Polar Bear Plus

HD-DVD Will Promotes Digital Downloads

I've read "The Ghost Map", an interesting book about two men who fought against the cholera outbreak in London 1854. Since the book is filled with logical analysis and arguments, I'm so surprised that the author, Steven Johnson, is one of the early-adopters who bought HD-DVD player:

- Interview with HD DVD player owner Steven Johnson (kottke.org)

The interview reveals the reason why Johnson mistakenly chose HD-DVD, not Blu-Ray, and also his reaction against Toshiba's rout. What is interesting, though, is his following comment about Blu-Ray:

The consolation prize is that Apple introduced HD rentals with the AppleTV -- which we also have -- right as HD-DVD was dying, so I might be able to bypass Blu-Ray altogether, just out of spite. 

He has no intention to buy any Blu-Ray player, at least for a while. Apple TV, a digital media receiver with which users can download content from the iTunes Store, could be a substitute for defeated HD-DVD. If Johnson is a particular early-adopter who owns HD-DVD, its defeat would boost the demand for digital downloads.

The following article is talking about the inevitable war between Blu-Ray and Internet:

- Digital downloads will be Blu-ray's downfall (CNET)

If Blu-Ray alliance grows bullish because now there is only one dominating standard, some consumers -- especially ex-HD-DVD owners -- will turn into supporters of digital downloads. Blu-Ray must keep on fighting, otherwise Internet  will avenge the death of HD-DVD.

BTW, Johnson would envy Japanese consumers who also mistakenly bought HD-DVD players like him:

- Insanely Great: Japanese Electronic Store Letting Customers Trade HD DVD Players for Blu-ray (GIZMODO)

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic -- and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World Steven Johnson

The Pen That You Can Write and Record with

Do you know how to use a pen? Yes, a pen is a tool to write, but now you can use it to record messages.

- Pen-style Voice Recorder, DVP-2000

The "Digital Voice-Pen", produced by NHC, is a combination of pen and digital voice recorder. You can write, record messages, and transfer files with USB connection. There are already some pen-style voice recorder, but most of them visibly look like a machince, and contain no ink. Thus people around you will notice you have a recorder, not a pen.

So who is using NHC's Digital Voice-Pen? The company says the main users are businesspersons in their thirties and forties. They use it to record important business negotiations without letting negotiating partners detect it. Actually, you can start recording by pushing the clip, so nobody will realize that you have a voice recorder.

Well, I want to have one, but do not let someone use it when we have a meeting. What do you think?

Now, You Can Call a Robot Porter

You don't have to carry your luggage at Kita Kyushu Airport. You can call a porter -- not human, it's robot!

asahi.com reports Yaskawa Electric Corporation has started proving test of "RoboPorter", a full automatic machine which can carry luggage and navigate passangers. The robot has three wheels and laser sensors, which enable it to avoid obstacles automatically.

(You can see more pictures at this page.)

Yaskawa Electric is planning to put RoboPorter into practical use within three years. Does anyone want to buy one for your home?

Robot Ghosts and Wired Dreams: Japanese Science Fiction from Origins to Anime

About Me!

Konnichiwa! I'm a Polar Bear living in Tokyo, Japan.

My name is Akihito Kobayashi. I'm working at Hitachi Consulting Japan as management consultant. Also I'm a blogger since 2005, and I have several blogs now (all of them are written in Japanese).

"China-Free" Valentine's Day

Asahi.com reports that a coffe beans vendor claims its chocolates are "china-free".

 
(* reproduced from the asahi.com's article)

Namban-ya, a coffe beans vendor which also sells sweet stuff, has put seals on its chocolates since last October. The seal reads "this product contains no material made in China."

I understands the company's action. After the massive food-poisoning scandal caused by dumplings made in China, Japansese customers are afraid of chinese foods. Vendors have to take some actions to rebuild trust.

However, I'm worried that they are going to be too radical. Yes, I don't want to eat poisoned foods, but too much restriction may generate racial discrimination towards chinese people. Did they intentionally intoxicate dumplings to kill the Japanese? I don't think so.

Anyway, I hope everybody calms down, and the problem will be settled soon.