Let's Learn to take care for dogs in mobile apps

Do you want to keep a dog as a lovely pet? Certainly they are cute, but you need various of knowledge about them to keep. In mobile application Inu-note(Inu means Dog in Japanese), you can learn them from professional dog trainers and veterinarians. When you enter data such as your dog's breed type and age in this application, the best advice by the dog trainers and veterinarians is sent based on them.

This UI is similar to Instagram, you can post photos of your dogs and use it like an photo album, and communicate with other users who have dogs of the same breed as you.

In addition, you can search animal hospitals and dog parks with map function, and record the dogs' schedules such as vaccination or trimming and manage health.

This is only the iOS version, but the developer ANIMA is of course preparing the Android version now. Downloading is free.

LINE's cute portable smart speaker

Google Home, Amazon Echo...now, various smart speakers compete ruthlessly. Meanwhile, Japanese messaging application company LINE started selling cute smart speaker "Clova Friends".

Originally they released own smart speaker Clova Wave in October, and it was a simple form. However, Clova Friends is in the form of LINE 's cute official character LINE Friends. They worked as LINE stickers and official goods, and contributed to LINE's popularity in Asian market. Even though they are cute forms, these are not toys for kids.

They have own AI assistant Clova and have the functions of music playing by link with the own music service LINE MUSIC, reading the weather forecast, news, fortune telling, and LINE messages. And in late December, they also support LINE's free voice calling, and will add functions for receiving incoming functions and home appliances compatible with infrared controllers by future updates. In addition, clothes for them will be released next spring, so users can dress them more cute.

Variations are brown bear 'Clova Friends BROWN' and yellow chick 'Clova Friends SALLY', both weights are as light as 378 grams and size are 72x72x170.3mm (BROWN) / 72x72x166mm (SALLY), which are suitable for carrying. They have microphone off, volume control, and Bluetooth pairing buttons on the back, so users can also pair with these and other gadgets. The price is 8,640yen(tax included), and as a campaign plan, a 6,750yen(tax included) course that set with the LINE MUSIC fee for 6 months offered until March 31, 2018.

Beyond languages' barriers

For many Japanese, learning other languages is still a huge barrier. In order to solve it, Logbar developed a speech translation device "ili" that can be used in an offline environment.
They pre-released it by 18,144yen(Including tax) on December 6, and sold out in about one hour. This is a stick type device that translates at the fastest speed of 0.2 seconds and speak digital voice by talking while pushing the button. The big feature of this is that it can be used without an internet connection. It's size is about 33.0 x 121.8 x 13.0 mm, weighs is about 42 grams, and It's small and not bulky when traveling abroad. Support languages are English, Chinese and Japanes.
They have offered this for corporations from June this year, but they will also sell to the general users step by step. The next sale start date is December 22.

Local character's smartphone

Kumamon is a local character in Kumamoto Prefecture, and one of the most popular Japanese character. Now, his various goods are sold and the regional economy in Kumamoto has been greatly revitalized thanks to him, A new lineup will be added to them in this month. It's a SIM free smartphone "Kumamon-no-Sumaphone(くまモンのすまフォン)".

In order to release this, Kumamoto's MVNO Kuma Mobile made business alliance with French smartphone maker Wiko.
They will develop a SIM free smartphone designed Kumamon wearing the French flag muffler based on Wiko's Android smartphone "Tommy".

The body is Kumamoto's image color red. In addition, they also prepare VR contents that can see Kumamoto Castle before destroyed by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Its box transforms into mobile VR goggles, and users can enjoy VR content using this. They are planning to sell this from mid December, but the price is unpublished.

"Compact" digital camera

Electric manufacturer CASIO will release an interesting compact digital camera in Asia at the end of this month. It is certainly "compact".

They added a new lineup TR-M11 to the digital camera series TR mini for selfie, which is developing mainly in ASEAN. It is a clamshell design, palm size, and colorful, so looks like a cosmetic compact. It has a lens on the top cover, and the 8 LEDs surrounds it. Because of taking a light from the front of the face and taking selfie makes the skin look bright and beautiful. Besides that, LEDs provide various selfie functions to users in collaboration with Casio's image processing technology. Make skin look brighter and fresh, sculpted look to facial features, and slimming...they look more natural and effective than the image effects of camera applications or Purikura(Photo booth).

