Hasta La Gadget!

Today, May 21, Sharp introduced 2 models of 4K compliant LCD TVs: AQUOS UD1 – 70 inch and AQUOS UD1 – 60 inch. The 70 inch will be released on June 15, the 60 inch will be released on August 10.

We attended their product presentation announcement (new LCD TV model press conference) held in Seavans Building in Minato ward in Tokyo and were able to review the 70 inch model.

Sharp said that the AQUOS UD1 models overcome 3 of the issues that the company considers to be the biggest impediments to great big-screen TV viewing:

1) Pixel roughness issue (The bigger the screen becomes, the rougher the pixels get)
2) Light reflection issue (The bigger the screen becomes, the more that light reflection will become a factor)
3) Installation space issue (The bigger the screen becomes, the more space it will occupy)

Solving the pixel roughness issue is the built-in “4K Moth Eye Panel”, which includes the “4K LCD panel” that has 4 times higher definition than Full HD. We saw an absolute crispness to the picture that made it feel like any detail could be shown well.

Solving the light reflection issue, is the “Moth Eye panel” part of the “4K Moth Eye Panel”. This greatly reduces reflection of outside light or other ambient light in the room. It applies the actual structure of a moth’s eyes to the panel technology. Their optical control technology made it possible to create a beautiful panel that looks uniform in lightness. We saw a demonstration of this with a crystal wine class behind a “Moth Eye panel” and another wine glass behind the normal glass used. The amount of reflection and glare that was cut with the “Moth Eye panel” was impressive.

Regarding the installation space issue, with thinner screen margins and a compact design, the amount of space this TV occupies is actually less than that of much smaller screen-size flat screen TVs from a few years ago. For example, the 57 inch LCD TV released in December, 2005 is 165.2cm wide, while the new 70 inch AQUOS UD1 series model is only 157.8cm wide.

Also, the “AQUOS UD1″ series has “AQUOS 4K-Master Engine Pro” that converts non-4K contents to 4K contents. It also has a “2.1ch front sound audio system” built-in, DuoBass woofer, SD card slot, 400MB internal memory, and so on.

The 70 inch model (LC-70UD1) has received the official “THX 4K Display Certification” which proves its recognition for HD display high image quality. Sharp is applying for certification for the 60 inch model as well.

In side-by-side comparisons between the AQUOS UD1 and recent 2K models, the difference in the picture was very apparent. While recent models could be described as bold and vibrant, the AQUOS UD1 was more life-like, and very natural – Perhaps less bold, but better and another step closer to that “just like you’re there” feeling.

Following the release of its ultra high-end model “ICC PURIOS” in February, 2013, the “AQUOS UD1″ series is Sharp’s second 4K TV release. It is targeted for family use and the price setting is much less inexpensive than “ICC PURIOS”.

The estimate price for the “AQUOS UD1″ series is 850,000 yen for the 70 inch model and 650,000 yen for the 60 inch model.

In 2013, the number of 4K TVs expected to be sold in Japan is estimated to be 50,000 units and SHARP is trying to take 20-30% of this amount.

– 70 inch model (LC-70UD1)
Release date: June 15
Size: 157.8 x 11.4 x 95.0 cm
Weight: 47.5 kg
Receivable channels: Digital terrestrial broadcasting 011ch – 528ch, BS digital 001 – 999ch, CS digital 000 – 999ch

– 60 inch model (LC-60UD1)
Release date: August 10
Size: TBD
Weight: TBD
Receivable channels: Digital terrestrial broadcasting 011ch – 528ch, BS digital 001 – 999ch, CS digital 000 – 999ch

At today’s 2013 summer new collection press conference, au announced the new “URBANO L01″ smartphone, to be released after late June.

Regarding the “URBANO”, au talked about its 2,700mAh battery which is able to be fully charged in only 140 minutes. Although the size of the body is about the same as the previous model, the size of the display increased from 4 inches to 4.7 inches.

It’s got some user-friendly functions, for example, you can set the “Entry home” display which displays letters and icons in a bigger size. The “Smart Sonic Receiver” function is useful as well – it makes the voice of the person who you are talking to on “URBANO L01″ clear in a noisy place.

Model: URBANO L01
Release date: After late June
OS: Android 4.2
Size: 65 x 134 x 10.8mm
Weight: 140g
Display: 4.7 inch TFT LCD HD
Battery: 2,700mAh
Color: Green, White, Blue, Black
Compliant with: Bluetooth, One-seg, Wi-Fi, Tethering, au Smart Pass, Wallet phone, 4G LTE, NFC, Infrared data communication, Waterproof, Dustproof

Popular young actress Ayame Goriki and current world-wide famous Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu joined the event, brightening up the venue…

The au 2013 summer new collection press conference took place at Shibuya Excel (Cerulean) Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo.

At today’s 2013 summer new collection press conference, au announced the new “HTC J One” smartphone, to be released around early June.

“HTC J One” is the Japanese version of Taiwanese company, HTC’s global model “HTC One”. It is slick and smooth “Full metal” aluminum and has a rounded back, making it easier to hold.

Compared with regular smartphones, its 13 million pixel camera has a 300% increased uptake of light and a 50% reduction of noise.  Its new “HTC Zoe” camera mode can take 20 photos in 4 seconds and can take 3 seconds of full HD video at the same time, allowing you to capture the best possible image.

