Back Older entries

The latest iPhone challenger is something Else

October 22nd, 2009 9:36am
by Robin Harding

With dozens of smartphones powered by Google’s Android operating system set to hit the market, a different challenger to the Apple iPhone was on display in Tokyo today: the Else, from London-listed Israeli technology company Emblaze, using software made by Access of Japan.

The two companies are making bold claims for the device, long in development under the codename of Monolith. “Imagine a device that is not a phone surrounded by gimmicks you will not use; where the camera literally replaces your digital camera; you get real-time push email wherever you are in the globe; almost every song and film in the the world is one click away; and any one of its multitude of features is reached with no more than one light gesture of your finger and not buried deep inside folders within folders,” said Amir Kupervas, the chief executive of Emblaze Mobile.

The credibility of that statement was impossible to judge while watching Access’s chief technology officer demonstrate the device. Continue reading "The latest iPhone challenger is something Else"

October 22nd, 2009 9:36am in Asia, Hardware, Mobile, Tech, Telecoms | Permalink | Comment

Space Invaders on Natal

September 23rd, 2009 8:00pm
by Robin Harding

Original version of Space Invaders

For gamers who want to know what they will be able to play on the Xbox 360’s ‘Natal’ motion controller, here are a few more details from the FT’s interview with Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s games business.

There will be a ‘creator’s panel’ at the Tokyo Game Show on September 24 featuring three of Japan’s top developers discussing the possibilities of Natal. They will be Keiji Inafune of Capcom, the man behind zombies-in-a-mall hit Dead Rising; Sega’s Toshihiro Nagoshi, the creator of Super Monkey Ball; and Hideo Kojima, previously of Konami, the director of the Metal Gear Solid series.

Continue reading "Space Invaders on Natal"

September 23rd, 2009 8:00pm in Asia, Games, Tech | Permalink | Comment

Why Japan’s handset makers are merging

September 14th, 2009 1:06pm
by Robin Harding

NEC, Casio and Hitachi announced today that they are merging their mobile handset divisions. The following two graphs explain why:

Handset sales in Japan have been falling steadily since 2007, when the mobile networks cut subsidies on new phones, and the market has now all but halved in size. The blue line shows the twelve-month moving average of sales and the data is from the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association. Continue reading "Why Japan’s handset makers are merging"

September 14th, 2009 1:06pm in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Mobile | Permalink | Comment

A good start for the PS3 Slim - but is it good enough?

September 8th, 2009 6:38am
by Robin Harding

Sony PS3The first data are starting to appear on sales of Sony’s revamped Playstation 3 “Slim” since price cuts went into effect at the start of September. The data are good. The question is whether they are good enough.

In Japan, research company Enterbrain says that Sony sold 150,252 PS3 Slims in the four days between its launch on September 3 and September 6. That is the highest weekly sales number Sony has recorded for the PS3 since its launch in 2006 and also compares well with products past, such as the 170,779 units of Nintendo’s DSi handheld console sold during its first two days in the shops last autumn. Continue reading "A good start for the PS3 Slim - but is it good enough?"

September 8th, 2009 6:38am in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Games, Hardware, Tech | Permalink | Comment

Debate over Google China chief’s next move

September 4th, 2009 12:56pm
by Maija Palmer

Kai Fu LeeKai-Fu Lee’s time as president of Google China began with controversy, as Microsoft sued the search company for poaching him, then faced a countersuit by Google. His departure was a severe blow for Microsoft’s Chinese operations, and brought out the depth of the animosity between the two companies.

Mr Lee’s impending departure from Google has also sparked debate - not least because it is still unclear exactly why he is leaving and what he is going on to do.  

Continue reading "Debate over Google China chief’s next move"

September 4th, 2009 12:56pm in Asia, Digital media, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Strong start for Wii Sports Resort

June 30th, 2009 12:03pm
by Robin Harding

Nintendo’s flagship summer title, Wii Sports Resort, has got off to a strong start since its launch in Japan last Thursday June 25th.

According to figures from publisher Enterbrain in its Famitsu magazine, Wii Sports Resort sold 353,827 copies in its first four days on sale. That makes it the third most successful launch in the history of the Wii in Japan.

Continue reading "Strong start for Wii Sports Resort"

June 30th, 2009 12:03pm in Asia, Games | Permalink | Comment

TSMC’s Open Innovation Platform

June 21st, 2009 11:43pm
by Robin Kwong

Jerry Maguire, the fictional sports agent played by Tom Cruise, summed up well the spirit of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s new Open Innovation Platform initiative.

“Help me . . . help you,” Mr Maguire implored his one remaining client in the 1996 film.

Morris Chang, founder and recently chief executive again of the world’s biggest contract chip maker, has a far larger network of customers than Mr Maguire but found himself preaching the same message this week when he addressed clients at TSMC’s annual technology symposium.

“We don’t want to play a zero-sum game with our clients”, the 77 year-old Mr Chang told them.
Continue reading "TSMC’s Open Innovation Platform"

June 21st, 2009 11:43pm in Asia, Hardware | Permalink | Comment

The internet stinks

June 16th, 2009 12:31pm
by Robin Harding

Or it will soon if Japan’s largest telephone company has its way.

Silicon Valley may be atwitter over Twitter but NTT Communications has a different proposition for the future of the internet: Fragrance Communication. Continue reading "The internet stinks"

June 16th, 2009 12:31pm in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Internet, Tech | Permalink | Comment

So what happened to Sony’s 27″ OLED television?

June 15th, 2009 7:17am
by Robin Harding

Sony's 11

In May 2008, chairman and chief executive Sir Howard Stringer said that, within the next twelve months, Sony would launch a 27″ television based on OLED - organic light emitting diode - technology.

More than twelve months later, with no 27″ version released and Sony showing only 21″ prototypes, it’s time to ask what happened. Continue reading "So what happened to Sony’s 27″ OLED television?"

June 15th, 2009 7:17am in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Hardware | Permalink | Comment

Dell adds socially networked VC Jim Breyer to board

April 13th, 2009 11:27pm
by Joseph Menn

Accel Parters’ Jim Breyer, one of the most highly regarded venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, joined the board of Dell today, fueling speculation about new directions for the computer maker.

Mr Breyer’s other boards include top retailer Wal-Mart, which would be an ideal spot from which to sell computers indirectly, and Facebook, which is a part of many conversations about where end-user trends are heading. Continue reading "Dell adds socially networked VC Jim Breyer to board"

April 13th, 2009 11:27pm in Asia, Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Mobile | Permalink | Comment

Back Older entries