GW-108

=====================================================================
J@pan Inc Magazine Presents:
G A D G E T W A T C H
The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan
======================================================================

Issue No. 108
Thursday, July 17, 2003
(Long URLs may break across two lines, so copy to your browser.)

Name: Maxell BDF120.1P
Category: DVD
Price: Open (but approx 3,300 yen)
Release date in Japan: August 25, 2003

The Gist: Maxell has announced its own Blu-Ray disc, with the secret
agent name of BDF120.1P. The disc, like Sony's recent effort, conforms
to version 1.0 of the new Blu-Ray format, allowing for a 23GB capacity
on one disc. That's 120 minutes of digital hi-vision recording, folks,
or three times that (360 minutes, or 6 hours' worth, for the
mathematically challenged) and up to 12 hours of recording in Long
Play mode. Blu-Ray has a 36mbps transfer speed, which is five times
faster than DVD, making it far, far superior. At least that's what its
makers hope we believe.

To recap, Blu-Ray is a rewriteable DVD format launched by a
conglomerate of nine consumer electronics companies as the optimum
format to record high definition broadcasts. The Blu-Ray format uses a
blue-violet, rather than red, laser and, thanks to the shorter
wavelength, can pack over five times the amount of info of a regular
DVD into a single disc. It is, whatever anyone else says, intended to
replace VCRs and DVD players in the future. How long it'll take, on
the other hand, is anyone's guess.

More info: http://www.maxell.co.jp/company/news/2003/030703.html

============================= EVENT ==================================
G-MAC's "BPM/BPO Forum 2003"
Date: July 23rd
Location: Aoyama Diamond Hall (Tokyo), Japan.

This one day forum provides a better understanding of BPM/BPO with
its concentrated agenda. Invited guest speakers will give their
domestic & global outlook on BPM/BPO initiatives.

Also, leading solution providers will be presenting free Workshop
sessions presenting products & services in designing and implementing
a BPM/BPO strategy.
Tel 81-3-5805-6070, email: info@gmacjapan.com www.gmacjapan.com
======================================================================

Name: Pentax DIGIBINO DB200
Category: Digital cameras
Price: Open (but approx 30,000 yen)
Release date in Japan: August 22, 2003

The Gist: Pentax's new hybrid snapper is the latest in the "Digibino"
series. The series links the focusing function with the binocular
function and, so, what you see through the binos is what you can take
a digital picture of. Um, got that? Hence "digibino": digital
binoculars. Makes sense. In its second incarnation, the new Digibino
DB200 produces 1.3 million-pixel images, knocking them out at
1,280x960 and good ole 640x480 VGA resolutions. There's a 2x digital
zoom and the pictures are recorded to SD memory card. On the binocular
end of things, they have a 7x magnification.

That stuff aside, the DB200s have the same specs as the DB100: namely
shutter speeds of 1/8,000 sec to 1/30 sec, the ability to take five
continuous shots per second (for two seconds) and attach eight-second
voice memos to each picture, a rechargeable lithium ion battery to
supply the juice and a USB interface for transferring the snaps. The
DB200 has dimensions of 127x69x44mm and clocks in at a svelte 270g.

More info: http://www.pentax.co.jp/

============================= EVENT ==================================
ICA Special Summer Networking Party - Open to all
Come and network with Tokyo's top IT and Business Professionals.
Date: Thursday, July 17, 2003
Location: Quest Bar in Roppongi -
3F, 5-3-1 Roppongi
(one block from Almond down the hill)
Tel: 03-5414-2225
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: 2,000 yen all you can drink
(Draft Beer, Bottled Beer, House Wine, Soda, and Juice).
RSVP Not Required
======================================================================

Name: Elecom "Mouse Groomy"
Category: PC peripherals
Price: 5,500 yen
Release date in Japan: early July 2003

The Gist: OK, it's a new optical mouse for your computer, right, but
・ get this ・ it's hidden inside a cuddly dog toy! Yes! A cuddly dog
toy! There are five types available for all you canine caressers out
there, including a Bull Terrier, Doberman, Pug, Labrador and Shiba ken
(go for the last one if you want to be really traditional). The
optical mouse runs at a resolution of 400dpi, has a wheel (there's a
little hole open in the dog's back so you can get to it ・ but don't
worry, no doggies were harmed in the making of this product) and
connects via either a PS/2 or USB interface. The mouse things work
with any flavor of Windows, pretty much (95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000 and
XP), as well as any Mac OS beyond version 8.5. Bet you're running out
the door right now to fetch one. Right?

