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Panasonic's portable Blu-ray player previewed in Japan
The Japanese variant of Panasonic's slick all in one portable Blu-ray player has peeked out from behind cover, ready to launch March 15. The DMP-BV100 adds a 1seg TV tuner but is otherwise the same as its U.S. cousin, ready to play your HD discs on its 1024x600 screen, or a max 1080i via HDMI out. BD-Live is still part of the package, as well as SD card reader, DLNA, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA support. If you're watching on the go, a 7 hour charge time will yield 2 and a half hours of either Blu-ray or OTA video, so getting through the LOTR trilogy on an airplane ride is unlikely unless you can plug in. Around 850€ ($1,070) will nab one for anyone who can't wait for a localized antenna-less version in May. Check out our CES hands on or more pics over at AV Watch.[Via AV Watch & Akihabara News]
Kohjinsha livens up netbook game with shockingly green Gachapin edition
Generally speaking, Kohjinsha is better known for its dabbling in the UMPC / convertible tablet arenas than netbooks, but there's nothing like a retina-searing lime green shell to bring attention to your latest. Reportedly, the outfit has teamed up with famed toy maker Bandai in order to create a Gachapin and Mukku netbook aimed at kids with no sense of style and a simple desire to smile at all times during the day. As for specs, everything's pretty much par for the course, with a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 160GB HDD, 8.9-inch display (1,024 x 600 resolution), WiFi, a 3-in-1 card reader, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and 1GB of RAM. We must say, the inclusion of a 1Seg digital TV tuner is a nice touch, and one we're sure your TV-loving youngsters will greatly appreciate. The bad news is that this rig is selling for a whopping ¥79,800 ($866), so you can be certain those fuzzy cartoon characters are getting some serious royalties.[Via PortableMonkey]
The byd:sign digital photo frame with 1Seg: like a TV, but way, way smaller
If you've been getting tired of the steady stream of ho-hum digital photo frames hitting the market lately, maybe the DP-1001DW is your density... er, destiny. The new pic-viewer from Japanese maker byd:sign has one notable feature that really sets it apart from the unruly riff-raff of the digiframe world... a 1Seg tuner. While you get a 10.2-inch, 800 x 480 display, a contrast ratio of 300:1, support for MPEG, XviD, and MP3 files, as well as a totally attractive choice of a white or black bezel, you also have the totally orginal option of... watching TV. So, really, it's more like a 10.2-inch television. That only works in Asia. In all fairness, it does appear to sport an alarm clock as well. No word on price or release date, but we don't plan to budge until this is nestled tightly in a corner of our home... being viewed by a tiny human or small animal.
Softbank's iPhone 1seg tuner / battery charger gets unboxed
If you're American, don't even pretend you care about this. 'Cause you don't care about mobile TV at all, and we've got the facts to prove it. For those parked in Japan, though, you have every right to get jazzed. Softbank's 1seg TV tuner / battery charger has finally been loosed on the carrier's home turf, and the lucky cats over at DVICE were able to acquire one and give it a whirl. Setup was said to be a breeze, the 1seg pickup was crystal clear and the device itself was satisfactorily lightweight. As for downsides, the entire app is in Japanese, and even with the extra juice, watching TV on the go zapped the life out in around an hour with brightness maxed. Check the full writeup and unboxing gallery in the read link below.[Via OhGizmo]
Japanese iPhone gets official 1-Seg WiFi tuner and battery charger from SoftBank
Japan does love 'em some mobile TV. Now that 1-Seg digital goodness has been announced for iPhone users. The 80-gram tuner provides a TV fix over WiFi and doubles as a battery extender when plugged into the iPhone 3G's dock connector. Trendy sidewalk zombies, the streets are yours. We'll update you with prices and dates when known. One more pic for size comparison after the break.Update: Official PR with specs (no price) is now out: 3 hours continuous 1-Seg viewing, 2-/4-hours charge via AC/USB, and available mid December along side a free 1-Seg application from the AppStore. [Via Ringo-Sanco, thanks RS]
Japanese iPhone gets official 1-Seg WiFi tuner and battery extender from SoftBank
Japan does love 'em some mobile TV. Now that 1-Seg digital goodness has been announced for iPhone users. The 80-gram tuner provides a TV fix over WiFi and doubles as a battery extender when plugged into the iPhone 3G's dock connector. Trendy sidewalk zombies, the streets are yours. We'll update you with prices and dates when known. One more pic for size comparison after the break.Update: Official PR with specs (no price) is now out: 3 hours continuous 1-Seg viewing, 2-/4-hours charge via AC/USB, and available mid December along side a free 1-Seg application from the AppStore. [Via Ringo-Sanco, thanks RS]
Sharp's 9225H brings the flip-open QWERTY action to Softbank
Not that we haven't seen relatively ho hum handsets get cracked open to reveal their sunny side (and full QWERTY keyboard) before, but Sharp's newly unveiled 9225H does more than just look pretty in two positions. Unwrapped at CEATEC 2008, the Softbank-destined mobile packed a 3.5-inch VGA screen internally, an inbuilt 1seg TV tuner, multimedia player, e-mail functionality, 2-megapixel camera and a microSDHC slot for loading up additional Iron & Wine tunes. There's no mention of a price, but feel free to head to the read link if you're in search of more images.[Thanks, Mark]
