Click Chick Goes To Tech Mecca

As you may know from reading my recent columns, I was in Japan earlier this month. When I was finally able to break away from work my last weekend there, I took the train and made an obligatory visit to the Technology Mecca of Planet Earth - Akihabara, Japan. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, that area is famous for being the main shopping district for electronics, computers, anime and otaku (referring to people with obsessive interests - especially anime, manga and video games).

Other than eating tons of ono food, going to Akihabara was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. But, unfortunately, because of the time constraint, I was only there for one day and barely made a dent in what there is to see and do. On my next trip, I could easily spend a few days there.

Walking through the shops in Akihabara can almost give you a headache. Most of the bigger stores rise six to 10 stories high, are packed wall-to-wall with techie products, and take forever to walk through. I even browsed through a huge Don Quijote store that had just about everything you could think of.

There also are small stores down the side streets that have bins and bins of computers, parts and software you can rummage through and buy at bargain prices. With all these choices, you can find your needs and also find things that you weren’t necessarily looking for but could use - or think are just cool to have. Yeah, lots of those items filled my luggage.

I noticed many of the mainstream products (TVs, computers, etc.) are about the same as what you can find here. The only difference is you don’t have to worry about products being out of stock. For example, I saw stacks and stacks of Nintendo Wiis and Wii Fits, which are still in high demand yet in very limited supply here. It’s very convenient to just walk into one of these stores and find exactly what you’re looking for with-out having to put it on back order or on some sort of waiting list.


Another thing I noticed in Akihabara (as well as other parts of Japan) were the video game arcades. All the ones I saw seem to be years ahead of what we have now and make what we have yesterday’s news. Not to mention the obsessive-compulsive side of me was impressed at the fact that there were wipes all over these arcades so I could wipe down my machine before/after use.

After visiting multiple Japanese arcades, I realized the latest game craze is a card game genre where you place your cards on a sensor field and the movements of your cards correspond to your on-screen moves in real time. Based on reactions I saw in the arcades, my guess is the most popular card-based game is Square Enix’s recently released Lord of Vermilion.

No matter which arcade we went to, all the game stations for Lord of Vermilion were always full and lines of people were waiting to play it. Out of curiosity, I had to play it, too. It’s a fantasy role-playing game where seven worlds from different dimensions come together. Before you start playing, you need to purchase a starter deck of cards (approximate cost: $5). It comes with a player card, four familiar cards (ranging from animals to monsters to spirits), a card that records your character’s data, six plastic cases and a user manual (in Japanese). Collecting cards is a large part of these card games, so each time you beat the computer, it spits out a new card for you - very cool!

Just to name a few, here are others that caught my eye: Derby Owners Club 2008 (next generation horse racing game to what you see in Dave & Buster’s today), Tekken 6, Street Fighter IV and Dance Dance Revolution. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

As with those multi-story stores, most of the arcades in Akihabara had multiple levels of seemingly endless games. It was kind of dangerous for me to venture in there! From computers to gadgets to video games, I found it all in Tech Mecca. Now I want to go back! If you’re planning a trip to Japan, make sure you stop there for me.

SceneCaster’s Immersiv 3D Viewer

SceneCaster, a web place to create and share 3D scenes, which launched successfully in September 2007, is an online community where you can visually share your ideas and make them real. Adding to its popularity, SceneCaster recently announced the Immersiv 3D Viewer, an innovation that allows you to enjoy an immersive 3D experience in your browser with no plug-in or download requirements.

This Immersiv 3D Viewer is a significant enhancement with SceneCaster’s ability to offer you a way to create, share and interact with web-based 3D scenes, and is embeddable anywhere online. You can use pictures of your own home’s rooms to help you choose color schemes and furniture, then click through and buy your items from e-commerce sites such as Amazon, eBay or Kohler.


“We have always been committed to providing our users with the very best experience for the creation and distribution of 3D content and social media,” says Mark Zohar, founder and CEO of SceneCaster. “With the launch of our Immersiv 3D Viewer, we are continuing to lower the barriers for the use and adoption of user-generated 3D content. At the same time, we’re also enhancing the user experience by allowing users to add their own photos, slideshows, music and videos to their 3D scenes, and share their personal con-tent any-where on the Web using our new Immersiv 3D Viewer.”

