Yamaha X-V465 AV Amp

X-V465, Yamaha’s latest AV Amp with HD Audio support

Here you are the AX-V465, a new AV Amp from Yamaha which support both 1080p Input and Output, HD Audio as well as being HDMI Link enabling you to control your Amp directly from your Panasonic, Toshiba, Hitachi, Sharp, Mitsubishi or Sony remote control.
This is Amp is a 5.1ch and will be sold at the end of march for a price around 50000 Yen (400€)

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Matrix PRO the latest 2 ways slide phone from Pantech

Pantech in Korea announced this morning a new WiMo 6.1 Standard Edition phone, the Matrix Pro. Made to be sold in the USA trough AT&T network, the Matrix PRO, a 3G HSDPA phone feature the basic GPS with AT&T Navigator solution, a 2Mpix Camera, Video Share, Bluetooth and a 2 way slide phone with your regular Keypad and a full QWERTY Keyboard…

Aside the WiMo 6.1 Standard, I would love to see a Pro version running on this little Matrix PRO, this Matrix PRO could be a nice little device to won if you are living in the US or A !

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Pantech

Asus Eee Top 1602

Asus Eee Top 1602 With Touch Screen Now Japan Friendly

Asus Japan announced the future launch of their Eee Top 1602, an Eee PC desktop powered by an ATOM N270 (1.60GHz), 1 GB of RAM, Intel 945GSE Express and 160GB of HDD. It has a nice little 15.6” touchscreen LCD with a 1366x768 resolution, as well as a 1.3Mpix Camera and Wifi B/G/N.

The Eee Top 1602 is set to be around €545.
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Akihabaranews

Asian Babes fight of the Week !

Asian Babes fight of the Week !

Hi everyone, here you are another fight between two gorgeous ladies, but first let’s check who own last week? And with 1236 participants, the winner was the cute little babe on the Left with 79% of votes, Anna Tsuchiya, which is in fact Russian Japanese. The other contestant was Leah Dizon (Chinese-Filipino French)

No today we have 2 new contenders for you… With Ai Cherie on the left (Chinese French born in L.A) and Seto Saki on the right (Japanese). If you need more, please feel free to check our gallery below.

So which one of these 2 beautiful babes won your heart this week end?


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Akihabaranews

Panasonic W8 Premium

Panasonic W8 Premium edition powered by Intel X-25M SSD.

Panasonic notebooks, better known as Toughbook overseas, are among the most reliable and crap free notebooks available on the market, and today, Panasonic announced an update of its W8 Premium Edition line-up including a 80GB Intel X-25M SSD with a 250MB/sec in reading speed and 70MB/sec in writing speed.

On Top of that you will be able to choose between 3 different lid covers for your notebook between Black, Silver and Pink Splash.

Source
Akihabaranews

Canon Powershot D10

Designed for adventure: Canon’s first digital waterproof camera

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 18 February 2009: Canon today launches its first waterproof digital compact camera: the 12.1 Megapixel PowerShot D10. Engineered for those with an adventurous, active lifestyle, the PowerShot D10 combines take-anywhere levels of toughness with exceptional image quality. Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor delivers ultra-responsive performance and outstanding, richly detailed images, while a new Smart Auto mode uses Scene Detection technology to deliver effortlessly great shots.
For the ultimate in hands-free, take-anywhere operability, the PowerShot D10 also offers compatibility with an extensive accessories system.

Goes where others can’t
From surfing to snorkelling, skiing to mountaineering, the PowerShot D10 is designed to accompany users on every adventure – it’s waterproof to 10m*, can withstand the shock of a drop onto a hard surface from 1.22m, is dustproof** and will function at temperatures as low as -10oC.

A range of protective accessories are available to keep the camera safe in challenging environments, including soft case, shoulder, neck and carabiner straps***. Thanks to an innovative connection system on the corners of the camera’s body, a secure and convenient set-up can be tailored for different activities. Users can also customise their camera’s appearance with an optional coloured Front Cover Set, and protect it from knocks and scuffs with a soft case.

Exceptional quality
Incredible 12.1 Megapixel resolution is captured by the camera’s sensor, allowing the freedom to crop or enlarge images while retaining outstanding image detail. The 3x zoom lens offers a range of versatile framing options, with Image Stabilizer preventing camera-shake from causing unwanted blur. This is particularly useful when participating in the high-movement activities for which the camera is designed.

Easy to use
To ensure that users stay focused on the action, DIGIC 4 powers a host of intelligent features that make great photos effortless. A new Smart Auto mode uses Scene Detection Technology to analyse the shooting scene in detail – checking subject brightness, contrast, distance and overall hue. The camera then selects the optimum mode from 18 possible choices, ensuring perfect settings for the scene.

Even the most active situations can be photographed blur-free thanks to Canon’s Motion Detection Technology, which detects both camera and subject movement and adjusts settings accordingly. Naturally great people shots are assured by Face Detection Technology, which now also includes new Blink Detection, to avoid the disappointment of mistimed people shots. Canon’s i-Contrast brightens dark areas in an image without blowing out lighter areas.

The PowerShot D10 also features a special 2.5” PureColor LCD II, which has been specially modified for better outdoor performance. Protected by a 2mm protective shield, it offers double the brightness of a normal PureColor LCD II – allowing easy framing or image review in virtually any environment.

From the beach to the ski-slopes, a wide range of shooting modes and Special Scene modes – including dedicated Underwater, Snow and Beach modes - delivers instant fingertip access to the correct settings. FaceSelf-Timer simplifies group shots by waiting until the user enters the frame before shooting.

“The PowerShot D10 is a boundary-breaking camera,” commented Rainer Fuehres, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “It brings the hallmarks of the PowerShot range – exceptional imaging and ease of use – to places where many other cameras simply cannot go.”

