Asiajin

FreeBit Co., Ltd[J], a Tokyo-based venture company famous for providing its network platform to many VNO/ISPs (virtual network operator/Internet service providers), presented its business plans to investors Wednesday. On the same day, company CEO Atsuki Ishida[J] unveiled the company’s brand new iPhone app in the AppStore (clicking on the link will launch iTunes).

The app is called “ServersMan@iPhone[J]“, and allows your iPhone or iPod touch to be used as a web server and file server.   You can upload/download any file via a web browser or webDAV client.

The service’s name derives from Sony’s “WalkMan“, a tiny pocket-sized device which enables users to listen to songs without a huge stereo set.   FreeBit has invited Sony’s former CEO Nobuyuki Idei to be a business advisor for the company. The brand new app’s name seems to be inspired by Sony’s production concepts.

If the PC that you’re transferring the file to/from is located in the same network segment as the iPhone/iPod touch, both devices are connected directly.   Otherwise, they are connected via the company’s own Internet-VPN technology called “emotion link”.

The app is only available in the Japanese AppStore, but the company intends to make it available in the U.S. AppStore as well by the end of this March.   The company’s CEO, Ishida, also revealed that a ServersMan Windows Mobile Edition is under development and is heading for an upcoming service release in mainland China.

Proofread by: Sean O’Hagan

Tags: Japan, New Service by Masaru IKEDA
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The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has decided to give prosecutors files on 18 people, who are suspected to have slandered comedian “Smiley Kikuchi[J]” by posting groundless comments on his blog alleging that he is involved in a high school girl’s murder case.

This kind of situation, in which blog readers slander a blog’s owner by posting huge numbers of comments, is usually called “blog flaming” and is a common expression in Japan.   The police department emphasized that the purpose of the  prosecution was to warn against further similar cases, implying that it does not run counter to freedom of expression which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

The comedian made a comment to the press that he had been slandered anonymously for a decade and had submitted a complaint report to the local police to prevent further damages.

Last year in Korea, a famous actress committed suicide as a result of the suffering she experienced due to slanderous comments on her blog. (See IHT and NYT for more details)

As blogging is getting more common as a promotion tool for celebrities, slandering is becoming a bigger social issue in the Japanese and Korean web communities.

Proofread by: Sean O’Hagan

See Also

MPD to build 1st cast against blog flamers (The Yomiuri Shimbun)

Tags: Japan, News by Masaru IKEDA
4 Comments »