"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.