GW-220

========================================================
G A D G E T W A T C H
The Hottest Gadgets and Gizmos from Japan
========================================================
Issue No. 220
Friday December 30, 2005

1. Evergreen DN-CLMP128
2. JVC GR-D350
3. Toshiba dynabook TX

========================================================
JIC Sponsored Interviews

You read Terrie's Take and JIN, and so do 54,000 other
executives inside and outside Japan. Let them know what your
company does, with our new Sponsored Interviews service.
We create a lead-in for the interview, and run it within the
newsletters, with links back to the page holding the full
interview. For a small additional charge, we will also run it
in the Japan Inc magazine, the www.japan.com website, and the
www.japaninc.com web site for archiving. Cumulatively, your
message will be seen by at least 120,000 English-language readers.

E-mail: sales@japaninc.com for more information.
========================================================

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Name: Evergreen DN-CLMP128
Category: Portable audio
Price: 3,980 yen
Release date in Japan: Already available

The Gist: We all knew it was only a matter of time before
MP3 players start popping up in everything from cars to
toilets, and Evergreen's new "DN-CLMP128" MP3 clip is
perfect evidence of this. The player is literally shaped
like a clip so it can be attached to a pocket or purse,
briefcase, or other item you keep nearby. While Evergreen's
execution may not have been the finest, it's good to see
someone in the industry has moved from "just put a clip on
it" (as we've seen with previous portable audio players)
to "just make it a clip." A subtle difference, to say the
least.

The CLMP128 features a paltry 128MB of internal memory and
offers no expansion options. It can play MP3 and WMA files,
but both are limited to a maximum bitrate of 192kbps.
Although there is no display on the CLMP128, you really
shouldn't need one because it provides only three function
buttons: play/pause, next track/volume up, and previous
track/volume down.

Thankfully, the unit has an internal lithium ion
rechargeable battery that lasts for roughly 5 hours.
It recharges via USB, which is what you'll also be
using to transfer tracks to the
device.

More info: http://www.everg.co.jp/?contents=evergreen/dvd/eg-d600

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Name: JVC GR-D350
Category: DV camera
Price: Open Price; estimated around 60,000 yen
Release date in Japan: Mid-January 2006

The Gist: The "GR-D350" is JVC's newest model of their
"Baby Movie" series of DV camera.

On the GR-D350 is JVC's newly developed 32x optical zoom
lens. This gives it a focal range of 35mm to as many as
1,408mm. Its LCD screen is a 2.5" "Clear Bright LCD
Monitor," with an anti-reflective coating for viewing
outdoors. This screen will also show you your remaining
battery life through a feature called "Data Battery."
Other features of the camera include JVC's own "Quick
Power Off Function" that protects against forgetting to
turn the unit off; "Auto Button," making it easy to switch
between automatic and manual recording modes; and finally,
"Night Eye", for recording in color video even in dark
environments.

The unit is unfortunately not equipped with a memory
card slot of any sort, so it is unable to record still
images. The included "BN-VF707" battery allows for roughly
1 hour and 30 minutes of recording time. The GR-D350
is equipped with both AV and i.Link ports, making
connection to your home theater or PC a cinch.

More info: http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/dvmain/gr-d350/index.html

========================================================
BiOS IT Support Services

Introduce some discipline and control to your IT infrastructure
by getting a quotation from BiOS for J-E bilingual support and
engineering. With 50+ engineers, we have the size and experience
to look after most sites and projects. Whether you have one
person or one hundred, we welcome all customers.

For more info: technology@biosjp.com.
http://www.biosjp.com
========================================================

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Name: Toshiba dynabook TX
Category: Notebook PC
Price: 175,000 - 210,000 yen
Release date in Japan: Already available

The Gist: Toshiba has unveiled the new models of their
"dynabook TX" series of notebook PCs. A new "Pearl White"
colored case allows for a 1280 x 800 15.4" widescreen
LCD, and inside sits a 5400-rpm hard drive.

The biggest selling point of the new dynabook TX is called
the "Glowing Touchpad with One Touch Button." When a mouse
is connected to the PC, lights underneath the touchpad
will light up, revealing buttons for mail software, a
web browser, volume adjust, and so forth. In other words,
the entire touchpad is turned into a pad for shortcuts to
commonly used applications. This is a unique approach --
on most other notebooks, when a mouse is attached, the
touchpad just sort of sits there and wastes space. If
you're not a fan of the mouse, don't fret; Toshiba also
threw in a switch so that touchpad users can change
between normal touchpad/glowing shortcut pad by tapping
its upper right corner.

Harmon/Kardon stereo speakers have also been added to
the new dynabook. If you're familiar with Toshiba's Qosmio
line of notebooks, this comes as no surprise.

At the top of the dynabook TX series is the "TX/770LS,"
with a Pentium M 740 (1.73GHz), Intel 915GM Express
chipset, and a 100GB hard drive. In the middle is the
"TX/760LS," which drops the processor down to a Celeron
M 360J (1.40GHz), and opts for an Intel 910GML chipset.
Finally, at the bottom is the "TX/745LS," taking the
hard drive down to 80GB. Specifications common to all
three models include 512MB of memory, a DVD Super
Multi Drive with Dual Layer support, every interface
you'd expect of a modern notebook PC, and a 2-hour battery.

More info: http://www.dynabook.com/pc/catalog/dynabook/051219tx/

=======================================================
SUBSCRIBERS: 8,520 as of December 30, 2005

STAFF
Written by: Liam McNulty
Edited by: Burritt Sabin (editors2@japaninc.com)

(C) Copyright 2005 Japan Inc Communications KK. All Rights Reserved.