The camera automatically powers on when the lid is opened and the bottom is the operation screen. The shape of photos is square, and posting to social media such as Instagram is supposed. In addition, users can automatically transfer photos to own smartphones using the EXILIM Connect application linked with the camera.

Power Source is rechargeable lithium ion battery, it can shoot 225 times with one charge, and users can shoot continuously for 4h 50min for still images and 1h 20min for movie. The color variations are Green, Pink, White, Violet, Vivid pink, the size is H82.6 × W77.0 × D26.6mm and weght is 139g (including memory card). Unfortunately, it is undecided whether to be released in Japan.

The anime robot has become materialized

If you know this robot, you love Japanese huge robot anime. Bandai announced that the mascot robot Haro that appears in the robot anime Gundam will be commercialized as a communication robot and released in 2018.

The prototype has already been exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2017 and became a topic.
The theme of this is "if Haro exists in the present age". This is an interactive communication robot with AI with abundant knowledge about Gundam and also has voice recognition function. It responds to users' questions and Gundam keywords and responds optimally from the database, and can also give the users questions for the Gundam quizzes. It also has a wireless LAN function and Bluetooth function so that users can use this as a speaker and use the alarm function in link with smartphones.
The eyes and mouth of this shines with LEDs, sway forward, backward, left, right, and face the people who is talking. That is exactly a charming communication robot. IBM Japan has developed conversation AI, and VAIO is cooperating with Haro's organization, circuit design and production. The size is 190mm in diameter and works with built-in rechargeable batteries. Weight is undecided.

via http://bandai-a.akamaihd.net/corp/press/100000617495332.pdf (Japanese)

Security camera attachable to bulb bayonet socket

Because of increased crime prevention awareness, the number of families using home security cameras is increasing, and easy handling is a necessary element for home security cameras. Aiuto, a sales company of PC parts and peripherals, release the security camera "Kalay Home" attachable to bulb bayonet socket in the middle of this month.

This is a down-light type security camera attached to the E26 type power socket, and it can be installed easily without tools. It has an infrared sensor that detects from the installation position up to 4m and 2m radius, and detects something that moves it will record the video and light the LED light for one minute. By using MicroSD, it is possible to record automatically recorded videos. Users can check the notification and video in real time and shoot screenshots with the application KalayLightCam that works with this. And because it also has a microphone and speakers, users can talk from smartphones.

A maximum of 4 users can access this simultaneously and up to 16 units can be monitored with one smartphone. If you want to use this at various places in the home, you can check all of these with a smartphone. The size of this is H139 × W130 × D130 mm and weigh is 200 g. Aiuto plans to sell this for 15,580 yen(including tax).

Message robot for children

Now in Japan, various communication robots for children are released, but most of them are stuffed toy types.

However this is really like a robot. Hamee will release a mascot type message robot with exterior of polyvinyl chloride "Hamic Bear" this autumn. This is a home robot that can exchange voice messages directly among children who do not have smartphones. This can be used independently under the Wi - Fi environment, and parents make friends request and accept from the mobile application(Management is the role of parents). Its head is a switch, you can activate various functions by push this, and the speaker is built in the gap of the collar. In addition, it has a human sensor and AI, Hamee plans to provide information sending function and communication function using them. The price and release date of this is yet to be determined. But they accept email address registration in its site.

Keyboard that can play singing voice

YAMAHA has released various keyboards so far, but this is the most interesting among them. They will release the new keytar VKB-100 this December.

They say that this is the ”Vocaloid Keyboard”, it is an electronic musical instrument that can play voices of virtual singers such as Hatsune Miku. It has 5 song lyrics information, and when the players play them, vocaloid sings on the same scale. Players play the melody with the keyboard, and operate the buttons to apply vibrato or reverb, and adjust the volume.

While the virtual singers are singing, only one sound can be output from the keyboard, so the players can not play the chorus part or play a chord at the same time.The virtual singer that can play with this is only the Yamaha original VY 1, but the players can add other four singers including Hatsune Miku.

In addition, players can switch singers, and register new lyrics information by connect with the mobile application via Bluetooth. The price is an open price and has not been officially announced yet.

Mini-mouse perfect for presentation

Do you want to use the mouse anywhere and anytime? So this is perfect for you.

