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The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Issue No. 319 Friday October 31, 2008<br>
Subscribers: 9467<br>
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========================================================</p>
<p>King Jim decrees new way to take notes</p>
<p>Name: Pomera Digital Memo DM10<br>
Category: pocket word processor<br>
Price: JPY27,300<br>
Release date in Japan: November 10, 2008</p>
<p>Tiny netbook PCs are already as inexpensive as just a few<br>
hundred dollars. If you want to go just a little cheaper than<br>
even the netbooks can offer, a solution is here from an<br>
unexpected source, Tokyo-based stationery maker King Jim. The<br>
King's offering: the pocket-sized 'digital memo' word processor,<br>
the Pomera DM10. </p>
<p>King Jim coined the name 'Pomera' from 'Pocket Memo Writer'. It<br>
requires a good-sized pocket; the Pomera is bigger than an<br>
iPhone or BlackBerry, though much smaller than any netbook. Yet<br>
there's a full-size (25-cm wide) 'real' keyboard inside the<br>
Pomera, larger than some netbooks' keyboards. Space-warping<br>
pocket dimension? No, clever folding; the keyboard unfolds in a<br>
snap, reminescent of the old Palm Top PC 110 or ThinkPad 701c,<br>
becoming twice as wide as the rest of the gadget. That 'rest of<br>
gadget' includes a 4-inch 640x480 TFT LCD screen, 128MB internal<br>
memory with microSD expansion slot, USB for connection to PCs, a<br>
fantastic 20 hours of life on 2 AAA batteries, and a two-second<br>
(!) startup time. JustSystems' ATOK input method is there to<br>
handle Japanese.</p>
<p>A super-cheap, always-ready netbook that fits in a pocket? Not<br>
quite, as taking notes is all the Pomera does, and in a<br>
decidedly retro fashion. The internal memory has the<br>
ancient-sounding limitation of a maximum 6 text files, each up<br>
to 8000 characters. (It's unclear whether use of a microSD card<br>
removes the 8000-character/file limitation.) The screen is<br>
monotone. There's no Internet, WiFi, or other network<br>
connectivity; no browsers, calculators, games, or other<br>
non-writing software. You write with it, and that's all. Yet<br>
even the word-processing features are few: three character<br>
sizes, very limited formatting, and so on.</p>
<p>That all makes sense, says King Jim. The company positions the<br>
device as an electronic memo pad for meetings and writing on the<br>
go. The quick startup time and long battery life serve those<br>
ends better than a netbook can, and its 14.5x10x3-cm dimensions<br>
and 370-gram weight beat netbooks easily for portability. Think<br>
of the dedicated device as digital-age stationery, says King<br>
Jim, not as a pared-down netbook. </p>
<p>Yet for all the niche attraction of a dedicated device, it's<br>
impossible not to notice that a mere 3000 yen or so more will<br>
get you into the territory of do-it-all netbooks with Internet<br>
connectivity and color 9-inch screens. Further, it's easy to<br>
imagine memo-taking scenarios in which a full keyboard will be<br>
clumsier than a one-handed PDA, such as while hanging on to a<br>
subway strap. </p>
<p>It'll be interesting to see whether the note-taker market and<br>
the Pomera find each other. The Pomera's a one-trick pony; its<br>
great small size and always-ready ease carry a price that's only<br>
a tad cheaper than netbooks. But if its niche scratches your<br>
itch, get a pocketful of Pomera and unleash your inner<br>
stenographer.</p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.kingjim.co.jp/pomera/index.html" title="http://www.kingjim.co.jp/pomera/index.html">http://www.kingjim.co.jp/pomera/index.html</a><br>
==================== ICA Event – Nov 20 ================================</p>
<p>Topic: Focused on the Bottom Line, Using third party solutions in Japan for SME's</p>
<p>Presenter: Tony Fujii - Partner, Fusion Systems</p>
<p>Details: Complete event details at <a href="http://www.icajapan.jp/" title="http://www.icajapan.jp/">http://www.icajapan.jp/</a> (RSVP Required)</p>
<p>Date: Thursday, Nov 20, 2008</p>
<p>Time: 6:30 Doors open, Buffet Dinner included, cash bar</p>
<p>Cost: 4,000 yen (members), 6,000 yen (non-members)</p>
<p> Open to all – venue is The Foreign Correspondents' 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>=====================================================================<br>
========================================================</p>
<p>YASHICA EZF924 offers 9.1 megapixels for under 10,000 yen</p>
<p>Name: Exemode YASHICA EZF924<br>
Category: digital camera<br>
Price: JPY9980<br>
Release date in Japan: Early November, 2008</p>
<p>Want a camera with an impressive pixel count - say, almost 10<br>
million? Want to spend less than JPY10,000 for it? The EZF924<br>
from Tokyo-based Exemode, recent reviver of the YASHICA brand in<br>
Japan, may fit the bill. </p>
<p>The 85-gram YASHICA's CMOS sensor yields 9.12 million<br>
(3488x2616) pixels. On back is a 2.4-inch TFT display. Other<br>
specs, while not necessarily bad for a camera, do match up with<br>
a low price tag: ISO goes from 100 to a middling (if<br>
serviceable) 800. The 43mm, F3.25 lens is fixed-focus (though a<br>
macro mode lets you shoot as close as 20cm). Internal memory is<br>
only 16MB, not enough for two shots at highest resolution; make<br>
