0
Google Japan Street View Explained
Posted by Avi Telyas on Sep 3, 2009 in Japan
A wonderful animation from Google Japan explains street view and how to protect your privacy:
Sony Walkman Gaining Ground over iPod
According to bcn ranking (jp), in what looks like a stable trend, Sony walkman sales in the last week of August surpassed iPod sales.
Blue represents Sony Walkman, while Red is the iPod. It appears like iPod is losing it’s market share, from around 56% in January to 43% in August, while Sony is gaining steadily.
Sony’s Lineup is quite impressive and offers both Video enabled devices to stylish 2GB earphones.
Google Japan Mobile Promotion
Google Japan is posting once in a while promotional videos on Youtube.
I really don’t like these Google Mobile videos. Maybe because of the annoying music and graphics, or the silly plot:
In the first one, the couple searches for a cinema screening “Super Dog 2″ movie:
Second one, “the business story”, our heroine searches for business manners: “Where should she sit in the Taxi?” followed by a search for a train station and directions.
Summer Sonic Festival offical Youtube channel
Twitter is out, which forces me to write actual blog posts rather than 140 character tweets.
Summer Sonic Festival started a dedicated channel on youtube, which includes playlists of the lineup and messages from artists.
Surprisingly, the channel has only 112(!) subscribers.
And here are Gogol Bordello, performing on the 9th:
Bing.com Hiroshima Page
Posted by Avi Telyas on Aug 6, 2009 in Japan
I am not really a bing user.
Now, that I got that statement out of my system.
Bing.com homepage has a wonderful tribute to Hiroshima. Please note the boxes on the picture which display more information on Hiroshima (and Japan):
NTT DoCoMo to stop "Push To Talk" Services
Japanese Mobile operator NTT DoCoMo announced that “Push to Talk” services will stopped next year.
“Push Talk” services will not accept new application from end of September 2009, while the services will be halted completely end of September 2010.
As cell phone usage in Japan is mostly about data (emailing, browsing), “Push Talk” seems like a service that is unlikely to be popular. While I don’t have exact figures, I can’t imagine people standing in the street receiving a “Push Talk” message.
UQ WiMAX Personal Experience Booth
UQ Communications will open a “Personal Experience Booth” in Akihabara during the Golden Week vacation.
The booth will be available from May 1st to May 3rd. Visitors will be able to experience UQ WiMAX download speeds, try it themselves in a designated “Try Corner”. “Original Goods” (giveaways) will be given to visitors particpating in a survey.
Via Itmedia (JP)
Altair Semiconductor Powers Willcom Core XGP
Israeli Start-up Altair Semiconductors has just released that Altair’s chipsets are used in Japanese Willcom Core XGP 4G network.
Asiajin has more details on Willcom plans for deployment, which signals Willcom major move into the 4G network and data services.
As previously reported, Altair has previously announced their plans to support Willcom, which results in a $22 Millions series C funding.
OKI WiMAX/WiFi indoor unit
UQ Communications has announced they will use new devices, the OKI USB device and WiFi combination.
Sound like a good idea, carry a USB device around to access the Wireless Broadband network, and when you arrive at home, plug it into the router and provide Internet access to different devices over WiFi.
What I don’t understand is:
- Link Budget. OKI claims the USB device is capable of +23dbm,which was also certified by the WiMAX Forum . I really doubt this USB device is capable of overcoming walls and windows to provide a reasonable experience.
- How come only Windows is supported for the USB device? I am sure the WiFi Router is not running Windows.
UQ Communications provided a press kit which includes the manuals and some wonderful images (attached below):
Japanese Alliance to Promote Android
Nikkei reports on a new Alliance, the OESF (Open Embedded Software Foundation), to promote the usage of Android for Embedded devices of different kinds, from mobile phone to STB (SetTop Boxes), point of sale terminals and more.
The group consists of a long list of companies, among them: ARM, Fujitsu, Maxxon (for the complete list see here and here).
This is another important step for Android in Japan, as reported earlier in Asiajin , Fujitsu has already started offering Android related consulting services.
During the press conference, atmark , has demonstrated an atmark touch panel device running Android. (photo)