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Cellphones

Submission + - Why Japan Hates the iPhone

Submitted by
Ponca City, We love you
Ponca City, We love you writes: "With a high level of technical sophistication, critical customers, and high innovation rate, Japan is the toughest cell phone market in the world so it's not surprising that although Apple is the third-largest mobile supplier in the world, selling 10 million units in 2008, in Japan the iPhone is selling so poorly it's being offered for free. The country is famous for being ahead of its time when it comes to technology, and the iPhone just doesn't cut it. For example, Japanese handset users are into video and photos — and the iPhone has neither a video camera, multimedia text messaging nor a TV tuner. Pricing plans in Japan are also very competitive, which equates to relatively low monthly rates for handsets and the iPhone's monthly plan starts at about $60, which is too high compared to competitors, A survey showed that among Japanese consumers 91% don't want to buy an iPhone so what's the cellular weapon of choice in Japan? The Panasonic P905i, a fancy cellphone that doubles as a 3-inch TV and features 3-G, GPS, a 5.1-megapixel camera and motion sensors for Wii-style games. "When I show this to visitors from the U.S, they're amazed," according to journalist Nobi Hayashi."
Earth

Spiraling Skyscraper Farms For a Future Manhattan 403

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the biomorphic-structures-are-made-of-people dept.
Mike writes "One of three finalists in this year's Evolo Skyscraper Competition, Eric Vergne's Dystopian Farm project envisions a future New York City interspersed with elegantly spiraling skyscraper farms. The biomorphic structures harness cutting-edge technology to provide the city with its own self-sustaining food source while dynamically altering the fabric of city life."
The Almighty Buck

High Tech Misery In China 876

Posted by kdawson from the dawn-of-the-industrial-age dept.
theodp writes "Think you've got a bad job? Think again. You could be making keyboards for IBM, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo and HP at Meitai Plastic and Electronics, a Chinese hardware factory. Prompted by the release of High Tech Misery in China by a human-rights group, a self-regulating body set up by tech companies will conduct an audit of working conditions at the factory. In return for take-home pay of 41 cents per hour, workers reportedly sit on hard wooden stools for 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. Overtime is mandatory, with workers being given on average two days off per month. While on the production line, workers are not allowed to raise their hands or heads, are given 1.1 seconds to snap each key into place, and are encouraged to 'actively monitor each other' to see if any company rules are being transgressed. They are also monitored by guards. Workers are fined if they break the rules, locked in the factory for four days per week, and sleep in crowded dormitories. Okay, it's not all bad news — they're hiring."

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