Archives for May 2007
Portable AC Spray
Juniper Foo | May 08, 2007
With global warming a reality, it's the subtle things that really matter, like body odour and sweaty armpits. You get the picture. So trust the fastidiously neat and hygiene-obsessed Japanese to come up with a solution that seeks to erase any unpleasantness to fellow beings and promote wellbeing. Say hello to the Portable AC Spray, which employs a mix of ethanol and other ingredients to bring temperatures down, both literally and figuratively. This little bottle throws out cool air which you spray on your clothes for a cooling effect. Why it's got to be on clothes and not skin isn't clear. Regardless, a little chilling down is far better than suffering from suffocating humidity in the tropics. And at US$5 a pop, it won't break you out in cold sweat.
Via Tokyomango
Price: US$5
Availability: Japan's Rakutan store
Device: Spray coolant
Specs: N.A.
Nintendo: Wii have a supply problem
Juniper Foo | May 08, 2007
Bad enough that it's shilly-shallied its way to selected parts of Asia outside Japan, and in limited quantities. Now comes more bad news.
GameSpot UK reports that so popular is Nintendo's gaming console, six months after the Wii's much-anticipated launch, CEO Satoru Iwata is addressing shortages at company financial briefings. In a Q&A session posted to the company's site late last week, he acknowledged the supply shortage, adding that "we are sorry that we were unable to sufficiently forecast this kind of demand".
In dealing with the production bottleneck, Iwata conceded that the company's Mario factory is increasing production of the console and that a "small increase" can be expected in retail outlets starting this month. Though whether that's sufficient to weather Nintendo through the supply issue is another matter altogether. As Iwata said in the same session: "Making a significant volume of the high-tech hardware, and making an additional volume, is not an easy task at all. In fact, when we clear one bottleneck for a production increase, we will face another one."
On a separate matter, when asked if he might hire Ken Kutaragi, the creator of Sony's PlayStation console line who recently stepped down to "pursue other projects", Iwata answered in the negative. "I don't think we will do that."
Japan masses to get satellite love in 2015
Damian Koh | May 07, 2007
There are no two ways about it. To enable satellite calls, either the size of the antenna on our cell phones or those on the orbiting crafts has to grow. And it seems like the Japanese Government is gunning for the latter.
According to The Daily Yomiuri, Japan's Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry plans to launch a satellite that will have an antenna 50m in diameter (twice the size of any existing satellite antenna) to create an emergency cell phone relay station in space.
The ministry plans to embark on this project in 2008 and have the bird up in geosynchronous orbit 36,000km above the planet by 2015.
Initial costs are estimated at 2 billion yen and that's only for research and development in 2008. The ministry also plans to engage relevant bodies and manufacturers to start technical studies into the system.
As to when the average cell phones on the streets can dial up to the satellites? That's anyone guess. But it won't likely be before 2015.
Picture credit: Satellite Phones
Cowon Q5: PVP exploding with features
Nate Lanxon | May 07, 2007
Cowon has recently announced a snazzy-looking PVP called the Q5, and it's exploding with features--much like a large pigeon explodes after eating rice, although much less hilarious.
PVPs have become much more common over the last couple of years, thanks to improvements in battery technology and more efficient media-compression methods. Cowon's Q5 has arrived at this time of opportunity, as if by prophesy, and expands on the basic feature set expected of a PMP by hosting a multitude of pimped-out features.
As well as the typical MP3 and video playback functions, the Q5--running on Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 and powered by a 500MHz AMD CPU--also includes the ability to receive digital TV broadcasts. In fact, connectivity tomfoolery will be frequent, thanks to the Q5's inclusion of HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.
Documents, such as Word files, can be opened on the Q5 and navigated around using the 127mm (5-inch) touchscreen display, but don't think the fun ends there. The Q5 will also get you from A to popular destinations such as B, thanks to GPS functionality.
The 40GB version costs US$499 (S$755.79) and the 60GB version costs US$549 (S$831.52), though no launch date has been announced. We'll keep you so posted on updates you'll want to glue a stamp to your face and sit in a mail box. We're that excited about this lovely gadget.
Danish consumer group finds design flaw in iBook G4
Tom Krazit | May 07, 2007
After an investigation, Denmark's Consumer Complaints Board says it has found evidence that a design flaw in Apple's iBook G4 causes the notebooks to stop working after about a year of use.
The board's investigation found that turning the laptop on or off over time causes a solder joint to loosen and eventually separate, preventing current from flowing through the joint. Owners of Apple's iBook G4s had complained about system problems, and even filed a class-action suit to advance their claims, but Apple has not admitted to any sort of design flaw with the systems. The MacBook--with Intel's processors--replaced the iBook last year.
Given the new findings, however, the board has settled several claims on behalf of Danish customers of Apple International, it said. Its investigation could have an effect on other iBook G4 customers who have experienced similar problems, but an Apple representative declined to comment on the report.
A copy of the report can be found on the board's Web site. A lot of the site is written in Danish, but there is an English copy of the report and photos of the test setup.
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