<div dir="ltr"><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. 314 Friday September 19, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE TO GADGET WATCH:<br>
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<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
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<p>Panasonic LUMIX G1 re-imagines the digital SLR</p>
<p>Name: Panasonic LUMIX G1 (DMC-G1)<br>
Category: digital SLR camera<br>
Price: About JPY80,000 (body only)<br>
Release date in Japan: October 31, 2008</p>
<p>Recent digital SLR (DSLR) cameras have offered both the<br>
traditional, mirror-based viewfinder and the option of 'live<br>
view' shot composition via the back-panel display. The<br>
photographic partnership of Panasonic and Olympus is stepping up<br>
as the first manufacturer to do away with the old-style<br>
viewfinder, going all-electronic for both the large LCD display<br>
and the viewfinder in the new LUMIX G1.</p>
<p>Why is that a good thing? It's all about size: that internal<br>
mirror structure adds a lot of bulk to an SLR. By losing the<br>
main mirror that bounces light up to the viewfinder structure,<br>
the G1 is able to reduce the distance between lens mount and<br>
image sensor from 40mm to 20mm, as well as lose the smaller<br>
mirrors and prisms in the viewfinder structure. In the end, the<br>
LUMIX G1 shaves lots of bulk from the SLR format - at 385 grams,<br>
it's about half the weight of the earlier LUMIX DMC-L10. </p>
<p>The new electronic full-time Live View Finder shows a full-time,<br>
60 frames-per-second preview with a 1.44-megapixel equivalent<br>
resolution. You can zoom in on detail, a useful feature when<br>
using manual focus. A built-in eye sensor takes note when you're<br>
peeking into the viewfinder and turns off the back-panel LCD<br>
display to conserve power. </p>
<p>In another departure from earlier DSLRs, the LUMIX G1 makes use<br>
of a new standard for its sensor and lenses, the Micro Four<br>
Thirds System. In a nutshell: Olympus and Kodak created the Four<br>
Thirds System specifically for DSLRs, featuring a 4:3 aspect<br>
ratio (the same as TVs/monitors and most compact digital cams,<br>
and different from the 3:2 ratio used for film cameras and older<br>
DSLRs). One advantage of the standard: lenses designed for the<br>
Four Thirds System are fairly compact. With the LUMIX G1,<br>
Panasonic and Olympus introduce the Micro Four Thirds variant,<br>
designed for mirror-less focal distances, electronic<br>
viewfinders, and even more compact lenses with a smaller mount.<br>
(Compatibility with Four Thirds lenses requires an adapter.)</p>
<p>Other features include 12.1-megapixel image sensor, a wide<br>
variety of Auto Focus modes, IA (Intelligent Auto) mode (a<br>
combination of Intelligent Scene Selection, AF Tracking, Face<br>
Detection, Intelligent ISO Control, and Intelligent Exposure),<br>
MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer), digital red-eye<br>
correction, 3-inch free-angle LCD display, HDMI output, and<br>
Olympus's highly-regarded Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction<br>
system.</p>
<p>In the end, the LUMIX G1 is for photogs who want the power and<br>
versatility of a DSLR, without the bulk, weight, and complexity.<br>
In fact, Panasonic de-emphasizes the SLR lineage in its<br>
marketing, going for 'the world's smallest and lightest digital<br>
interchangeable lens camera' instead in its marketing. In a<br>
final un-SLR-like touch, the camera body comes in red and blue,<br>
in addition to the traditional black.</p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://panasonic.jp/dc/g1/" title="http://panasonic.jp/dc/g1/">http://panasonic.jp/dc/g1/</a></p>
<p>-------------Japan Inc is worth every penny!---------------</p>
<p>J@pan Inc is Japan's only English-language business magazine.<br>
Authoritatively chronicling business trends in Japan, each<br>
beautifully designed full-color issue brings you in-depth<br>
analysis of business, people and technology in the world's<br>
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for 1 year (12 issues) JPY 15,000 for 2 years (24 issues)<br>
Visit <a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions" title="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions</a> to subscribe.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
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<p>Productivity-boosting big screens get cheaper</p>
<p>Name: GREEN HOUSE GH-JEF223SH<br>
Category: computer display<br>
Price: JPY36,800<br>
Release date in Japan: Late September, 2008</p>
<p>Still computing on one small screen? Once in a while the tech<br>
blogs will go a-twitter over the latest study linking screen<br>
real estate to productivity. Findings vary with the tasks and<br>
the physical setups measured, but the reported numbers are<br>
always impressive. A University of Utah study earlier this year,<br>
for example, claimed that compared to office productivity tasks<br>
performed on an 18-inch monitor, a 24-inch screen sped up those<br>
tasks by 52%, while two 20-inch monitors granted a 44%<br>
improvement. More screen space can save workers as much as two<br>
