax, Slow Ballad, Sofa</div><div>Lounge, and Extreme, to match your listening mood. Sony says</div>
<div>it's the first such intelligent channel creation in a portable</div><div>device - though Apple just undid that claim, if its new iPods'</div><div>'Genius' playlist feature counts as the same thing.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Still, the Walkman gets to boast of its noise cancellation, and</div><div>a few more capabilities that surpass the iPod: FM radio, the</div><div>ability to record music directly from MD or CD, the ability to</div>
<div>record video directly from TV or camera (requires separate</div><div>docking station), the ability to snag video from BluRay disc</div><div>recorders (BDZ-A70/X95/X100 models), and 40-hour playback time</div><div>for MP3 audio, 10 hours for video. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Available colors are red, gold, black, or pink. Expected prices</div><div>are JPY27,000 for 16GB memory (NW-S739F), 21,000 for 8GB</div><div>(NW-S738F), and JPY17,000 for 4GB (NW-S736F). </div><div><br>
</div><div>More info (Japanese):</div><div><a href="http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/walkman/product.cfm?PD=32350&KM=NW-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/walkman/product.cfm?PD=32350&KM=NW-</a></div>
<div>S739F</div><div><br></div><div>========================================================</div><div><br></div><div>Short items</div><div><br></div><div>Spotted elsewhere in the news:</div><div><br></div><div>1) Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation Portable 3000 was</div>
<div>revealed earlier, with price and shipping date unannounced. SEC</div><div>has now filled in those missing details: the PSP 3000 ships on</div><div>October 16 in Japan for JPY19,800. There'll also be a Value Pack</div>
<div>that adds a 4GB MemoryStick ProDuo card, pouch, handstrap, and</div><div>cleaning cloth, for JPY24,800. </div><div>Press release (Japanese):</div><div><a href="http://www.jp.playstation.com/info/release/nr_20080902_psp3000" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.jp.playstation.com/info/release/nr_20080902_psp3000</a>.</div>
<div>html</div><div>PSP 3000 details (English):</div><div><a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/08/sce_psp_3000" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/08/sce_psp_3000</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>2) Another oddball USB gadget from Thanko: to complement its</div><div>fan-equipped mouse and keyboard for cooling your hands, Thanko</div><div>also has a fan-equipped seat for cooling your... er, seat. The</div>
<div>'USB Cooler Cushion' straps onto your work chair and, taking</div><div>power from a USB cable to your computer, sends cooling air</div><div>upward through pores in the cushion. With a USB adapter for your</div>
<div>car's cigarette lighter, it'll keep you comfy on the road too.</div><div>Says the company's English page: 'No more sweaty nasty seat for</div><div>me!!' JPY4800 (JPY5280 with car USB adapter).</div>
<div>More info (Japanese): </div><div><a href="http://thanko.jp/usbseatair/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://thanko.jp/usbseatair/</a></div><div>(English):</div><div><a href="http://www.raremonoshop.com/us/product-information/usb-cooler-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.raremonoshop.com/us/product-information/usb-cooler-</a></div>
<div>cushion.html</div><div>USB Cooler mouse and keyboard (English):</div><div><a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/07/usb_cooler_mouse" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/07/usb_cooler_mouse</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/08/usb_cooler_keyboard" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/08/usb_cooler_keyboard</a></div><div><br></div><div>3) Elsewhere in the Walkman world: Sony announced that it's</div>
<div>opening up the device's proprietary WM-PORT connector to</div><div>third-party hardware developers via a 'Designed for Walkman'</div><div>licensing program, similar to Apple's existing 'Made for Pod'</div>
<div>program. Expect to see add-ons soon, beginning with speakers,</div><div>microphones, and GM transmitters from Logitec in October.</div><div>More info (Japanese):</div><div><a href="http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/News/Press/200809/08-118/index" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/News/Press/200809/08-118/index</a>.</div>
<div>html</div><div><br></div><div>4) JustSystems' popular ATOK software for Japanese input is</div><div>going SAS (software as service). Starting this month, ATOK for</div><div>Windows is available as a JPY300/month service, with access to</div>