The Immersiv 3D Viewer allows you to look around, zoom and interact with your created 3D scenes right in your browser. SceneCaster’s patent pending contextual commerce and advertising capabilities allow you to connect to relevant ads, offers and those e-commerce websites, making this a turnkey for your shopping needs.

Also, for the business side, there are opportunities to create and publish 3D immersive scenes or “showrooms” to drive brand engagement and viral marketing campaigns. An example: A movie studio may create and publish a 3D scene, such as a movie theater or media room, that features an upcoming movie trailer that can be viewed directly in the Immersiv 3D Viewer. Under the hood SceneCaster is a web-based 3D application that runs in a normal Internet browser. It uses a drag-and-drop interface with access to a large catalog of 3D web content. The SceneCaster 3D scenes can be shared, viewed and interacted with on your browsers, including your iPhone. The Immersiv 3D Viewer added the ability to pan, zoom and interact with the 3D scenes with no additional download requirements, as well as the ability to add in your own photos, slideshows, music or videos to your 3D scenes.


With more than 1 million registered users, SceneCaster has emerged as one of the fastest-growing 3D web applications, and you can share your scenes on Facebook (social networking website) or Flickr (photo sharing site). A huge drawback is if you’re trying to build your own scene, it does not work on the Mac platform, only with Windows (XP or Vista). I realized that after I tried it in different browsers on my MacBook Pro - Netscape, Firefox and Internet Explorer. The word is that it will be Mac compatible soon.

Try SceneCaster and the Immersiv 3D Viewer for free at www.scenecaster.com.

Soul Calibur IV

A few weeks ago Namco Bandai Games released the latest installment of one of my favorite games, Soul Calibur IV. The biggest news with this game is the ability to play your opponents online and character customization. I also was excited to see Darth Vader and Yoda from Star Wars.

Soul Calibur IV has come a long way since the original version released for the Sega’s Dreamcast in 1999, yet playing it is extremely familiar if you’re already a Soul Calibur fan. The game has so much more added to give you a true next generation experience. As you battle, your protective armor is broken off and lacerations of clothing are shown to give you a visual on damages.


Regardless of what character you play, it’s user-friendly enough that even first-timers should-n’t have any problem jumping right into it. The general goal is to deplete your opponent’s health bar, or try to knock them out of the ring. You’ll do yourself a favor if you master the basics of your character’s controls, especially when to block and the timing of your hits. You don’t need to absolutely know all the combo attacks, but these basics will help you beat your opponents effectively. The nice thing in the Story mode is the character switch option - by pushing the R1 button (PlayStation 3), it’ll automatically switch to another character just in case your health bar is running low or you want to try another guy/gal mid-fight.

The game features four different modes: Story (go through the story while earning money for upgrades and new equipment), Arcade (play eight stages and earn points towards online rank), Training and Tower of Lost Souls (choose to fight enemies while ascending or descending this 60-foot tower).

I started off in Story mode with my Xianghua gal. After I finished all the stages with her, I decided to use her to try out the character-creation mode. This feature is one of the things that make this game stand out from the rest of the fighter genre. You can choose your character from the existing ones the game offers, or create one fro m scratch. There are literally countless ways to customize your character with weapons, armor pieces, garments, hair color, assorted accessories (i.e. neckpieces, bracelets), etc. While you’re choosing these items, a handy chart on the right side of your screen indicates whether or not adding the selected items will enhance your strengths or increase your weaknesses. Keep in mind the more you use your customized characters, the more options you can unlock.

If you don’t have a lot of time, the Story mode is extremely short and perfect for that 10-15 minute block. The Tower of Lost Souls is where you’ll find the majority of the best single-player gameplay. Here you spend your time descending the tower one floor at a time while you’re fighting off multiple enemy groups without health replenishment.


It’s a little disappointing that you can’t play the PlayStation 3 Darth Vader against the Xbox 360 Yoda since they’re on the two different platforms, but it’s still cool to even see them on the game as guest characters. In addition, you can unlock The Apprentice in both versions, but it takes a little work. Playing in the online mode is great too - you never know whom you’re battling with on the other side of the world.

I still love Soul Calibur after all these years. It’s going to take awhile for me to become bored with Soul Calibur IV. For all you Soul Calibur or fighting game fans, this is a must-have.

Soul Calibur IV is rated “T” for Teen, available for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and sells for $59.99. Visit your nearest GameStop (www.gamestop.com), Best Buy (www.bestbuy.com) or log on to www.amazon.com to purchase, or go to www.soulcalibur.com for more information.

Translate Chinese With A Phone Call

There’s no doubt that the best way to find your way around a foreign country is to actually learn the native language, or have someone with you who speaks it fluently.

When you don’t have that luxury, the next best thing is an electronic translator, dictionary or cheat sheet of frequently used phrases. Cutting all that out and revolutionizing language translation is the recent launch of jahjah BABEL, a real-time, free phone translation service. At the moment, Chinese Mandarin is the only language available - perfect timing for travelers (with international cell phone service) to this year’s Beijing Olympics.

“Jahjah was built to bring down barriers to global communication through high quality, low-cost calls available from any phone, any network, anywhere. And now with jahjah BABEL, we are removing the language barrier and providing a valuable service to anyone traveling to Beijing this summer,” says jahjah co-founder Daniel Mattes.

Jahjah BABEL is the latest breakthrough in jahjah’s mission to remove the barriers of global communication. The idea is to rid yourself of those translation books and spare the hand gestures so you can just call a number, say your message in English and hear it back in Mandarin. In reversal, it works for Mandarin speakers wanting a statement translated into English. Your phone is transformed into a communication bridge.

Using jahjah BABEL is simple, and can be used from any phone line:

* Dial jahjah BABEL from any phone: U.S. access number 1-718-513-2969, or China access number: 021-5129-4632.

* Choose which language you want your message translated to (English to Chinese or Chinese to English).

* Say your message and press #.

* Confirm that your message was properly understood by the system.

Your message will automatically be played back in Chinese. The easiest thing to do is hand your phone over to the individual you’re trying to talk to (or play it over speakerphone).


The other person can then record their message in Chinese, and you’ll hear it back in English. Since I’m more of a (broken) Cantonese speaker, I asked my Mandarin-speaking friend Walan to test it out with a variety of phrases - both easy and difficult. One of the first things she recited to it in English was “I want to buy a cell phone.” This was one of the only phrases that translated completely accurately into Mandarin after only having to say it once. However, it could not translate, “My car’s engine is having a problem,” from Mandarin to English. She had to repeat most of the phrases an average of four times.

Walan’s conclusion is that it definitely has an easier time translating from English to Mandarin than it does Mandarin to English. It also depends on the phrases, individual words, your intonation, interdiction, accent, etc. and how the system recognizes your voice. If you slur your words, you’ll have to repeat yourself over and over again, too. Still, not bad at all for free! For the simple things that most travelers require, it’ll pull you through. You just need to make sure your cell phone works in your destination.

No other free service provides you with real-time translations at the end of a phone. You’ll just have to worry about paying for any international/roaming charges on your phone, and not the translation services. Other languages will become available in the coming months. Visit www.jajahbabel.com for more information.

The diNovo Edge Mac Edition

For you Mac users out there looking for a new keyboard, you may want to hold out for Logitech’s high-end diNovo Edge Mac Edition. It has a nice artistic look with its black color and thin design, made of a Plexiglas frame with sharp angles, soft-orange backlighting, and aluminum palm rest with an anodized-silver finish that looks good with any Mac.

“We’re truly delighted to offer discerning Mac enthusiasts our highest-quality in keyboard design and performance,” says Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech’s keyboards and desktops. “From the piano-black finish to its built-in TouchDiscTM touch pad, the diNovo Edge can make it a pleasure for you to type, control music or launch your favorite applications.”