• Waterproof (to 10m), shockproof (1.22m), freeze-proof (-10°C), dust-proof digital camera
• 12.1 Megapixels
• 3.0x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
• Smart Auto mode with Scene Detection Technology
  
• DIGIC 4 for ultra-fast response, superb image quality and intelligent
• Exceptionally bright 2.5” PureColor LCD II with 2mm protective shield
• Combats blur with IS and Motion Detection Technology
• People shots made easy with Face Detection Technology, Face Select & Track and Blink Detection - plus FaceSelf-Timer and Auto Red-Eye Correction technologies
• Optional accessory system includes Shoulder & Neck Strap Set and Carabiner Strap*** plus Front Cover Set
• Range of shooting modes and Special Scene modes
• 30fps VGA movies

Printing
The PowerShot D10 features a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC.

Language
The PowerShot D10 features a user interface that supports 26 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian and Farsi.

Memory Card Support
In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the PowerShot D10 supports MMCplus and HC MMCplus card formats.

Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY
The PowerShot D10 comes bundled with the following Canon Software:

• ZoomBrowser EX 6.3 (Windows), ImageBrowser 6.3 (Macintosh): For organising and editing images, movies and slideshows, or creating and printing digital photo albums.
• PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows), PhotoStitch 3.2 (Mac): For creating panoramic photos from multiple images.

The bundled software supports Windows Vista (including SP1) / XP SP2-3 and Macintosh OS X v10.4-10.5. Both cameras support PTP for driverless transfer to Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, along with MTP for image and movie transfers to Windows Vista.

Purchasers of the PowerShot D10 are eligible for free membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY: 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends.

Optional Accessories
The PowerShot D10 can be combined with the following accessories:

• Soft Case (SC-DC70)
  
• High Power Flash (HF-DC1)
• Front Cover Set (FC-DC1)
• AC Adapter Kit (ACK-DC40)
• Shoulder & Neck Strap Set (STP-DC1)***
• Carabiner Strap (STP-DC2)***

* IEC/JIS IP Protection Rating IPX8 equivalent
** IEC/JIS IP Protection Rating IPX6 equivalent
*** Optional straps are not designed for use under water

Technologies Explained:

Key Messages:

• AUTO mode is new for 1H09 in February launched Canon Cameras
• Latest Smart AUTO mode now incorporates advanced Scene Detection Technology
• Smart Auto makes it even easier for users to get better quality images with a press of the shutter button
• DIGIC 4 enables Smart Auto to be more accurate and give better images.

Introduction
Spring 2009 sees the launch of a new step-change in image quality for Canon cameras. For as long as most users can remember, AUTO mode has been a feature of point and shoot cameras -allowing minimal intervention or expertise needed to achieve satisfactory focus and exposure. Since the introduction and rise of digital photography, there have been many technological advances and additional shooting modes, yet AUTO mode remains the staple favourite of many snappers. Research conducted by Canon also reveals that AUTO is one of the most frequently used shooting modes.

Cameras with IQ
From today Canon are making AUTO mode different. The latest range of Digital Still Camera products launched incorporate a new smart system that uses Scene Detection Technology, which along with other advanced Canon technologies, leads to one of the most comprehensive and clever AUTO modes ever seen on a digital camera. Whilst complex in technology, Smart AUTO still delivers the peace of mind and ease of use for point and shooters that has always been expected from selecting the familiar green icon mode.

With intelligent and integrated use of key functions such as focus, exposure, ISO sensitivity, flash, dynamic range adjustments and Intelligent Contrast Correction, Canon Cameras have never been so smart. Added to these Canon Motion Detection and Face Detection Technology plus advanced Noise Reduction, together with pleasing colour rendition all delivered by the DIGIC 4 processor, mean when selecting AUTO mode on these latest models, users can be assured of the best in image quality even in more challenging shooting conditions.

Smart Auto overview:
Using Scene Detection Technology, Smart AUTO can distinguish parameters allowing the camera to carry out optimum processing for a shot by:

• Detecting people
• Evaluating Distances
• Evaluating Subject and camera movement information
• Analysing Scene Brightness
• Analysing Colour

Canon PowerShot D10 specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.3" Type CCD • 12.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 4000 x 3000 • 3264 x 2448 • 2592 x 1944 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 • 320 x 140 • 4000 x 2248
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 @ 30fps [L] • 320 x 240 @ 30fps [M]
Maximum clip length	• Upto 4GB or 1 hour [L or M]
File formats	• JPEG (Exif v2.2) • DPOF 1.1 • MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (Monaural) • WAVE (Sound Files)
Lens	• 35 - 105mm (35mm equiv) • 3x optical zoom • F2.8-4.9
Image stabilization	Yes (Lens-Shift)
Digital zoom	up to 4x
Focus	TTL
AF area modes	• Face Detection AiAF / 9 point • 1-point AF (center or Face Select and Track)
AF lock	Yes (On/Off Selectable)
AF assist lamp	Yes
Focus distance	Closest focus distance 3 cm
Metering	• Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame) • Center-weighted average • Spot (center or linked to Face Detection)
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600
AE lock	Yes (on/off selectable)
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
Shutter speed	15-1/1500 sec
Modes	• Auto • Scene • Movie
Scene modes	• Program • Portrait • Night Snapshot • Kids & Pets • Indoor • Sunset • Fireworks • Long Shutter • Beach • Underwater • Aquarium • Foliage • Snow • ISO 3200 • Digital Macro • Color Accent • Color Swap • Stitch Assist
White balance	• Auto (including Face Detection WB) • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Self timer	• 2 or 10sec • Custom or Face Self Timer
Continuous shooting	• Approx 1.1fps
Image parameters	My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)
Flash	Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync • Face Detection FE compensation • Flash exposure lock • Range (30cm - 3.2m (W) / 2m (T) • External HF-DC1 flash (optional)
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT • 230,000 pixels • 100% coverage • Adjustable
Connectivity	• USB Hi-Speed • AV out (PAL / NTSC switchable)
Storage	• SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Power	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-6L
Weight (no batt)	190 g
Dimensions	104 x 67 x 49 mm

Additional images

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Dpreview

Ricoh GX200

A high-end, 24 mm super-wide-angle, optical zoom, digital compact featuring high resolution 12 megapixel CCD coupled with the latest imaging engine SIE III

Tokyo, Japan June, 24, 2008 Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) has announced today the development and release of the GX200. The GX200 is able to reproduce high quality images from edge-to-edge with low noise and natural gradation. This camera succeeds the award winning Caplio GX100 compact digital camera introduced in April 2007.

