Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve had “my bag” (マイバッグ) and “my chopsticks” (マイハシ). Now comes “my bottle” (マイボトル).

A campaign is being run by the 8 Metropolitan, Prefectures and Cities Leaders Waste Problem Research Committee (八都県市首脳会議廃棄物問題検討委員会) which encourages consumers to bring their own “bottle” (most likely a thermos flask) to participating coffee shops and cafes when they receive drink purchases. The chains taking part in the scheme include many big hitters in Japan: Doutor, Tully’s, Starbucks and Beck’s. A total of 1,671 stores offer the service, including over one thousand in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

However, the rather un-savvy nature of this campaign is evident in the essentially unremarkable posters (above) they are running on JR trains in the capital. The TV commercials and poster advertising adopted by home appliance manufacturers and automobile corporations are much more attractive and impressive, using famous models and actors for one, rather than a picture of an anonymous school girl.

But the only real issue with this “campaign” is that there is nothing really in it for the consumer (i.e. no discount or incentive), other than the whole green bandwagon and making the consumer feel good about their shopping. In fact, as long-term customers know, many chain coffee shops already offer to serve drinks in mugs rather than paper cups – and Starbucks has long had a tradition of customers getting their drinks in their personal thermos (Starbucks design) for take-out. (In fact, by coincidence the American chain is running their own renewal campaign of this service, calling for their customers to “bring my cup” and get 50 yen off.)

The verbosely-named 8 Metropolitan, Prefectures and Cities Leaders Waste Problem Research Committee includes Tokyo, the prefectures of Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, and the cities of Yokohama, Kawasaki, Saitama and Chiba. Its heart is certainly in the right place, hoping to reduce waste in the Kanto region and to promote re-using other products.

Alongside “my bottle”, the same Committee has organized a “diet packaging” (容器包&装ダイエット) campaign (below), calling for chains and supermarkets to reduce the amount of unnecessary plastic wrapping on products. So far they have managed to get over sixty corporations to join their “declaration list” and promise to decrease packaging. However, the precise amounts and details of the reductions are not available.

Windows fans expecting Apple to let Microsoft have its moment in the sun next week when Windows 7 launches should probably know better by now — the Mac maker is actually planning a marketing counter-offensive to hit alongside 7’s debut. According to Phil Schiller, the convoluted upgrade path from Windows XP to Windows 7 represents a big opportunity for Apple, since users have to back everything up and reformat. “Any user that reads all those steps is probably going to freak out. If you have to go through all that, why not just buy a Mac?” Well — we’re sure most of you can think of several reasons. Of course, Microsoft has long said that most people will actually get Windows 7 when they purchase a new machine, which is one reason we’re seeing such an absolute flood of interesting and innovative new PC hardware — but Phil seems to remember that was also the company line about Vista, and homeboy isn’t backing down. “We’ve been through these transitions before, and no matter how you look at it-it’s still Windows.” Harsh burn, amigo. Any last predictions? “I expect Snow Leopard will have an amazing upgrade rate, and Windows 7 won’t.” We thought you might say something like that. Good thing we’re giving Steve Ballmer a chance to respond live on the air next week, no?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under: Software

Phil Schiller on Windows 7: ‘No matter how you look at it, it’s still Windows’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Something tells us that whenever we do round two of our Time Square signage Engadget Show, Mitsubishi’s modular OLED display will be amongst the highlights. Aimed at outdoor applications (but obviously ready for your living room), the scalable prototype shown here at CEATEC was 155-inches in size. The wild part, however, is that it could grow infinitely larger — at least in theory. The whole panel that you notice from afar is crafted from smaller OLED blocks that snap together like a puzzle; the more you add, the larger your screen can be. Unfortunately, resolution is still relatively low and longevity is a definite concern, but if you can manage to stand a few feet back, the result is simply stunning. Hop on past the break for a new take on “immersive.”

Continue reading Mitsubishi’s modular, scalable OLED display goes 155-inches at CEATEC, could go way bigger (video)

Filed under: Displays

Mitsubishi’s modular, scalable OLED display goes 155-inches at CEATEC, could go way bigger (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everyone loves convenience stores in Japan, unless you have to live right next to one with its pulsing fluorescent glow 24/7. In addition to doing about a million other things (even doing your laundry), they’re great for getting caffeine-infused drinks with occasional fun free stuff called omake. Here are a few we’ve found recently.

Japan loves both RTD coffee and super-localized versions of things, so this coffee from Mitsumoto Coffee is nice in that it combines both. M.M.C is based in Yokohama, and has made its Yokohama Ko-hi Monogatari (Yokohama Coffee Story) bagged bean brand available in a can. This is basically like taking the famous Lion Coffee from Hawaii, putting it in a can, and then selling it in Honolulu. Perhaps a turn-off for coffee lovers elsewhere, but it works in Japan.

Come to think of it…why can’t we get Lion Coffee in a can here? That stuff is great.

These Mario Cart racers came with a special version of Boss Coffee, and didn’t last long. In fact, I only saw them at once convenience store, and then they were all snatched up!

We wrote about Namacha Panda Sensei before, but convenience store shoppers were recently able to get their own stuffed panda in the PET bottle just as in the original promotion, but it wasn’t free ($8, including two bottles of tea). Needless to say, this limited edition set sold out quickly.

Giveaways abound in convenience stores, especially with drinks and cigarettes. One month of smoking in Japan and you’ll never need to buy another lighter for the rest of your life.

It’s not often that Nissin does giveaways with its famous Cup Noodle product, but the 30th Anniversary of Gundam seems to be an exception. Since instant ramen is a staple of the otaku diet, this just might be a perfect match

Aside from the normal mini Gundam figures being given away, there will also be 1,000 special Cup Noodle Gundam figures (above, right) given away in a closed campaign.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the modified cups will work very well with the Cup Noodle Vending Machine, but no doubt taste more delicious eaten at the feet of their life-size cousin in Odaiba.