Japanese tech devices we might like to buy now

KOBE, Japan — The smart speaker comes inside the guise of a vibrant yellow bird or a brown bear and appears just as smart as Alexa. But it’s miles cuter.

Sorry folks, the Clova Friends speaker is not for sale inside the U.S. But it needs to be.

Talking Tech just spent eight days in the land that pioneered the Sony Walkman and PlayStation, with tons of our time in those mega, multi-tale electronics stores that promote the whole lot from cameras and TVs to bathrooms, LCD domestic lights, and toys.

While much of what we noticed was available in the U.S., at similar expenses, many merchandises we ogled has been now not to be had here. And that truly piqued our interest. And device envy.

Clova Friends and Wave are the brand names of the clever audio system from Line, the app this is to Japan what Facebook is to the U.S.

A line is the No. 1 social network in Japan, one which differentiates itself from others with definitely cute characters as mascots that get used as chat stickers.

So the Clova Friends speaker is in the form of a yellow or a brown bear. It’s battery-powered, which makes it portable, and Bluetooth-enabled, so it’s going to play the tune out of your telephone. It sells for around $60.

Clova Friends and Wave, a bigger speaker promoting for around $a hundred and forty, are Line’s solution to Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple’s soon-to-launch HomePod speaker, the usage of Line’s personal Clova non-public assistant, the equivalent of Siri, Alexa and the Google Assistant.

The functionality is pretty a lot the same as an Echo or Home, in that Clova will play music, set your alarm, let you know approximately your calendar and will let you make and accept free telephone calls. It also tells your fortune.

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I contend that if Line sold these Clova speakers inside the U.S., they might deliver Amazon and Google a real run for their cash. Cute, small and smart vs. The black hockey-% fashion of the Amazon Dot? Come on.

I wanted to shop for a Clova Friends speaker for use in the U.S., but it best speaks in Japanese and can simplest connect with the Japanese version of the Line app, now not the U.S. Version, which I have and use all of the time.

The Panasonic Lets Note laptops are billed as the arena’s lightest. (Photo: Jefferson Graham)

The Panasonic Let’s Note series is Japan’s solution to the popularity of Apple MacBooks and MacBook Air laptops inside the U.S. These are a top rate, more high-priced line of computer systems that are displayed as Made in Japan, a sign to neighborhood clients that differentiates them from Chinese-made Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Apple, Dell and other computer systems.

For a few reason, Panasonic, first-class known within the U.S for TVs and cameras, has chosen not to promote the Lets Note line inside the U.S. But oh, if we should have these specifications.

Most computers had been getting smaller, as businesses remove things like DVD drives and ethernet ports.

But the Lets Note line gives extra on one system that I’ve ever visible before. Many of the fashions on display on the Yodobashi shop in Osaka had every port we may want to dream of: USB C, three ordinary USBs, an SD card slot, options to plug into projectors, monitors, and TVs, and a slot for a SIM card, so if you’re now not in a Wi-Fi zone, you can log on via your wireless cellular network.

Oh, and the screen pulls out and will become a completely functioning pill as properly. The merchandise begins at around $1, three hundred and moves up to $2,000.

Panasonic payments the Let’s Note laptops because of the lightest laptops available these days. This might also or not be genuine, however in our evaluation test, an Apple MacBook Air vs. A Lets Note, the Panasonic felt 1/2 the load.

The Panasonic Lets Note laptops are billed as the world’s lightest. (Photo: Jefferson Graham)

The Panasonic Let’s Note series is Japan’s solution to the popularity of Apple MacBooks and MacBook Air laptops within the U.S. These are a top rate, extra highly-priced line of computer systems that are displayed as Made in Japan, a sign to neighborhood consumers that differentiates them from Chinese-made Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Apple, Dell and other computer systems.

For some purpose, Panasonic, high-quality acknowledged within the U.S for TVs and cameras, has chosen not to sell the Lets Note line within the U.S. But oh, if we may want to have these specifications.

Most computers had been getting smaller, as agencies put off such things as DVD drives and ethernet ports.

But the Lets Note line offers more on one system than I’ve ever visible before. Many of the fashions on display at the Yodobashi save in Osaka had every port we may want to dream of: USB C, three everyday USBs, an SD card slot, alternatives to plug into projectors, video display units and TVs, and a slot for a SIM card, so in case you’re now not in a Wi-Fi zone, you can go browsing via your wireless cellular community.

Oh, and the display pulls out and will become a completely functioning tablet as properly. The merchandise begins at around $1, three hundred and goes as much as $2,000.

Panasonic bills the Let’s Note laptops because of the lightest laptops available nowadays. This might also or not be real, but in our evaluation check, an Apple MacBook Air vs. A Lets Note, the Panasonic felt 1/2 the burden.