The original diNovo Media diNovo marked the launch of Logitech’s award-winning diNovo line, and this newest Mac product is extremely thin at only half an inch thick. It’s very similar to the Windows-based original, and judging from the pictures, it comes with Mac-specific keys for one-touch access to Mail, Safari browser and iTunes. You’ll see the ones you’ve come to know such as the Command, Option, Control, disk eject and a power button.

Additionally, the TouchDisc allows you to scroll and navigate from your keyboard by moving your finger up/down or left/right to control the mouse cursor on your computer’s screen. It also allows you to scroll through an open document. The keyboard features PerfectStroke, Logitech’s key system that is designed to create “longer key travel” - 3.2 mm compared to a typical 2.2 mm-sized keyboard, meaning optimal travel for your fingers to make. Micro-scissors distribute force evenly across the key surfaces, even if you strike the edge of the key, the keystroke still feels the same.

Logitech’s diNovo Edge Mac Edition comes with a charging base (four hours for a full charge that lasts up to one month, 10 minutes for one hour). Unlike its predecessor, this one does not come with a USB dongle for Bluetooth connectivity, as it connects to your Mac via your integrated Bluetooth software. It will be available later this month for $159.99 - see www.logtiech.com for additional information, and chances are you’ll be able to purchase it from www.amazon.com.

In-flight Wi-Fi Access Takes Off

I’m still waiting for Wi-Fi access to be available on flights from Hawaii, but at least we’re moving forward - last week Delta Air Lines announced that passengers traveling on Mainland flights (within the continental U.S. only) will soon have broadband Wi-Fi access to the Internet.

Delta joined the other airlines using Aircell’s Gogo cellular data service to become the first major U.S. airline to actually offer Wi-Fi access on its entire domestic fleet. Passengers will be charged a flat fee of $9.95 for flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three h o u r s .

Initially Gogo will be offered on Delta’s fleet of 133 MD 88/90 aircraft and then expand to the 200-plus Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft throughout the first half of 2009. The airline expects to have 330-plus aircraft by summer 2009. Delta joined the other airlines using Aircell’s Gogo cellular data service to become the first major U.S. airline to actually offer Wi-Fi access on its entire domestic fleet. Passengers will be charged a flat fee of $9.95 for flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours .

Initially Gogo will be offered on Delta’s fleet of 133 MD 88/90 aircraft and then expand to the 200-plus Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft throughout the first half of 2009. The airline expects to have 330-plus aircraft by summer 2009.


“Delta remains committed to providing a travel experience that maximizes the time our customers spend with us onboard by offering them even more productivity options,” says Richard Anderson, Delta’s chief executive officer. “Our customers asked for in-flight connectivity, and we’re responding by rolling out the most extensive Wi-Fi network in the sky .

Beginning this fall, our passengers will have the ability to stay connected when they travel with us throughout the continental U.S.” Gogo is the first “winged” wireless broadband network that provides coverage on select partner airlines across the continental United States at speeds you’ll see similar to wireless m o b i l e broadband services on the ground. It basically turns a typical airplane into a Wi-Fi hotspot. How it works is that once your aircraft reaches 10,000 feet and the captain gives the OK to turn on electronic devices, you sign up and log in - connection established!

On top of Delta’s announcement, Aircell announced its intention to base its fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband network on Long Term Evolution (LTE), the emerging standard for advanced mobile broadband networks and services. This allows passengers to w a t c h high-definition and interactive TV, or do multiplayer computer gaming you would normally enjoy in the comfort of your home. “The 4G market is still evolving, but one thing is for sure, passengers will want the same mobile broadband services in the air that they have on the ground,” says Joe Cruz, CTO, Aircell. “Aircell’s choice of LTE ensures that our network will continue to support the services customers demand today and in the future. With LTE, Aircell’s Air-to-Ground (ATG) In-flight Internet technology is future-proofed.”

Aircell joined up with wireless giants AT&T, Verizon and Alltel in selecting LTE as the 4G network technology choice. LTE will enable networks to deliver mobile data with greater speed, better throughput performance and lower latency. The end result is availability of the ultra-high bandwidth mobile services and pervasive Internet that we’ve come to expect.

