Casio Japan unveiled [JP] two new Exilim point-and-shoot cameras today, the EX-Z450 and the EX-Z90. The main selling point of the devices is the ability to detect objects (not only human beings) and to then automatically set the focus and exposure area to give you high-quality pictures.
The EX-Z90 can be considered weaker than the Z450. It features a 12.1MP sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, 3x optical zoom, an ISO range of 64 to 1,600, an SDHC/SD memory card slot and 35.7MB of internal memory. The camera weighs 102g and will be available in gold, silver, pink, blue and black (release date in Japan: September 11, price: $210). → Read More
The swine flu (aka H1N1) isn’t really a hot topic anymore (when compared to the situation a few months ago), but it still remains a big problem. Today Sanyo of all companies made an announcement in Tokyo (press release in English), claiming their “electrolyzed water technology” has proven to be actually effective in fighting the nasty virus. → Read More
Sanyo added a few new products to its successful eneloop brand of “green” electronics today [JP], i.e. a hand warmer, a battery-powered and extra-warm blanket and a neck warmer. The coolest new product is the eneloop portable solar, a portable solar panel that’s sized at 174(W)×204(H)×26(D)mm. → Read More
Sanyo landed a huge hit with its eneloop brand that includes a number of “green” products, such as lamps, batteries or even Wii controllers. In the past few months, the company also introduced electric bikes that featured eneloop technology, one of which it wanted to sell outside Japan as well.
Now Nippon gets another two eneloop-branded bikes [JP], a carbon fiber model and a foldable bicycle. The way both models work is the same: Every time you drive downhill or decelerate, the electric motor switches to a dynamo, allowing for regenerative charging. Both bikes are pretty cool but have one disadvantage: The hefty price tag. → Read More
Sanyo Japan today announced the strange, vase-like “eneloop lamp” [press release in English] that can be used both as a regular interior light or as a flashlight (when you pick it up and hold it like one). As a third option, the device also serves as a “healing lamp” once you switch from white to blue lighting.
The eneloop lamp can be charged wirelessly by putting it on its charging stand. Sanyo says two eneloop AA batteries are enough to power the futuristic device for 6 hours in flashlight mode, up to 45 hours in white light mode and up to 16 hours in blue light mode. → Read More
Sanyo seems to now entirely focus on projectors targeted at professional customers and businesses. After announcing a $6,000 Wi-fi enabled projector last month, the company today said in Japan [JP] it’s about to roll out two additional models with some great specs. → Read More
Today Sanyo Japan announced a new high-end projector, the LP-WXU700 [JP], which is the world’s first WiFi-enabled projector supporting the IEEE802.11n standard (and thus the fastest). Sized at 334.2×78.4×257.5mm (weight: 3.6kg), the device is marketed by Sanyo as a mobile projector. → Read More
In Japan, Sanyo is not only known as a maker of home electronics and eneloop, rechargeable batteries, but also as a maker of home appliances. Their Aqua AWD-AQ4000, which will go on sale in Nippon only on June 1 [JP], is the fourth in a series of washing machines that feature a built-in ozone generator to deodorize and disinfect laundry. → Read More
Sanyo has released a new “eneloop”-branded and battery-assisted bicycle [JP] that’s aimed at people (in Japan only for the time being) wanting to replace motorbikes and mini vehicles with a “green” alternative. The so-called CY-SPG226′s battery is powerful enough to let the bike travel about 85km with a single charge (which takes 3.5 hours). → Read More
As far as picture quality in home cinema goes, nothing can beat laser projectors, which use lasers as light source. And today, Sanyo in Japan made another leap forward by unveiling a new model that boasts 7,000 lumens [JP], which is the world’s highest brightness level. → Read More
Electric bikes are becoming more and more popular in Japan as top electronics brands such as Panasonic, Toshiba and Yamaha are rolling out new models monthly.
In December last year, Sanyo announced an electric bike and said it may even be exported to overseas markets soon. Today, the company said [JP] that from March on, the local government of Tokushima Prefecture in Southern Japan will get three Sanyo eneloop bikes and the electricity they need from a special solar parking spot. → Read More
Sanyo’s compact line of Xacti Dual camcorders was refreshed this morning with five new models. The high-end DMX-HD2000 and DMX-FH11 are the only two that shoot 1080p resolution video. Like Xactis before it, these two also take still photos that are approximately 8 megapixels even when recording video. They can be interpolated up to 12 megapixels as well when not shooting video. Both have a 10x optical zoom.
Update: We now have pricing. Hit the jump. → Read More
Sanyo Japan today unveiled its newest projector, the PDG-DHT100JL. Boasting 6,500 lumens, the device is the brightest among all 2-lamp full HD 1-chip DLP projectors on the market. → Read More
Most surveillance cameras have two problems: They only deliver pictures in black and white or/and feature super-low resolution only, sometimes even producing basically useless footage.
But now Sanyo in Japan is selling the VCC-HDN1(S) [JP], a full HD network surveillance camera that’s based on Xacti technology. For example, it’s using the same image processing engine built into the Xacti camcorders that are sold to regular consumers. → Read More
There were some hiccups along the way but now the deal between Panaosonic and Sanyo (announced on November 3) seems to be perfect. Goldman Sachs and Sanyo’s other major shareholders have agreed to sell their shares to Panasonic, Japanese media are reporting today. Panasonic will acquire a 70% stake in Sanyo for $1.50 a share in February, resulting in a $6.4 billion deal, the largest of its kind in Nippon’s tech industry. The deal was on hold for a few weeks because Goldman Sachs refused to sell their Sanyo shares (29% of all shares) to Panasonic for $1.37 apiece. → Read More
Andrew Grove, former Intel Corp chairman, is pushing the world’s biggest maker of microprocessors to diversify business by becoming a manufacturer of advanced batteries for plug-in electric cars. This emerging industry is attracting Chinese and Japanese companies like BYD Motors, Panasonic, and Sanyo. According to an Intel spokesman, Intel already has investments in battery-related companies through its Intel Capital Unit. It is unknown whether they will increase their presence in this field, especially in these weak economic times when corporations are leaning towards cash conservation instead of new investments. Intel is also expecting a 12% decline in sales for the fourth quarter. → Read More
Panasonic is trying to sweeten the deal on the Sanyo buyout offer it proposed back in November 7th by offering ¥140 per share instead of ¥130. They must really want to settle this. In order to completely take over, Panasonic must buyout the 3 largest shareholders. Goldman Sachs, owner of a 29 percent stake, exited merger talks after seeking at least ¥250 per share. Both other firms, Daiwa Securites and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking, who hold a combined 40.6 percent stake are expected to take Panasonic up on the offer. Both companies were informed about the better deal and Goldman Sachs will be informed on Thursday. Panasonic intends to conduct the offer next month and make Sanyo a subsidiary by March. Purchasing Sanyo will make it more competitive in the rechargeable battery and solar equipment fields. → Read More
Panasonic is looking to lay out more than $5 billion to take a controlling stake in Sanyo. What does the consumer tech giant see in the smaller, less successful company? Diversification. Panasonic has had great success in consumer tech but has no division for solar tech and only a limited stake in electric vehicle batteries. For Sanyo it’s vice versa — they’re each the other’s missing piece! How cute is that? If the acquisition goes as planned, the Sanyo consumer tech division, which is losing money, will likely be scrapped or cannibalized. Likewise, Panasonic’s battery division will likely be rolled into the larger and more successful Sanyo one. Either way the Sanyo brand is probably on its way out. My only question is why didn’t they do this years ago? → Read More
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