This Month's Product Profile

Pasocon Friends from Fujitsu Japanese people are crazy about cute little things, and Hello Kitty is a prime example of this. This particular kitty, dubbed Pasocon Friends, was developed by Fujitsu Personal Computer Systems, and functions as a pet robot for your computer. The kitty greets you with gestures (saying "hello!" with its hands up) and lets you know when you receive e-mail messages (saying "you've got mail!" in Japanese, and blushing). With the built-in scheduling function, it can be programmed to tell you when it's time to go out, or it can wish you a happy birthday. The greeting and alarm functions can be used even when not connected to a computer. Pasocon Friends retails for JPY4,800. Fujitsu Personal Computer Systems: 044-952-4124

Libretto ff1100 from Toshiba
Toshiba has released a new series of PCs to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Dynabook, the world's first notebook PC. Included in the new series is a mini notebook PC, the Libretto ff1100. This portable PC allows users to operate the machine with a special remote control-dubbed the i.Shuttle, with which users can turn the PC on and off, launch applications, take photos with a built-in camera, and more. The remote control is connected to headphones, and users can listen to music downloaded onto their hard drive or smart media. It even allows users to listen to their e-mail messages. The Libretto ff1100 is the lightest Windows98 model with built-in camera. It weighs only 980g, and is 221 x 132 x 29.8mm. Retail price had not been set at the time of publication. Toshiba: 0570-00-3100

SolidAudio from Kobe Steel & NTT
Kobe Steel and NTT have jointly developed the SolidAudio network player, a credit card-sized portable player that downloads music from the Internet for personal use. Itfeatures a digital distribution system, which prevents the illegal reproduction of copyright material. The contents are stored on smart media flash memory cards that hold 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128MB of data. The 16MB memory enables a 25-minute replay of CD-quality music or 50 minutes of FM-quality music. Measuring 85.4 x 54 x 8.4mm, and weighing only 45g including battery, the SolidAudio is the world's smallest network audio player. Retail price had not been set at time of publication. Kobe Steel: 03-3218-6055 NTT: 03-3277-8842

MultiSync LCD from NEC
With the demand for LCD monitors on the rise, NEC has released four MultiSync LCDs: the 1525J, 1525M, 1525S, and 1510+. The 1525J is an affordable entry-level model with a high 400:1 contrast and a luminance of 250Cd/m2. The 1525M has a built-in USB hub and stereo speakers. The 1525S has the largest screen size - at 15.4" (other models have 15") -- and the 1510+ employs XtraView technology, allowing a broad 80 degrees field of view. Retail prices are JPY168,000 for the 1525J, JPY178,000 for the 1525M, JPY298,000 for the 1525S, and JPY228,000 for the 1510+. NEC: 03-3454-5111

Hanauta Musician from Media Navigation
Media Navigation has released its Hanauta (Humming) musician-software which can recognize a tune and write it into music. Users need not have any musical skills, since by humming into the microphone, the tune is sensed and automatically transferred to music. With piano keys on the software, users can also make sure that the notes are correct, and the melody can later be edited. Additionally, there are more than 100 piano and guitar-like sounds provided for playback. The music composition can then be saved as a MIDI file, and even converted into data for use as cell phone melodies. Retail prices are JPY5,800 with microphone, and JPY4,800 without. Media Navigation: 03-5467-1541

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