GW-100

=====================================================================
J@pan Inc Magazine Presents:
G A D G E T W A T C H
The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan
=====================================================================

Issue No. 100
Thursday, May 8, 2003

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

Name: Sonic Blue Rio SU30
Category: Portable Audio
Price: (128MB model 21,800 yen; 256MB model 29,800 yen)
Release date in Japan: end May 2003

The Gist: Sonic Blue has announced a new line of its Rio series of
portable MP3 players. At an incredibly measly 37g, they池e the
lightest in the range, but the real selling point here is that they池e
also voice recorders. Double your money! As a replacement for your
aging CD Walkman, the SU30 can handle both WMA and MP3-format files,
and you should get 14 hours of continuous playback before the
rechargeable lithium polymer battery gives up the ghost. There痴 also
a built-in World Band FM radio, meaning you can pick up radio stations
from outside of Japan. You can also hook this up to your PC or Mac via
a USB connection.

As a voice recorder, the 128MB model can record for up to nine hours,
and the larger 256MB version can record for up to 18. The more fashion
conscious of our readers will be delighted to hear that the new
players come in silver, silver/purple and silver/titanium gold
finishes, whatever the hell that last one is.

More info:
http://www.sonicblue.co.jp/company/pressrelease/2003/004_RioSU30_re.html

===========================ADVERTISEMENT==============================
Receive 10% discount through J@pan Inc:

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE & ENTERPRISE PORTAL SUMMIT 2003
Meguro Gajoen, Tokyo
May 22-23, 2003

Follow Gartner's 2003 recommendations for turning your
dormant data into high-payback business intelligence.
You'll learn about:
- How to plan for becoming a Real-Time enterprise and
what it means.
- How to use today's knowledge to develop an efficient
management infrastructure for tomorrow.
- How to identify and realize the Total Value of Opportunity (TVO).
- Best practices -- who's getting it right? Examples from industry
leaders.

View full agenda at: http://www.gartner.co.jp/event/bi_2003/
Click here to receive your 10% registration discount!
======================================================================

Name: Sharp Aquos
Category: AV
Price: 175,000 yen
Release date in Japan: May 1, 2003

The Gist: This week痴 Mind-blowing Gadgetry Award simply has to go to
Sharp for its mobile Aquos TV. Far sexier than its dullard LC-15L1
moniker would have you believe, the new 15-inch LCD TV boasts all the
loveliness of its wire-bound Aquos brethren but operates on a 2.4GHz
wireless system and, thanks to its internal, rechargeable lithium ion
battery and integral receiver, can be taken absolutely anywhere you
like without trailing a mess of wires behind you. The display uses the
IEEE 802.11b wireless protocol and knocks out a VGA (640x480 dot)
image, running for three of your earth hours before the next charge ・
which only takes five more.

The TFT panel has a contrast ratio of 500:1, brightness of 450cd/m2
and is viewable through 170 degrees in any plane. It has a built-in BS
tuner (satellite, not bull shit), a remote control that very neatly
clips onto the backside of the machine when not in use, and it all
weighs just 6.2kg.

More info: http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/030418-1.html

================================EVENT=================================
SPECIAL EVENT
The ICA is pleased to announce a special networking and
business-development roundtable event on May 20.
The event will feature a round-table discussion with three
of Tokyo's top IT & business leaders.

SPEAKERS
TED MATSUMOTO - President - Qualcomm Japan
ROD TALBOT - President - JDA Software Japan Ltd.
TOSHI IWATA - Vice President - Cybird Co. Ltd.

RSVP REQUIRED
If you would like to attend please RSVP on our sign-up page at:
http://www.icajapan.jp/signup.html
by 17:00 Monday May 19, 2003.

Yurakucho Denki Building, Foreign Correspondents' Club
Cost: 3,500 yen (members) 6,000 yen (non-members)
======================================================================

Name: IO DVR-ABN4
Category: PC peripherals
Price: (DVR-ABN4 32,000 yen/ DVRP-iUP 42,000 yen)
Release date in Japan: end April 2003

The Gist: The DVR-ABN4 is an external, portable DVD+RW/DVD-RW, and, if
you're into this kind of thing, that's about all you need to know
before you'll want to rush down to the store and check it out. Make
your own rewriteable DVDs ・ doesn稚 get much cooler than that. The
Atapi drive works with Windows Me, 2000 or XP and writes DVD-R and
DVD+R discs at 4x speed, DVD-RWs at 2x speed, and DVD+RW discs at 2.4x
speed. It'll also write to CD-Rs at 16x normal speed and CD-RWs at 10.
It comes with all the authoring software you need and, despite being
an ugly little beige box, will make you a Gadget God with the guys in
your IT department.

More info: http://www.iodata.co.jp/news/200304/dvr-abn4.htm

===========================ADVERTISEMENT==============================
SECOND ROUNDTABLE ON BRANDING IN JAPAN
Brand Mythology: results-driven strategies to leverage the brand story
Four Seasons Hotel, Tokyo
Wednesday May 28th 2003
http://www2.economistconferences.com/doc/ap/brand03/i.htm

Main issues to be discussed:
- Fusion of the brand and business strategy
- Brand management in crisis and recession
- Delivering global brands in foreign markets
- B2B targeted versus consumer sector branding
- Global and local case studies of failure and success

Online registration is available at:
http://www2.economistconferences.com/doc/ap/brand03/r.htm
======================================================================
=====================================================================
Subscribers: 3,443 as of May 8, 2003

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

READ PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
Gadget Watch online archive:
http://www.japaninc.com/newsletters/index.html?list=gw

Check out our other Japan-specific newsletters:
http://www.japaninc.com/subscribe_news.html

To UNSUBSCRIBE from this newsletter, click here:
http://www.japaninc.com/unsubscribe_news.html

ADVERTISING INFORMATION
To advertise in this newsletter, contact:
ads@japaninc.com

GET THE MAGAZINE
Subscribe at:
http://www.japaninc.net/mag/subs.html

FEEDBACK AND PROBLEMS
We welcome your viewpoint: editors@japaninc.com
NB Please do not reply to this newsletter -- it's outgoing only, so we
won't get it!

Technical problems:
webmaster@japaninc.com

Copyright (C) 2003 Japan Inc Communications KK. All Rights Reserved.