sure to get an SD/SDHC card (up to 8GB) for real shooting.<br>
There's no optical zoom, just 8x digital (i.e., no real zoom at<br>
all). There is video capability, though just 640x480 AVI (Motion<br>
JPEG) at 15-20 frames per second. (That's good enough for<br>
YouTube, and the camera includes software for uploading video to<br>
YouTube.)</p>
<p>The EZF924 follows on the heels of the EZ824 introduced earlier<br>
in October. That model has only 8 megapixels, for JPY14,800, and<br>
weighs 40g more than the new model - but it also sports 3x<br>
optical zoom, the feature that the EZF924 drops to lower its<br>
price and weight so drastically. </p>
<p>Okay, so the EZF924 isn't packed with features. But sounds fine<br>
as a small, hi-res cam that you can buy with a single bill.<br>
(Before tax. And memory card.) </p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.yashica.jp/pro/f924.html" title="http://www.yashica.jp/pro/f924.html">http://www.yashica.jp/pro/f924.html</a></p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Computer displays still getting cheaper</p>
<p>A slim wallet doesn't necessarily mean a cheap netbook PC for<br>
the gadget lover; it could mean a cheap desktop PC plus a<br>
surprisingly big display. The last couple of weeks have seen a<br>
lot of new entrants in the low-cost display market. A notable<br>
handful (all links to Japanese pages):</p>
<p>GREEN HOUSE has introduced the 26-inch, 1920x1200 GH-JEF263SHB<br>
with selectable aspect ratios of 4:3 or 16:10, 5W stereo<br>
speakers, and HDMI, HDCP-capable DVI-D, and analog connectors.<br>
JPY54,800.<br>
<a href="http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef263shb/" title="http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef263shb/">http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef263shb/</a></p>
<p>Yokohama-based DION has rolled out the TEW260SHR that's only<br>
25.5 inches, but otherwise shares the specs noted above.<br>
JPY52,800.<br>
<a href="http://www.candela.co.jp/news/n20081001-1.html" title="http://www.candela.co.jp/news/n20081001-1.html">http://www.candela.co.jp/news/n20081001-1.html</a></p>
<p>I-O Data's 21.5-inch, 1920x1080 LCD-MF221X has 16:9 aspect ratio<br>
and 2.5W stereo speakers, plus the same connectors as the above<br>
displays. JPY34,800.<br>
<a href="http://www.iodata.jp/product/lcd/wide/lcd-mf221x/" title="http://www.iodata.jp/product/lcd/wide/lcd-mf221x/">http://www.iodata.jp/product/lcd/wide/lcd-mf221x/</a></p>
<p>And going a bit smaller, but a lot cheaper, the Japan branch of<br>
Taiwan's BenQ has announced the 18.5-inch, 1366x768 E900HD, with</p>
<p>16:9 aspect ratio and 1W stereo speakers. There are HDCP-enabled<br>
DVI-D and analog connectors, but no HDMI. The selling point: a<br>
price tag of JPY19,800.<br>
<a href="http://www.benq.co.jp/products/LCD/?product=1375" title="http://www.benq.co.jp/products/LCD/?product=1375">http://www.benq.co.jp/products/LCD/?product=1375</a></p>
<p>========================================================</p>
<p>Short items</p>
<p>Spotted elsewhere in the news:</p>
<p>1) Those WiFi-enabled iPod touches sure are cool, what with the<br>
music and the YouTube and all that. But the 8GB model costs<br>
JPY27,800. What to do?</p>
<p>Osaka-based importer Hallods Corp. suggests you save a bunch of<br>
that money by getting its Italian-designed, JPY12,000 PASEN-F13<br>
audio/video player instead. It's only got a 3-inch, 400x240<br>
screen, compared to the touch's 3.5-inch, 480x320 display.<br>
There's none of that touch-panel stuff in the Pasen screen. The<br>
Pasen shouts about YouTube playback... though on closer<br>
inspection, there's no WiFi, just the ability to natively play<br>
back YouTube vids you've downloaded and transferred via PC.<br>
Memory is only 4GB. Audio playback time is 16 hours, compared to<br>
the touch's claimed 36. You can expect to find many more little<br>
iPod niceties missing from the Pasen.</p>
<p>But on the positive side, there's a MicroSD/SDHC expansion slot<br>
to boost memory, an FM radio, a voice recorder, and a big<br>
selection of file formats covered, including FLV (YouTube native<br>
format)AVI, DIVX, RM, DAT, MP4, WMV, MPG, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC,<br>
JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG, and TXT-format e-books. At 66 grams, it's<br>
lighter than the 115-gram touch. And it's cheap. Available in<br>
Japan from October 25.</p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://hal6334-hp.hp1.allin1.jp/1221628579795/" title="http://hal6334-hp.hp1.allin1.jp/1221628579795/">http://hal6334-hp.hp1.allin1.jp/1221628579795/</a></p>
<p>2) Consumers' desire for lower-cost computing affects software<br>
marketing as well. Following up on a couple news items presented<br>
in earlier issues:</p>
<p>In September, JustSystems began offering its JPY8000 ATOK<br>
Japanese input system for PCs as a JPY300/month software<br>
service. The company reports that the low monthly cost is<br>
already a hit. Or so JustSystems says; no actual numbers have<br>
been announced yet, other than a goal of 30,000 users by<br>
September 2009. However, early data does show that 70% of the<br>
new service's users are new to ATOK, and are much younger than<br>
the packaged version's user base as well, suggesting that<br>
