Finally, Softbank Mobile got the iPad Pre-sales started. We could find no queue at their storefronts last Sunday’s night, but the scenes have been changed in yesterday’s morning. (In front of Softbank Mobile Omotesando. Picture courtesy: Japan’s A-list brogger Ichiroo a.k.a. Kotori Piyopiyo[J]) The Nikkei reports more than 100 people have been queuing at Bic… Continue reading Softbank Starts iPad Pre-sales; DoCoMo Gives Up To Provide SIM For iPad Users
Month: May 2010
April 2010 Japan IT Links (Part 2)
Continued from (Part 1) Second half of April news which we did not write as a dedicated article. Referred pages are all in Japanese, unless otherwise stated. First Twitter TV Drama Synopsis Twitter Drama’s First Episode Viewing Rate Was 11.9%, which is not so great Yahoo! Japan News Editorial Chief Published A Book “How to… Continue reading April 2010 Japan IT Links (Part 2)
DeNA Begins Free Games And Community On English iPhone/iPad
DeNA, which runs one of big three Japanese social networking Mobage-Town, today announced and immediately launched MiniNation and its games, their popular social games and its basement community in English on iPhone/iPad for oversea users. The games and MiniNation are only available “outside of Japan”. So it is not for their royal Japanese users but… Continue reading DeNA Begins Free Games And Community On English iPhone/iPad
Softbank Mobile To Begin iPad Pre-orders Tomorrow
Softbank Mobile announced it would begin the iPad pre-orders tomorrow (Monday, May 10) at 10am, Japan Time. You’ll be able to make it at iPad authorized dealers such as selected Softbank Mobile shops and consumer electronics retailers. Apple Japan’s online store deals with the iPad Wi-Fi model only, and Apple Stores will deal with all… Continue reading Softbank Mobile To Begin iPad Pre-orders Tomorrow
Mobile Content Provider Voltage To List On Tokyo Stock Exchange Next Month
It’s time for another tech IPO in Japan. Voltage, a Tokyo-based mobile contents provider, has received approval to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Mothers market on June 11 (code: 3639). The company plans to issue 200,000 new shares to the public, next to 220,000 shares coming from its existing shareholders. If demand is bigger… Continue reading Mobile Content Provider Voltage To List On Tokyo Stock Exchange Next Month
10-centimeter Cubic Satellite Keeps Tweeting From The Space
Nakasuga Lab., the University of Tokyo, introduced a bot account tweeting the real-time state of a satellite which is located in the earth low orbit. The tweet(@XI-V) keeps us update with parameters like the satellite’s surface temperature, battery voltage and where it is located over of the planet and also shows us still images shooting… Continue reading 10-centimeter Cubic Satellite Keeps Tweeting From The Space
Finally Google Out, Goo In On Half Of Japanese Cellphone
As I reported on Monday, NTT comrades – #1 cellphone carrier NTT Docomo and Japanese portal Goo owner NTT Resonant – tried to get back search initiative in Japanese mobile web by switching their i-mode iMenu mobile web search from Google on April 30th, but failed with (I guess by too much traffic) trouble and… Continue reading Finally Google Out, Goo In On Half Of Japanese Cellphone
Amazon Envy II: Rakuten now wants to produce hardware (a barcode scanner)
Another case of Amazon envy from Rakuten, Japan’s biggest online shopping “mall”? It seems so. According to various reports, Rakuten is currently pondering the development of a barcode scanner. One of the reason for Rakuten to get into the hardware business – according to a company representative quoted by The Nikkei (“Japan’s Wall Street Journal”)… Continue reading Amazon Envy II: Rakuten now wants to produce hardware (a barcode scanner)
Soldering Cafe To Be Opened At Ex-school Site In Akihabara
The birth rate keeps lower number in Japan, which causes more elementary and junior high schools to be shut down across the nation. Especially in the highly populated areas, these ex-school buildings turned to be used for artist’s studios, SOHO for tech entrepreneurs and coffee shops filling the lessee’s stomachs with great meals. In mid-May,… Continue reading Soldering Cafe To Be Opened At Ex-school Site In Akihabara
Google Japan’s “President” Gone – Exceptional Position Of Japan Local Office Lessened
As we reported last month, one of only 6 Google presidents Koichiro Tsujino left Google Japan at the end of April. This leave is confirmed both on the Google’s executive list, on which no more Google Japan president exists, and Tsujino’s tweet [J], ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????less than a minute ago via web??????ktsujino On that tweet, he said… Continue reading Google Japan’s “President” Gone – Exceptional Position Of Japan Local Office Lessened