Mitsubishi's NR-HZ001 GPS: ten million destinations and a couple big distractions
As you know, when an already distracted driver gets his hands on a GPS the results can be disastrous: that's why we're predicting a whole slew of train wrecks once the NR-HZ001 hits the streets. Beginning November 5th, the device -- which doubles as a digital TV receiver -- will start shipping with new Mitsubishi autos, either at ¥250,000 ($2,353) for full segment digital video or ¥200,000 ($1,883) for 1seg. Both versions feature an internal hard drive, Bluetooth, ten million destinations and something called Multi Relay Operation: the ability for the driver and passengers to control the unit simultaneously through voice recognition. But we have to ask: between the live TV and the scintillating conversation you and your passengers are bound to have with the GPS, who will be watching the road?[Via Coolest Gadgets]
This week's PSP sales are brought to you by the number 1
PSP loves two numbers this week in Japan: the number 1 and 74,024. You see, the PSP is still number 1 this week, and it sold 74,024 systems. Yeah, see what we did there? Sales were spurred by a myriad of factors, such as the release of a new Blue system, bundled with the popular 1seg TV tuner. It also didn't help that it was a PSP, which Japanese gamers have confused with crack cocaine, apparently. PSP - 74,024 DS - 54,531 Wii - 40,803 PS3 - 11,253 PS2 - 9535 360 - 4208
Hello Kitty 1seg portable TV lacks effort, cuteness
Word on the street is that Sanrio was looking for new Hello Kitty designers on the West Coast earlier last week, and if this sad little 1seg portable TV is any indication, we can see why the company's in search of fresh talent. Seriously, this is the least cute Hello Kitty gadget we've seen in a while, and we're basically suckers for the lil' imp. Japan-only, and your ¥21,000 ($197) doesn't get you anything special on the inside, either, just a 2.4-inch QVGA screen and built-in stereo speakers with a 4.5-hour battery life. Come on, Kitty -- make us love you again.
Sanyo rolls out 1Seg-packing "Gorilla" NV-SD585DT GPS unit
Sanyo's Gorilla GPS devices are certainly never lacking when it comes to non-GPS-related features, and it looks like its new NV-SD585DT model is no exception. This one shrinks things down slightly from the last model we saw with a 5.8-inch touchscreen, although you'll still get a 1Seg mobile TV tuner, 4GB of solid state storage, an FM transmitter, an SD card slot, and that same ECO driving mode seen on previous Gorilla models -- not to mention all the usual GPS-related features like weather and traffic information. No word on a price just yet, but those in Japan will be able to get their hands on one starting July 18th.[Via Slash Gear]
Nintendo pushes back DVD-playing Wii for Japan, again
While those of us 'round these parts have pretty much given up on the idea of a DVD-playing Wii a long time ago, folks in Japan have had some cause for hope based on promises from the company that such a system was, in fact, headed for the country sooner or later. It seems like they're now about to enter the acceptance phase as well, however, as Nintendo has just announced yet another delay to the system with no word about an eventual release date. According to IGN, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata would only go so far as to say that due continuing worldwide supply constraints on the current Wii, "the priority is on the current model." One thing getting a boost in availability, however, is the Nintendo DS 1Seg TV tuner, which Nintendo says will get a retail release next month after previously only being available online.[Via Joystiq]
Sharp develops "world's smallest" 1seg TV tuner
Do you ever wonder just how realistic all these coin / hand / White House-to-miniscule item comparison shots are? We certainly do, and while the ¥1 coin seen above could be the size of a frisbee for all we know (we jest, we jest), we suppose we'll believe Sharp when it says its latest 1seg tuner is indeed the world's smallest. The VA3A5JZ922 checks in at just 5.9- x 5.9- x 0.9-millimeters -- about 35-percent smaller than competitors -- and should cost around ¥20,000 ($185) when samples start shipping out next week. Don't get too excited just yet, however, as mass production isn't slated to get going until late September.[Via PMPToday]
Sony's tiny XDV-D500 and XDV-G200 Bravia TVs
Let's break it down TV junkie. Sony's new ¥38,000 (about $355) XDV-D500 features a 3-inch, 432 x 240 pixel resolution display with 160-degree viewing angle, 500:1 contrast, and a battery capable of about 8-hours of TV reception. It can even record up to 10 hours of scheduled programming to 2GB of internal memory. The itty bittier XDV-G200 brings a 2-inch LCD to the show, AM/FM radio too, then ditches the EPG and recording function. This is Japan mind you, so these sets receive digital 1Seg TV -- in other words you can kiss your import fantasies goodbye. %Gallery-15428%[Via Impress]
Video shows Japanese 3.80 firmware in action
Our friend at PSP GadgetZ has just uploaded a new video, highlighting all the features of the Japanese version of firmware 3.80. While the rest of the world must be satisfied with internet radio (which we are), the Japanese get the very cool ability to record shows from their 1seg tuner. Yes, the PSP is a DVR machine in Japan, and we're incredibly jealous.
