Apple Maps’ Street View-like feature expands to cities in Japan

So far, Apple Maps’ Street View-like Look Around feature has only been available in select cities in the US. However, it has now expanded internationally for the first time, coming to four cities in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto. That means y...

Tesla says its Osaka station Powerpack is Asia’s largest energy storage system

Tesla has built another Powerpack system in record time, this time at Osaka train station in Japan, where it will be used as emergency backup and to reduce peak energy demand. According to the company on Twitter, the 42 Powerpack units will provide e...

ICYMI: Facebook VR selfies, laser-powered water and more

Today on In Case You Missed It: Facebook is adding VR to the social network and one of the new tricks will let users take a selfie of their avatar selves inside of different tourist spots. Japanese researchers discovered that a water droplet coatin...

Animatronic Ray Charles Performs on the Streets of Osaka: Hit the Road, Jack!

You expect to see robots in Japan, but nowadays even their street performers are animatronic. Now, someone in Osaka has developed his own life-size singing Ray Charles robot. He may have Georgia on his mind, but this Ray lives in Japan.


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As cheap, homemade robots go, the likeness is pretty good. The “skin” is made entirely out of paper clay. The robot appears to be playing the keyboard while his mouth moves to the words. However, all of the music comes from a speaker inside the heart of the machine, not the keyboard.

It’s creator made the robot for less than 150,000 yen (~$1,520 USD). That’s not a bad price to spread your love of music to the public – especially if the crowd is in the tipping mood.

[via Rocketnews]

Sony unloads ‘Sony City Osaki’ building for $1.2 billion, will remain as lessee

Sony unloads 'Sony City Osaka' building for $12 billion

In a bid to bolster its bottom line, Sony's been selling properties like a desperate monopoly player, and the latest space on the board to go is the Sony City Osaki building for 111.1 billion yen ($1.2 billion). That follows the sale of its NY headquarters for a similar sum, and the move of its mobile HQ from Sweden to Tokyo. The Osaki building has been purchased by a Japanese holding company who will lease the building back to Sony for a period of at least five years, which seems to be the trend for electronics companies lately. The Japanese conglomerate said all the property deals are being made to "transform its business portfolio and reorganize its assets." Translation? Sony needs the cash, natch.

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Source: Sony

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: solar panel printer, gold producing bacteria and a life-size of horse made of computer keys

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

DNP Inhabitat's Week in Green tktktk

Inhabitat is always interested in finding innovative uses for old technology, and this week we saw artists and designers from around the world produce new things from old, unused or outmoded gadgets. In Osaka, a local goldfish club has been transforming old phone booths into gigantic public fish tanks. In another large-scale art installation, Babis Panagiotidis used 18,000 recycled computer keys to make a life-size rocking horse. London artist Leonardo Ulian also makes beautiful, ornate mandalas from bits and pieces of old circuitry. And Benjamin Yates makes his unique coffee tables from recycled circuit boards, old VCRs and computer components.

Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: solar panel printer, gold producing bacteria and a life-size of horse made of computer keys

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: solar panel printer, gold producing bacteria and a life-size of horse made of computer keys originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Osaka Station City Water Display Draws with Water

Did you ever think that a fountain could be used to tell the time or to display pics? Well the Japanese sure did and this latest kind of display is pure awesomesauce, as it can even display artwork.

koei osaka station city mall water fountain clock

This mesmerizing water display was created by Koei Industry and it’s located in the South Gate Building in the Osaka Station City shopping mall in Japan. Flowing sheets of water act as a shimmering canvas, as the display is part waterfall and digital printer rolled into one. The water streams are lit up to display an ever-changing array of patterns and designs.

This looks pretty cool. I wonder if they’ll end up making HDTVs that will fit in water fountains someday.

koei osaka station city mall water fountain clock art

koei osaka station city mall water fountain clock text

[via NOTCOT]


Panasonic’s hair-washing robot exterminates dirt, unauthorized humans (video)

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Panasonic is now testing its hair-washing robot at a salon in Nishinomiya, Japan. Designed to care for the elderly or the physically less-able, it sprays water, shampoo and conditioner over your bonce while 24 robotic fingers knead at your scalp. The company claims that it offers a more satisfying and relaxing experience than a wash from a human, unless you remember what happened when Mr. Kinney tested ED 209. If you're in the Osaka region, you've got until June 10th to get down there and have a go yourself -- for everyone else, there's a video after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic's hair-washing robot exterminates dirt, unauthorized humans (video)

Panasonic's hair-washing robot exterminates dirt, unauthorized humans (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 16:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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