Does this also mean that all the old fogey polyester clothes can be recycled and used for memory? And if so will their absence of clothing be considered flash memory?
What I don't understand is why anyone needs to cram a whole multi-user, multi-tasking OS onto a small device with only two or three modes of operation (voice phone, Internet and maybe digital camera). None of these devices really need to be upgradeable - most Europeans get a whole new phone every 12-18 months because their network provider allows cheap upgrades - so that can't be the reason.
I would think of two reasons:
1: Because they can. Japan has always been the land of new miniaturized geek gadgets. They also like first bragging rights.
2: Culture and life-style. When you spend 2 to 3 hours a day commuting on the crowded train, you have very little choice with that time except to look at that little screen that is three inches from your face. Games, email, i-mode web browsing, picture and video recording and playback. Just today, I saw an ad for J-phone (Vodaphone) for a cell phone that allows you to watch TV!
Sure a PDA will do as well. But try juggling all that while having your body pressed against the train door.
Culture wise, the Japanese really do not start up conversations with strangers on the train. They are most likely to disappear into a book, a comic, a newspaper, or a small gadget. The cell phone has become one of the more popular train riding past-times.
This is an excerpt from a Wall Sreet Journal Article "New Smart CD Aims
To Thwart File Sharing" on their technology posted September 18 of this year:
SunnComm says that most people, unless they are hackers or truly determined, won't be able to circumvent the limits, including one that keeps songs locked so they can't be played even if they circulate over file-sharing networks.
Slashdot Mirror
No, FLESH memory.
Da dum!
1: Because they can. Japan has always been the land of new miniaturized geek gadgets. They also like first bragging rights.
2: Culture and life-style. When you spend 2 to 3 hours a day commuting on the crowded train, you have very little choice with that time except to look at that little screen that is three inches from your face. Games, email, i-mode web browsing, picture and video recording and playback. Just today, I saw an ad for J-phone (Vodaphone) for a cell phone that allows you to watch TV!
Sure a PDA will do as well. But try juggling all that while having your body pressed against the train door.
Culture wise, the Japanese really do not start up conversations with strangers on the train. They are most likely to disappear into a book, a comic, a newspaper, or a small gadget. The cell phone has become one of the more popular train riding past-times.
I'll have to strongly disagree. Charity, IMHO, should be anonymous. Anything other than that is either ego building or incedious manipulation.
http://www.asahi.com/business/update/1116/005.html
It was just covered in Forbes a few hours ago:
/ 15/rtr797045.html
http://www.forbes.com/technology/newswire/2002/11
Also, it takes some time to hit the online Asahi or Yomiuri.