<div>ATOK upgrades (input system, dictionaries, etc.) as they come</div><div>out. JustSystems says it hopes the new service will entice those</div><div>PC users who have passed on ATOK so far and rely instead on</div><div>
their OS's bundled input system. </div><div>More info (Japanese):</div><div><a href="http://www.justsystems.com/jp/products/atok_teigaku/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.justsystems.com/jp/products/atok_teigaku/</a></div>
<div>----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div>STAFF</div><div>Written by: Timm Tuttle</div><div>READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS</div><div>Gadget Watch online archive:</div><div><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch</a></div>
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<div>All Rights Reserved.</div><div><br></div><div>GadgetWatch mailing list</div><div><a href="mailto:GadgetWatch@mailman.japaninc.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">GadgetWatch@mailman.japaninc.com</a></div>
<div><a href="http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/gadgetwatch" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://mailman.japaninc.com/mailman/listinfo/gadgetwatch</a></div><div><br></div><div>--------NEW GADGET BLOG: TEKRONOMICON.COM------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>In collaboration with Gadget Watch, Gadget blog Tekronomicon</div><div>offers a detailed look at select gadgets - shiny and strange,</div><div>from gizmo ground zero in Tokyo.</div><div>See the gadgets introduced in Gadget Watch,</div>
<div>with photos and more at: <a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">www.tekronomicon.com</a></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div>
Paccess Inc helps you 'Go Global Now!'</div><div><br></div><div>For over 10 years, Paccess Inc has assisted companies with</div><div>market entry, strategic partner search, and trade development</div><div>in the US, Japan, and Latin America.</div>
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<div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>RidgeRunner Niseko International Cricket Competition</div><div>
20-21 September 2008</div><div><br></div><div>Join us as a player, spectator or to party for two days of</div><div>fun at Niseko's annual charity cricket tournament.</div><div>Hosted by international greats Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh,</div>
<div>the event benefits the Tyler Foundation for Childhood Cancer</div><div>and Hokkaido International School through our Hokkaido-style-</div><div>glamour charity dinner dance and auction.</div><div><br></div><div>For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.ezocricketclub.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">www.ezocricketclub.com</a></div>
<div>or contact Billeigh Waaha 080-3597-6307</div><div>or e-mail <a href="mailto:cricket@rad-development.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">cricket@rad-development.com</a></div><div><br></div><div>Thanks to our sponsors RidgeRunner, TK6, Paddy Foley's,</div>
<div>Commonwealth Bank, Green Leaf Hotel, National Australia Bank,</div><div>Hokkaido Tracks, Australian Meat and Livestock, ANZCCJ,</div><div>Village Cellars, Metropolis, Japan Inc, Peter Lehman Wines,</div><div>Black Diamond Lodge and Niseko Physio.</div>
<div><br></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div>---------------- ICA Event - Sept 18 ---------------------</div><div><br></div><div>Presenter: David C. Fender</div>
<div>- Director, Asia Pacific, Hyland Software, Inc.</div><div><br></div><div>Topic: Enterprise Content Management</div><div>- Challenges and Opportunities for IT Managers</div><div><br></div><div>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a></div>
<div>(RSVP Required)</div><div><br></div><div>Date: Thursday, Sept 18, 2008</div><div>Time: 6:30-8:30pm - includes light buffet dinner</div><div>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)</div><div>Open to all-venue is The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan</div>
<div><a href="http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">http://www.fccj.or.jp/aboutus/map</a></div><div><br></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div><br></div><div>------------------------- JMEC ----------------------------</div><div>The Japan Market Expansion Competition (JMEC) will conduct</div><div>information sessions for attendees to learn about the</div><div>
fifteenth year of this experiential business training program.</div><div><br></div><div>Sessions are free but registration is required.</div><div>Sep 18th, Oct 1, October 14, 7:30pm-9:00pm,</div><div>Temple University Japan Campus.</div>
<div><a href="http://www.jmec.gr.jp" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); ">www.jmec.gr.jp</a> to register.</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------</div></span>
</div>