X

Photos: More phone fun in Japan

Part two of CNET News.com's tour of KDDI's Designing Center in Tokyo.
By Andy Smith, Contributor
34653.jpg
1 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Sharp LCD TV cell phone

KDDI, Japan's second-largest mobile-phone operator, has opened its Designing Studio in Tokyo's Harajuku area. Part one of CNET News.com's recent tour of the facility is now live.

A Sharp LCD TV cell phone is shown here. TV phones get five channels in Tokyo. The service is free, but people have to get a fancy phone (with TV tuners and a good LCD) to watch. KDDI's rival NTT DoCoMo estimates that a million people have TV phones in Japan.

34654.jpg
2 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Casio GZ One

The Casio GZ One can sit underwater for 30 minutes and survive.

34655.jpg
3 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Fuel cells

Several manufacturers have talked about using fuel cells to power phones, but most such devices are still in the experimental stage. Pictured are early prototypes. KDDI hopes to offer a fuel cell phone next year.

34656.jpg
4 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Fuel cell

Fuel cells aren't as bulky as they once were. The wedge under this phone is a direct methanol fuel cell.

34657.jpg
5 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Security phone

Press the button on this GPS-enabled device and it sends a signal to a private security company that will then drive by to help if you are in trouble. The device has been on the market for a few years and service costs 2,000 yen ($18) a month. Parents buy it for their kids.

34658.jpg
6 of 6 Andy Smith/ZDNET

Career game

KDDI is out with an experimental game called "Check the Harajuku Gao!" Consumers walk into a booth and get their picture taken. A computer then analyzes their face and tries to determine their occupation. When CNET News.com editor at large Michael Kanellos (left) gave it a try, the game said there was a 48 percent chance of him being a Web designer, a 40 percent chance of him being a fashion designer, and a 36 percent chance of him being a bartender. So he has lots of career options.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos