Awesome New Gear

Back to Contents of Issue: September 2004

>> Apple iPod mini
 The iPod mini stores over 1,000 tunes in its hard disk -- the smallest music player in the world as of July 7, according to Apple Japan's Web site. The iPod mini, with 4 gigabytes of storage capacity, weighs only 103 grams. It has an aluminum body that comes in silver, gold, pink, blue and green. Users can easily connect with the iTunes Music Store, the most widely used online music store in the world. Included in the price are an iPod mini power adaptor, a FireWire cable, a USB 2.0 cable and a CD with iTunes 4.6, which is compatible with both Windows and Mac. Battery life is up to 8 hours.

More Info: http://www.apple.co.jp/news/2004/jul/07ipodmini.html


>> Sony HMP-A1
 The HMP-A1 has a 20GB hard disk, so users can copy movies or still image data from their PCs, digital video cameras, et al, and play them on the passport-sized HMP-A1. This compact multiplayer measures 129.6mm x 75.6 mm x 22 mm and weighs 250g. It has a 3.5-inch LCD. The hard disk can store 35 hours of MPEG4 files or 9.5 hours of MPEG2 files. The HMP-A1 can play six contiguous hours of MPEG4-formatted moving images and eight straight hours of MP3-formatted music before the built-in lithium ion battery runs down. Users can conveniently hook up their HMP-A1 to their TV.

More Info: http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200405/05-0527/


>> Panasonic BE-EHE432, BE-EHE632
 These new bicycles, equipped with lithium ion batteries to help bikers ride uphill with weighty items, can keep on running for as far as 76 km. They weigh a mere 23.7kg -- among the lightest of the electric hybrid bicycles with long-distance lithium batteries. The models have a mini hip-up saddle (whose design was modeled on a study in ergonomics) to help hold and position the rider's hip. Separately, Panasonic sells a recharging device for 10,500 yen. Panasonic says on its Web site that electric hybrid bicycles can replace not only regular bicycles, but also CO2-emitting motorcycles.

More Info: http://matsushita.co.jp/corp/news/official.data/data.dir/jn040602-1/jn040602-1.html




>> IO Data DVR-UEP16W
 The DVR-UEP16W, which users can attach to their PCs, can record data onto DVDs faster than any other machine, according to IO Data's Web site. The DVD drive has a 16x recording mode for one-layered DVD/RW, which can record a 4.7-GB DVD in as little as seven minutes. It can also record data onto double-layered DVD+R Write (which holds 8.5 GB) in quadruple recording mode ... in a mere 27 minutes!

More Info: http://www.iodata.jp/news/2004/07/dvr-uep16w.htm


>> Sharp CE-S95EJ
 The CE-S95EJ not only has 26,000 sample sentences in both English and Japanese pre-installed in its database, but it also boasts a "translator memory" that creates and stores new sample sentences. Conventional translating software only picks sample sentences similar to those already stored in its database when it doesn't have the identical sentence in its memory. However, the CE-S95EJ will translate sentences whether or not they are in its database -- a function Sharp claims cannot be found in any translation software on the market. In addition, the data can be shared in a LAN environment.

More Info: http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/040628-a.html





>> Sony Cybershot DSC-F88
 The DSC-F88 has a zoom function that doesn't involve the physical protrusion of its 300-degree rotating lens, a resolution of 5.1 megapixels, a 1.8-inch LCD monitor and magnifier mode, so users can take photos from as close as one centimeter. The DSC-F88 contains the original Sony image-processing system "Real Imaging Processor," providing superior picture quality. It can take up to 330 photos without recharging -- double the battery life of the current DCS-F77 model. The new model also has a more user-friendly interface on its menu screen and for functions such as photo framing.

More Info: http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200405/05-0518/


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