Japanized

At Snapp!, we're doing the English-language (a bit of French and German too) promotion for the Japanese #1 hit HourFace, so feel free to hit me up on DM or email (mark[att]snapp.jp) for an iTunes App Store code if you fancy a look for a possible review or just wanna share the love. Full press release at the Snapp link, BTW.

And an RT, favorite, comment or whatever would be really appreciated - a lot of what we're doing is to support and promote the best local developers to show those naysayers abroad that Japan loves the iPhone too. MotionPortrait are definitely in the vanguard so far - we love their tech like a long-lost, avatar-shaped brother.

And thanks a million to everyone who's already chipped in...

via snapp.jp

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In Japan, cell phone ringtones help cure hangovers, we're told...

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:29:00 -0700

The Sun's staff reporter should maybe learn the differenze between a "craze" and well-directed marketing hype, methinks. Sloppy, shoddy 'journalism.'

via thesun.co.uk

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Video call iPhone action from Japan thanks to Yudo's Live Link 3G (free 'til next week!)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:22:00 -0700

Looking good - here's the iTunes link (Japan store only) if you're after it...

via dvice.com

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Get it while it's hot: Sanyo's solar bicycle parking lot opens today in Tokyo

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:02:00 -0700

via sanyo.com

Three months on from my first report, the Setagaya-ku facilities are open for business and looking great.

They got some perfect weather for the press launch this morning after a night of heavy rain. Thanks for the invitation, Mito-san!

All the good stuff can be found at Keio Line Sakurajosui and Tokyu Den-en Toshi Line Sakurashinmachi stations, BTW.

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BBC looks at Greenpeace Vs Japanese whaling - broad strokes but worth a read

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:55:00 -0700

The Tokyo Two issue (click the Greenpeace tag on this site for background) has been lamentably badly covered to date, but this at least gives a rough idea of what's happening.

As someone working in the Japanese media, I find it hard to deal with stories from the local side treating environmental activists as 'terrorists' ( I grew up in Belfast in the early 1970s and have no little experience of the subject), so it's pleasing to see a little balance. Let's just hope this is followed up.

via news.bbc.co.uk

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Shurely shum mishtake: a donkey in the middle of Tokyo... [Flickr]

japanized — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:47:48 PDT

japanized posted a photo:

Posted via email from Japanized

Shurely shum mishtake: a donkey in the middle of Tokyo...

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:47:38 -0700

Downtown Ebisu, BTW...

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Japan’s pollen solution: Spite hay fever, cut off your nose...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:03:00 -0800

It's Friday, so it's time for me to play it straight and get down with the CNNGo guys. Revisiting the good old hay fever nose blockers this time. Yoroshiku, ne...

via cnngo.com

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#Sony goes #Disney with a Mickey Mouse-flavored lineup of new #Walkman models [Flickr]

japanized — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:25:48 PST

japanized posted a photo:

Posted via email from Japanized

#Sony goes #Disney with a Mickey Mouse-flavored lineup of new #Walkman models [Flickr]

japanized — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:25:45 PST

japanized posted a photo:

Posted via email from Japanized

Sony goes Disney with a Mickey Mouse-flavored lineup of new Walkman models

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:25:00 -0800

Nothing out of the ordinary there, but the stand might appeal to a few retro holdout fans of the rat.

On sale as of 90 minutes ago, according to this strangely detailed Japanese press release.

Download now or preview on posterous

Sony Disney Walkman.pdf (308 KB)

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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It's come to this, has it? Damn you, hay fever and your dignity-robbing ways... [Flickr]

japanized — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:18:11 PST

japanized posted a photo:

Posted via email from Japanized

It's come to this, has it? Damn you, hay fever and your dignity-robbing ways...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:18:00 -0800

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I've had Yaki Soba sandwiches before, but never like this! [Flickr]

japanized — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:06:45 PST

japanized posted a photo:

Posted via email from Japanized

I've had Yaki Soba sandwiches before, but never like this...

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:06:00 -0800

The sub roll type is normal (and usually vile) but this odd arrangement from SunKus was really rather good. Call me strange all you like! \(^_^)/

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Live 3D Premier League soccer/football coming to UK in May

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:18:00 -0800

Satellite broadcaster Sky says it'll be providing live matches in 3D towards the end of the current season in May.

Viewers will need a special LG TV set and 3D glasses, of course, but a full 1080p image is still promised.

Whether or not wearing the tech-heavy glasses to watch a game will appeal to pub-goers and couch potatoes across the nation remains to be
seen, of course.

Full details in the press release below - give it a while to load...

Download now or preview on posterous

LX9900+BX580 FINAL.doc (146 KB)

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Processing 3D video? Sony's Cell-based rig can be yours for ¥2.6mill!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:26:00 -0800

The MPE-200 multimedia processor goes on sale next week for an actually quite reasonable ¥2,625,000 ($30,000), considering what it offers. Bet James Cameron paid a bit more than that for his.

That linked press release below is in Japanese, but click here for a rough and ready MT if you're feeling lazy - it covers the basics at least.

And if I was still a 'proper' journalist working for The Man, I'd be required to mention here that the MPE-200 uses the same Cell Broadband Engine processor as found in the PlayStation 3, possibly putting (PS3) in brackets too just to clarify for the hard of thinking, but I've packed that in for the PR life of Riley, so I won't bother. You can work it out for yourselves, right? :-)

via sony.jp

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DoCoMo's new 'vision of the future' video online now, if anyone cares...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:47:22 -0800

via nttdocomo.com

It's the usual corporate guff, really, but there are a few nods to overseas expansion, such as the tie-up with Tata in India.

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UQ and NEC to add 50% more WiMax base stations across Japan by end of March

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:32:00 -0800

Tokyo, March 10, 2010 - NEC Corporation (NEC) announced today that UQ
Communications has expanded its WiMAX service with NEC's base
stations.

UQ Communications has revised its WiMAX base station installation plan
for the 2009 fiscal year from 4,000 to more than 6,000 base stations
by the end of March 2010. UQ Communications selected two vendors to
develop and produce WiMAX base stations. NEC's base stations began
operation in the UQ WiMAX commercial network today and will be used to
expand service area nationwide.

NEC is delivering the WiMAX "PasoWings BS202" base station, which has
secured WiMAX Forum Wave2 (2.5GHz) certification, an international
standard that indicates superior interoperability between vendors.

UQ communications is proactively expanding its coverage area and
expects that the installation of NEC's base stations will contribute
to accelerated service expansion, flexibility and stabilization.

Via NEC

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Sanyo to power traffic signals with Li-ion batteries during natural disasters

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:26:00 -0800

It's in Tokushima in Shikoku, western Japan, and is intended to keep traffic lights on after the commercial power grid has been disrupted by an earthquake or other problem.

The 19kg batteries can power the signals for up to two and a half hours, which seems moderately useful, but how serious a problem is the loss of traffic direction after a major quake?

via sanyo.com

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Otaku blogger builds DIY Steadicam for iPhone

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:20:00 -0800

One has to assume this was more about the challenge than the end result - nice work, though.

via iwted.miyachan.cc [Japanese]

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