The GX200 inherits the popular features of the GX100 such as a 24 to 72 mm (35 mm film equivalent focal length) high-performance wide-angle optical zoom lens on a 25 mm thin pocketable compact body, a wide variety of manual shooting functions, and a removable tilting electronic viewfinder. The new GX200 achieves increased resolution via its 12 megapixel CCD and dramatic noise reduction with the addition of the new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III.

Already a popular part of the Caplio GX100, the high-resolution wide-angle lens unit has been further configured to enable picture taking at an even higher resolution.

With a large wide-viewing angle 2.7-inch 460,000 dots HVGA LCD and an electronic level function, for horizontal and vertical shooting, the GX200 contains extensive shooting functions to enable camera lovers to enjoy and create stunning photographs.

This model comes in two package types with different accessories. The GX200 package contains: rechargeable lithium ion battery, battery charger, AV cable, USB cable, CD-ROM, strap, and lens cap. The GX200 VF KIT package contains all the above accessories plus the electronic viewfinder.

*The lens focal lengths used in this document are the equivalent focal length for a 35 mm camera.

Main features of the new Ricoh GX200

1. Greater image quality through use of a 12 megapixel CCD, a new image processing engine and continuous RAW mode capture.

• An effective 12 megapixel high-performance 1/1.7-inch CCD has been newly installed, with each pixel comes increased resolution.
• The adoption of a new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III allows for greater control over the noise reduction process by the photographer without sacrificing resolution or saturation.
• High image quality combined with a lens with greater backlight capability*.
• *This is the 24 to 72 mm equivalent wide-angle zoom lens mounted on the previous model (Caplio GX100). It features a generous configuration of 11 elements in 7 groups, including superior aspheric surface lenses and high-refractive-index, low-dispersion lenses. This optimal configuration restricts distortion, chromatic aberration, and light falloff at edges for wide-angle operation while delivering aperture light settings from F2.5 (wide) to F4.4 (tele-photo). In addition, ghosting has been further reduced through the improvements made to the lens unit.

2. Large, high-resolution 2.7-inch, 460,000-dots HVGA LCD.

• The new 2.7-inch, 460,000-dots high-resolution LCD has a wide viewing angle and high contrast for distinct, easy viewing even outdoors. When thumbnail images are displayed, even the small 1/20 size images are clearly reproduced.

3. Electronic level utilizing an acceleration sensor to help keep the camera body horizontally or vertically level.

• If the level setting is set on, when the camera is level, the level indicator becomes green in the picture display. Being able to check whether the image is level while looking at the display can be useful for keeping the camera level when composing pictures of landscapes, buildings, and other scenes where the horizon is visible.
• It is possible to check whether the camera is level using the level sound setting.
• The electronic level can also be utilized while using the viewfinder.

4. Extensive shooting functions and high operability.

• Expanding buffer memory has made continuous shooting of up to five images possible in RAW mode, and it is also now possible to use the bracketing function to automatically change exposure settings when shooting in RAW mode. Other expanded RAW shooting capabilities include the ability to shoot 1:1 aspect ratio (vertical/horizontal ratio) format photography in RAW mode.
• The number of mode dial “My Settings” options for defining your own shooting settings has increased to three. (There were two on the Caplio GX100.)
• There are now one-push mode change function buttons both on the top surface and as one of the rear-surface cross keys. These buttons can be used for customized settings to, for example, to switch from JPEG to RAW or from colour to B&W. You can switch quickly to your preferred shooting mode when confronted with a sudden photo opportunity.
• The AF target shift function, which before could only be used in macro shooting, is now also available in normal shooting. Without moving the camera, it is possible to shift the target for AF or AE or both.
• The flash is manually raised by sliding the open switch. Flash functions on the GX200 have been further expanded with a light intensity adjustment function (-2.0 EV to +2.0 EV), a manual flash function in which intensity can be set, and a flash synchro setting where flash timing can be set as „1st Curtain“ or „2nd Curtain.“
• An auto rotate function makes it easier to view images on the picture display.
• Even when shooting in high-contrast situations, the camera can use an auto level correction function to achieve an appropriate level of brightness while reducing areas that are overly bright or dark.
• There is a distortion correction function (on/off selection possible) to automatically correct image distortion during shooting also usable with 19 mm conversion lens.
• When in aperture priority mode, an auto aperture shift function will automatically adjust the aperture setting to prevent overexposure.

5. Enhanced image editing functions enable images to be manipulated in the camera.
(1) Image colour tone correction (white balance compensation).

• By adjusting green, magenta, blue, and amber tones, still image colour tone can be corrected, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera.

(2) Image brightness and contrast correction (level compensation).

• Still image brightness and contrast can be corrected with either auto or manual modes, with the corrected image being recorded in the camera. With manual correction, the image is corrected by adjusting the histogram.

(3) Wide range of creative monochrome possibilities.

• Colour, colour density, contrast, and sharpness can each be defined on a five-level scale.
• Sepia, red, green, blue, and purple colour selections are possible.

6. Additional options further expand possibilities for camera use.

• Lens cap (LC-1) opens and closes automatically in sync with lens movement.
• 135 mm equivalent tele conversion lens (TC-1) with built-in hood. Filter attachment possible.

When the tele conversion lens is attached, vignetting will occur when the zoom is not set to full telephoto. *The above two options can also be used on the Caplio GX100.

7. Removable electronic viewfinder can be attached.

• A removable and tiltable electronic viewfinder can be attached (included in GX200 VF KIT).
• The field of view provides 100% coverage without parallax and can display the same information as on the LCD picture display.
• It is convenient for shooting in bright outdoor environments and enables shooting to be done in a conventional film camera style.

