Naver Japan, a bridgehead of Korean search giant Naver, who is challenging Japanese market second time since 2009, released their new (Tumblr-like) multimedia clipping microblog “Pick” [J]. On Pick, user can post text, image, movie and geolocation. It also encourages users to clip others’ post by 1-click “pick” button so “anyone can join the pick… Continue reading Naver Japan Starts Another Microblogging Service “Pick”
Category: News
CyberAgent Exports Social Avatar Community To English, Ameba Pico
As pre-announced last November, CyberAgent Inc., a Japanese big web media/advertising company, launched their popular social avatar community, constructed on Flash technology, Ameba Pigu‘s English version Ameba Pico. Based on Ameba Pigu’s avatar cloths-changing, communication chatrooms and casual games, English Pico provided more avatar items for oversea cultures, adds gift and message boards features which… Continue reading CyberAgent Exports Social Avatar Community To English, Ameba Pico
February 2010 Japan-IT Links (Part 2)
Latter half of February news which we did not write as a dedicated article. (Part 1) Referred pages are all in Japanese, unless otherwise stated. Keeping Household Accounts By Taking Receipt With Cellphone Camera For New Sharp/Softbank Mobile Phone Dentsu Tech Launches Cellphone 3D AR App For 3 Major Carriers Performance Marketing Starts Consulting To… Continue reading February 2010 Japan-IT Links (Part 2)
Yahoo! Auction Releases iPhone App
Yahoo! Auction, Japan No.1 auction website who had defeated eBay in 2002 (eBay now collaborates with Yahoo! Auction), expands [J] its frontend into growing smartphone segment with a free iPhone application which name is “Yahuoku”. “Yahuoku” is Japanese abbreviation form of Yahoo! Auction (such like “Super Mario” becomes “Su-mari” and “Pocket Monster” to “Pokemon”) and… Continue reading Yahoo! Auction Releases iPhone App
February 2010 Japan-IT Links (Part 1)
First half of February news which we did not write as a dedicated article. (follows to Part 2) Referred pages are all in Japanese, unless otherwise stated. Another Japanese iPad on… iTunes! Google Logo Contests By Kids, Japan round English translations of some popular 2-channel phrases NEC’s Android based touchscreen gear like iPad (December 2009… Continue reading February 2010 Japan-IT Links (Part 1)
Nikkei Officially Announced Its Digital Version With 4,000 Yen Per Month
As we reported the leaked info last month, Japan’s industrial newspaper Nikkei Shimbun (Nikkei is abbreviation of Nihon Keizai = Japan’s economy) is to begin their paid online version since March 23rd 2010. The service name is “The Nihon Keizai Shimbun Digital Version”, nicknameed “Web-Kan”. This “Kan” means “publish” in Japanese. As rumoured, the subscription… Continue reading Nikkei Officially Announced Its Digital Version With 4,000 Yen Per Month
Internet Ads Overtakes Newspaper To Become No.2 After Television In Japan
Dentsu Inc., Japan’s largest advertisement agency, published its annual Japan’s advertising expenditures report. [J, pdf] According to the report, Dentsu estimates that advertisers spend 7.77 billion USD (1.2% growth) more on the Internet than on newspaper advertising 7.40 billion in 2009, first time in history. The No.1 television earned 18.84 billion, which is 10.2% decreased.… Continue reading Internet Ads Overtakes Newspaper To Become No.2 After Television In Japan
Japan No.2 Carrier KDDI au Announces Android and Windows Phone Shipment Since This June
KDDI (cellphone network name is “au”) today announced [J] that they will sell 2 smartphones, Android and Windows Phone at earliest in June 2010. They will open their own Android Application Market besides the original Android Market. On there, application providers’ charge will be able to be included on their cellphone bills, as same as… Continue reading Japan No.2 Carrier KDDI au Announces Android and Windows Phone Shipment Since This June
Ning-like “My Own Social Network” Service So-net SNS Gives Up Their Business
So-net SNS, one of the largest free hosting of user generated social networking services in Japan, announced [J] their termination of service in June. # SNS stands for “Social Networking Service”, which is often used in Japanese when mentioning Mixi, Gree, etc. Some people even use SNS without knowing what it came from. So-net, a… Continue reading Ning-like “My Own Social Network” Service So-net SNS Gives Up Their Business
Social Application Forum: Made-in-Japan apps for the world
The recession, almost no IPOs, structural shortcomings, not enough hot startups to invest in: The Japanese venture capital industry is in a critical situation. The current state of affairs forces companies that have money to pump into promising ventures to go new ways, and one of these is a joint initiative by a total of… Continue reading Social Application Forum: Made-in-Japan apps for the world