GW-158

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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. 158
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
(Long URLs may break across two lines, so copy to your browser.)

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========================= EA Event ====================================
Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo: September Seminar

This September, Tokyo entrepreneur Mark Devlin -- CEO and Publisher of
Crisscross KK and Japan Today -- will be presenting, "Metropolis & Japan
Today: Past, Present and Future." Don't miss this great opportunity to
hear how Mark has created Japan's No. 1 English Magazine and the
world's leading source for Japan news.

Date/Time: Tuesday, September 7th 7:00 pm
Location: City Club of Tokyo - Maple Room (Canadian Embassy Complex)
Language: English
Website: http://www.ea-tokyo.com
Email: info@ea-tokyo.com

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=========================== NEWS =======================================
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Name: Sony DAV-SR1W, DAV-SR4W, DAV-LF1
Category: Home Theater System
Price: Open Price; estimated at 84,000 yen (SR1W), 115,000 yen
(SR4W), 300,000 yen (LF1)
Release date in Japan: October 10th, 2004 (SR1W), September 21st, 2004
(SR4W), November 10th, 2004 (LF1)

The Gist: Sony introduced three new models of DVD/SACD theater systems
this week, all of which use Sony's independently developed, wireless
optical transmission system, "S-DIAT," to deliver a signal to the rear
speakers. In other words, they can operate without having to install
speaker wiring.

Both the lower and intermediate models (referred to as the SR series)
use the same center unit that can play both DVD-Video and multi-
channel Super Audio CDs. Also included with the SR series
is a subwoofer that has the newly developed "Digital Direct Twin Drive
(DDTD)," which appears to be Sony's name for combining two digital
subwoofers into one. The LF1, on the other hand, is all that
AND a bag of chips -- where the bag of chips consists of embedded
lip-sync technology and smaller, more compact speakers that apparently
go well with with flat panel TVs.

More info:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200408/08-0817/

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===================== JOURNALISM INTERNSHIPS ==========================

Japan Inc. magazine is offering a limited number of journalism
internships to qualified individuals. This is a unique opportunity to
acquire hands-on experience in creating the content, developing the
design and shaping the vision of a major, independent business and
tech-oriented monthly English-language publication.

Qualified individuals seeking this opportunity must be Tokyo-based
and fluent in English. (At least some knowledge of the Japanese
language is a significant asset.)

Interested parties should send relevant resumes, samples and contact
information to Maria Deutsch at:
maria@japaninc.com

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Name: IO Data Device AVeL LinkPlayer (AVLP2/DVDG)
Category: Network DVD Player
Price: 33,075 yen
Release date in Japan: Middle of September, 2004

The Gist: IO Data's new network DVD player appears to be everything the
market has asked for in a media center-type DVD player -- and more. It
has 802.11b/g wireless LAN support, can play back nearly any format under
the sun (including Windows Media Video 9), acts as a normal DVD player,
and even supports USB hard drives by way of a USB 2.0 port.

I guess the guys sitting around at IO Data said to themselves: "Hell,
why stop there?" -- because this player certainly doesn't. It outputs
up to 720p (D4) from Windows Media 9 videos, supports multiple computers
on the network, supports Mac OS X, can access data from Network Attached
Storage (NAS) devices and even download Electronic Program Guides (EPGs)
to schedule the recording of TV programs onto your PC. My-oh-my, this
just may be the player we've been waiting for.

More info:
http://www.iodata.jp/news/2004/08/avlp2.htm

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Name: Sony QUALIA 005
Category: LCD TV
Price: 1,102,500 yen
Release date in Japan: November 10, 2004

The Gist: Sony took the wraps off the world's first television equipped
with a complete LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight. Sony has dubbed
this technology behind the 46-inch setup "Triluminous," which not only
eats more power than a cathode system, it also sports a color range
some 150 percent of traditional sRGB systems. Power or color -- your
choice.

Considering the price of this new TV, it seems to me that those who
purchase one aren't so concerned about their power bill being too
expensive. While this set obviously supports 1080i (Full HD), it
contains two new technologies intended to enhance your HD viewing
experience even more. First of all, it has Sony's own "DRC-MFv2"
image processor, which has the ability to upscale standard
resolution television to full HD resolution. Don't ask me how it
works (or how well), but the party does not end there. Fans of the
PlayStation 2 should recognize the "Emotion Engine" and "Graphic
Synthesizer," because every PS2 contains them. In an effort to
further enhance the viewing experience, Sony has included both of
these chipsets in the QUALIA 005.

More info:
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200408/08-0819B/

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======================== Setting up a Company ==========================
Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar

Terrie Lloyd, founder of over 12 start-up companies in
Japan will be giving an English-language seminar and Q&A on
starting up a company in Japan. This is an ideal
opportunity to find out what is involved, and to ask
specific questions that are not normally answered in
business books. All material is Japan-focused.

Time/date: 10:30am, Saturday, September 11, 2004
Place: 7-8-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107
Price: 15,000 yen prepaid, 20,000 yen at the door
Included: Lunchbox, refreshments, handouts

Bookings: maria@japaninc.com, in English or Japanese.

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Subscribers: 6,252 as of August 31, 2004

STAFF
Written by: Liam McNulty
Edited by: J@pan Inc editors (editors@japaninc.com)

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