More info: http://www.elecom.co.jp/

============================= EVENT ==================================
Informal business networking event over drinks and light buffet.

Date: Friday July 18th 7PM

Share Ideas and Resources. Look for Cooperation/ Partnership.
Meet the creators of www.TokyoNOOK.com (a creative way to target
businesses in Tokyo). Meet innovative companies such as
www.Dynamicweb.jp, a content management solution from Europe which is
splashing into Japan.
Earlybird discount. www.international-promotion.com or
contact paul@next-unit.com - 03-5774-1456
======================================================================

Name: Panasonic Let's Note W2
Category: PC
Price: TBA
Release date in Japan: TBA

The Gist: The W2 from Panny is the world's lightest two-spindle PC
notebook with a built-in optical drive. The W2 follows on from the
earlier, 999g "Light T1" laptop from the same company that had an
866MHz Pentium III Mobile CPU, a 12.1-inch LCD screen and 20-gig hard
drive. The Let's Note W2 also trounces the former world champ at being
incredibly light (yet having a built-in optical drive), which was the
combo drive-toting X10 from Samsung, weighing in at 1.9kg but having,
admittedly a 14.1-inch display. So the W2 sports a 900MHz Pentium M
processor, 12.1-inch LCD screen, combo (DVD-ROM & CD-R/RW) drive,
256MB of RAM, a 40-gig hard drive and weighs just 1.29kg. There's
integral IEEE 802.11b support, an SD Memory Card slot, the loading
tray for the discs pops up out of the keyboard like something out of
"XXX" (the movie, with that rock hard Vin Diesel guy) and, possibly
more importantly, it has a battery that is claimed to last a whopping
five hours and 41 minutes. But 1.29kg ・ you can稚 beat that.

More info: http://panasonic.jp/pc/products/w2a/index.html

===========================ADVERTISEMENT==============================
J@PAN INC magazine -- the journal of business, technology and people
in Japan -- invites you to participate in a "AIRLINES/HOTEL IN JAPAN"
special ad section scheduled for the OCTOBER 2003 issue.

The October 2003 special ad section will feature the major companies
that are actively responding to this competitive industry. The section
will get massive exposure at the Tokyo Motor Show 2003 event.
Your company will be interviewed for the ad section article and will
be included in the Directory Listings page, providing a tremendous
opportunity for your company to engage customers, build relationships
and explain your services to a highly targeted audience.

For more information please contact:
Fabien Brogard on 3499-2175 ext: 1709 or email fabien@japaninc.com
======================================================================
=====================================================================
Subscribers: 3,765 as of July 17, 2003

STAFF
Written by: Max Everingham (max@everingham.net)
Edited by: J@pan Inc editors (editors@japaninc.com)

READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
Gadget Watch online archive:
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/index.html?list=gw

Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:
http://www.japaninc.com/subscribe_news.html

To UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, click here:
http://www.japaninc.com/unsubscribe_news.html

ADVERTISING INFORMATION
To advertise in this newsletter, contact:
ads@japaninc.com

GET THE MAGAZINE
Subscribe at:
http://www.japaninc.net/mag/subs.html

FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS
We welcome your viewpoint: editors@japaninc.com
NB Please do not reply to this newsletter -- it's outgoing only, so we
won't get it!

Technical problems:
webmaster@japaninc.com

Copyright (C) 2003 Japan Inc Communications KK. All Rights Reserved.