List of GX200 Options:

Ricoh code	Description	RRP
TC-1	Teleconverter lens	£99.99
DW-6	19 mm Wide angle lens	£99.99
LC-1	Tri-Lens Cap	£19.99
HA-2	Hood and Adapter set for DW-6 and TC-1	£34.99
VF-1	Electronic Viewfinder	£79.99
SC-45	Soft Leather case	£29.99
ST-2	Ricoh GX Neck strap	£14.99
AC-4c	Mains adaptor	£34.99
CA-1	Cable release	£29.99

*1 The VF-1 LCD view finder is included in „GX200 VF KIT“.
*2 The HA-2 hood and adapter is required when using the wide conversion lens or the tele conversion lens. When the wide conversion lens or the tele conversion lens is attached; the internal flash cannot be used because vignetting may occur.
*3 The ST-1 neck strap for the GX/GX8 cannot be used.

Ricoh Caplio GX200 Specifications

List price (EU)	• GX200 £349.99 • GX200 with electronic viewfinder £399.99
Sensor	• 12.1 million effective pixels • 12.4 million total pixels • 1/1.7-inch primary-colour CCD
Image stabilization	CCD-shift
Image sizes	• 4000×3000 [4:3] • 3264×2448 [4:3] • 2592×1944 [4:3] • 2048×1536 [4:3] • 1280×960 [4:3] • 640×480 [4:3] • 3984×2656 [3:2] • 2992×2992 [1:1]
	Movie: 640×480 Movie: AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format Compliant)
Output formats	• JPEG (Exif Ver. 2.21) • RAW (DNG)
Image processor	Smooth Imaging Engine III
Lens	• 3x zoom • Focal length: f=5.1 to 15.3 mm (24 to 72 mm equiv.) • Step Zoom: 24 mm, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 72 mm) • Aperture: F2.5 (wide) to F4.4 (telephoto) • 11 glass elements in 7 groups
Focus modes	• Multi AF (CCD method) • Spot AF (CCD method) • Manual Focus • Snap • Infinity (with focus lock and AF aux. light)
AF assist lamp	Yes
Shooting modes	• Auto • Program Shift Mode • Aperture Priority Mode • Manual Exposure Mode • Scene Mode • My Settings Mode
Scene modes	• Movie • Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Nightscape • Zoom Macro • Skew Correct Mode • Text Mode
Metering	• Multi Light Metering (256 segments) • Centre-weighted • Spot (TTL-CCD metering, AE lock available)
AE Lock	Yes
AE Bracketing	+/- 0.3/0.5 EV
Exposure compen.	• +/- 2.0 EV • 0.3 EV increments
Sensitivity	• AUTO • AUTO-HI • ISO64 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 • 1600
Shutter speed	180, 120, 60, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1 to 1/2000 sec
Aperture values	• F2.5 (wide) to F4.4 (telephoto)
White balance	• Auto • Outdoors • Cloudy • Incandescent Lamp • Fluorescent Lamp • Manual Settings • Detail White balance bracket function
Drive modes	• Single • CONT • S-CONT • M-CONT • Interval Shooting (shooting interval: 5 sec. to 3 hr., in increments of 5 sec.)
Self-timer	Operation time: approx. 10 sec. / 2 sec.
LCD monitor	• 2.7 inch Transparent Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD • approx. 460,000 dots
Flash	• Auto • Red-eye Flash • Flash On • Flash Synchro • Manual Flash • Flash Off • Range (wide): Approx. 20 cm to 5.0 m (ISO AUTO) • Range (tele): Approx. 15 cm to 3.0 m (ISO AUTO) • Flash Compensation: ±2.0 EV (1/3 EV steps)
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 High-Speed (mini B cable) • Mass Storage • Audio Output 1.0Vp-p (75Ω) • Video OUT
Storage	• SD memory card • SDHC memory card (up to 16 GB) • Internal Memory (approx. 54 MB)
Power	• Rechargeable Battery (DB60) ×1 • AAA Dry Alkaline Battery ×2 • AAA Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery ×2 • AC Adapter (Optional)
Dimensions	111.6 mm (W) × 58.0 mm (H) × 25.0 mm (D) excluding protruding parts
Weight (with battery)	Approx. 238 g

Source
Dpreview

Ricoh CX1 Camera

Ricoh announces the CXI
New Smooth Imaging Engine IV＋CMOS sensor

Tokyo, Japan, February 19, 2009 - Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) today announced the release of the CX1. The CX1 features the highly evolved image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV together with a CMOS sensor that enables high-speed image processing. For maximum enhancement of image beauty, the CX1 has the imaging power to brilliantly isolate one instant in time, and for high-sensitivity shooting it achieves sharp resolution and noise reduction without compromising colour reproduction. The CX1's expanded dynamic range of 12 EV equivalent makes it possible to capture high-contrast scenes in a way not possible with earlier models.

With the new image processing engine Smooth Imagine Engine IV and a new high-speed image processing CMOS sensor installed, the CX1 achieves greater image quality while at the same time expanding dynamic range with its Dynamic Range Double Shot Mode that shoots two still images with different exposures, and then records an image that combines the properly exposed portions of each image. With the new enhanced continuous shooting function, the CX1 shoots at 120 images (120 frames/sec.)

In addition, functions such as Multi-Pattern Auto White Balance (sets white balance based on the light sources of segregated areas of the image) and Multi-Target AF (shoots consecutive images at seven focal distances automatically defined by the camera) enable the new CX1 to create beautiful images giving an almost naked-eye impression.

This is a digital camera that takes the design concept "A tool you will want to use every day" to a new level of perfection.

New Features

Enhanced high-speed continuous shooting functions - Don't miss the decisive moment.

