March 03, 2008
Simply Awesome
This is just... absolutely brilliant!
Posted by Kakyou at 09:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 25, 2008
Just a bit suprised
Wow, wasn't expecting this.
The first mobile carrier in Japan to get HTC's current flagship smartphone is actually going to be EMobile!
Quite a scoop considering how close HTC has been playing with Softbank and Docomo in the past. Then again, I'm sure that handheld sales of the TYTN in Japan were pretty disappointing to the carriers.
What is particularly interesting is that the TYTN II (aka Kaiser, aka ADSP) appears to have been modified with a single band 1.7Ghz cellular modem. This means that it will only work on Japan's EMobile 3G network. I'm kinda hoping that the specs are off and that this is one of the new quadband 3G modems that should be appearing this year.
EMobile has the best urban 3G network in Japan, offering unlimited HSDPA speed for around 50$ a month. About half of the rate on Docomo's FOMA or Softbank 3G's 21Ghz HSDPA networks.
I'm starting to get hopeful that we might see a quadband variant of the HTC Shift that will allow me to use it on EMobile's network.
Posted by Kakyou at 03:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 22, 2007
How much of a geek can you (I mean I) be?
Here it is. The nerd phone of the decade.
No. I don't mean that one.
Check it out.
The Softbank 913SH G by Sharp actually doubles as the monocle visor from a replica Char Gundam head.
Not only does the head pull double duty as a the cellphone charger, but the cellphone itself is covered in Gundam related markers, special screens and wallpapers.
Geek heaven.
Coming soon...
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/special/913SHG/
Posted by Kakyou at 09:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 31, 2006
Celestron SkyScout Personal Planitarium
Ok. This is waay too cool
I *WANT* this. I *NEED* this.
I know it takes all the fun out of searching the sky for stars and such, but as someone who has done that, I can honestly say it's overrated. Especially since it is usually really cold.
Now you can run outside. Look up and immediately find what you are looking for. Ooo and Ahhh for a few minutes, the hightail it back inside where it is warm.
hmmm. $400 is a bit steep, but think of the nice cocoa on the stove...
Amazon.com: Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium
Posted by Kakyou at 02:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 28, 2006
Prohibition repealed! Drinks are on me!
So the controversial PSE ban is dead.
A completely botched move to ban old electrical appliances raised quite a stir, with some major names across Japan getting involved.
Basically what was probably a good idea was pooched by brain dead legislation and an even worse implementation. So just one week before the plan goes into effect, the government itself points to a loophole in the law.
In a nutshell, the items can not be sold, but they can be "rented" out. Of course the terms of the rental agreement can be anything (1000 years for example) and of course once the rental fee is paid, no forms are really needed.
What is even better is how Trade Ministry Kakuhisa Kakui explained that this loophole doesn't hurt the purpose of the ban at all.
Easing the ban won't compromise consumer safety, Kakui said, adding that the ministry wasn't giving into opponents' demands. "We're just pointing out there are ways to do business even after the law comes into effect," .
So in order to get possibly dangerous old electronics off the market, the government throws out a blanket ban on pretty much anything old. Then when protesters complain that the ban is too general the government puts out a loophole that pretty much negates the entire effect of the law by providing a loophole anyone can use with any object. All because they don't want to admit that the law was pooly planned and horribly executed.
Blockheads!
AP: Japan to End Ban on Resale of Used Goods
Posted by Kakyou at 05:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 19, 2006
My HP is running low. Time to potion up
Ooooo. The geekiness of it all just drips and glistens off the bottles.
Suntory is releasing a special "Potion" soft drink to coincide with Final Fantasy XII's Japan release. As you are hacking away at monsters in the middle of a marathon gaming session and you feel your stamina waning, just pop a cop on one of these suckers to get a guarenteed 50hp boost.
Game Watch: サントリー、「ポーション」をイメージした清涼飲料「ファイナルファンタジーXII ポーション」を発売
On sale March 7 for about 2$ a bottle.
Posted by Kakyou at 08:18 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 13, 2005
OMFG I think I just wet myself
Is this not the coolest thing you have ever seen?
Bloody Awesome super high tech road machine that looks like something from a saturday morning cartoon. Hybrid engine with 1,000cc class performance, hands free navigation-communication, proximity warning system, "#$@ kitchen sink!
Engadget: The Yamaha Gen-RYU hybrid motorcycle
Posted by Kakyou at 04:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 08, 2005
New features with the iPod nano?
I've been playing with the settings folder on the nano and ran across some things I havn't notices on my old iPod Photo.
1) The clock is now a World Clock, I can continue to add new locations and then scroll through the cities showing local times. Very handy for me.
2) Stopwatch. Standard. Also something I never noticed before. Is it new?
3) Screen lock. A 4 digit combo lock deal. Think this is new too.
4) Compilations. what the heck is this?
I don't know if these are new features just for the nano, or even if they are new at all. Gotta check my photo. Maybe there is a firmware update avail. Anyway, pretty cool stuff.
