Hail HD: Sony is out to worship at the altar of high-definition. Its eyeVio video-sharing site has started up an HD TV service, which will allow users to put their offerings on public display in the super-resolution of 1280x720 pixels from spring 2008. Sony is also marketing its new BRX-NT1 network set-top box, with a price tag of ¥27,800, allowing users to stream HD TV content from the eyeVio site seamlessly to a suitable (Sony of course) Bravia TV set, rather than a staid old PC. Considering that so far there are only a dozen or so animated titles on offer, albeit for free, this is probably one for the early adopters, at least for now.
Video violations: Everything comes with a catch, and the prime caveat of the wonders of video sharing on the Internet is piracy — and the lengths some will go to in order to stomp on it. KDDI is opening fire on the pirates with its new "video content inspection engine." The software sits on the servers of video-sharing Web sites and checks any video uploaded to it for signs that it is a professional production — and is presumably on offer without permission — and so blocks it from entry. It does this by analyzing clips for "amateur-looking techniques," in effect allowing the chaff to go through while tossing out the wheat. While the company claims it is 98 percent effective, it does seem a bit of a put-down for amateur videographers.
Mobile mania: Softbank's new 815T Fan Fun phone series offers mobiles with designs featuring Hello Kitty, Snoopy, J-pop bands Buck-Tick and TM Revolution, classic anime "Gatchaman," fashion designer Anna Sui, racy lingerie shop Peach John and more. The phones each have their own accessories, such as a Snoopy dog-house phone stand and an Anna Sui clutch purse. The prices of the phones depend on the contract you sign up for; more info at mb.softbank.jp.