Cellphone Novels Top Japan 2007 Bestsellers

Here in US, most people are still struggling to understand what SMS is and why SMS is useful. To most people, cellphone is really just a regular phoneline with no line. You use it to talk. The end.

In Japan, cellphone is your connection to the society. This article is the best example of how cellphone has changed the society in Japan. A cellphone novel is something you compose using your cellphone in SMS form, as blog entries into a site that publish it. It's written using cellphone, and being read by millions of readers using cellphone.

Dell Metal Laptop Shocks You

No, it's not a sticker shock. It actually shocks you. I like Dell's solution.

"The electric current on all Dell products have been measured and proven to be well within the safety limits per safety standards -- IEC950, EN60950, UL1950, etc, even with an input voltage of 240 Volts. The voltage (tingling sensation) does NOT present any risk of injury to the user. It is recommended to unplug the AC adaptor from the parent device before attaching any cables or accessories, as this reduces the possibility of experiencing the tingling sensation."

Oh good, so basically, pay no attention to the jolt. It's all good.

Oracle Buys BEA

Love of buying must be in the air. Oracle buys BEA for 8.5 Billion.

Sun Buys Mysql UPDATE

In a very strange move, Sun buys mysql. I have no clue why Sun thinks owning mysql is useful.

Meanwhile, I'll keep sticking with postgresql.

UPDATE: Wow, Sun paid a LOT. They paid 800 million cash, and assumed 200 million stock option from mysql AB side. Making it a 1B deal.

Weekly Japan Sales Number

Here is the console sales number in Japan for the period of 2007-12-31 to 2008-01-06 from Media Create:

1. Nintendo DS Lite - 266,568
2. PSP - 218,234
3. Wii - 207,797
4. PlayStation 3 - 64,183
5. PlayStation 2 - 32,010
6. Xbox 360 - 9,763

Something interesting is happening here. Ever since the release of PSP2000 and Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, PSP numbers has been keeping up with DS, which is an amazing feat in Japan.

Sony Announces Skype For PSP, Goes After iPhone/iPod Touch

Sony has announced Skye for PSP. It only works with the new PSP2000, also known as PSP slim. It will enable you to use Skype for voice call. Sony will also be selling the top mounted USB microphone that was originally designed for the Talkman auto translator software from 2005. As with all other versions of Skype, Skype to Skype calls are free. But you have to pay for Skype to regular number calls. You can also pay for a monthly service that gives you a number which will ring your PSP.

With this, Sony feels they have the iPod Touch/iPhone killer. They feel that PSP has widescreen, has wifi, has web browser, has mp3 player, has video player, supports external memory slot which currently is at 4GB, soon to reach 16GB ($300 from SanDisk), and of course it's a game machine, has video out (PSP slim one). Now with Skype, it's also a phone. All these at $200 price sticker vs $300 for 8GB iPod Touch, or $400 iPhone. Input a problem? Sony is also working on a USB keyboard for PSP for summer 2009. Sony even makes GPS and DBV TV adapter for PSP in Japan. The DBV TV adapter is also for PSP slim only. They feel PSP will be the new hip do it all gadget that everyone will carry.

I love my PSPs, yes I have several of them. But my money is on iPhone. No way I'd replace my iPhone with my PSP.

Don't Use Network Solutions To Lookup Domain

I've been a strong support of Network Solutions for years. So this come as a big shock as to how unethical this is. Basically, every domain you search using their website, they lock it and register it themselves. So now you can only buy it through them. I love their spin on this too, they are claiming that they are doing this to protect you. By ripping you off? Thanks for the protection.

Ayu Goes Public With Lost Of Hearing

This actually has been going on for a few years. But she has decided to announce to the public. So I'll just translate her blog entry. It pretty much speaks for itself.

===

This year, I have this crazy ambition.

Honestly, last year when I went to the doctor for the ear check up. My left ear had completely creased to function. The results indicate there is no cure.

Even so, I still want to continue to be a singer.

So I'll use the remaing right ear, and continue to sing until my right ear also fails. I'll sing till I hit the limit of the remaining ear.

I won't give up.

I won't give any excuses.

As a singer, I'll continue to perform the best music I can to all of you.

Ganbare(it's a cheering thing, it means to work hard), honestly, I don't like that expression at all.

Ganbare, I must go on.

Until the day comes.

Something Besides Word

I saw this article on nytimes.com. It reminded me very much of my search for alternative word processor when I first switched to OSX for most of my daily tasks. The one I settled on is Nisus. I like the fact that its native file format is RTF. Anything can open it correctly. It does a very good job reading/writing Word files.

These days for any documents I originate, I start in Nisus. The only thing I still use Word foe is when I need to participate in "track changes".