Read Japanese webpages in English
Fujitsu's new TransLinGO! performs online translation of Japanese webpages into English with Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. The software preserves the original page layout, and it can display the translated English text alone or side-by-side with the Japanese original. In addition to full webpage translation, TransLinGO!'s "outline mode" toolbar button allows the user to translate only selected portions of text. TransLinGO utilizes a 150,000-word dictionary that includes many Internet-related terms. The retail price is ´9,800 for a downloaded version, or ´10,800 for the CD-ROM version.
Fujitsu: 03-3215-5270
Apple releases superfast G3 Power Macs
Apple's new Power Macintosh G3 series features 233- and 266-MHz PowerPC G3 microprocessors. The series comes in three models: the desktop Power Macintosh G3 DT 233 and DT 266 (released in late December) and minitower Power Macintosh MT 266 (to be released in late January). All come with 32MB of RAM (expandable to 384MB), 2MB of VRAM, a 4GB or 6GB hard disk, 24X CD-ROM drive, and 10BaseT Ethernet port. All three models are capable of reading 320x240 dpi video at up to 30 frames per second, in 24-bit full-color. Retail prices are open.
Apple FaxAid Tokyo: 03-3391-1200 (fax back)
http://www.apple.co.jp
New Java products from IBM
IBM's first Java-based product, Desktop On-Call 1.0, is software that enables you to operate your office intranet-linked PC remotely. Simply install Desktop On-Call on your office PC, and from a Web browser on your home or mobile PC you can connect to the remote PC and transfer its display as minimized Java applets that enable high-speed processing. Desktop On-Call runs on any Windows 95/NT-based PC; it retails for ´9,800.
VisualAge for Java 1.0 is an interactive Java application development tool. Both beginners and experienced developers can use its visual programming format to easily and interactively construct Java applications and applets. Scheduled for a late January release, VisualAge for Java retails for ´15,000; an introductory "campaign package" will be offered for ´10,000 until April 30.
Dial IBM: 0120-04-1992
Windows film scanner with preview function
Konica's Qscan QS-1202JW, an upgrade of its QS-1201JW model, is a compact, easy-to-operate film scanner for Windows 95/NT. It can scan and preview some or all pictures from an APS or 135-mm filmstrip at a resolution of 1,200 dpi as fast as 15 seconds per image. With the included Adobe Photo Deluxe, the scanned images can be edited for use in postcards, business letters, and calendars. The QS-1202JW retails for ´78,000.
Konica: 03-3349-5121
http://www.konica.co.jp/qscan
Send postcards by e-mail
Ixla Photo Fude 98 from ISR Japan can create beautiful picture postcards from digital camera or scanned photos. This Windows 95 application comes with an easy-to-use visual guidance system and an address database that will search for mailing addresses based on postal codes. Completed postcards can sent as e-mail or imported into an HTML homepage file. Users without a printer can save the images in a special format, and take the floppy disk to be developed into postcards by Fujifilm's F-D1 service. Ixla Photo Fude 98 retails for ´4,800.
ISR Japan: 03-3350-9556
http://www.konica.co.jp/qscan
Translating up a storm
NeocorTech's Typhoon MT 6.0 offers everything needed for fast, interactive Japanese-to-English (J/E) machine translation in one package. And unlike most J/E packages, Typhoon runs on English-language Windows 95/NT- no Japanese Windows or fix-up software like Twinbridge or Kanji Kit is needed to input and display kanji.
Typhoon MT 6.0 supports OLE embedding and has a built-in Japanese TrueType font. Speed and accuracy improvements to the core translation engine of version 6.0 have increased translation speed to 300,000 words per hour. The user can input kanji directly into a Japanese window, and even send e-mail directly from Typhoon MT 6.0. There is also a kanji learning tool for language study.
Typhoon MT 6.0 retails for $890; optional add-on physical and biological science dictionaries are available for $195 each.
NeocorTech: fax +1-619-483-2586
e-mail info@neocor.com
http://www.neocor.com/
http://shop.g-search.or.jp/manual/TLGO/
The Internet answer to audio books
If you find it hard to read small characters on your favorite websites, IBM Japan has a solution. Homepage Reader (for Windows 95/NT) can read aloud the text, frames, and ALT tags in any webpage. The application also allows users to adjust the speed of the audio, or to magnify the text for easier reading. All functions - from launching the software to connecting to a webpage - can be controlled from the number keypad alone.
IBM's Homepage Reader requires IBM ProTalker 97 version 2.0 and Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or higher. It retails for ´9,800.
Dial IBM:0120-04-1992
New handheld PC from Casio
The latest in Casio's lineup of Cassiopeia handheld PCs is model A-51V. The Cassiopeia A-51V runs Japanese Windows CE 1.01 and incorporates an 80-MHz SH-3 CPU, a PC card slot and compact flashcard slot, and an infrared communication port. Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer is installed, and for mobile users there is the Travelnavigator for railway and air travel. Other installed software includes Microsoft Pocket Word and Pocket Excel as well as Casio's Personal Write (handwriting recognition software) and Personal Calc (calculation software that recognizes handwritten equations). The Cassiopeia A-51V retails for ´88,000.
Casio Computer: 03-5334-4848
Speak to your computer... and hear it talk back
IBM Japan has released ViaVoice Gold speech recognition software for Japanese Windows 95/NT. In comparison to VoiceType, released in March 1997, ViaVoice accepts natural, continuous voice input (pauses are no longer needed between words) and has 20,000 more words in its dictionary. A navigation function enables the user to start up application software, send e-mail, and save files without touching a keyboard or mouse; customized voice commands can be created for multiple tasks. With ViaVoice, the user can dictate text into a document instead of typing, or listen to a synthesized voice read documents. ViaVoice Gold comes on CD-ROM with microphone/headset included. A 200-MHz or faster CPU is recommended for the Japanese version, which retails for ´18,000.
IBM: 0120-04-1992
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