There are Dual Front Speakers built-in in giving the “HTC J One” impressive, real sound.

As a smart phone accessory, au offers “HTC J One mini” that can be a cordless handset of the “HTC J One”, able to be paired by NFC or Bluetooth and is available for ¥9,800. You can also trigger the camera shutter or check messages with “HTC J One mini”. A 6,000mAh large capacity portable charger “HTC Battery Bar” will also be available (¥9,000).

Model: HTV J One HTL22
Release date: After early June
OS: Android 4.1
Size: 69 x 138 x 10.5mm
Weight: 157g
Display: 4.7inch Super LCD3 FHD
Battery: 2,300mAh
Color: White metal , Black metal
Compliant with: Bluetooth, One-seg, Wi-Fi, Tethering, au Smart Pass, Wallet phone, 4G LTE, NFC, Infrared data communication

Popular young actress Ayame Goriki and current world-wide famous Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu joined the event, brightening up the venue…

The au 2013 summer new collection press conference took place at Shibuya Excel (Cerulean) Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Samsung’s “GALAXY S4 SC-04E” was highly featured at NTT Docomo’s 2013 summer lineup roll-out.

It’s 8 mm thick – 1 mm thinner than its previous model. In its slim body, it’s got a large capacity 2600mAh battery and the world’s first 5 inch full HD organic EL display. 1.9GHz Quad Core CPU and 2GB RAM are built-in giving it serious processing ability and quick response.

The camera is 13.2 million pixel. Several interesting functions are included in the “GALAXY S4 SC-04E”: “Sound and Shot” that records sounds while taking a photo, “Keshigomu (Eraser) Mode” that allows you to erase anything you don’t want to include in a photo (like people in the background), and “Dual Camera” where you can use the outside camera and inside camera at the same time.

Other interesting functions include “S Gesture” that enables you to control the phone by moving a hand above the screen and “Smart Pause” that detects when your way of looking at the screen changes and pauses the video that you are watching.

Regarding colors, “black mist”, “white forest” and “blue arctic” are available. Blue arctic is a special color that was not included in the GALAXY S4 global model that was revealed in March.

Release date: May 23 (black mist and white forest), mid-June (blue arctic)
Size: 137 x 70 x 8mm
Weight: 134g
Display: Approx. 5 inch, 1080×1920 dot, full HD, organic EL display, 16.77 million pixel
External memory: microSD (2GB), microSDHC (32GB), microSDXC (64GB)
CPU: APQ8064T (1.9GHz Quad Core)
OS:　Android 4.2

Today, NTT Docomo’s 2013 “Summer Collection” new product press conference took place at Bellesalle Shiodome in Tokyo and they revealed 11 models of new smart phones, 1 tablet and 2 new colors of their 2 existing mobile phones.

During today’s press conference, CEO Kaoru Kato emphasized several times that Sony’s “XPERIA A SO-04E” and Samsung’s “GALAXY S4 SC-04E” are the top two devices of the 2013 Summer Collection. Docomo has set a “Special Price” for these 2 models based on users who get 2 year contracts. If you apply to both “Hajimete Smaho Wari (first smartphone discount)” and “Arigatou 10-nen Sumaho Wari (discount for those who has have more than 10 years contract with Docomo)”, an extra 20,000 yen will be discounted, and regarding “XPERIA A SO-04E”, the price will become about 5,000 yen.

I will highlight both the “XPERIA A SO-04E” and “GALAXY S4 SC-04E” in posts to follow.

The number of NTT Docomo smartphone users increased from 10 million users in 2011 up to 18.7 million users in 2012. At today’s press conference, there was no announcement for new mobile phone models (they call their mobile phone “iMode keitai”) giving us the clear impression that the company is focusing primarily on smartphones. To support that, in exchange of new iMode keitai models, they introduced 2 models of smart phones featuring “Docomo Simple UI” that keeps iMode keitai’s usability and allows smartphone “beginners” to make full use of it. They are MEDIAS N-06R and ELUGA P P-03E.

Other features of Docomo’s 2013 Summer New Smart phones and Tablet:
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1) All models have a battery bigger than 2,000mAh that can run the device more than 45 hours.
– 5 of 10 new smart phone models have a battery bigger than 2,500mAh.
– “ARROWS NX F-06E” has a 3,020mAh battery that is the biggest among smartphones. The battery life is more than 60 hours.

2) Some models are compatible with the “Hover” function.
– “Hover” allows you to control a smartphone without touching the screen.
– Compliant models: ELUGA P P-03E, GALAXY S4 SC-04E, AQUOS PHONE ZETA SH-06E, ARROWS NX F-06E

3) All the models are compatible with “Moba-cas” that broadcasts NOTTV. New function for Recording NOTTV is added.

4) Some models can receive the high-resolution Full Seg terrestrial digital broadcasting.
– Compliant models: ARROWS NX F-06E, AQUOS PAD SH-08E

5) Xi Network has been expanded and speeded up.
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On hand to give their thoughts about Docomo’s new Summer lineup were famous “talento”:
– Ken Watanabe
– Satomi Ishihara
– Tori Matsuzaka
– Ai Hashimoto