GW-114

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J@pan Inc Magazine Presents:
G A D G E T W A T C H
The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan
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Issue No. 114

Thursday, September 11, 2003
(Long URLs may break across two lines, so copy to your browser.)

========================= ADVERTISEMENT==============================
NOKIA Japan Co.,Ltd.

FINALLY THE NEW NOKIA 6650 ALLOWS YOU TO USE THE
SAME NUMBER IN JAPAN AND OVERSEAS*

The Nokia 6650 phone supports both WCDMA and GSM (900/1800MHz),
which can be used in Japan and many other countries outside Japan.
It can meet your calling needs across national borders -
look how convenient and comfortable it could be!

*Check out NOKIA 6650 phone at:
http://www.nokia.co.jp/products/n6650/eng/index.html
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Name: Sony DCR-IP1K
Category: Digital camcorder
Price: 160,000 yen
Release date in Japan: October 18, 2003

The Gist: The DCR-IP1K from Sony is the world's smallest and lightest
MICROMV camcorder. And the MICROMV tape is, yes, you guessed it, the
smallest camcorder tape in the world. With dimensions of 39x69x91mm
and weighing just 230g, it makes the DCR-IP1K a considerable 26
percent lighter and 30 percent smaller than the now fatty (or, in PC
terms, both vertically and horizontally challenged) DCR-IP7 model, so
the IP7's catwalk days are definitely over. For the gamblers amongst
you, Sony helpfully informs us that the DCR-IP1K is almost exactly
the same size as a regular playing card. They're calling it a "rump
size" camera.

The one-fifth inch CCD produces 1,070,000-pixel images, which boils
down to 690,000-pixel moving images or 1 million-pixel still pictures
in real life. The lens is one of those fancy Carl Zeiss efforts, with
a 10-times optical zoom allowing 35mm camera f-stop equivalents of
F1.8 to 2.3. There's also a Memory Stick Duo slot for recording still
images (up to 1,152x864 dots) or brief MPEG-1 movies. Connection
options include Composite, S-Video and USB/i.LINK. An NP-FF51 lithium
ion battery is included in the pack.

More info: http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200309/03-0903/

=========================== NEW LAUNCH ==============================
Japan Inc Communications K.K. is proud to announce the launch of its
new portal site: japan.com - your primary access point for Business,
Leisure and News on Japan.

Check it out now at: http://www.japan.com

We welcome your input, feedback, insights -- even gripes. Please share
your comments and ideas. Help make this site rock!
Contact: Yves Bennaim on 3499-2175 ext. 1322 or email:
yves@japaninc.com
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Name: Audio Technica AT-DSP300
Category: AV
Price: Open (but approximately 25,000 yen)
Release date in Japan: September 21, 2003

The Gist: The extremely chic AT-DSP300 package comprises 2-channel,
"wine-glass" style stereo speakers with a digital amp. The 28mm
full-range wine-glass speakers house a "reflector" located on the
upper half of the units and angled at 45 degrees, which is apparently
designed to throw the reproduced sound forward into your face. Or
something. Oh, and the reflector is all purty and illuminated. The
AT-DSP300 set comes in black or white finishes; your choice dictates
which fancy fluorescent illumination you get (green for the
white-finish speakers, electric blue for the black ones). On the more
technical side, the speakers have an impedance of four ohms, the
digital amp has an output of 1,100mW out of two channels, and there
are adjustment dials for both the volume (wow!) and the illumination
function (whatever). They do look extremely cool, however, and
wouldn't look out of place in your designer bachelor pad.

More info: http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/

============================= EVENT ==================================
GARTNER'S SYMPOSIUM/ITXPO 2003
Date: Nov. 19-21, 2003
Location: Le Meridien Grand Pacific (Odaiba, Tokyo)

Business today is all about reducing time, increasing speed, and
improving profits. Technology is the enabler.
Keeping up - and looking ahead - is your challenge and our strength.
Join over 2500 senior IT decision makers to hear Gartner's leading
global and Japanese analyst address technology issues that will
have the biggest impact on your enterprise over the next year.

View complete Symposium information at:
http://www.gartner.co.jp/symposium/eng/

SAVE 20% for delegates who register by August 29.
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Name: Bandai "8" Portable Record Player
Category: AV
Price: 29,800 yen
Release date in Japan: January 2004

The Gist: Definitely one for the beardies who rue the demise of the
vinyl record and/or the more fanatical factions of Ultraman
aficionados, the "8" Portable Record Player from Bandai plays, rather
unsurprisingly, retro Bandai tunes from classic cartoon shows off
special 8cm records. The little discs have up to four minutes of
recordings on them -- like an olde worlde 45 single. Except that the
player spins them at 33rpm. The dedicated portable player, sold
separately, has a mono speaker, an interchangeable sapphire stylus and
dimensions of 160x140x70mm. The wee records are expected to retail for
350 yen a pop. I'd just like to add that the retro disc player is a
fantastically solid-looking, quality piece of kit. That's what I'd
like to add, but unfortunately it's no more true than me saying I had
a date with Salma Hayek last night.

More info: http://www.bandai.co.jp/releases/J2003090101.html

============================= EVENT ==================================
ICA September 18 Event

PRESENTER: Eric McNeil - IBM Directory Product Manager, IBM Tivoli
Software

TOPIC: When information MUST be right - the authoritative data
foundation for enterprise security

RSVP required, complete event details at http://www.icajapan.jp/
Date: Thursday, Sept 18
Time: 6:30 Doors open, sit down dinner included
Cost: 3,000 yen (members), 5,500 yen (non-members)
Foreign Correspondents' Club
http://www.fccj.or.jp/static/aboutus/map.php
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============================= EVENT ==================================
Second 鼎ost Cutting Strategies・Seminar for Foreign Managers in Japan
Date: Sept.19, 2003
Location: JETRO BSC Hall, Akasaka Twin Tower

LINC Media Inc., Japan Inc. Communications KK (the publisher of
J@pan Inc magazine) and the Shizuoka Prefectural Government are
pleased to invite you to attend our second Foreign Management
Strategies Seminar, themed 鼎OST CUTTING STRATEGIES FOR FOREIGN
MANAGERS IN JAPAN・ at the JETRO BSC Hall, Akasaka Twin Tower Main
Building on September 19th.

View complete Seminar information at:
http://www.japan.com/shizuoka/
Registration fee: FREE of charge
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Subscribers: 4,290 as of September 11, 2003

STAFF
Written by: Max Everingham (max@everingham.net)
Edited by: J@pan Inc editors (editors@japaninc.com)

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