Hasta La Gadget!

Sure, cars that look like bugs are cool and all, but what we’re really interested in seeing at Ceatec 2012 are robots. With that in mind, NEC did not disappoint, introducing us to its PaPeRo telecommunications robot. This isn’t the first telecommunications robot we’ve laid eyes on, but it stands a pretty good chance at being the cutest (and/or creepiest).

For those of you who aren’t in the know, telecommunications robots are used for, well, telecommunications. PaPeRo, for instance, is controlled by a remote user, who sees the images PaPeRo is capturing with its camera eyes on his or her own screen. In broad sense, telecommunications robots like PaPeRo allow you to attend important meetings, visit with family, or do some good old fashioned recon without actually being there.

As you can see in our video posted below, PaPeRo is controlled using an app – in this case, on a tablet. This isn’t anything new for telecommunications robots, but with PaPeRo, it does seem like users have more control over the movement of the head. The video we have for you is quite short, but it should give a pretty good idea as to how PaPeRo is controlled remotely.

Of course, there are also speakers and a mic present for recording and playing back sound, so conversation between the two parties is possible, no matter the distance between them. NEC has actually been licensing PaPeRo to companies since 2009 (you’ve probably seen it in videos before today), but what we’re seeing here at Ceatec is the first non-enterprise application of the robot, meaning it should be available commercially relatively soon. We’ll be on the lookout for more details, so keep it right here at SlashGear for additional information!

NEC shows off PaPeRo telecommunications robot is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Toyota has pulled the veil off its new Smart INSECT, and its safe to say that if you want a distinctive car, this one is for you. Announced at Ceatec in Japan, this new car seems to be aptly named, seeing as how it looks an awful lot like a bug. It’s also fully electric – not a hybrid – and can be charged using a home AC100V outlet, which means no more gas for you.

Details are still pretty scarce, but we’re imagining that you can get some pretty good distance from a full charge with a car this tiny. After all, looking at the pictures above, it’s clear that this vehicle only fits one person, so we’re assuming that a full charge can take this thing quite some distance. The doors also open upward instead of outward, which adds to the distinctive bug-like look.

The Smart INSECT features a motion sensor that can detect when you’re nearby. As you approach, the doors open for you, so not only are you helping to save the environment by purchasing this car, but you can also feel a little like James Bond every time you get in your INSECT. The Toyota Virtual Agent can give you traffic reports through your smartphone, and if you’re Toyota Home user, you can even use your smartphone to lock and unlock the door to your house from the car. There are likely many more smart features than the ones we’re hearing about on the show floor at Ceatec, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for those.

As stated above, details are slim – super slim, for that matter – so we’re not sure when this car is launching, where it’s launching, or how much it will cost. One thing is certain: the Toyota Smart INSECT has officially caught our attention, so we’ll definitely be watching for new details to surface. Stay tuned.

Toyota Smart INSECT electric vehicle announced is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We got a look at Fujitsu’s Arrows Tab at CEATEC last year, and the 10.1-inch tablet is making an appearance yet again — this time running Windows 8 rather than Android Honeycomb. Exact specs were MIA, but the slate sports a front-facing camera along with a rear-facing shooter, plus a micro-USB port and a microSD card slot. Rather than the shiny plastic backing we saw last year, this device has a slightly textured, metallic finish, and it sports much sharper corners than the earlier version’s more curved design.

A booth worker did confirm that the Arrows Tab is waterproof like last year’s model, and while he wouldn’t provide exact availability, he said the tablet will launch within the October-November time frame. Last year’s Arrows Tab F-01 LTE debuted on NTT DoCoMo, and given Japan’s penchant for hydrophobic gadgets, it’s safe to say that the device will be targeted at this country in particular. Head past the break for a quick video hands-on.

Continue reading Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video)

Filed under: Laptops

Fujitsu Arrows Tab shows up at CEATEC with Windows 8 in tow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here at CEATEC, the Japanese display maker is showing of its latest portable displays. Although the vivid 1080p displays were scurried away in the corner of Sharp’s stand, we managed to grab a few photos of its 443 PPI smartphone screen yet. From these prototype samples (the screen will go into production later this month) the screen is looking pretty good, with Sharp‘s thinnest GS-Silicon technology reducing the layers between the LCD display and our eyes. Although we were told not to touch, viewing angles were also good — we could see ourselves gazing at YouTube clips on this screen in whichever smartphone it ends up on.

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile

Sharp’s new 443 ppi 5-inch smartphone displays on show at CEATEC 2012 (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last few months have been absolutely jam packed with events, and though things are beginning to wind down, there’s one particularly major event left for us to tackle: Ceatec 2012. We’re on the ground in Japan to take in all of the sights Ceatec will have to offer over the next four days. Ceatec is entering its 13th year with the event that’s about to kick off, and it promises to be a big one for the trade show.

The theme of this year’s Ceatec is “Smart Innovation – Creating a prosperous lifestyle and society.” Ahead of today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony that will officially kick off Ceatec 2012, a number of companies will be holding press conferences, including the likes of Pioneer, KDDI, and Huawei. After the chaos that accompanies the beginning of most trade shows (Ceatec is no different in that respect), it’ll be time to hit the exhibition floor, where we’ll spend four days straight checking out what the exhibitors have to show off.

Even though Ceatec doesn’t enjoy as much press attention as some other shows here in the west, it’s still one of the biggest trade shows in the world, and it should provide us with plenty to talk about over the coming days. We’re definitely excited to be here, and you can bet that we’ll be letting you know about all of the cool stuff on display, whether we see it during a press conference or on the show floor.

Stay tuned folks – we’ve only just arrived, after all, and there should plenty to see, ranging from concept devices and televisions to smartphones and cars. Keep checking back with us here at SlashGear for the latest straight from Ceatec 2012!

Ceatec 2012: We’re here! is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.