I’m not sure if you can actually make phone calls with the Bandai Phone Braver 7, but I don’t mind. I mean really, it’s a cell phone with bendable arms and legs, so what’s not to like?
The Phone Braver 7 (model GE-46) is an anthropomorphic mobile phone from Bandai’s Soul of Chogokin series. How I missed Phone Bravers number 1 through 6 is anyone’s guess. Maybe this chart will help you figure out what’s going on.
Actually, Phone Braver 7 is based on a “character” in a popular Japanese TV drama, K-Tai Sosakan 7, a drama about “a high school boy, his transforming cell-phone robot, and his six detective partners that fight against an internet-based criminal organization.” I’m surprised NBC hasn’t optioned it for the U.S. yet.
From what I can tell, this particular model features interchangeable light up faceplates, and makes sounds, but there are other versions floating around that actually have an LCD screen and play games too.
Priced at $135 (USD) over at XL-SHOP.com, Phone Braver 7 isn’t cheap, but it is awesome.
I hope this is what the iPhone 4 looks like.
Written by technabob on December 1st, 2009 with no comments.
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Construction and erection of the 18-m (59 ft) Tetsujin 28-go (aka Gigantor) statue in Kobe, Japan wrapped up a few days ago, more than a couple of weeks after the Gundam statue – the Neil Armstrong of robot statues – was dismantled. The statue, which has been set up at Wakamatsu Park in Nagata Ward in Kobe, will be formally unveiled this Sunday, October 4. The Mainichi Daily News has pics as well as info regarding the statue.
According to the article, unlike the corporate-commissioned Gundam statue the Tetsujin 28-go statue was “planned and led by a nonprofit organization made up of local shop owners, who decided to build the monument as a symbol of the area’s reconstruction.” The shop owners managed to raise a whopping ¥135 million ($1.5 million USD) to build the statue. Tetsujin 28-go’s creator, legendary manga artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama, was born in Kobe.
The Manichi Daily News further reveals that Kobe was hit by “the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995″, and that “today, its population has declined to about 80 percent of pre-quake levels.” Let’s hope the statue brings in commerce and people to Kobe. And because Tetsujin 28-go was granted permanent residence at the park, giant robot statues should consider migrating to Kobe as well.
But seriously the shop owners are real heroes; their idea might not be original but their intentions are pure. I think. Go Tetsujin 28-go! May you be of service to the city and its people.
Written by lambert v. on October 2nd, 2009 with no comments.
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A 1:1 scale Gundam statue is being built in Tokyo as part of the Japanese government’s quest to acquire a monopoly of geeks to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the world famous anime series. The Mainichi Daily News has pictures from the construction site in Shiokaze Park.
The statue is a life-size model of the RX-78-2 Gundam that appeared in the very first Gundam series, a model from which most successive Gundam designs get their iconic samurai-style appearance.
The Gundam statue is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic over a steel frame. It will be 59 feet tall and weigh 35 tons when finished, and will “emit light or mist from 50 points of its body.”
The statue will also be able to move its head, so that it can shake it in disbelief at the undoubtedly millions of otakus, fans, and devotees that will come bearing offerings, hugging it and crying at its feet, some claiming to be its long-lost children.
I hope to be one of those drooling man-children. I absolutely really truly must go and see this Gundam. Really.
The statue will be displayed in public from July 11 to August 31, free of charge. Mark your calendars, fellow mecha freaks.
[via robots dreams and anime news network]
Written by lambert v. on May 22nd, 2009 with no comments.
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There’s a new phone by Toshiba & Softbank in Japan based on the cartoon series Transformers called the 815T PB Transformer Cell Phone. So far, all we know is that it comes in two colors: silver and black. Check back later for release/price info and a full list of specs. For now, all you can do sit back and imitate Optimus Prime. [Akihabara via Upcoming Cell Phones] (more…)
Written by Gizmo Girl on February 27th, 2008 with no comments.
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Japan will be launching a new phone by Toshiba inspired by the Japanese cartoon Transformers. There’s no specs revealed so far or release/price info. Stay tuned for more updates. [Akihabara]
Written by Gizmo Girl on February 27th, 2008 with no comments.
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Filed under: Networking
It looks like
Meraki’s latest move may be having a few repercussions the company hadn’t foreseen, with GigaOM now reporting that a number of customers are feeling irked that some folks will now have to pay a premium price for the once bargain-priced mesh networking gear. At the heart of the brouhaha in the making is a new tiered pricing structure that breaks customers down into Standard, Pro, and Carrier groups. While individuals will pay the same $50 per router they always paid, those in the Pro group (which includes property owners and hot spot operators) will now have to fork over a full $150. As GigaOM points out, that has left some users of Meraki’s forums feeling more than a little dejected, with one going so far as to say that he was “drawn in by a cost effective method just to be slapped in the face by an uncaring company that used us as pawns.” What’s more, while those in the lower tier will still be able to get their routers on the cheap, they will have to put up with advertising on the landing pages for their networks. On the upside, the company does apparently have plans to share advertising revenue with network operators, although details on that seem to be light at the moment.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Written by Donald Melanson on October 8th, 2007 with no comments.
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Filed under: Wireless, Networking
For those paying attention, you’d know that betting the farm on San Francisco’s muni WiFi project ever coming together wouldn’t exactly be the best move, but it appears that Sonic.Net is stepping in to provide an alternative. The California-based ISP has reportedly conjured up an initiative to bring an ad-supported MuniFi model to San Franciscans, and would utilize hardware from Meraki. Apparently, Sonic.Net customers can snag a Meraki wireless mesh router “at a subsidized cost,” which would enable them to share “up to 500kbps” of their DSL line. Users of the service will spot a Google ad bar atop their browser, and there’s even mention of ad revenues being shared with customers in order to reduce their monthly bill in the future. Notably, the platform could even expand to “other areas” outside of SF if it proves successful.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Written by Darren Murph on September 3rd, 2007 with no comments.
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