and a half hours a day, concluded the study. </p>
<p>(Big caveats: those findings assume eight hours of tasks that<br>
are dependent on screen real estate - and the study was funded<br>
by display manufacturer NEC.) </p>
<p>Even if your productivity gains don't stand to be as impressive,<br>
few people who move to big and/or multiple monitors care to<br>
switch back to small. Fortunately for upgraders, screens keep<br>
getting cheaper. Case in point: the low-cost 22-inch GH-JEF223SH<br>
display from GREEN HOUSE. It's a WSXGA (1680x1050), 24-bit (16.7<br>
million colors) screen with a luminance of 300cd/m2, contrast<br>
ratio of 1000:1 (10,000:1 in enhanced mode), HDMI and regular<br>
mini D-sub 15-pin connectors, and built-in 2W+2W speakers. </p>
<p>If you're willing to spend a little more, BUFFALO will release<br>
the FTD-HD2232HSR/BK around the same time. It's also 22 inches,<br>
but sports WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution, and has a DVI-D24-pin<br>
connector for HDCP-protected content. Luminance, contrast, and<br>
speakers are similar to the GREEN HOUSE display, but there's no<br>
HDMI. JPY42,800.</p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef223shc/" title="http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef223shc/">http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef223shc/</a></p>
<p>BUFFALO FTD-HD2232HSR/BK (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://buffalo.jp/products/catalog/display/ftd-hd2232hsr/index" title="http://buffalo.jp/products/catalog/display/ftd-hd2232hsr/index">http://buffalo.jp/products/catalog/display/ftd-hd2232hsr/index</a>.<br>
html?p=spec</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>RidgeRunner Niseko International Cricket Competition<br>
20-21 September 2008</p>
<p>Join us as a player, spectator or to party for two days of<br>
fun at Niseko's annual charity cricket tournament.<br>
Hosted by international greats Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh,<br>
the event benefits the Tyler Foundation for Childhood Cancer<br>
and Hokkaido International School through our Hokkaido-style-<br>
glamour charity dinner dance and auction.</p>
<p>For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.ezocricketclub.com/" title="www.ezocricketclub.com">www.ezocricketclub.com</a><br>
or contact Billeigh Waaha 080-3597-6307<br>
or e-mail <a href="mailto:cricket@rad-development.com">cricket@rad-development.com</a></p>
<p>Thanks to our sponsors RidgeRunner, TK6, Paddy Foley's,<br>
Commonwealth Bank, Green Leaf Hotel, National Australia Bank,<br>
Hokkaido Tracks, Australian Meat and Livestock, ANZCCJ,<br>
Village Cellars, Metropolis, Japan Inc, Peter Lehman Wines,<br>
Black Diamond Lodge and Niseko Physio.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
========================================================</p>
<p>Kenwood releases Media Keg MG-E504 audio player </p>
<p>Name: Kenwood Media Keg MG-E504<br>
Category: portable audio player<br>
Price: About JPY15,000<br>
Release date in Japan: September, 2008</p>
<p>Among the catalog of non-iPod audio players (a.k.a. Audio<br>
Players You've Never Heard Of) lies the Media Keg series from<br>
Tokyo-based audio specialists Kenwood Corporation. The Media Keg<br>
stable houses a handful of flash memory-based and hard<br>
drive-based models; its newest entry, the MG-E504, competes with<br>
the iPod nano in form and price. Let's jump right to a direct<br>
comparison:</p>
<p>Although a tad pricier at JPY17,800, the iPod offers 8GB of<br>
flash memory (vs the MG-E504's 4GB), a 2-inch screen (vs<br>
1.5-inch), video playback (vs none), better interface and<br>
controls (including click wheel and accelerometer), and a body<br>
that's a skosh smaller and lighter than the MG-E504's. (Most<br>
users would count iTunes media management software as a plus as<br>
well, though it has its detractors.)</p>
<p>The MG-E504, on the other hand, allows additional memory via a<br>
micro SD slot, so you can match or surpass the iPod's storage; a<br>
16GB card would take up to an impressive 20GB. The gadget also<br>
claims 54-hour audio playback time (vs the Pod's 24 hours). A<br>
quick-charge ability promises to supply 3.5 hours of playback on<br>
a 10-minute recharge. </p>
<p>MG-E504-supported audio formats are MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV, vs<br>
MP3, AAC, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV for the iPod.<br>
Comparisons of overall sound quality, including quality of the<br>
supplied headphones, is a debate we'll have to leave to the<br>
audiophiles. Neither device includes radio.</p>
<p>So there's the breakdown: if you value the expandable memory,<br>
the longer battery life, and WMA file playback, and can overlook<br>
the smaller screen, clunky mobile phone-like interface, and lack<br>
of video, the Media Keg MG-E504 is an iPod nano alternative<br>
that'll save you a couple thousand yen to boot. (Also available<br>
from October: the MG-E502 with 2GB internal memory, for<br>
JPY13,000. Either model comes in white, black, or pink.) </p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.kenwood.co.jp/j/products/home_audio/personal/" title="http://www.kenwood.co.jp/j/products/home_audio/personal/">http://www.kenwood.co.jp/j/products/home_audio/personal/</a><br>