• Smooth continuous shooting*. High-speed continuous shooting at approx. 4 frames/sec
• Continuous shooting at overwhelming speed. **120 frame/sec Ultra-high-speed continuous shooting. With ultra-high-speed continuous shooting, the CX1 shoots during an interval of about one second after the shutter release button is pushed, or 120 images (60 frames/sec.) during an interval of about two seconds.
• Don't miss your target. M continuous shooting plus. The M-continuous plus shooting function does continuous shooting that saves the 30 images (30 frames/sec.) taken during the one second or so before the finger is removed from the shutter release button or the 30 images (15 frames/sec.) taken during the two seconds before. By taking your finger from the shutter release just after the decisive moment has passed, you can be sure that you have caught the exact image.

Dynamic Range Double Shot Mode - Decisive reduction of overexposure/underexposure.

It can be difficult to photograph scenes in which the level of brightness varies greatly. With dynamic range double shot mode, the CX1 shoots, consecutively at high speed, two still images with different exposures, and then it records an image that combines the properly exposed portions of each. Expanding the dynamic range up to a maximum equivalent to 12 EV makes it possible to record images that give an almost naked-eye impression. You can select the expansion effect from 4 types, Very Weak, Weak, Medium and Strong on the menu.

Multi-Pattern Auto White Balance - A dramatic transformation for people photography.

For scenes with both sunlight and shadow and scenes mixing flash and natural light (or fluorescent light, etc.) during flash photography, this function can define white balance to fit the light source of each segregated area of the image. This new capability is very powerful for people photography in scenes which could not be adequately handled by past auto white balance functions, which used an average setting for the entire image.
The new image processing engine (SIE IV） has a specialized circuit that analyzes the image broken down into 32x27 areas. The white balance correction factor is defined for the light source of each area. This makes it possible to do white balancing correction for multiple light sources.

Multi-Target Auto Focus - Shoot seven images with different focal distances.

Multi-target AF does high-speed consecutive shooting of seven images with different focal distances determined by the camera. It is effective for scenes (such as flowers) where there is a narrow range for a sharp focus. The camera automatically decides the seven focus points and does the high-speed consecutive shooting of seven images while shifting the focus to each point. After shooting, you can select the image with the preferred focus.

Smooth Imaging Engine IV＋CMOS sensor - superb image quality.

The CX1 features the highly evolved image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine IV together with a CMOS sensor that enables high-speed image processing. For maximum enhancement of image beauty, the CX1 has the imaging power to brilliantly isolate one instant in time, and for high-sensitivity shooting it achieves sharp resolution and noise reduction without compromising colour reproduction.

Pixel output interpolation algorithm

The addition of a customized circuit to the image processing engine has made it possible to include a pixel output interpolation algorithm that minimizes whiteout in high-contrast situations, thereby enabling you to faithfully capture the excitement seen by your eyes. With techniques that use R (red) and B (blue) information to interpolate G (green) information (which is prone to saturation), the CX1 expands dynamic range by up to +1 EV over previous method.

Price and Availability
The CX1 will be available at SRP £299.inc VAT from 13th March.

*Continuous shooting speed will vary depending on shooting conditions, card type, card condition, etc.
**Image size is fixed at N640 (VGA).The consecutively shot images are recorded as a single MP file (a file format with multiple still images in a single file)

Ricoh CX1 specification

Sensor	• 1/2.3" Type CMOS • 9.29 million effective pixels • 10.29 total pixels
Image sizes	• 3456 x 2592 • 3456x2304 • 3072x2304 • 2592x2592 • 2592x1944 • 2048x1536 • 1728x1296 • 1280x960 • 640x480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 [L] • 320 x 240 [M]
File formats	• JPEG (Exif v2.2) • CIPA DC-X007-2009 Multi-Picture Format draft compliant • AVI (Open DML Motion JPEG Format compliant) • WAVE (Sound Files)
Lens	• 28 - 200mm (35mm equiv) • f=4.95-35.4mm • 7.1x optical zoom • F3.3-5.2
Digital zoom	up to 4.8x
Focus	• Multi • Spot • Multi-Target AF • Manual • Fixed • Infinity
Focus distance	Closest focus distance 1 cm
Metering	• Multi • Center-weighted • Spot
ISO sensitivity	• Auto • Auto HI • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
Shutter speed	8 sec-1/1200 sec
Modes	• Auto • Easy • Dynamic Range Double Shot • Continuous Shooting • Scene • My Setting • Movie
Continuous Shooting Modes	• Continuous • M-Continuous Plus • Ultra-High-Speed Continuous
Scene modes	• Portrait • Face • Sports • Night Portrait • Landscape • Nightscape • High Sensitivity • Zoom Macro • Skew Correction • Text
White balance	• Auto • Multi-Pattern • Outdoors • Cloudy • Incandescent • Incandescent 2 • Fluorescent • Manual • White Balance Bracket
Self timer	• 2 or 10sec • Custom
Continuous shooting	• Approx 4 fps
Flash	• Auto, Red-eye-Reduction, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off • Range : Approx. 20 cm - 3.0 m (Wide), approx. 25 cm - 2.0 m (Telephoto) (ISO Auto ISO 400) • Flash Compensation (+/-2.0EV (1/3EV Steps)
LCD monitor	• 3.0" TFT • 920,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB Hi-Speed • AV out (PAL / NTSC switchable)
Storage	• Internal memory 88MB • SD, SDHC
Power	Rechargeable Battery DB-70
Weight (no batt)	180 g
Dimensions	102 x 58 x 28 mm

Additional images

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Dpreview

Olympus PC 3D Viewer Kit

Olympus to launch a new PC 3D Viewer Kit with LCD Monitor

Olympus Japan release today a new PC 3D Kit for content creators. This kit will be bundled with a monitor recommended by Olympus Visual Communications. According to the Japanese manufacturer, thanks to this kit you’ll be able to check the 3D stereoscopic effect of your works directly on a PC monitor.

So, our PC 3D Kit will features shutter glasses allowing 3D Stereoscopics viewing on a standard LCD monitor, a controller box, and a 24-Inch BenQ LCD monitor which provides a full HD resolution, and a response time of 5ms.
Our new Olympus kit should be only available in Japan on February 23th.

