Some Japanese Twitter users started complaining on May 14th that Twitter recommends their family, colleagues and their own secret sub-accounts to them on “Who to follow” field on the sidebar. (examples picked up on a Togetter page [J]) They wrote that they hide their Twitter existence from their family and colleagues, or never told anyone… Continue reading Twitter Finds Recommended Users From The Same IP Address? Rumor Frightening Japanese Users
Month: May 2011
Smart Tub For iPad2 Released
When iPad2 was announced, we reported how Japanese felt strange on its new smart cover. This “bath tab lid” obsession still seems to be stuck on some people here. App to change your iPad2 to be bath tab Where there is a lid, there should be a tub. Smart Tub, which matches for Smart Cover,… Continue reading Smart Tub For iPad2 Released
Cloud Girl – Microsoft Windows Azure Manga Promotion
Microsoft Japan is teasing its online comic series “Cloud Girl”, which promotes Windows Azure cloud service. The first episode of this “Cloud Girl” with subtitle “Mado to Kumo to Aoi-sora”(windows, clouds and azure sky) is said to be released late this May 2011, on a prologue. The heroine, Claudia Madobe (@Claudia_Azure “madobe” means window-side in… Continue reading Cloud Girl – Microsoft Windows Azure Manga Promotion
Code Boxing With Kinect And Tython, Muscle Programming Language
A Japanese blogger id:gongoZ [J] released “Muscle Programming Language/Framework: Tython” on May 14. This Tython, released as an open source project, with Kinect enables you to program by body movements. In short, you can program by boxing in front of Kinect. See a video demo here, id:gongoZ could code to put out “Hello, World” only… Continue reading Code Boxing With Kinect And Tython, Muscle Programming Language
SF New Tech Calls For Entries To Present At Japan Night
Brandon Hill, the CEO/founder of San Francisco-based web consultancy btrax, gave us an invitation to potential presenters and attendees at a must-join tech start-up demo event that will take place next month. As of this writing, four start-ups of Kayac, Chatwork, J-Grab, and Conyac have passed the first screening. Entries to present are acceptable until May 20.… Continue reading SF New Tech Calls For Entries To Present At Japan Night
Japanese Virtual Diva Hatsune Miku First US Tour In July
[Update] Although first on hologram system, Hatsune Miku already had a regular screen concert in San Francisco. (hat tip to @miyagawa) Japanese virtual singing instrument application Vocaloid character Hatsune Miku will hold a concert at “ANIME EXPO 2011” in Los Angeles on July 2. This is the first time that she holds concert oversea. Recently, Toyota USA featured Hatsune… Continue reading Japanese Virtual Diva Hatsune Miku First US Tour In July
Japanese Girl Band AKB48 Gets Android And iPhone Applications
If you still doubt that Japan is in the middle of a smartphone revolution, here is another news item that serves as a good piece of evidence for it: Japanese pop sensation AKB48 released apps for the iPhone and Android today – in both English and Japanese (iTunes, Android market link). Fans of the country’s… Continue reading Japanese Girl Band AKB48 Gets Android And iPhone Applications
Feel-on: Twitter Comicalization Client On Web/iPhone
Feel on! is a Twitter client service by a Japanese startup L is B. This client analyze your Twitter timeline with its Social Emotion Engine(SEE), and show each tweet with emotionally matched comic character and color. Feel on! web browser version was released on today May 13th. iPhone version (English and Japanese) was released already… Continue reading Feel-on: Twitter Comicalization Client On Web/iPhone
Fashion Recommendation Site iQon Fundraises USD1.7M From Itochu And GMO
Tokyo-based tech start-up Vasily[J], who is known for running a fashion recommendation site called iQon, has fundraised JPY140M (approx. USD1.7M) from Itochu Technology Ventures and GMO Venture Partners. iQon does not sell clothes online but recommends you a bunch of ready-to-wear collection of fashionable clothes, accessories and shoes etc. with links that take you to… Continue reading Fashion Recommendation Site iQon Fundraises USD1.7M From Itochu And GMO
Rakuten Switches Portal Search Backend To Google
Rakuten, Japan’s huge online mall, announced on 10th that they are to use Google search on their portal Infoseek Rakuten. Infoseek Rakuten has been using Yahoo! Japan search backend, and requested Japan Fair Trade Commission to investigate if Yahoo! Japan-Google search alliance is antitrust. Naver, Korean-originated search engine running Japanese search site, announced [J] on… Continue reading Rakuten Switches Portal Search Backend To Google