It was 2 months ago that I introduced a new segmented Android Apps review site for Otaku - Moedroid. Now, rapid-spreading Android phones in Japan has brought us another interesting review site, for Japanese female cellphone users, Androidoll [J].

"Android apps review site from the viewpoint of girls" is the catch they put in large on the top.

Another catch, "You need apps to be cute!",

The site offers Android app generators, by which you can create your original Android apps - 1. your original movie player app (max 15 seconds), 2. your photo album app (max 15 photos) and 3. clock gadget app with your own photo.

Their apps ranking on today:

1. earthquake alerter
2. polygraph app
3. ShootMe - screen capture by shaking handset
4. app to display nail arts overlay on your finger
5. QR Code Scanner
6. Dolphin Browser HD
7. Kaocho - easy typing Japanese emoticons
8. Try On Accessories - display accessories over your photo
9. twicca BETA - Twitter client
10. Skype

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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Wipe Glove [J] by Podo is a jogging glove with water absorbing material, by which you may dry your face, neck, etc. during jogging.

"The Smart Series" of it also has a big pocket to hold smartphone, music player, keys and coins.

The pair of gloves costs 2,390 yen(US$28).

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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Teotsunago (=we shall hold hands) is a new project which many creators gathered their popular characters, to encourage people who suffered the East Japan Big Earthquake.

The big list includes some very popular characters such like Doraemon, Miffy, Shimajiro, Domo-kun, Cheburashka, Elmo, Toro, etc.

We are holding our hands hoping to deliver smile to everyone in Japan from small children to all the grownups fighting for survival in and also out of the disaster area.

"Project: Holding Hands" is a special project just launched to encourage people in Japan, especially children directly or indirectly affected by this recent disaster. Hope we can make you SMILE.

Please deliver our image to everyone, especially to where the children can see it.

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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Twitter has just announced on its Japanese official blog that their trending topics is now featuring Japanese language trends. You may choose "Japan" or "Tokyo" from worldwide trends on its sidebar.

Although Japan is one of the most Twitter loving nation, Twitter's Japanese language support has been always poorer. Twitter became popular even before menu localization, which was very rare for imported web services in Japan. Twitter search is still not working well with Japanese, if you try to search by few Japanese words, it just gives up and shows nothing. Hashtag, though this might be same for all non-latin language users, is only available in roman alphabets.

Twitter trends ranking, which I often saw that many English blog media talked on it a lot, had been displaying English rankings for over years for Japanese users, which was almost useless.

In other words, Twitter's popularity is established in Japan even without Trends part. So Japanese blogosphere can expect adding more buzz based on this trending topics from now on.

Here is the "Japan" trends I am seeing today,

Promoted ad slot does not show Japanese ad, which probably Twitter is still working on. The topics are;

• Earthquake now
• in-train announce on metro Ginze line (probably earthquake)
• evaluation of accident
• 10,000 Tera becquerel (unit for nuclear thing)
• enhanced internet censorship
• if you really stick to...
• how stress points on
• the world if you google
• be cautious on M8 level (earthquake)

The Tokyo ranking was almost same. It is no wonder because 25% of population are in greater Tokyo, and web users ratio are even higher.

The topics not on the "Japan" list are;

• Mori, a TV caster
• the most serious
• Gundam world

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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Official Google Japan blog wrote that they had added a new interesting street view route in Tokyo bay, "the first street view on the water" by taking photos from their tricycle fixed on the tourist ship.

大きな地図で見る

How they shot the photos is on movie.

Tags: Japan by Akky Akimoto
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