Source
Akihabaranews

SX-LBK Series: New Set of speakers from Victor-JVC

SX-LBK Series: New Set of speakers from Victor-JVC

Victor JVC Japan introduced new set of speaker with the SX-L BK series which will be available at the beginning of March.

The SX-LC33BK is a two way speakers that comes with 2 x 14.5cm cone woofers, and 1.9cm tweeter. It provides a frequency range of 52Hz-80kHz, a sensitivity of 89dB, a crossover frequency of 4kHz, and an impedance of 6Ω. 73,500 Yens (630€).

The SX-LT55BK features 2x 14.5cm cone woofer, a 14.5cm Bottom Woofer and 1.9cm tweeter. These speakers provide a frequency range of 32Hz-80kHz, a sensitivity of 89.5dB, a crossover frequency of 100 Hz / 4kHz and an impedance of 6Ω. 147,000 Yens (1250€)

And lastly we have, the SX-L33BK, a two way speakers, which features 14.5cm woofer and 1.9cm tweeter. Our L33BK provides a frequency range of 55Hz-80kHz, a sensitivity of 87dB, a crossover frequency of 4 kHz and an impedance of 6Ω. 47,250 Yens (400€)

Source
Akihabaranews

QNAP 16 TB Core2Duo NAS

QNAP Unveils Intel Core 2 Duo, 8-bay, 16TB iSCSI NAS - TS-809 Pro

Definitively made for PROs or any one owning a Server, tis 16TB Core2Duo iSCSI NAS from QNAP is a real little wonder. The TS-809 Pro Turbo NAS has 8 bay giving you the possibility to store up to 8 2TB HDDs, giving you a total of 16TB of Space. Power by a Core 2 Duo CPU a 2.4GHz with 2GB of DDR2 RAM, you will be capable to get amazing read and write speed of 126MB/s (read) and 111MB/s (write). Now the cherry on top of the cake is the iSCSI Capability of our NAS, it will give you real freedom and performance on where and how you want to use this little baby…
Taipei, Taiwan, February 2009 - QNAP Systems, Inc. today announces the enterprise-grade TS-809 Pro Turbo NAS-the new high performance and high volume NAS (network attached storage). The TS-809 Pro is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz CPU and 2GB DDRII memory, supports 8 SATA drive bays that accommodate up to 12TB storage capacity (16TB possible when 2TB hard drives are available), and offers advanced RAID features, e.g. RAID 0/1/5/6/5+spare, Online RAID Capacity Expansion and Online RAID Level Migration. Other advanced business features include iSCSI with Thin Provisioning, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, automatic policy-based IP blocking, instant SMS and email alert etc.

"The TS-809 Pro adopts Intel Core 2 Duo high performance CPU which brings extremely high speed experience for multiple business applications. It is an excellent choice for storage-hungry enterprises who demand for outstanding system performance in an intensive data access environment," remarked by Laurent Cheng, Product Manager from QNAP. According to the IOmeter test in QNAP lab, the read/ write performance of the TS-809 Pro reaches more than 126MB/s and 111 MB/s respectively. The TS-809 Pro can also be used as a mass data storage center, especially for SOHO and home users, to store and share millions of multimedia files.

The TS-809 Pro supports built-in iSCSI target service with Thin Provisioning. Up to 8 iSCSI devices can be created for storage expansion or backup destination of the existing application servers on the network. The NAS comes with the Surveillance Station feature which supports real-time monitoring and video playback from up to 4 IP-based cameras. Versatile server functions are provided, e.g. file server, FTP server, DDNS support, Web server with built-in phpMyAdmin, Joomla, MySQL, SQLite, editable php.ini, MySQL server and printer server (max 3 sets), etc. All these server functions can be accessed across Linux, UNIX, Mac, and Windows platforms. The TS-809 Pro supports all-in-one XDove mail server by QPKG software expansion which enables the business users to establish their own mail server easily at the minimum cost.

Source
Akihabaranews

Samsung Blue Earth Phone

Samsung Introduces “Blue Earth”- The First Solar Powered Full-Touch Phone

Today Samsung unveiled the first solar powered Full-Touch Phone, the Blue Earth. As you can guess, it features a solar panel, located on the back of the phone. According to the Korean manufacturer, it generates enough power to make calls anytime, anywhere.

The Blue Earth is also equipped with an ‘Eco-Mode’, for setting screen brightness and backlight duration, and a Bluetooth energy efficient mode.

This eco-friendly phone features an “Eco-Walk” function featuring a pedometer for calculating CO2 emissions reduced by walking as opposed to motor transport. ‘Eco-Walk’ will also tell you how many trees you saved!


Seoul, Korea, February 12, 2009 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. today unveiled the innovative solar powered full-touch screen phone “Blue Earth”, alongside Samsung’s vision for environmental sustainability. Under the slogan: “The Blue Earth Dream: Eco-living with SAMSUNG mobile”, Samsung reinforced its commitment to protect the environment through the design of eco-friendly products and a programme of activities for its customers. It will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2009 for the first time.

Designed to symbolize a flat and well rounded shiny pebble, Blue Earth is the first solar powered full-touch screen phone. By charging with the solar panel located on the back of the phone, users can generate enough electronic power to call anytime anywhere.

Blue Earth is made from recycled plastic called PCM, which is extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process. The device, including charger, is free from harmful substances such as Brominated Flame Retardants, Beryllium and Phthalate.

The latest in a series of eco-friendly products, Blue Earth comes with a unique user interface which is designed to draw attention to preserving our fragile environment. Simple to set screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth to an energy-efficient mode, this new user interface allows the user to be energy-efficient with just one click of ’Eco mode’. Through the ‘eco walk’ function the user can count their steps with an in-built pedometer, calculating how much CO2 emissions have been reduced by walking as opposed to motor transport. This unique function allows user to calculate the value of this footprint through the number of trees that have been saved.

The packaging for Blue Earth is designed to be both small and light, made from recycled paper, and comes with a 5 star energy efficient charger which uses standby power lower than 0.03W. As part of the Voluntary Agreement of European Commission IPP (Integrated Product Policy) pilot program, Samsung has agreed to start using rating on energy consumption on the no-load mode of the mobile device charger.