Posted by Kakyou at 06:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Am I that predictable?
So I hear the news this morning.
What do I do with my lunch hour?
It is soooo small (I know, that's not always a compliment. but... WOW!)
Of course, not to be outdone, Sony announced today a new Network Walkman and updates to thier popular flash series.
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050908/sony1.htm
As with other attempts, this one is pretty cool, but suffers a few too many points on the "but still kinda boring" meter.
OLED displays are cool and battery life is great and...
*yawn* what was I talking about?
Anyway. 4 GB flash memory and did I mention how small it is?
On sale now.
Posted by Kakyou at 02:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 06, 2005
Geeks help out Hurricane victims
Joel Johnson (formerly of Gizmodo), is now putting together a team and equipment to help FEMA get some communications networks running for Katrina effected regions.
When a gadget geek asks himself what he can do to help, it's nice to know that there is in fact a lot that can be done.
Hey folks, it’s Joel. I’m getting ready to leave tomorrow morning for Houston, as part of a team of volunteers working with CU Wireless (under the auspice of the FCC and FEMA) to establish wireless communications networks in the Gulf Coast region. We’re in need of equipment and supplies in the Houston or Baton Rouge area.If you’re in Houston we really, really could use your help (or if you are a corporate agent outside of Houston, we could use your help, too). I’ll list what we need after the jump (preview: it includes a bitchin’ van, preferably with a wizard on the side).
Gizmodo: Help Joel Help Katrina Victims
Posted by Kakyou at 03:36 PM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2005
Sony screws Gizmodo. Film at 11.
So it appears there is a bit of chaos going on over at E3 right now.
It's still to early to say why this happened, but it looks like the door goons outside the presentation for Sony's next gen PS3 gaming console blocked the Gizmodo reporter from the event.
Smart move.
Sure it's hard to put Gizmodo in the same league as say The Wall Street Journal, but then again, how many college kids look to the WSJ for info on their next video crack fix? But then again, Gizmodo is only a Blog right?
Gizmodo: E3: Sony Gave Me Cancer
Funny thing is, that this is the most interesting story I have read about the PS3, or the Xbox 360, or the Nintendo Revolution. To be honest I am bored with the whole thing.
Electronics companies better get worried. As a certified gadget addict, launch day PSP owner, self proclaimed Sony whore, I find the news surrounding the next generation of gaming... boring.
Man, if they can't get me interested in their new toys something is definitely wrong.
Posted by Kakyou at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2005
"Remember it's not the Machine. It's the pilot behind that machine that determines the victor"
Say you own a heavy farm equipment manufacturing company and
1) You have too much time
2) and money
3) you are a big anime fan
4) and a total freak
What would you do?
I know what I'd do. Something like this.
Yes. This is an actual functioning walking robot vehicle. It walks and turns with a decent radius as you can see from the video clips on the company's homepage.
Just to show that this is not just another scientific research platform however, the creator went ahead and added two nerf-ball shooting arm cannons complete with targeting system.
What a freak!
so how do you order one of these things anyway?
Posted by Kakyou at 05:15 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2005
Tight systems: A Star is Born, then explodes in a million tiny bits
Tight Systems was supposed to make the Taz 1, the dreamed of Video iPod device that was going to be like, way cool.
Well, that didn't happen. Nearly three years after CG mock-up pictures of the Taz hit the web, lack of investors has left the dream of Tight Systems and the future of the Taz 1 a relic of the past.
From time to time over the last couple of years Tight has popped up to try to raise some cash and find backing (waaaaay to late for that if you ask me). They have even done reselling for iPods and the DvxPod Video player.
I got a kinda random mailing from the CEO today. Looks like he has hit some really bad times and is pleading for help from any mailing list he can find.
In a nutshell, Macromedia is suing Tight Systems for the licensing fee for using Macromedia code in the UI for the Taz 1. Sure this never actually took place, but indeed Tight did sign a contract when they actually hoped to sell the device.
It's all pretty tragic. It reminds me of the chaos days in Boston at the collapse of the bubble when all those MIT graduates were getting their BMW's repossessed. A sad story, and a warning to to the overly optimistic.
Posted by Kakyou at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
May 11, 2005
Drool, is this the Powerbook mini?
Yes, this is the on again off again rumors that refuses to die.
So rumors of an Apple slate have been around since the mid 90's. Is it the Newton 2, the Tablet Mac, or the Powerbook mini? From an patent filing, it looks like Apple might be getting ready to take the plunge into another slate style keyboardless device.
It sure looks like a like smooth tablet (pearl white I would assume), complete with a touchscreen that is finger friendly unlike Windows TabletPC OS.
Here's the story from the Mac Observer
I just picked up a mini loaded with Tiger so I can play around with it. I have to say that it's a very sweet little package. My animosity toward The Great White has certainly waned in recent months. Now if Apple would only bring something like this to market I might just...
Posted by Kakyou at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)