PSP gets DVR and internet radio with new Japanese firmware
With the sexy new revision and lots of solid titles, the PSP has become more and more desirable as of late. But believe us when we tell you it's peanuts compared to how useful the thing has become in Japan, where only the lack of a blond mullet keeps it from being the MacGyver of consumer electronics. Adding insult to injury, it's getting even cooler in Japan with firmware version 3.80, which will add TV program recording and internet radio features to the device.While we're hopeful internet radio could be rolled out across the globe, don't even think about adding DVR functionality to your PSP, as we still lack the 1seg technology here that makes the whole thing go. Oh well, at least you can (fingers crossed) look forward to the internet radio feature. Check out some images of it in action right here.
PSP gains DVR and internet radio functionality in firmware 3.80
On December 18th, PSP firmware 3.80 will be released in Japan with two new highly desirable features. First is digital video recording capabilities, made possible with the new Japan-only 1seg peripheral. With firmware 3.80, it will be possible to record television shows from the 1seg peripheral directly onto the Memory Stick for later viewing.Internet radio will also be added in the next firmware upgrade. Exactly how the service will work is unclear at this time. [Update: Images have surfaced on Watch Impress' website.]DVR is a huge feature that unfortunately isn't possible outside of Japan unless appropriate peripherals are released globally. However, internet radio is hopefully something all PSP users around the world will be able to take advantage of. Once again, PSP is expanding its capabilities, becoming more features-packed than anyone could've predicted.[Via I4U]
Logitec's USB 1Seg tuner gets you 4-up
If you need TV, we mean need it so much that you ache for its lack, then this is the device for you. The Logitec LDT-1S30X4U has a pair of Japanese mobile 1Seg tuners for watching and recording two channels simultaneously on your PC. Daisy chain in another tuner and you've got 4x programs pumping in parallel. Enough to fix that jones if your CPU can take it. Available next month in Japan for ¥16,800 (about $152). [Via Akihabara News]
Corega intros compact CG-1SG24TV 1seg TV
Although you're better off looking Sanyo's direction if you need one that's waterproof, Corega has a couple of new micro-TVs for those who can manage to keep their distance from the waterways. The CG-1SG24TV is set to arrive in black / white motifs and feature a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution LCD, built-in 1seg TV tuner, an electronic program guide (EPG), integrated stereo speakers and a headphone jack to boot. Furthermore, this pocket-friendly unit gets all the power it needs from a pair of AAA cells, and you'll even get a set of earbuds thrown in for good measure. Expect this one to land early next month for around ¥12,800 ($119).[Via AkihabaraNews]
Sanyo's LVT-WD40 waterproof portable TV
For a couple seconds there we couldn't quite figure out what we'd do with a waterproof portable TV to call our very own, since jogging through the rain while watching our favorite shows on 1seg seems a little bit melodramatic, but Sanyo says its aiming this LVT-WD40 thing at bathroom and kitchen usage, which makes a bit more sense. Features are pretty standard, the 4-inch LCD sports a 480 x 272 resolution, and Sanyo claims about six hours of battery life. Unfortunately, while the player can be used anywhere -- including being fully submerged in a bathtub -- its media capabilities seems to be more limited, since there's no media compatibility to speak of beyond the standard 1seg TV access. This one's selling on the 21st in Japan for 50,000 yen ($453 US).[Via Impress Watch]