“Samsung’s ‘The Blue Earth Dream’ demonstrates our small but meaningful commitments for the future and our environment,” said Mr. JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division of Samsung Electronics. "We are committed to achieving the highest eco-status with our customers and business partners by providing the best eco-products and promoting eco-activities.”

Get in touch with Samsung Mobile! Learn more about ‘The Blue Earth Dream’ and other eco-friendly initiatives at www.samsungmwc.com (The site will be opened on February 16) and visit us at Hall 8, Stand 8a139 at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona.

Source
Akihabaranews

J-Babe Vs CFF-Babe of the Week - Fight!

J-Babe Vs CFF-Babe of the Week - Fight!


Ok folks here you are the new Babes fight that you are all waiting for, but before introducing you this week contenders, let’s check who won last week.

As you remember last week I changed things a little, we did not give any names or even told you where was the J-Babe (Japan) or the T-Babe (Thailand)… Anyway the winner was once more a J-Babes last week (the Cute girl on the left), with 52% (1702 votes), her name is Ayaka Komatsu… And only 48% for the Thai princess Panward Hemmanee. Click here to see both the Winner Ayaka Komatsu and Panward Hemmanee

Anyway today we will continue with a new fight a J-babe and a CFF-Babes (Chinese Filipino French, yep that is possible!). This will be easy to find out which one it is here, but just for the game we won’t give name or let you know where is the J-Babe or the CFF babe…

Source
Akihabaranews

Sunday Stories: Scion announces pricing for the tC Release Series 5.0

Scion announces pricing for the tC Release Series 5.0.

Scion of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced today that the only limited-production tC for 2009, the tC Release Series 5.0 (tC RS 5.0), will have a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) theme and be available at dealer showrooms in March. The 2009 tC RS 5.0 will be on display in the Scion space at the Chicago Auto Show, February 11-22, for media and public days.

The 2009 tC RS 5.0 features gloss black exterior paint and numerous performance products from TRD. TRD edition 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, in matte black with red trim, and red TRD lowering springs provide this tC with its menacing presence. For additional stability when cornering, the tC is fitted with a red TRD rear sway bar. A TRD sport muffler gives the tC RS 5.0 an aggressive sound signature, while a TRD exterior badge marks the car. A black rear lip spoiler will also be available.

The TRD theme is continued inside with a black leather steering wheel featuring red stitching, black seats with red accents and floor mats with the TRD logo. The tC RS 5.0 is also equipped with a cargo mat. Individually numbered badging completes the uniqueness of this vehicle.

No more than 2,000 units of the tC Release Series 5.0 will be built. The tC RS 5.0 model will carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,300 over the base price of the tC. The base MSRP for the standard tC with a manual transmission is $17,000, while the standard tC with an automatic transmission model carries a MSRP of $17,800. The available black spoiler has a MSRP of $285, not including installation.

The delivery, processing and handling (DPH) fee for all Scion models is $670 and is not included in the MSRP. DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.

Source
NihonCar

TAS09: Honda Net-Nara and Their Gorgeous Paint Job

TAS09: Honda Net-Nara and Their Gorgeous Paint Job

Not much to say, just enjoy the ASTONISHING paint job from Net Nara designed by Takahiko Izawa…

Basically Honda Net Nara removed each part of the vehicle and the paint for a silky smooth paintless car, then they directly curveed their design on the metal of each part and candy coated the car…

The results are spectacular!

Source
Akihabaranews

LG Arena LG-KM900 with real 3D User Interface

I am sure that by know you all have heard about the LG Arena and its 3D User Interface “A la TouchFlo”. Anyway this nice little 3G HSDPA phone feature all the nice goodies that you can expect from such a phone as and today LG was kind enough to forward us some pretty nice Hi-res pictures so here you are…

PS The cute girl is unfortunately not part of the UI... Really pity

Source
Akihabaranews

Iriver Wave-Home

Iriver Wave-Home now available trough KT in Korea

Do you remember this fancy new toy that Iriver introduced at the CES 2009 last January… Guess what… this little baby is now available in Korea trough KT… Man I whish I could live just right now in Seoul.




Source
Akihabaranews

Ultra compact and Ultra Limited Pocket Size Electronic Diary

Ultra compact and Ultra Limited Pocket Size Electronic dictionary from SII

Ultra Compact yep for sure with only a size only 116.2 x 72.8 x 12~18.5mm for just 145g and not so Ultra limited, just Limited… to 3000 units, here you are the SR-A1001M from SII with its 4” with a VGA Screen features 21 different volume…

Source
Akihabaranews.com

Nikon Media Port UP300x

Nikon Media Port UP300x Head-Mounted Display PMP: Review

Last October ( 2008 ), Nikon surprised the world with their UP300x, a Head-Mounted Display PMP wonder with nothing in common with the usual camera stuff we see coming out of Nikon

Produced in a limited quantity, the UP300x is now available in Japan and we thought we should get our hands on this little baby to find out if it's life altering our life or not.

UP300x History
Before going deeper in our review here's some general info on the UP300x. It's the result of more than 8 years of research and development from the ideas and concepts of a single engineer, Kato Shigeru. Kato-San explained the idea behind the UP came to him while he was commuting to and from work and traveling around on Shinkasens during business. He wanted to create a full audio and video experience without completely shutting out the world… Now the UP300x is a reality.

The meaning of UP
If you wonder what UP stands for, Nikon and Kato-san have several meaningful answers. It was taken from a number of word combinations that can be used to described the broad functionality and uses of this product, including "Universal Port", "Ubiquitous Player", "Ultimate Player", "U (your) Partner", "U (your) Pleasure", and "U (your) Power". As the first product in a brand new genre, they chose the name "UP" for both its simplicity and its presence.