At the moment, using its FCC frequency license, Aircell can give you 12 Mbps on any Gogo-equipped aircraft. Near-future upgrades will push it up to 22.7 Mbps, but once the 4G LTE network is deployed in 2011, we’ll see up to 300 Mbps. This whole 4G deployment also will benefit day-to-day airline operations, such as a real-time, high-resolution weather display in the cockpit.

I hope we can see this soon on flights in and out of Hawaii. I’m still in Japan and I wish I could have Gogo on the flight back home!

A Laptop Case That Zips Through Security

I just boarded the Bullet Train in Northern Japan about to take a three-hour trip back down to Tokyo, yet I still have the nightmares of arriving here and going through the airport with my laptop. I’m extremely picky with how my computer is handled - if someone I don’t know even touches it, I freak out - both for damage concerns and my clean-freak OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) tendencies.

Going through the airport this last time, I gasped when I watched the security agent pretty much toss the tray my poor MacBook Pro was in onto the conveyor belt, and watched it go over each of those bumps on the conveyor belt. Thank God I didn’t have to do all that to take this train too.

Quite timely for all this, in my mind, last week Targus announced a checkpoint-friendly laptop case that can supposedly breeze right through security. I wish I could actually try this bag on the trip back home. This Zip-Thru 15.4-inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case is the first in Targus’ line of checkpoint-friendly laptop cases. It’s a derivative of Targus’ award-winning Corporate Traveler line that is designed to help business travelers eliminate the hassle of having to remove their laptop from the case when passing through airport security, minimizing the possibility of the computer being lost, stolen or damaged during the screening process.

“Our Corporate Traveler line is already a favorite case among business travelers, and adding the new Zip-Thru feature makes it a must-have for anyone who travels with a laptop,” says Al Giazzon, vice president of marketing at Targus. “The new Zip-Thru Corporate Traveler laptop case is the lightest in its class, and features our patented SafePort Air Cushion System, which helps to prevent laptop damage if the bag is dropped or bumped. The unique combination of features emphasizes our dedication to delivering unsurpassed solutions, making the traveling experience smoother and more efficient for travelers.”

The Zip-Thru is designed to meet guidelines established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which focus on the screeners’ ability to see a clear image of your laptop when it’s properly secured in the bag. While the bag was in its developmental phases, Targus worked with the TSA to test it through airport screening devices to make sure it met standards.

Designed with the same features as the other lightweight and durable Corporate Traveler laptop bags, the Zip-Thru case splits the case down the middle (patent-pending design), isolating the laptop on one side to allow for clear X-ray scanning. This bag also allows ample space for your files, accessories or any other devices you may need (iPhone, iPod, etc.).

The bag measures 16.93-by-6.5-by-13.98 inches, weighs 3.74 pounds and is made of durable ballistic 1680 denier nylon.
The Targus Zip-Thru Corporate Traveler Laptop Case is backed by a lifetime warranty and will be available in black this October for $99.99 - visit www.targus.com for any updates or to purchase it at that time.

Through A High-Tech Doggie Door

If I had a dog, there’s an almost 100-percent guarantee I would have already installed this new Plexidor Electronic to let him in/out. The door reads the keycode on the RFID chip that you place on your little guy’s collar (as a collar key) and slides open as a mini garage door. Think of it as high-tech Star Trek-type door that moves upward instead of sideways. Your pet doesn’t have to push any button to open the door - it recognizes the chip and opens automatically.

Plexidor Electronic is the latest product for the Plexidor company, which has been in the pet-door business for more than 23 years. “Having a technological tool like this is great for the health and comfort of the pet, too,” says Plexidor president Joe Ambrose. “It allows the pets to go outside when they have to, not when you are able to let them out. For the pet owner, it is very helpful in preventing pet messes in the house from the pet having to hold it too long.”

The door is 1 5/8 inches thick and runs off your household current, and can either be plugged into an outlet or hardwired for power. It’s made of durable steel and has a hardened aluminum frame with a thick acrylic closing panel. Since the doors are made this way, you won’t see any unsightly rust streaks left on your house. Additionally, the aluminum framing is the same material used in football helmets. It’s shatter-resistant and it will not interfere with your home security system.


