Two AR iPhone Apps Come To Our Hands This Week

Tokyo-based tech start-up led by Takahito Iguchi(@iguchi), a self-styled Willy Wonka who made an unique presentation at last year’s edition of TechCrunch 50, Tonchidot finally released an augmented reality (AR) iPhone app Sekai Camera on Thursday, it’s now available at AppStore for free of charge. In time with the release of the app, Mr. Iguchi… Continue reading Two AR iPhone Apps Come To Our Hands This Week

CJIC2009: Internet-Enabled Home Appliances Come Together To Foresee Our Future

Today at Roppongi Hills, a skyscraper located in the heart of Tokyo, CNET Japan[J] held an annual tech conference called CJIC 2009 (CNET Japan Innovation Conference) where two tech-startups, Panasonic and Sony presented their new services and products to more than 350 attendees. As the first presenter of the conference, Atsuki Ishida[J], CEO of FreeBit,… Continue reading CJIC2009: Internet-Enabled Home Appliances Come Together To Foresee Our Future

Mixi ex-CTO Helps Singaporean Mobile Startup Xsago

Batara Eto, who suggested to make a Japanese social network to his boss in late 2003 and programmed Japan’s biggest social network Mixi, let the company (E-mercury) to change their primary business and rename (to “Mixi”, of course) with the huge success, then left his CTO job in 2007 [J], is reported to invest to… Continue reading Mixi ex-CTO Helps Singaporean Mobile Startup Xsago

If The Shoguns Were Alive Today, Which Would Be Their Favorites?

Softbank Mobile released new five line-ups of luxury-textured and japan-lacquered covercase for iPhone 3GS/3G, which imitate an “inro” or a feudal pillbox used in Japan’s turbulent age.  The list price is JPY 99,800 for each, which is approximately USD 1,050. The line-ups were designed on the concept of what kind of iPhone case the five… Continue reading If The Shoguns Were Alive Today, Which Would Be Their Favorites?

Can “Moe” Catgirl Make Our Lives So Cheerful?

Wake up in the morning, commute, work, have a lunch, work again, come back home, take a bath and go asleep – for everyday, for ever. Aren’t you bored with monotonous daily routines? A Tokyo-based company, which states creating stimulus things as its corporate mission, will probably make it happen. Xtone[J] (pronounced as “eks-tone”), a… Continue reading Can “Moe” Catgirl Make Our Lives So Cheerful?

MCF Announces This Year’s Award-Winning Mobile Projects (2/2)

Continued from the previous post. ———- Excellent Award (Mobile Solution Category) Won by McDonalds Japan[J] and the JV, a McDonalds’ joint venture with NTT DoCoMo, with their customer relationship marketing project by using cellphone wallet and mobile apps. Every Friday they distribute virtual discount coupons for McDonald’s meals to participating members’ handsets, which is valid… Continue reading MCF Announces This Year’s Award-Winning Mobile Projects (2/2)

iPhone 3GS Keeps No.1 In Japan On Its 2nd Week

This is a follow-up article on the news of iPhone sales in Japan. BCN weekly ranking [J] is updated and now we are seeing a weekly ranking for June 29th to July 5th. The newly introduced iPhone 3GS 32GB stays at the top position, whilst the 16GB loses No.2 position taken back by Sharp SH-06A.… Continue reading iPhone 3GS Keeps No.1 In Japan On Its 2nd Week

If iPhone Were No.1 in Japan, Sony Would Be No.1 Music Player

Fortune reported an interesting survey on iPhone sales in Japan. Mashable, CrunchGear and some other blogs have also reported the news. From Japan, I am trying to provide some more detail for people who want to better understand this news. Is the ranking legitimate? Yes. The shops which give their POS (point of sale) data… Continue reading If iPhone Were No.1 in Japan, Sony Would Be No.1 Music Player

Mail Order Giant To Release Wardrobe iPhone App

Osaka-based catalog mail order giant Senshukai[J] is going to introduce an iPhone/iPod app allowing you to check up showcases filled with fashionable clothes.   It is now under Apple’s consideration for upcoming release and will be available at AppStore next week. Senshukai has an experimental website, which is called Bellmaison Lab[J], developing and demonstrating new services… Continue reading Mail Order Giant To Release Wardrobe iPhone App

Masayoshi Son Retrospects A Meeting With Steve Jobs About Cellphone iPod Idea

At the iPhone 3GS launch event in Omotesando, Tokyo, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son told a story about when he talked an idea of combining iPod and cellphone to Steve Jobs. According to Son, he had a meeting with jobs in 4,5 years ago, which is before he bought the Japan’s third biggest cellphone company from… Continue reading Masayoshi Son Retrospects A Meeting With Steve Jobs About Cellphone iPod Idea