Three Newspapers’ App: Highly Ranked But Not Highly Rated

Regarding the three newspaper companies’ iPhone/iPod app “Allatanys” that was covered in my previous post, it is at the top of the free app section in the Japanese App Store.    But it has attained only two stars in the five-star-rating system.    Why is this? The App Store’s ranking list is based on the number… Continue reading Three Newspapers’ App: Highly Ranked But Not Highly Rated

Katana Japanese Sword vs. KATANA: Which iPhone App Remains Standing?

Currently number 4 on the (Japanese) App Store’s list of Top Free apps is Katana Japanese Sword by Hanatsuki Inc.[J]. A bit further down on the Top Paid list at number 28 is KATANA by Appliya Inc. Katana Japanese Sword is currently free (although the company’s website states that this could change at any time),… Continue reading Katana Japanese Sword vs. KATANA: Which iPhone App Remains Standing?

Three Major Japanese Newspapers Collectively Introduce iPhone/iPod App

The three major Japanese newspaper companies in the Nikkei–Asahi–Yomiuri Internet Business Partnership introduced their free iPhone/iPod app on Wednesday, enabling news stories from these papers to be read side by side.   The partnership was formed almost a year ago to launch a website bringing news stories from the three different papers together in one place.… Continue reading Three Major Japanese Newspapers Collectively Introduce iPhone/iPod App

Livedoor Launches An Open Source Showcase

On Monday, Livedoor Co., Ltd.[J] launched “EDGE src [J]“, a new website which showcases Livedoor’s software and source code which is being distributed to developers under its open-source policy. The company set up an internal team and a project called “EDGE [J]” to develop software and services on an experimental basis. Since its inception last… Continue reading Livedoor Launches An Open Source Showcase

Shockwave closes, Japan loses one of its biggest casual gaming sites

Japan, the country of Nintendo, Sony and Sega, doesn’t have a decent casual gaming site anymore (Hangame is big but doesn’t really count in this area). That’s what Timo Meyer, fellow German and founder of Tokyo-based gaming portal Wazap, told me recently (Wazap has recently launched their own casual gaming section). The reason: On January 31,… Continue reading Shockwave closes, Japan loses one of its biggest casual gaming sites

Google Japan Apologizes For Inappropriate Pay Per Post Use

About Google’s Marketing Activities – Google Japan Blog Under the name of the Senior Marketing Manager Koji Baba, they announced on their official blog, “Google Japan is running several promotional activities to let people know more about our products. It turns out that using blogs on the part of the promotional activities violates Google’s search… Continue reading Google Japan Apologizes For Inappropriate Pay Per Post Use

Google Japan Buys Dirty Pay-Per-Post Links

Google Japan seems desperate in chasing the Mighty Yahoo! (see here for example). They are now using a tainted and controversial social media optimization method called pay-per-post, provided by CyberBuzz. Recently, Google Japan announced a top-page redesign on their official blog, in which they added a “Google Kyuujyoushou Waado (Hot Keywords)” feature. This addition displays… Continue reading Google Japan Buys Dirty Pay-Per-Post Links

Japan’s 1st Social-Lending Site Offers An Alternative In This Rough Economy

Last Friday, Japan’s first social-lending service provider Maneo Inc. was invited to Digicon Salon’s monthly technology meet-up, where company CEO Tadatoshi Seno-o gave a presentation on Maneo’s services and background at the Graduate School of the Digital Hollywood University in Akihabara, Tokyo. Mr. Seno-o formerly worked for one of Japan’s major banks, and he co-founded… Continue reading Japan’s 1st Social-Lending Site Offers An Alternative In This Rough Economy

ISP Platform Provider Releases iPhone App To “Server-ize” Your iPhone

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… Continue reading ISP Platform Provider Releases iPhone App To “Server-ize” Your iPhone