Looks like Logitec was thinking of the rest of us by releasing this new USB One-Seg receiver coded the "LDT-1S100U." I say "rest of us" because the vast majority of One-Seg solutions available to date have been integrated; you've been required to buy a new device, whether it be a new mobile phone, new portable DVD player, or whatever, to watch One-Seg.

No more -- Logitec will be releasing the 1S100U this month for about 14,000 yen, based on the predictions of a few stores in Akihabara. According to the company, this is the first PC accessory with One-Seg support. The receiver has an integrated USB port, so you just plug it into your PC, extend the antenna, and you're ready to watch One-Seg broadcasts. The functionality of this one is sort of limited, since it doesn't do One-Seg recording, data broadcasts, or EPG, but it's a step in the right direction.



Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060913/logitec.htm

Press Release:
http://www.logitec.co.jp/press/2006/0913_02.html

Product Information:
http://www.logitec.co.jp/products/1seg/ldt1s100u.html

Here's a bizarre o­ne from Logitec: the "LAT-SD100MP3" has 8, count 'em, 8, SD card slots. Don't ask me why, but unless you've got a crapload of SD cards just sitting around your house (and happen to want to have them ALL inserted into the player at the same time), I think this is completely useless. At least it's cheap; o­nly 11,800 yen.

What's aluminium, has a 2.2GB capacity, and is smaller than a pad of Post-It notes? Logitec's new USB 2.0 hard drive.

Another slow week here at TechJapan, as my semester comes to a close. Expect to see a lot of changes here at TechJapan in the month of December -- o­nce the semester actually ends, I plan o­n making things around here run much smoother.

Our product of the week for this past week is Logitec's "dvdjuke Pod."

Logitec has come up with a portable HDD that can also be connected directly to a TV for video, audio or image playback. The interestingly-named "dvdjuke Pod" (I wonder how long it will take Apple to come calling??) will be available in 40GB and 80GB versions from early December.

Evergreen has begun sales of "DONYA FLASH" SD memory cards with "Hanafuda" card label designs via their direct sales website. The cards are available in 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities and priced from 2,998 yen.

"Hanafuda" are cards used to play a variety of Japanese card games. Purchase 48 of these SD memory cards and you would have a very expensive card deck that doubles as mass storage!

Logitec (not to be confused with the American "Logitech," whose Japanese subsidiary is named "Logicool") will release a portable 4" LCD screen, capable of VGA resolutions.

Nothing too terribly special about this DVD player, except that's it's small and cheap. Oh, and it's got VGA out. Details inside...