(keitai-l) Re: Opera Mini (was: Lengthy review of the WS003SH)

From: Arnold P. Siboro <asiboro_at_maltech.jp>
Date: 07/27/06
Message-Id: <20060727092246.AEDD.ASIBORO@maltech.jp>
On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 04:08:19 +0900
Paul Lester <paul@thetamusic.com> wrote:
 
> yes but an English mailing list about Japan, so I assume many of the users here,
> have phones and computers set to Japanese locale or IP address.  It gives
> me a headache with many US-centric sites who assume I do not speak English,
> (and fortunately I understand Japanese).  It always nice if its easy for the
> web site to let you change your locale with simple links, but many don't now.
>
>     I use Japanese OS, Japanese browsers, and both Japanese and English phones.
> I'm in the US now and my locale is set to Japan and Japanese time so I can synch
> with Japan for work easier.
> 

My main language daily at work and at home is Japanese, and I am not
even native English speaker, but I did not bother to look for Japanese
version of Opera Mini, because the English one is good enough. It
displays Japanese, why do I want more? You are acting as if you don't
understand English menus.

> >
> > I'm pretty sure QR codes work only on some Japanese phones;
> > Opera is not a Japanese company.
> 
> Some... you say.. yes some... but some is a HUGE number of them.  I'd say
> most phones accept QR codes now.  You seem not to be aware of the prevalence
> of QR in Japan.
> 

Yes it's prevalent, but I doubt that "most phones accept QR codes now".
I am using 4 different handsets from 3 different carriers in Japan, none
has QR code reader.
 
>     Don't say Japan is in the Dark Ages... the technology is very different.  US uses
> Wi-Fi for some PDA-phones.... Japanese phones can access the internet without the need for Wi-Fi.
> Its a technology choice difference... Anyway Wi-Fi is all over Tokyo... Its everywhere
> I go from the trains to the middle of Roppongi hills, etc etc.  Wi-Fi is used
> for computers and PDAs, not mobiles.  Each country chooses what technologies
> they wish to use.  I'd say there is more Wi-Fi in Japan than the US.. I can't believe
> they still advertise dialup ISPs in the US... Its sad... I even have to use dialup sometimes
> here.  And here in the US the computer connection speed is 10-100 times slower on broadband.
> I was used to 45-70 Mbits/s in Japan and now I'm lucky if I get 1-2 Mbits/s.

In terms of PDA smart phones, yes Japan is in dark ages. Coincidetally,
most wifi phones are PDA smart phones. But this is going to change,
thanks to the zero3, which now has 2 predecessors. We heard rumors that
more are to come. Nevertheless the biggest market for cellulars in Japan
is I believe in the young population, and they do not seem to be
interested in technical terms like WiFi, Bluetooth, Sync, IrDa, blah
blah, so unless operators find an interesting use of these that appeals to
young population, we will still be in "dark ages" here.

> 
>     Many Japanese phones have stopped support for MIDP.  And many Occidental
> phones are not using MIDP.  There's a BREW- Java war brewing.  The non-MIDP
> phones use BREW mostly.  I'm rooting for MIDP, but the battles are fierce.
> 

It seems that you are refering to au.
Most if not all of Vodafone recent handsets support MIDP. Docomo/FOMA
uses its own Java profile. I think Willcom handsets use MIDP (at least
my zero3 does).

Arnold P. Siboro (asiboro@maltech.jp)

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my employer, 
not necessarily mine, and probably not necessary.
Received on Thu Jul 27 03:41:48 2006