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japan posts

Robovie rescue bot hunts high and low for lost princesses (video)

by Vladislav Savov posted Nov 3rd 2009 at 9:04AM

If you've been feeling blue because you haven't got enough green to keep the old bank account in the black, we've got just the tonic for you, dear friend. There's nothing that gets us all perked up and cheerful quite like an adorable humanoid robot negotiating an obstacle course in the performance of a rescue mission. In fact, if you layer on your own "save the princess" narrative atop the on-screen events, the pep in your step should be back in no time. The smile-inducing video can be found after the break.

Continue reading Robovie rescue bot hunts high and low for lost princesses (video)

Sony VAIO L touchscreen humiliates presenter on live TV (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 5:14PM

You know what they say in show biz: never work with children, animals, or gadgets. And if you must, make sure that you test drive your consumer electronics before going live. As you can see in the video (after the break), the kids on one overseas morning show failed to heed the last bit, to humorous results. For our part, we're inclined to believe that the unresponsiveness of the Vaio L All-In-One touchscreen herein is pilot error of some stripe, but either way the man on screen handled it like a real pro. Besides, we've seen far worse bloopers on Japanese television -- really, after the whole Yukio Mishima seppuku mess, it's hard for us to take any of this stuff too seriously. Video(s) after the break.

[Via Sony Insider]

Continue reading Sony VAIO L touchscreen humiliates presenter on live TV (video)

Fuji Heavy Industries outs friendless, autonomous farming robot

by Laura June posted Oct 29th 2009 at 1:17PM

Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan has announced what it's calling 'the first' autonomous farming robot. This bot, which is about six and a half feet long and runs on gas, sends and receives laser signals to orient itself by way of reflective plates placed every 30 feet, using them to judge distances. This bad boy can grow fruits and veggies all by its lonesome, and can even operate in a greenhouse. The farming robot -- which is expected early next year -- will run about $100,000, but we'd suggest you buy two so he can have a buddy.

Nintendo DSi LL goes large in Japan on November 21 (update: DSi XL in Europe Q1)

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 29th 2009 at 4:12AM

Whoa, it's true: the rumor of a bigger screen DSi was just validated by Nintendo. Shipping November 21st in Japan, the 4.2-inch DSi LL is priced at ¥20,000 (about $221). The above comparison is straight from the Big N showing the DSi LL vs. the white DSi. Besides the obvious increase in height and width, the 21.2-mm handheld is chubbier than the 18.9-mm DSi but slimmer than the 21.5-mm DS Lite when it ships in your choice of dark brown, burgundy and natural white. The battery seems to be roughly on par with the DS Lite going for about 4 to 5 hours on maximum brightness and intensity or 13 to 17 hours when dialing back the display to its lowest settings. No word on US or international shipping yet but obviously they'd be smart to get this out in time for the holidays. A few more pics and a full spec-by-spec comparison with the DSi and DS Lite after the break.

Update: Listen up Europe, Nintendo issued a statement saying, "a new Nintendo DSi XL console is launching in Europe in the first quarter of 2010." Note the change in name from LL to XL. Unfortunately, no price was announced.

[Via Joystiq and Impress]

Continue reading Nintendo DSi LL goes large in Japan on November 21 (update: DSi XL in Europe Q1)

Elecom's simplistic multicard reader mounts nicely on walls, desks

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2009 at 9:20AM

Still using that heap from 1999 that shipped sans a multicard reader? We know, it's tough. As does Elecom, who has just pumped out a foursome of new flash card readers for those less fortunate among us. The token one, however, is the sticky guy pictured above, which can actually be mounted on one's wall or desk side in order to maintain your precious desk space up top. You know -- 'cause all that paperwork scattered about is so critical. Mum's the word on a price or release date, but if we had to guess, we'd say "cheap" and "soon enough."

[Via Akihabara News]

Nissan and AIST partner up to make foot-sized Segway shoes, enable first tracks all year

by Tim Stevens posted Oct 27th 2009 at 7:20AM

For the northern half of the world it's almost ski season, and thus a curious time to debut a pair of devices that allow skiing in the summertime. Nevertheless Nissan and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are introducing this pair of two-wheeled, self-balancing devices. Lace up your fresh New Balance kicks, grab onto the handlebars, then hop on to go for a ride. Each one detects weight shifts and motors itself in the direction you want to go -- or at least the direction you're leaning. They don't look particularly stable nor safe, but they could enable some sweet concrete hot doggin' in the summertime -- and some sick splits if you don't have your snowplow perfected.

[Via Plastic Pals]

NEC's Aterm WM3300R is like a souped-up WiMAX version of the MiFi

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 27th 2009 at 4:26AM

Not every company has the design chops to make it in modern consumer electronics. Case in point: NEC's Aterm WM3300R. While it looks like a thermostat you'd wall-mount at the local health center, it packs enough technological appeal to make up for that clinical dowdiness. See, it's a pocketable WiMAX router with integrated 802.11b/g WiFi -- think MiFi only with the relatively blazing speeds of 40Mbps (downstream) / 10Mbps (upstream) WiMAX instead of EV-DO or HSPA and a battery capable of about 2.5 hours of shared usage. The WM3300R can also be USB-attached to a PC as a WiMAX modem. Drop another ¥5,000 (about $54) and you've got a spare battery to keep the mobile action going. Expect it to be released in early November in Japan for an estimated ¥25,000 or right around $272. You seeing this Sprint, Clearwire?

