The always-on Jean Snow posted an interesting tip on a groovy style QR Code campaign running for Louis Vuitton. Produced by SET, and designed by Takashi Murakami, this is definitely a level-up from the good old black & white standard. While we have covered several unusual 2D barcode offerings in the past, such as Design QR and Ishinokoe, this next-gen full color version certainly raises the bar.
We knew they would do it finally eventually. GMAP, with Enfour, have launched a fantastic bi-lingual Tokyo map application on the iTunes App Store. Find!TOKYO is perhaps ‘the’ most comprehensive location tool available for the metropolis, featuring thousands of custom designed maps for the iPhone and iPod touch screen.
The application includes fully scalable Tokyo train/subway map, interior maps of major stations, area maps and a detailed directory with maps of hotels, cinemas, parks, temples, shrines, etc. Along with the maps, many locations are tagged with photos and relevant information for use as visual guides or to learn about the locations. The content is stored inside the application so there is no need to access the Internet; ideal for the iTouch and overeas iPhone users.
There is a 600 yen one-time fee for Find!TOKYO, which includes future version updates, so you’ll never get lost in Tokyo again.. a killer deal at twice the price!
KDDI and Sharp have announced the world first debut of a waterproof solar panel powered handset will be available for sale in Japan as of early June. The eco-friendly design will enable an estimated 1 minute of voice usage for every 10 minutes of charging time, under ideal conditions, and appears set to be the first of several innovative models planned for future release. The code-named Voyage, Soup and Gem concept designs are featured Here.
Hitachi has announced the beta release of GazoPa, an iPhone app which allows users to search for similar images on the web by uploading any photo captured with camera on iPhone, will be available free at Apple’s iPhone App Store. This makes it possible for users to search for images similar to the items in front of them since GazoPa uses image features such as color and/or shape, users can look for images without typing any words.
NTT Com announced today that it has begun accepting subscriptions to its new flat-rate billing plans for “Mobile/Remote Access DOCOMO Model,” a service for secure broadband access, including via NTT DOCOMO’s 3.5G HSDPA network, to NTT Com-provided VPN. NTT Com also announced that connection to the service is now possible via wireless routers, and that the service is compatible with telemetering systems for machine-to-machine transmission of data. The service, which NTT Com will provide as an MVNO, will be expanded through partnerships in a number of fields for increased compatibility with telemetering systems. NTT Com also plans to expand the lineup of compatible mobile handsets by releasing original models or introducing lower-priced models.
Of course this stunt was bound to get a few tongues wagging, however the meat within, indicating the Feds renewed push for moving domestic digital content into markets overseas, is apparent if not politically motivated. Prime Minister Aso, a well-known manga maniac, was recently quoted as suggesting his government would like to create 500,000 new jobs in the music, fashion and media space by 2020.
Kyocera Communications, a sales, marketing and service organization for Kyocera and Sanyo-branded products in the Americas, presented their technology portfolio of four broadband wireless devices at the CTIA trade show in Las Vegas. Along with its full line of mobile phones, the company showed a prototype all-in-one LTE base station along with three iBurst terminal devices in its booth at this years event.
A new Sharp handset is headed stateside for T-Mobile as this post shows the Sharp Sidekick PV300 has shown up with the FCC. While it’s possible they are running the device through the FCC to get global roaming certification, however the certification for AWS 3G leads one believe it is destined for T-Mobile as AWS 3G is the kind T-Mobile uses.
The good folks over at KDDI have announced [in Japanese] a new lineup of devices, tagged “iida” for innovation, imagination, design and art, with 3-models on launch to follow in the foot steps of their in-house AU Design Project. The G9 slider, Misora clamshell and stylish collaboration with Yayoi Kusama, details are available Here, along with teasers for more units to come.
We note the Solar-powered concept model on display during CEATEC 2008 seems to be in the pipeline and the Pico Projector which can also connect to several other AU handsets as well. All of these devices are on display now over at the Designing Studio in Harajuku!
DoCoMo announced that it has established its fifth U.S. Advisory Board and will convene the first meeting in the United States on April 8. The board will be chaired by former FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, currently chairman of the MK Powell Group and a senior advisor to Providence Equity Capital, who also chaired the previous board. He will be joined by 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz, currently a professor at Columbia University.
