japan

We still love our dear Toshiba Gigabeat S portable video player, but its definitely beginning to look its age. Lucky for us, Toshiba has announced the release of a seeming successor to the S-series called the Gigabeat T401, which is due out in Japan the first week of September. No word on when (or if) this latest video-worthy Gigabeat will hit the States, but we're optimistic after Toshiba's latest stateside release of the tiny Gigabeat U.

The Gigabeat T401 keeps the styling of the Gigabeat S but ditches the bulk of hard-drive storage in favor of leaner and … Read more

I used to work for a large Japanese company. I know how particular Japanese customers can be. That's why it's impressive to see a US software vendor topping the list of Japan's preferred IT vendors. Even better that the company is an open-source vendor: Red Hat.

Nikkei did a survey of 800 IT buyers in Japan and Red Hat came out on top. Only Apple came close:… Read more

It's no surprise that the first necktie to come with a USB-powered fan built into the knot comes from Japan. Having lived in Tokyo for nearly three years, I can confirm that which you already know: Japan is technology heaven.

It's where old tech hopes to go when it dies so it can be resuscitated by an Atari 2600 fetishist, and it's where new tech hopes to be born. It's one of the few countries in the world where bleeding-edge cell phones shaped like pens and that, in fact, are pens can enjoy a limited if well-lit 15 seconds of fame.

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I know that girls' feet (and hence, their shoes) are supposed to smell like a combination of fresh-cut lilies and pure spring rain, but mine sure don't, especially when I'm coming back to the apartment after a jog through Manhattan's sticky summer humidity.

So far, I've found no solution to the issue, which concerns me, because I like to keep the health and well-being of my roommates and neighbors in mind. On particularly hot days, sometimes I worry that the smell of my sneakers post-workout might accidentally kill some baby bunnies or kittens, or on the … Read more

They haven't put out a press release about it or anything, but the signs are pointing to a decisive victory of Blu-ray over archrival HD DVD when it comes to the Japanese smut industry. A PC World article writes that Sony, manufacturer of the Blu-ray Disc, has been offering more technical support to Japan's adult film companies. At the Adult Treasure Expo 2007 in Chibo, Japan, filmmakers attested to this and said that it's no longer as difficult for them to find mass production outlets.

In the U.S., HD DVD has an edge in the porn … Read more

From the Department of Bad Ideas: While we totally understand (and encourage) good old-fashioned price wars, they shouldn't come at the expense of basic functions. Take, for example, the "KanaSD" MP3 player from Greenhouse Japan.

The good news is that it costs about $18. The bad news is that it doesn't have any built-in memory--we're talking none. Instead, you need to get your own SD storage card, which will probably be more expensive than the player itself. Nor can we expect find video playback or a color screen at all on this low-budget device, as … Read more

Crave has featured all manner of luxury items for humans, but we've been woefully (and unintentionally) remiss when it comes to the same for lesser beings. In a first step toward rectification, therefore, today we offer something for our pelted friends--a paw spa.

This mini-whirlpool is like a Jacuzzi for four-legged loved ones, though it's big enough only to soak one aching paw at a time. Available at Amazon Japan, it even comes with a matching towel and "a special super-absorbent mat," according to Plastic Bamboo. Little did we know that Japan's agenda for a … Read more

Gamespot is reporting that when the new, slimmer PSP is released in Japan on September 20, buyers there will also be able to pick up a new TV tuner accessory, the PSP-S310, which will attach to the new PSP's USB port.

The article says that, "The peripheral weighs in at only 17 grams and is very portable, but is compatible only with the new PSP model. Also, since it's a 1seg digital TV tuner (ISDB-T broadcasting format), its use is limited to the Japan airwaves. The TV tuner will be released at the same time as the … Read more

If training your brain with the Nintendo DS just isn't enough, you'll soon be able to train your face with it, too. Wired recently reported that Nintendo has announced Otona No DS Kao Training, or Face Training for the Nintendo DS. It's designed to teach you exercises to help increase the elasticity of your facial muscles. While that alone sounds pretty interesting, it isn't the most important part of the news.

Face Training will come with a digital camera module you fit into the DS' Game Boy Advance cartridge slot. The camera tracks your face while … Read more