mg_e504_502/</p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Short items</p>
<p>Spotted elsewhere in the news:</p>
<p>1) Kitty is moving up in the world of floor-cleaning devices!<br>
Previously, she appeared in a special edition of the RoboMop, a<br>
low-cost, low-tech cleaning 'robot' (essentially a<br>
randomly-rolling ball topped by a floor-dusting 'hat'). Now<br>
she's hitting the big time, gracing none other than the famed<br>
Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner. Based on the standard Roomba 530,<br>
the 'Hello Kitty model' is offered by American manufacturer<br>
iRobot and Japanese distributor Sales On Demand Corp. The first<br>
Roomba to sport a character theme, the model shows Kitty holding<br>
an apple against a red background. 500 units go on sale<br>
September 30. JPY84,500.<br>
More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.irobot-jp.com/kitty/index.html" title="http://www.irobot-jp.com/kitty/index.html">http://www.irobot-jp.com/kitty/index.html</a><br>
Hello Kitty RoboMop (English):<br>
<a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/03/robomop" title="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/03/robomop">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/03/robomop</a></p>
<p>2) FM. AM. One-seg TV. It's all yours while you soak in the tub,<br>
with Sony's XDV-W600 water-resistant radio/TV (the bath-time<br>
BRAVIA). It has a 4' screen (16.7 million colors), runs on<br>
internal rechargeable power or 4 AA batteries, offers 1.8x<br>
better One-seg reception sensitivity compared to the earlier<br>
XDV-100, and will even record up to 10 hours of TV on its<br>
internal 2GB memory. From October 30 for about JPY40,000.<br>
More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/oneseg-radio/products/XDV-" title="http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/oneseg-radio/products/XDV-">http://www.sony.jp/products/Consumer/oneseg-radio/products/XDV-</a><br>
W600/</p>
<p>3) Small but bigger: Toshiba announced the world's first 240GB<br>
internal hard drive in 1.8-inch format, the MK2431GAH. That's a<br>
quarter terabyte, in the ultra-compact size used by subnotebooks<br>
and audio players. Production begins from late September.<br>
Meanwhile, price watchers in Japan report that the regular<br>
retail price of a 3.5-inch (desktop) 1TB internal hard drive,<br>
such as the SAMSUNG HD103UI, is now dipping below the JPY10,000<br>
mark.<br>
1TB drive prices (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20080913/etc_hdd" title="http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20080913/etc_hdd">http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20080913/etc_hdd</a>.<br>
html<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------<br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Timm Tuttle<br>
READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS<br>
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Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:<br>
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<p>FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS<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><br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Paccess Inc helps you 'Go Global Now!'</p>
<p>For over 10 years, Paccess Inc has assisted companies with<br>
market entry, strategic partner search, and trade development<br>
in the US, Japan, and Latin America.<br>
To expand your business in overseas markets,<br>
visit <a href="http://www.paccess.com/" title="www.paccess.com">www.paccess.com</a>, or contact <a href="mailto:info@paccess.NET">info@paccess.NET</a><br>
(English, Japanese, or Spanish OK).<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
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The Silver Market Phenomenon: Business Opportunities<br>
and Responsibilities in the Ageing Society</p>
<p>International Symposium on October 3 and 4</p>
<p>If you have been wondering how demographic change is going<br>
to affect your business in Japan, find out more in this<br>
international symposium by the German Institute for Japanese<br>
Studies, United Nations University and Tokyo Institute of<br>
Technology in Tokyo.<br>
This is a unique opportunity to discuss Japan's silver market<br>
phenomenon with renowned experts from around the globe and to<br>
meet the inventor of 'Paro,' a robot for therapeutic treatment,<br>
as well as the inventor of the Robot Suit HAL, Dr. Kawashima<br>
from the worldwide success 'Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training'<br>
and many more.</p>
<p>Space is limited, so register quickly.</p>
<p>For more details:<br>
<a href="http://www.dijtokyo.org/" title="www.dijtokyo.org">www.dijtokyo.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.dijtokyo.org/doc/DIJ-Silvermarket0810_faxform.pdf" title="www.dijtokyo.org/doc/DIJ-Silvermarket0810_faxform.pdf">www.dijtokyo.org/doc/DIJ-Silvermarket0810_faxform.pdf</a><br>
Or contact us by phone or e-mail:<br>
03-3222-5077<br>
<a href="mailto:silver@dijtokyo.org">silver@dijtokyo.org</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p></div>