How does it Work?
The UP300x (8GB) and the UP300 (4B), are average high-end audio headphones under steroids. They have basic MP3 functions, the obvious head-mounted display and its 0.44” resolution (providing the equivalent of a 50” screen), WiFi, and a nice and elegant GUI.

Compatible with the basic audio and video standards like MP3, WMA9 (DRM 10 compatible), AAC, but also JPEG photos or Mpeg-1/2 WMV9 or SWF files, the UPP300 series is similar to the average PMP. It's interesting to note that Nikon made it easy to use other external sources. If unfortunately the cable provided was not compatible with my iPhone and my iPod 5G, you can normally watch video stored on an iPod and any other device with video out, the same applies for audio files. You can watch a DVD on the plane from your portable DVD directly on the screen on your UP300.

The Network Player UP300
A Nikon and Kato-San idea behind the UP300 was not only to give you a PMP, but also a different approach to videos and online content. Once connected to a network, you can directly access a UP300 Portal for access to video or audio programs. You can enjoy video clips when and wherever you want (if you have a network connection or access to one of Nikon’s UPxHOTSPOT).

So far the number of program is limited, but Nikon is working on expanding the UP300 experience by providing unique content… An example they gave us was dedicated content and general information when shopping in different areas of a department store... Imagine you are queuing-up to watch a movie, your UP300 could give you access tomovie data, teaser videos, and info on other movies.

No limits
While the UP300 Series is a finish product, the overall concept behind this next generation network Walkman is still under development. Put simply, Nikon defined some ideas and ways for using the UP300, but left room for the user. After all, the UP300 can be used in many different settings, like helping you to learn an instrument. You can view lesson videos with one one eye and still see what you're are doing with your guitar or piano with the other. Same applies for cooking or if you're a mechanic you can get tips on how to restore your old Corvette from online video feeds.

So, you tested it, how good it is?
To be honest, the first few days were difficult. We needed time to get used to it and finding reasons for using it. If you use the UP300 only as a PMP you may be a bit disappointed, with only one eye to watch a movie will quickly give a headache and Nikon recommends not viewing video for more than one hour at a time.

If you use the UP300 first as a MP3 player, you can get video information while passing the time waiting in queues, waiting rooms and on subways and trains. As I said earlier, you have to understand its limitations in order to use it wisely, and I really enjoyed watching a 15 minute news program walking home… Since the screen is not intrusive, I could enjoy my news program with confidence to walk the streets safely.

Product Quality and finish
The first words that come to you when you get the UP300 in your hands are "WOW, it's cool." Yes the UP300 is really cool and well built, it feels strong and luxurious. On your head the headphone pads are fantastic and very comfortable, the sound quality is great and the screen, when fitted it correctly to your eye, is brilliant and crystal clear.

Same applies to the GUI, but you'll have to get used to playing with the buttons on the side of the headphones to navigate between menus.

Conclusion
The UP300 Series is an interesting concept and a really high-end product. Definitely not made for everyone, don't expect to get the perfect PMP player experience, but once you understand its limitation the UP300 can be very useful… Anyone can find a use for it if they really think a bit about it. I really like the idea of getting guitar lessons with video, but I am sure you could find other ideas on how to use it. I also love the Network concept, it would be great to get information in department stores and waiting areas… Due to UP300 limitations, I'm not sure many companies will provide services and info for it.





Source
Akihabaranews

J-Babe vs. T-Babe of the Week - Fight!

J-Babe vs. T-Babe of the Week - Fight!

Hi folks! Here's the 7th edition of our Japanese vs. Korean babe fight... Last week's winner was Ami Tokito with 67% of your votes (1877 participates).

This week we've changed things a little, we've decided to change things a bit by hiding the participants name and nationality. Let their beauty speak to you... Names will be revealed with next week's result. If you happen to know the name of a model, please keep it for yourself.

Here are this weeks J-Babe and a T-Babe for your pleasure... May the best one win!

Source
www.akihabaranews.com

Casio EX-FS10 and EX-FC100

Casio EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 Now Official in Japan

We talked about this 30fps (with a 1000fps mode) 9.1Mpix point and shoot camera from Casio during the last CES 2009. Now a full month later they're still not official in Japan, with an end of February availability expected for the EX-FC100 and middle of April for the EX-FS10.

More on these baby here Four New Exilim Cameras from Casio

Source
Akihabaranews

Tokyo Gift Show, Wooden Godzilla and Gundam

Tokyo Gift Show, Wooden Godzilla and Gundam… Real Masterpieces

Just back from or the Tokyo Gift Show 2009 (Spring), and Lord I'm dead tired… It's amazing and a MUST see if you're crazy about toys, gadgets, and so on… While I couldn't shoot everything I saw, I stumbled upon some impressive stuff, like the Wooden Godzilla and Gundam Collection of M-Arts, a Japanese company specializing in gorgeous wooden art… Aside the Gundam that was pretty simple and cost almost nothing (54,000 Yen), the other Godzilla and Godzilla nemesis were truly impressive and made by real craftsman. Check the pictures below for yourself for a better idea how amazing these things are.

Don't get too excited, these figures aren't for everyone. Their price is amazing too, expect around 300,000 Yen (€2550) for a one 30cm tall.

Source
Akihabaranews

Japan Is Now WiMax Ready... With Free WiMax For All, Well... Almost

Japan Is Now WiMax Ready... With Free WiMax For All, Well... Almost

Know what? Until few hours ago, and until we got this press release, we were completely unaware of the Japanese telco company UQ Communication, but today they made my day by offering to all subscribers (limited to 5000 people) FREE WiMax.until June
Starting today until the 15th, if you subscribe to a WiMax connection within Tokyo, Yokohama, or Kawasaki for a RIDICULOUS monthly fee of 4,480 Yen... you'll get WiMax free until June... What will this get you, sorry us? Decent Internet surfing with 40Mbps in downlink and 10Mbps in uplink, in reality least 16Mbps in downlink...

Anyway, you know free WiMax is available.

I almost forget, you'll need one of these USBs or PCMCIA thingies below to surf WiMax style.

Source
UQ Wimax