Here is the daily roundup from Japanese consumer tech and tech business websites for Dec. 10, 2014.

Apple to open research facility in Yokohama

Apple (NASDAQ:APPL) had just announced yesterday that it is planning to open a research and development center in Japan, particularly in Yokohama City. The move was part of the company’s plan to expand its business in the Land of the Rising Sun.

There are no specifics yet as to how much the company is about to invest, or when the project for its construction is about to start, but it is touted as soon-to-be one of the largest and most advanced consumer tech research facilities in Asia. In accordance to standard business operations, the upcoming technical development center will be joining all the other Apple R&D facilities in other nearby countries.

NEC showcases new material degradation scanning technology

NEC (TYO: 6701) recently unveiled its new image analysis software designed to scan materials for structural degradation. The software design enables it to be potentially used at only one-tenth the original cost of the same procedure.

Basic checking of structural materials usually involve hiring experts, or with the use of sophisticated sound-based equipment, both of which requires restricting access to the area of a building, structure, or road that needs to be scanned. NEC’s new analysis software allows easier, non-penetrative, non-intrusive scanning by analyzing minute patterns in high-definition magnified images of the material. By detecting certain microscopic cracks and cavities, it is capable of determining the material’s overall level of integrity.

NEC hopes to implement the technology sometime next year.

Mitsubishi develops speakers with near-original sound quality

Mitsubishi Electric (TYO: 6503) announces the development of its new high-end speaker, which is capable of reproducing sounds closest to its original.

The company’s high-end speakers are commonly made of boron carbide, which helps the units deliver sound pressure waves faster than regular speakers. With a new manufacturing process however, the speakers are now capable of delivering even faster sound waves, while emitting lesser surface resonance. The result is a set of speakers capable of reproducing sound with a level of quality that makes it almost near the original.

Mitsubishi Electric plans to implement the technology to home and vehicle speaker systems, eventually replacing its current product line of boron carbide high-end speakers, in the near future.

The post Apple R&D, Material Scanners, Boron Carbide Speakers: The Headlines in Tokyo for Dec. 10 appeared first on VR World.

Here is the daily roundup from Japanese consumer tech and tech business websites for Dec. 5, 2014.

Rakuten and Rakuten Edy receives an IT award

Japanese electronic commerce and internet company Rakuten, along with its web money service Rakuten Edy, has been awarded the Information Technology Award by the Japan Institute of Information Technology.

The Information Technology Award is an award given annually to outstanding and exceptional business, organizational, and individual achievements within Japan’s IT sector. The award given to Rakuten in particular was given due to the company’s excellent performance in combining management and technology to achieve better and more progressive IT services.

The “Rakuten Kiredonabi” (Elegant-degree navigator) service, an easy-to-use body monitoring service (which was co-developed by Toshiba) was particularly mentioned as one of Rakuten’s most recent innovations in the industry.

Cisco to offer enhanced telepresence services in Japan

Cisco Systems introduces its new telepresence system, the Cisco TelePresence IX5000, in Japan. Availability is slated to start this early December, though prices are yet to be revealed.

The Cisco TelePresence IX5000 is basically a set of three 70-inch LCD screens, which are set up to stream live 1080p (60fps) video from a designated remote location. Each of the screens will display video feed from three separate 4K HD cameras, with the entire setup encircling a meeting or conference rooms as if both parties are in the same table. The basic IX5000 package is designed to hold six people, while the upgraded IX5200 will allow up to 18 people in a single meeting room.

Mitsubishi plans to build rolling stock factory in India

Mitsubishi subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric has just initiated a project to build an equipment manufacturing facility for trains and other rolling stock in India, with the objective to expand rail transport systems in the country.

The announcement was made yesterday, with Bangalore city, in the Indian state of Karnataka, as the designated location. While the factory would primarily manufacture electrical equipment, the company stated that it would also focus on reinforcing the development of subways, industrial railways, and other related infrastructure within the country.

The construction project for the facility has an estimated cost of about $7.5 million, and Mitsubishi expects it to be in operation around the end of 2015.

The post Rakuten Award, Cisco Telepresence, Mitsubishi Factory: The Headlines in Tokyo for Dec. 5 appeared first on VR World.