Plexidor’s collar key snaps on and stays on your pet’s collar securely. You can add or change the collar codes quickly with one-touch programming, but it comes preprogrammed. The RFID tag is waterproof, shockproof, battery-free, works with underground fencing, holds a secure fit, works with thousands of keycodes and, most importantly, durable. Your doggie is the only one that has the opener code. Its technology is passive, requires no batteries and allows you to have as many of your pets use the door as you want without having to worry about wild animals or your neighbors’ pets coming into your house.

As far as safety goes, the Plexidor Electronic will not close if it has an obstruction, which means no pinched tails or fingers - it’s pooch proof! It doesn’t have any gaps for air infiltration, which saves money. Plus, I know we live in Hawaii, but just in case you move or recommend this to someone in another geographic location, the interior-mounted motor will not freeze up in cold weather.

The Plexidor Electronic Pet Door comes in white and bronze, and various sizes to suit your pet. Each set comes with a pet door, exterior trim, stainless steel hardware, two collar keys and a power supply with a 15-foot cord. Prices range from $129 to $800, depending on the model/size.

You can order at www.dogdoors.com or call 800-749-9609.

Recording Life . . .

A couple weeks ago I was sent the Flip Mino ultra-compact video camera to try out. It was perfect timing, since I took it with me to Japan. It was convenient to use to take snippets of the plane and train rides, and just a little bit of whatever I saw.

Unpacking it was interesting - I thought it was odd that the camera’s packaging was almost identical to that of an iPhone. When I pulled it out, I was pleased to see how small it is. It’s only 4-by-2-inches and weighs 3.3 ounces - almost nothing. It slipped right into my pocket with no bulk. Because of its size, I think this is an excellent little tool for bloggers or folks who just enjoy recording life. This Flip Mino camera is the latest innovation by Pure Digital Technologies and its critically acclaimed Flip Video family of camcorders.

“Flip Video Mino delivers the perfect combination of high-quality video, sleek design and ease of use,"says Jonathan Kaplan, CEO of Pure Digital Technologies."For the millions who share their lives online every day, it’s more than a camcorder - it’s a fun tool for communicating and creatively expressing themselves.”

With 2GB of flash memory, the Mino allows you to capture up to one hour of video with its touch-sensitive buttons that record, play, fast-forward, rewind, pause and delete (four buttons surrounding the red “record"button). The touch sensitivity might be a bit too much if you’re not used to that type of interface. There’s also a 2x one-touch digital zoom that I found very convenient when adjusting the picture in the frame.


Once you record a video, you can do instant-playback on the camera’s 1.5-inch anti-glare LCD display. The picture quality is not high definition, but you’ll at least receive 640x480 megapixel quality (MPEG-4 AVI clips at 30 frames per second). The USB connector pops out with the push of a button, and it’s what you use to sync your videos to your computer as well as charge it. One charge of its lithium ion battery will last you about four hours. Using the Flip Mino’s built-in video management software, you can edit and share your videos from either a Mac or PC.

You can capture still photos from your videos, do custom editing of movie mixes with the option to set them to your own music, save and organize videos on your computer, and perform one-click e-mailing of videos and video greeting cards. Additionally, if you’re a MySpace, YouTube or AOL Video user, you can do instant uploads since the Mino has built-in integration with these sites’ video players. Video is especially becoming more popular with MySpace.

“Video is a major part of the MySpace experience, and the Mino’s portable design means MySpace users can capture their life as it happens,” says Josh Brooks, vice president of marketing for MySpace. “We are excited to partner with Flip Video to make it easier than ever for MySpace users to directly upload and share content on MySpace TV.”

The Flip Mino is great for portability and people who love to take on-the-go videos, but the price is a little steep at $179.99. It’s definitely a good user-friendly, point-and-shoot camera that puts out good picture quality for its size (perfect for a blog). You can find the Flip Video in black or white at your nearest Best Buy, Sears, Wal-Mart or online at www.amazon.com (free shipping).