Hasta La Gadget!

Japan’s annual electronics expo is about to kick off in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba, and we’ve settled down for the week to deliver a peek inside Makuhari Messe, where local carriers will demonstrate their R&D wares, a fair share of robots are expected make their debut and component manufacturers will provide a hint of what’s to come. And, because the Tokyo Motor Show is held only once every two years, that winter exhibition will make a smaller appearance within these Chiba halls, with vehicle designers showing off their latest contributions to the automotive industry. The fun begins in just a few minutes, when dozens of diligent guards will lift the gates to the show. As always, you can follow along from home without spending a single yen. Just keep an eye on our homepage, or head over to the CEATEC 2012 tag for a complete roster of this year’s show coverage.

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We’re live from CEATEC 2012 in Chiba, Japan! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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“Made in America.” For some reason, my parents — and the parents of many of my peers — take great pride in seeing that phrase. I’ve seen people buy inferior products just because the label on the back proclaimed that it was thrown together in one of our 50 great states instead of across some imaginary line in “another country.” Part of me wonders if people actually check to see if said claims are legitimate. As a business graduate, I fully understand the importance of producing goods within one’s borders. There’s a delicate balance that needs to be struck between imports and exports, and a huge part of a nation’s economic growth hinges on how well that balance is executed.

I suspect the generation before mine remembers a very different America than the one I’ve grown up in — one where smokestacks outnumbered high-rise buildings, and one where jobs requiring steel-toe shoes were more lauded than those requiring a fancy degree and “knowing the right guy.” Manufacturing was the backbone of America through some really, really trying times, and there’s some sense of national pride that comes along with images of swinging hammers and climbing ladders. “We built this country,” as they say.

Continue reading Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown?

Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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