[Via Akihabara News]

Pentax's limited edition Korejanai K-x DSLR reminds us of Harlequin VW Golf

by Darren Murph posted Oct 25th 2009 at 3:32PM

You Yanks won't be getting your paws around this without a buddy in Japan ready and willing to ship it your way, but those camped out in the Land of the Rising Sun can soon jockey for an opportunity to grab the most colorful Pentax K-x DSLR of all time. The Korejanai K-x -- which was engineered by the same folks behind the 'Self Destruct Button' USB hub -- looks as if it had all of its panels painted a different hue, and as diehard lovers of the iconic 1996 Volkswagen Harlequin Golf, we can't help but drool here. Only 100 of these will be sold, and it'll be bundled with a matching Korejanai Robot Model. Of course, the camera itself is identical to the standard version save for the paint job, but somehow we're guessing you'll appreciate this one just a wee bit more. It's set to sell for ¥79,800 (around $880), with orders being accepted starting at 10AM JST on November 2nd. Best set your alarms, kids!

[Via Image-Acquire]

Gallery: Pentax's limited edition Korejanai K-x DSLR reminds us of Harlequin VW Golf

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is official in Japan, not very big

by Paul Miller posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 10:38AM

Lenovo hasn't been driving quite as hard after the thin-and-light consumer game as some others (though that U350 is a sexy exception), but this upcoming ULV-powered, 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 should put it right in the runnings. Unfortunately for us, Lenovo has only just announced the computer for Japan, with no word on when it might be coming Stateside. The specs are alright, with a brand new Intel Core 2 Duo SU4100 ULV processor, integrated graphics, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD, multitouch trackpad and Windows 7. We still don't have a price to go on, but since the whole point of that new Intel proc is taking ULV chips to somewhere approaching Atom prices, we're hoping for good things.

[Via Netbooked]

Windows 7 Whopper claims its first victim (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 9:09AM

Few brave souls will even attempt to consume the Windows 7 Whopper, and fewer still will achieve that first dyspepsic bite -- as you can plainly see in this video. Indeed, we were sure that this was some sort of promotional stunt for Microsoft in Japan, but now reports are filtering in that these have been available in Texas for years now. Of course, in the Lone Star State it's not called the Windows 7 Whopper, it's called "lunch."

[Via Pocket-lint]

Continue reading Windows 7 Whopper claims its first victim (video)

Linus Torvalds gives Windows 7 a big thumbs up

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 3:14AM

You know Microsoft, when you setup a big Windows 7 booth across the street from the Japan Linux Symposium you're just asking for trouble.

[Thanks, Mitch W.]

Burger King selling a Windows 7 Whopper in Japan

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 8:22AM

Confirming our belief that Japan is at once among the coolest and craziest places on this planet we all call home is Burger King's exclusive Windows 7 Whopper. Seven stacked beef patties extend your usual Whopper to over five inches in height and the whole thing costs an appropriate ¥777 (or $8.55). It'll be available for one week only -- or seven days, get it? Join us past the break to see the full towering size of this meaty monstrosity.

[Via Electronista]

Update: Andy Yang, our Engadget Chinese editor, has read the smallprint and noted that in fact only the first 30 customers each day will get the Win 7 Whopper at ¥777, with the rest shelling out a cool ¥1,450 ($17.10) for the privilege. Way to break with the number 7 theme, guys.

Continue reading Burger King selling a Windows 7 Whopper in Japan

Dell's Inspiron One 19 pops official in Japan

by Darren Murph posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 6:23AM

It won't be the first time we've seen an all-in-one from Dell launch first in Japan, and if we were the betting type, we'd guess it won't be the last. The Inspiron One 19 has just popped up over on the outfit's Japanese website, and unless our eyes are badly deceived, this definitely isn't the same as the Studio One 19. Offered up in two basic configurations, consumers can get one outfitted with a 2.6GHz or 2.93GHz Intel processor, Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, an 18.5-inch display (1,366 x 768), a 320GB or 500GB SATA hard drive and a DVD burner. It also looks to ship with a budled keyboard and mouse, and unless someone in the back has gone crazy with the Photoshop eraser, both of those connect sans wires. The new AIO can be ordered up now starting at ¥69,980 ($770), though only time will tell when (or if) this one will head stateside.

Heat diodes give thermal computing a fighting chance

by Darren Murph posted Oct 19th 2009 at 9:57AM

Anyone who has tried their hand at overclocking recognizes just how evil waste heat is, and we're guessing that one Wataru Kobayashi at Waseda University in Japan understands explicitly. He, along with a few colleagues, has recently devised a new diode that allows heat current to travel in one direction but not in the other. The breakthrough essentially paves the way for thermal computing to actually take off, with obvious applications including heat sinks for microprocessors. Kobayashi, who may or may not be able to eat a dozen hot dogs per minute in his spare time, also hopes that his discovery will lead to a thermal transistor, thermal logic gates and a thermal memory. The future's yours, friend.

Engadget Japan meetup wrap-up and farewell Japan!

by Joshua Fruhlinger posted Oct 15th 2009 at 11:41PM

So there are ways to wrap up trips and there are ways to wrap... up... trips. After four weeks of Engadget souls roaming the trains of Tokyo for TGS and CEATEC, we finally closed things out with a massive reader meetup with Engadget Japan. About 500 rabid (but very friendly) Engadget Japan fans lined up in Roppongi to meet the editors and see some mind-boggling, sometimes hysterical, and always interesting presentations. Thanks to Maywa Denki for his artistic impressions of Engadget readers (and the amazing Otamatone musical...thing). Also big ups to Samo Dengi (composer of music for Tekken), Cerevo, Acer, Microsoft, and Sony. But most of all, thanks to our amazing readers world-round, and thank you Japan! We are humbled, honored, and oh, so tired. See you next year! Rainen mata oaishimashooo! Video of the event after the break (taken on a 3G Android device, btw!).