Sep 30

Sharp combines its latest LCD improvements in LX series HDTVs

Posted in: Japan, LCD, LED, Sharp, Today's Chili

Coming straight out of a brand new 10G production facility in Sakai, Sharp’s line of LX HDTVs (in 60-, 52-, 46- and 40-inch sizes) are all sporting the latest in LCD technology with UV²A panels and LED backlighting. Unfortunately, like Sony, these new screens abandon the higher quality RGB LED technology of the pricey XS1 series for cheaper white LEDs. Still, with a price of around $5,000 for a 52-inch compared to the $12,000 sticker shock of the XS1, it’s easy to see why the switch was made. Other improvements include a light sensor for auto-calibration, a six speaker (5 speakers on the 40-inch) integrated 2.1 channel sound system with “Duo Bass” subwoofer and the usual assortment of VOD and AQUOS network support in store for Japanese buyers this November. While already available on a few U.S. models expect the new tech to spread across Sharp’s U.S. lineup shortly, not to mention Sony and anyone other parties interested in a piece of the company’s suddenly expanded manufacturing muscle.

[Via AV Watch & Akihabara News]

Filed under:

Sharp combines its latest LCD improvements in LX series HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 28

Video: Takeshi Maeda’s OmniZero.9 robot transforms, carries creator, blows minds

Posted in: Japan, robot, Robots, Today's Chili
Takeshi Maeda's OmniZero.9 robot transforms, carries creator, blows minds

Remember the cartoon Turbo Teen where a kid could turn himself into that most desirable of ’80s cars, a red Firebird? That was pretty terrible, but we promise the video below of a robot turning itself into a red car is rather more compelling. It’s OmniZero.9, the latest creation from Takeshi Maeda who earlier brought us the OmniZero.4. The ninth iteration is a humanoid looking bot with wheeled shoulders and knees that allows it to motor along the ground. Its head also flips back to create a seat just big enough for its creator, who jumps on for a short ride around the demonstration stage. The bot competed at ROBO-ONE in a few different categories and was captured on video doing its stuff solo and also shamelessly knocking an under-sized competitor out of the ring. Go ahead, click on through. You won’t want to miss this.

Continue reading Video: Takeshi Maeda’s OmniZero.9 robot transforms, carries creator, blows minds

Filed under:

Video: Takeshi Maeda’s OmniZero.9 robot transforms, carries creator, blows minds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 24

Sony hacks 15 percent from PSP’s price in Japan

Posted in: Japan, price, pricing, psp, sony, Today's Chili

While Sony seemed more than willing to show off its new PSP Go Converter and even more willing to gloat about its one millionth PS3 Slim sale, this little tidbit was pushed away in some neglected corner of the Tokyo Game Show. Thankfully for you, we’re dedicated to leaving no stone unturned, and now we’ve discovered that the outfit is fixing to cut 15 percent from the PSP-3000’s price tag… but only in Japan. Starting on October 1st, the UMD-friendly handheld will be offered in The Land of the Rising Sun for ¥16,800, or just over $185 using current conversion tables. So Sony — any plans to hook the rest of the world up? You don’t want to see us pout.

Filed under: ,

Sony hacks 15 percent from PSP’s price in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 24

250GB PS3 Final Fantasy XIII bundle announced, ships December

Posted in: Japan, ps3, sony, Today's Chili

Sony Japan just announced the very first 250GB PS3 bundle. For ¥41,600 (compared to ¥29,980 yen for the standard Japanese PS3), gamers in Japan will receive a limited edition Final Fantasy XIII rig with 250GB disk and Lightning emblazoned across the the body. The PS3 normally ships with a 120GB hard drive but the 250GB version has been rumored ever since the FCC leak. Available for purchase in Japan on 17 December.

Gallery: 250GB PS3 Final Fantasy XIII bundle announced, ships December

Filed under:

250GB PS3 Final Fantasy XIII bundle announced, ships December originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 16

Panasonic’s new EVERLED light bulbs to light up your life for 19 years

Posted in: green, household, Japan, LED, Panasonic, Today's Chili

Long-lasting light bulb technology is nothing new — people have been trying to up the lifespan these bad boys for some time. Long-lived light bulbs are generally uber-expensive, too, but we like to keep our eyes on such things. Panasonic‘s just unveiled the EVERLED, a line of bulbs set to be launched in Japan at the end of October. Lighter and more efficient than other LEDs on the market, these babies use 85 lumens per watt for a 40W bulb. Though the bulbs are not going to be cheap — about $40 — the company claims they’ll have a lifespan of 19 years, bringing the overall costs down considerably. Still, we’d have to see them last that long to believe it.