Gadget maker SANWA SUPPLY released a ring type mini-mouse that can be worn on a finger. This is a wireless mouse that can be worn on your finger and operated with your thumb. The communication distance is about 10 meters in radius. You can be free from the desk, so you can use it in a presentation, and while lie on a sofa or bed.

It has five standard buttons like left click, right click and so on, if you want to expand this function, you can assign various functions to each button by installing the driver attached to it. It adopted micro USB port, you can connect the USB cable attached to it and charge from the PC. It works for about 10 hours with one charge, and It has an LED display function that enables you to see the charging status at a glance. The size is 28mm × 36.7mm × 34.7mm and weigh is only about 12g. The price is 7,992yen(Including tax).

via http://sanwa.jp/pr/MA-RING-WW

Crowdfunding? no, "friends" funding

If you are not good at preparing texts, images, and videos though you want to start a crowdfunding project, this is the perfect app for you.

One of Japan's major crowdfunding platform CAMPFIRE released "polca", a mobile application that allows small-scale funding from friends. General crowdfunding raises funds from the unspecified number of people, but polca targets your friends who are connected on social networking. For example, you want to holding own exhibition somewhere. You open the polca app and enter the title of the funding project, one image, the amount of the goal, a reward for people who supported. With only these work you can start a funding project. Polca does not check or advise each project, and when you start the project, a unique URL is allocated immediately after that. You can let the friends know about the project by publishing the URL with social networking. Polca not dare to publish information of the users' projects on the website and the application. Because if they do it, it will be the same as ordinary crowdfunding. Users' projects are shared only on social networking. Currently available payment methods are credit card only, minimum amount of support is 300yen, up to 100,000yen can be procured per project. Application downloads are free(iOS/Android), and they have a release campaign now, so the usage fee is free also! However unfortunately, they have not done any services for the global market yet.

You can make a radio program of the mobile apps era

Are you interested in becoming Youtuber? However, it may be a bit embarrassing to publish your own real face on the Internet. So, how about making radio programs? We already have the podcast as information transmission only of voices. But "Radiotalk" released by Excite is a mobile application.

It is like the "Instagram of voice". This is an mobile application that anyone can easily create their own radio program and release various talks. Users can create one program per one account and can release talks with no limit from their program. Each talks can record up to 12 minutes per one. Because of they are "recorded" rather than live streaming, users can rerecord talks until they are satisfied. They do not have to use their real name, and can use favorite "radio-name". Of course, they can listen to other users' programs as listeners. It supports background playback, you can open web browsers while listening to the talks or use other applications. Downloading is free, now only Android version has been released, but iOS version will be released soon also.

Virtual singer in the VR camera

RICOH's THETA series is one of the very popular VR cameras in Japan. On the other hand, Hatsune Miku is the singing voice synthesizer application and character that celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. In commemoration of this, they sell collaboration model of THETA "RICOH THETA SC Type HATSUNE MIKU".

The base of this is RICOH THETA SC released in October 2016, but exterior colors and shutter sounds are changed. The color of the body is the same blue green as Hatsune Miku's hair, and her official illustration will be printed. In addition, users can add 3DCG model data of Hatsune Miku to 360 degree photos taken by them using its image editing application.

Of course, accessories and packages also become special specifications. This is a sale for a limited time, they only accept orders from 12:00 September 1 to 12:00 October 31. Shipment time is around the end of September to mid December. The price is 36,654yen(in tax). The tax-free price is 33,939 yen, and this is also related to Hatsune Miku. Because we pronounce 3 as "Mi" and 9 as "Ku" in one of type of reading Japanese figures.

You can transform yourself into elf

You will like this earphone if you are a fan of High Fantasy.

Gadget shop Thanko released the earphone that anyone can easily transform himself/herself into elf. You can transform yourself into elf for only 1,980 yen(in tax) and of course can listen to music. It made of flesh-colored materials(unfortunately the skin tone is only one kind), you attach the elf ear-shape clips, and if have got long hair to hide the cord, it becomes very natural. This will be good for cos play or selfie. In addition, this has control buttons and mini-microphone also, so you can use this for the talk with the smartphone. The size of elf ear-shape clips is 70mm *100mm *12mm, the length of cord is 1,300mm, and the weight is 37g. The type of the plug is 3.5mm 4-pole stereo mini plug and available in any kind of smartphones.

via http://www.thanko.jp/shopdetail/000000002828

Ice-lolly becomes a DJ machine

This summer in Japan is fierce heat as usual, and if we do not eat ice‐lolly we will melt due of this heat.

