I just got back from Sony’s “VAIO type P” blogger event in Ginza, Tokyo. The type P is a pretty compact machine but it still has impressive features for a notebook PC. (I’m trying to stop myself from clicking the “Buy Now” button.) Sony’s “It fits in your back pocket” promotion prompted some net users… Continue reading “Is that a VAIO in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”
Cyber Agent Investments Organizes Business Plan Competition
Investment arm of a Tokyo-based Internet venture Cyber Agent Group, Cyber Agent Investment LTD.[J] announced to organize a business plan competition called “START”, for the purpose of discovering innovative and potential tech start-up, in cooperation with Cyber Agent, Mixi[J], Yahoo Japan[J], EC Navi[J], CA Mobile, netprice.com, DeNA and Microsoft Bizspark. Award winning plan may get funding… Continue reading Cyber Agent Investments Organizes Business Plan Competition
E-mail-only friend delivery springs up in Japan
Mixi Nengajou (new year greeting card) is not the only emerging service tries to turn online friendship into real items delivery. This is too much of a coincidence that Mixi, Softbank (owns 40% of Yahoo! Japan) and au(KDDI)-DeNA(runs Mobage Town) launched virtual to real shipping services in last 2 months. Softbank Puchi Gift November 4th,… Continue reading E-mail-only friend delivery springs up in Japan
2D Barcode(QR Code) on Ancient Style Chinese Art
Seal Cutting(篆刻) is a Chinese traditional art. You cut a stone block to make a stamp with, usually, Chinese letters like name, poet, etc. Blogger Masayuki GT tried to combine this Song Dynasty originated stone art with the latest technology, QR Code, Japanese 2D barcode now widely used with cellphone camera to guide mobile website… Continue reading 2D Barcode(QR Code) on Ancient Style Chinese Art
iPhone TV (finally) comes to Japan
As we reported on October, Softbank, No.3 cellphone carrier sells iPhone in Japan, start selling a specially designed iPhone peripheral for Japanese customers who think cellphone must have TV tuner. This tuner and external battery combo is sold at 7 Softbank shops since the end of 2008. It will be officially available nationwide on January… Continue reading iPhone TV (finally) comes to Japan
Mixi Intoduces New Features of “MyMixi of MyMixi” and “Footprint of My Own”
Japan’s most popular SNS “Mixi” introduced new two feature deployments today, especially on so-called “footprint” feature. You may have your own site on Mixi, and Mixi’s footprint feature allows to show you on the list when and which other Mixi users have visited your site. With today’s system renewal, new icons are prepared for “My Mixi of My Mixi” etc., that… Continue reading Mixi Intoduces New Features of “MyMixi of MyMixi” and “Footprint of My Own”
Winny trial goes High Court
Winny is the most popular P2P file-sharing software in Japan. Isamu Kaneko [JP], the developer of Winny, was prosecuted by Kyoto Prosecutors Office. Kaneko was found guilty and fined 1.5 million yen ($15,000). Kaneko and the prosecuter both appealed to Osaka High Court. 4th January, 2009, Toshimitsu Dan [JP], a lawyer of the defendant, and… Continue reading Winny trial goes High Court
iPhone Apps Developers in Japan will visit San Francisco during MacWorld for promoting
On Decemeber 24, at Chirstmas eve night, Japanese iPhone developers gathered at an old Japanese-style hotel “Houmeikan” near Tokyo universtiy. Houmeikan The purpose is ” to plan an event in SanFrancsico during MacWorld to promote iphone apps by Japanese developers in a group”. Japanese iphone app market is not big as U.S. market and there’s… Continue reading iPhone Apps Developers in Japan will visit San Francisco during MacWorld for promoting
Bounen Kaigi 2008 report
Bounen Kaigi, annual year-end conference considering the record of the year, was held at Yahoo! Japan office again this year. This conference was sponsored by Yahoo! Japan and the event hosts were Gen Taguchi (blog: 100shiki[J]) and Daiya Hashimoto (blog: Jyoho Kogaku Passion for The Future[J]). This conference consisted of the followings. Noticeable Net Services… Continue reading Bounen Kaigi 2008 report
2ch.net ownership moved to Singapore company
Hiroyuki Nishibuya, founder of Japan’s biggest anonymous BBS 2ch.net (Ni-Channel), revealed that he had transferred the ownership of 2ch.net to oversea on his blog. The FAQ on 2ch.net was modified, too. Q Who owns 2ch? A 2ch.net is managed and operated by PACKET MONSTER INC. 2ch.net has been at the heart of libel lawsuits in… Continue reading 2ch.net ownership moved to Singapore company