software-as-service taps into a young base that's put off by the<br>
high price of packaged software. </p>
<p>More info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.justsystems.com/jp/products/atok_teigaku/" title="http://www.justsystems.com/jp/products/atok_teigaku/">http://www.justsystems.com/jp/products/atok_teigaku/</a><br>
English: <a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/atok" title="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/atok">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/atok</a></p>
<p>Next up, SourceNext's switch from CD-ROMs to USB drives to<br>
deliver packaged software is also a hit. The company expected to<br>
move 1 million units of its 'U-Memo' series of consumer titles<br>
on USB drives within the first year. The results so far? 650,000<br>
units - after only one month! SourceNext attributes the<br>
popularity to the rapid growth of mini notebook computers, which<br>
typically don't have CD-ROM drives. Needless to say, the company<br>
is rushing to place more games, utilities, and other titles into<br>
the U-Memo lineup. </p>
<p>U-Memo info (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.sourcenext.com/titles/usb/?i=img_usb" title="http://www.sourcenext.com/titles/usb/?i=img_usb">http://www.sourcenext.com/titles/usb/?i=img_usb</a><br>
English:<br>
<a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/sourcenext" title="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/sourcenext">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/09/sourcenext</a><br>
Netbooks in Japan (English):<br>
<a href="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/10/netbooks" title="http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/10/netbooks">http://www.tekronomicon.com/gadget/2008/10/netbooks</a></p>
<p>3) Buy the Nikon D700 and save! True, it's anything but a<br>
penny-pincher's camera; the 12.1-megapixel pro SLR's body alone<br>
costs JPY324,300, or JPY405,500 with AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor ED<br>
24-120mm F3.5-5.6G (IF) lens. But buy either of those by<br>
November 30, and you get JPY30,000 cash back. </p>
<p>D700 (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/camera/slr/digital/d700/" title="http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/camera/slr/digital/d700/">http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/camera/slr/digital/d700/</a><br>
Cashback program (Japanese):<br>
<a href="http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/event/campaign/d700_cashback/" title="http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/event/campaign/d700_cashback/">http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/event/campaign/d700_cashback/</a><br>
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<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo Seminar-Tuesday, November 4th</p>
<p>Speaker: Mr. Ricco DeBlank, General Manager of<br>
The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo and The Park Residences</p>
<p>Seminar Title: 'Passion to Serve'</p>
<p>Are you interested in improving your customer service?<br>
If so, then don't miss EA-Tokyo's November seminar with<br>
Ritz-Carlton's service expert, Ricco DeBlank.</p>
<p>Hailing from the Netherlands, DeBlank joined The Ritz-Carlton<br>
Hotel Company in 1995 and since then, has worked in Bali,<br>
Indonesia, Shanghai, China and Seoul, Korea as a director<br>
of human resources.</p>
<p>He served as the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton,<br>
Sharm el-Sheikh after a stint as Executive Assistant Manager,<br>
Rooms in Hong Kong. In 2003, he arrived in Japan as General<br>
Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka and established the hotel as<br>
the city' finest both in Japan and around the world.</p>
<p>Mr. DeBlank was appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton,<br>
Tokyo for its opening in 2007.</p>
<p>Please sign up early while seats are available.</p>
<p>Date/Time: Tuesday, November 4th 7:00 pm<br>
Location: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br>
Language: English<br>
Website: <a href="http://www.ea-tokyo.com/" title="http://www.ea-tokyo.com">http://www.ea-tokyo.com</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>------------- Looking for English Magazines? --------------</p>
<p>Subscribe to your favorite English magazines today -- TIME,<br>
Newsweek, National Geographic, Scientific American, People<br>
and many more.</p>
<p>eigoTown.com is now offering subscriptions to English magazines<br>
at great prices.</p>
<p>Visit: <a href="http://magazines.eigotown.com/" title="http://magazines.eigotown.com">http://magazines.eigotown.com</a><br>
Credit cards and PayPal accepted.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
========================================================<br>
STAFF<br>
Written by: Timm Tuttle<br>
READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS<br>
Gadget Watch online archive:<br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch" title="http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch">http://www.japaninc.com/gadget_watch</a><br>
Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:<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>
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<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>