 
Kanji support for English WindowsKanjiKit 97, from Pacific Software Publishing, is a solution that enables users of English Windows (3.x, 95, and NT) to read and write Japanese in many applications, including Microsoft Office, Lotus SmartSuite, Corel Draw, WinFax Pro, and others. With KanjiKit 97 loaded, English Windows users running Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator and Communicator can also browse Japanese webpages and send/receive kanji e-mail. KanjiKit 97 supports standard JIS, Shift-JIS, EUC, and Unicode-based Japanese characters. KanjiKit's Katana FEP (front-end processor) allows easy conversion of romaji input into hiragana, katakana, and over 7,000 standard JIS kanji. KanjiKit 97 includes two Japanese TrueType fonts (Mincho and Gothic), and has bilingual manuals and menus. The retail price of KanjiKit 97 in Japan is ¥34,800. A 60-day trial version is available at http://www.pspinc.com/lsg/. Attain (distributor): 03-3255-4721 
Spin your monitor 'round and 'roundGate has introduced Pivot 1700, a 17-inch monitor with a screen that can be quickly shifted between horizontal (landscape) and vertical (portrait) positions. The on-screen display is easily switched to match the monitor orientation without exiting your application. The Pivot 1700 is especially useful for word processing, DTP, and Web surfing, since it can give the user a "full-page, full-screen" view of documents in vertical mode. Maximum screen resolution is 1024 x 468 (Mac) or 1280 x 1024 (Windows), with up to 16.7 million colors. The monitor is compatible with most versions of Mac OS and Windows. The price is "open."
Gate: 03-3222-0331 
Portable MPEG-1 full-motion video capture & playbackVideonics' Python captures video images to full-motion video MPEG-1 files. The special software included with Python allows video images from video cameras, VCRs, TVs, laserdisc players, DVD players, and other video-related equipment to be processed into MPEG-1 files, which can then be used in webpages or multimedia presentations using QuickTime (or other MPEG-1 video playback software). Unlike video capture cards that need to be slotted into the computer, Python is external and thus easily portable. Python plugs into the computer's printer port, and its full array of parallel ports allows use of a printer and other peripherals while using the Python. Bundled with Python is Kai's Power Goo SE (image morphing software), Astound (presentation software), and Xing (MPEG-1 video playback software). It requires Windows 95 or NT. The retail price is ¥79,800.
Komamura Corporation (distributor): 03-3639-3356  With NEC's Videopoint, you can set up a videoconference almost immediately using any TV, videocamera, and phone or 64K ISDN line. Videopoint's compact (B5-size) box replaces the need for specialized equipment or a PC; videoconferencing control is through a remote control, and instructions are displayed on the TV screen. As an option, a PC can be attached to handle file transfers and a whiteboard function. The basic Videopoint model, the TC2000-BA, is priced at ¥298,000. The TC2000-EC, with internal echo-canceller and microphone jacks, is ¥368,000.
NEC: 0120-55-3655  Toshiba's new small-footprint home PC, Vision Connect, is designed for connection to a PC monitor or TV set. The emphasis is on multimedia: the unit comes with a DVD-ROM drive (which doubles as an 8X CD-ROM drive), ATI's Rage LT 3D graphics chip, and 2MB of video RAM. Vision Connect is about one-third the size of most desktop computers and weighs just 3.9 kg. It features a 133-MHz Pentium CPU, 32MB of RAM, 1.4GB hard disk drive, and built-in 33.6K-bps modem. A remote control acts as a pointing device, and input is via a wireless keyboard. Vision Connect comes bundled with Windows 95, MS Works, MS Internet Explorer, Scorcher (a 3D racing game), and a Final Fantasy VII Original DVD. The retail price is ¥248,000.
Toshiba: 03-3252-3100 
Add text to your videosWant to use titles, captions, borders, and other special effects in your videos? Title Maker 3000J, from Videonics, comes with 5 Japanese fonts and 18 Western fonts that offer smooth and sharp onscreen display. To use, simply plug the unit into your VCR (no PC needed) and input text through the included special keyboard. Japanese text may be displayed horizontally or vertically (tategaki). Some two-dozen video effects (including cut, fade, and wipe) can be applied to the text. Title Maker 3000J retails for ¥149,000.
Komamura Corporation 
Quality sound from a notebook PC Models K and L of NEC's A4-size Lavie PC-9821Nw/S20 notebook PCs feature built-in, ultra-thin, flat-panel speakers that output sound of higher volume and greater fidelity than ordinary speakers. The 14 x 12.3-cm speakers use an ultra-thin (0.5-mm thick) vibration board and employ the new DM (Distributed Mode theory) method, which controls and "bends" sound waves by vibrating specific points of the vibration board. Both models come with a 150-MHz MMX Pentium processor, 32MB of RAM, 2GB hard disk drive, 12.1-inch TFT display, 16X CD-ROM drive, and 33.6K-bps modem. Model K, with Ichitaro and Lotus 1-2-3, is priced at ¥540,000; model L, with MS Word and MS Excel, is¥545,000.
NEC: 0120-60-9821 
Thin is "in," with new plasma TVPlasma TVs have the thinness of an LCD screen but greater sharpness. Matsushita has announced the TH42PM1, a 42-inch, wide-screen (16:9 aspect ratio) plasma TV that it claims features the highest luminance and contrast available today. Only 12 cm thick, the screen can be hung up on a wall or set in its stand. The TV has standard and Hi-Vision video input/output, plus an RGB input so that it can be used as a computer monitor. It comes with speakers and remote controller. Shipments will begin in late October. The TH42PM1 is priced at¥1.5 million.
Matsushita: 03-3578-1237New version of Solaris This month, Sun Microsystems will release version 2.6J of its Solaris operating system (OS). This version reportedly improves Web performance by 30% and runs Java applets three times faster than the previous version. A Web browser-like interface makes the OS easier to use.
Sun Microsystems:Learning Japanese Visual C++ 
Microsoft has released the Japanese version of its Visual C++ Development System Learning Edition, version 5.0. The package, which offers a professional-oriented C/C++ development environment, includes the Microsoft Foundation Class Library 4.21 (MFC). Users start with the basics of Visual C++ and progress to its practical applications. The included manual was prepared especially for beginners. The prices for Windows 95 or NT 4.0 versions are "open."
Microsoft:Back to the table of contents  |
The NFS Fail Over function provides additional dependability by allowing continued access to client files even if the network server is down. Solaris 2.6J offers client support for Windows, OS/2, and Mac, and access to mainframe data is possible. The retail price of Solaris 2.6J had not been set at press time.