[Via Inhabitat]

Filed under:

Panasonic’s new EVERLED light bulbs to light up your life for 19 years originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 16

Moneual’s MiNEW A10 nettop gets preciously attacked by Hello Kitty

Posted in: desktop, Japan, nettop, PC, Today's Chili

You remember Moneual, right? You know — the guys and gals playing a torrented movie on their demo unit at a trade show. Now that we’re on the same page, have a look at the show-stopper above. That’s the Hello Kitty-embellished MiNEW A10, or in other words, the most outrageous nettop to ever see the light of day. The wildest part is that existing A10 owners can even make their relatively sane looking machine morph into cuteness overload for the tidy sum of ₩150,000 ($123). Or you can just get a whole new rig that no one else has to know about for ₩540,000 ($443) — totally your call there. One more frightening look is after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading Moneual’s MiNEW A10 nettop gets preciously attacked by Hello Kitty

Filed under:

Moneual’s MiNEW A10 nettop gets preciously attacked by Hello Kitty originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags:
Sep 16

Video: Sony Walkman S640 and S740 arrive in Technicolor

Posted in: Japan, sony, Today's Chili

Maybe it’s a byproduct of the phosphorescent Disney babysitter that raised us, but it’s near impossible to look at Sony’s Walkman players and not think whimsically of Mickey Mouse. An unfortunate emotional response to otherwise very serious competitors for your portable audio dollar. Joining the S-series are the new S640 and S740 Walkmen officially unveiled today in Japan. Both feature 2-inch LCDs, 720×480 TV-out, and the same quality MDR-EX300SL earbuds shipping with the better-speced A840. The S740 (8GB/16GB/32GB) brings noise cancellation while the S640 (8GB/16GB) saddles your brain with ambient noise filtration. Shipping later this month in prices ranging from ¥16,000 (about $155) to ¥25,000 (about $277). The promotional video after the break featuring an overly expressive teenager is, however, free.

[Via Sony Insider]

Continue reading Video: Sony Walkman S640 and S740 arrive in Technicolor

Filed under: ,

Video: Sony Walkman S640 and S740 arrive in Technicolor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 14

Clearwire eyes global WiMAX roaming agreement, Kanye blurts out: ‘LTE is better!’

Posted in: 4G, Japan, Today's Chili, WiMAX

Pinky and the Brain were consulted, and you can rest assured they were both highly supportive of Clearwire’s latest initiative. Announced today in cooperation with Russia’s Yota and Japan’s UQ Communications, Clearwire has banged out a memorandum of understanding with the aforesaid WiMAX carriers that “identifies the objectives and activities each operator will perform towards the realization of establishing WiMAX roaming between the [two].” With translators in tow, the trio are hoping to define and institute the necessary processes that’ll ensure devices from each carrier works on the other’s network, and while American’s probably couldn’t care less about these two operators in particular, it’s the thought that counts. Just imagine — 4G global roaming at a decent price point. That, friends, is the future.

Filed under:

Clearwire eyes global WiMAX roaming agreement, Kanye blurts out: ‘LTE is better!’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments | Tags: ,
Sep 13

Video: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch, so you don’t have to

Posted in: Japan, robot, Robots, Today's Chili

You know, maybe we were wrong-headed to keep harping on this ‘evil robot‘ meme. Sure, there are some no-goodniks in the robot community (as opposed to the robotics community, which we assure you is full of hard-working, well-meaning people) but look at all the good robots have done for us: they build our cars, serve us hot drinks, teach our young children, and now they help our oldsters with the physical therapy. Taizo, pictured here, is a delightful chap with a bulbous visage and a fun, plushy space suit who stands just over 24-inches tall and weighs 15.5 pounds. Operating for about two hours on a single charge, the robot is designed to lead low-impact group exercise (mostly while sitting down) and features voice recognition and a library of thirty different exercises. With 26 joints in its body, it’s a flexible fellow, for sure. We just hope that no one weaponizes the thing. Video after the break.

Gallery: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch

[Via Engadget German]

Continue reading Video: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch, so you don’t have to

Filed under:

Video: Taizo the robot teaches grandpa how to stretch, so you don’t have to originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments
Sep 10

Kohjinsha rebrands mbook M1, calls it the PM series UMPC

Posted in: Japan, MID, Today's Chili, UMPC

Hey, remember that cute little mbook M1 that was all the rage earlier this year? Yeah, you’re looking at it again, only this time it’s sporting a cleaner look and a Kohjinsha badge. The rebranded UMPC gets powered by a 1.1GHz Atom N510 CPU and also features 512MB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, 4.8-inch LCD (1,024 x 600), 1.3 megapixel camera, USB 2.0, a microSDHC expansion slot, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and a headphone jack. It doesn’t appear to tout any sort of inbuilt WWAN, though the included battery should last for right around seven hours before petering out. The only problem? That Texas-sized ¥59,800 ($647) price tag, which should do a commendable job of hindering widespread adoption.

[Via Pocketables]

Filed under:

Kohjinsha rebrands mbook M1, calls it the PM series UMPC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

No Comments