This "DJ machine" may make hot days fun. Toy maker Takara Tomy Arts collaborated with electronic musical instruments maker Korg and released a gadget to turn Ice-lolly into a DJ machine. Usage is easy. Just set Ice-lolly and lick this with tongue while touching the "electric conduction spot" behind the grip. Then, this energizes and various sounds are played. Built-in sounds are more than 20 types including simple sound effects and EBM / House musics produced by korg, and every time users lick Ice-lolly they are randomly played. However, Ice-lolly coated with chocolate etc. is not supported. The size is about W 90mm × H 110mm × D 50mm, work with two AAA alkaline dry batteries and the price is 1,490yen(in tax). There are the "age-age(hyped-up) version" and the "cool version", and the sounds recorded in each are different.

via http://www.takaratomy-arts.co.jp/specials/icedj/

Hanger with deodorization function

Smells of sigarettes, smells of meals... It is troublesome that clothes smell awful. However, it will be very convenient if it is settled only by hanging clothes to the hangers.

Panasonic announced that they released hanger that has deodorization function on September 1. This has decontamination anti-virus ion "nanoe X"(it is the original name that Panasonic devised), when users switch this on, a fan turns, and nanoe X is released by air supply terminals. Nanoe X has power of decomposition deodorizing and can even inactivate pollen. You will want to use this in spring if you are troubled by hay fever.

In addition, a clothes cover is included in this set, and the users can get the higher effect by using this and a hanger together. Operation modes are two kinds of "nomal-mode(5 hours) and long-mode(7 hours), but electric utility expense is less than 1 yen both. This works with a mobile battery, even if it's in the closet which don't have outlet, the users can use this. The size is 400mm*88mm*281mm, and the weight is 520g. Color variation is only black. An AC adapter, a cable of 2.5m and clothes cover are included in this set.

via http://panasonic.jp/hanger/

Desk fan which indicates a message

Hot summer has came. You may feel like placing a small electric fan on the desk in an office. If it has another different function? Surely offices may become fun.

Gadget shop Shanhai-Donya released Desk fan having LED gimmick. A glance, this is simple desk fan corresponding to the USB bus power, but this has LEDs between fans, and can display LED messages there while turning fans. Users can set 9 kinds of messages from software, one message is usable to 13 characters, and available colors are red, green, blue, yellow, pink, sky blue, and white. Of course you can hide messages by a switch change when you want to use this as a common desk fan, and regulate the angle of this 360 degrees. The size is 170mm*85mm*160mm, and weight is 373g. Color variation is only black. The price is 2,499 yen(in tax).

via https://www.donya.jp/item/74699.html

Cool electronic paper watch "FES Watch U"

Sony public released display watch "FES Watch U" which adopted the flexible electronic paper of the active matrix method on a dial and a belt on June 12. You can change designs of the watch just to push the button.

Furthermore, you can use photos which you took with the smartphone camera and the designs of professional creators by using free smartphone application "FES Closet". Because the designs released by this application increase from now on, you can choose various designs. The designs which you can save are max 24 kinds. The battery is lithium ion battery, and it works about two weeks by charge time of 2.5 hours. Of course it is waterproofing. The color variations are three kinds. The premium black is 64,800yen, and silver and white are 49,680yen(All are tax-included).

Crazy English learning apps for Japanese

Needless to say, Japanese people are not good at English and want to overcome it. Various English learning mobile application have been released until now to satisfy their needs, but this "Crazy English Quiz" is slightly strange and therefore it is popular with many Japanese.

This is simple learning application of the quiz form. The various example sentences of conversation forms are shown in application, and users choose appropriate sentences in conversations from choices. It is totally like the examination of the junior high school or the high school. However, each example sentences are crazy and strange. For example, "Is this a pen?" "Isn't that pretty obvious?" Why is her answer so biting?

A main character of these example sentences is a boy called Takashi, He does various eccentric acts, and is treated bitingly by other characters. There is even such an example sentence. "Everyone else was gonna meet noon, but my call time was 5am".

Users review it "The impact of the example sentences are too strong, so I can't get any study done at all!", it sure is. However, it is a chance to get close to English. The each iOS and Android downloading is free(iOS/Android).

These are my favorite example sentences.