So vodafone is releasing a new phone in Japan...
Not o­nly does it have an integrated TV tuner, it has the ability to record up to 12 minutes of TV programming.
Ah, I miss my J-Phone

vodafone has announced that they will release the "V401T," a Sha-Mail terminal with an integrated TV tuner, in the back part of April. Continuing what was started by the V601N released in December of 2003, this is the second phone to have an integrated TV tuner.

The V401T is a Sha-Mail terminal from Toshiba that has an integrated terrestrial analog TV tuner. Not o­nly can users start TV and switch between vertical and horizontal viewing at the tuch of a button, one can also use the TV tuner to listen to FM radio. With utilization of the "Stereo Earphones with Microphone and TV Antenna" included in the package, TV can be enjoyed without worrying about o­ne's surroundings, and the image/audio quality will be increased. However, TV and radio sound output is in mono. It is possible to watch TV and listen to the radio without attaching the earphones.

As far as related functions are concerned, o­ne can use the "record function" to record up to 12 minutes of a TV program, and capture up to 9 still images of a broadcast with the "capture function." According to vodafone, a service will be started where users can download ringers of the song they are currently listening to o­n the radio.

The main display is a 2.2", 320x240 dot, 260,000 color super-fine polysilicon TFT display. The subdisplay is a 1", 60x80, 65,536 color STN display. A 320,000 pixel CCD camera can be used to capture images up to 640x480. Up to 40 channel ringers are supported, 50KB VAppli are supported, and weather icons are also supported. The Japanese input engine is "Mobile Lupo."

With a weight of 114g, the dimensions of the phone are 48 x 95 x 26mm. The continuous talk time is 120 miuntes, the continuous idle time 330 hours, and the continuous TV/FM radio use time is 60 minutes. The two available body colors are Milano White and German Green.

Furthermore, using the "Limit Mode" as included o­n other current Toshiba terminals, the use of certain functions such as phone, mail, and web can be limited to a certain extent or time period. o­ne can also limit the time period in which the TV tuner and FM radio functions can be used.



Inspired by:
http://k-tai.impress.co.jp/cda/article/news_toppage/18399.html

Press Release (vodafone, English, PDF):
http://www.vodafone.jp/english/release/2004/040407_2e.pdf

Press Release (Toshiba, Japanese):
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2004_04/pr_j0702.htm