Japan

Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox One, which the company is hoping will be the system in the center of all home entertainment for people everywhere. It was unveiled in Redmond with a full press release distributed by the company. Here in Japan, we also received a Japanese version of the official company press release, and we are looking forward to the chance to get a closer look soon. It combines gaming, viewing, sports, online functionality, photos, videos, etc., and is an aggressive roll-out by Microsoft in an area where many competitors are trying to gain dominance – being the control console for all household entertainment and digital activity. Official Press Release: REDMOND, Wash. — May 21, 2013 — A new vision for the future comes to life today as Microsoft Corp. unveils Xbox One , the all-in-one gaming and entertainment system created for today and the next generation. At Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash., the company showcased how Xbox One puts you at the center of all your games, TV, movies, music, sports and Skype. “Xbox One is designed to deliver a whole new generation of blockbuster games, television and entertainment in a powerful, all-in-one device,” said Don Mattrick, president, Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Our unique, modern architecture brings simplicity to the living room and, for the first time ever, the ability to instantly switch across your games and entertainment.” Introducing Xbox One With Xbox One, games push the boundaries of realism, and TV obeys your commands.[1] Say “Xbox On” to launch your personalized Xbox One Home screen, discover what is popular on TV or see friends’ latest gaming achievements all using the most natural interface — your voice. The more you interact with Xbox One, the more it gets to know you and learns what you like. Some of the breakthrough Xbox One features that put you at the center of your living room entertainment include the following: • TV on Xbox One.[1] Navigate and watch live TV from your cable, telco or satellite set-top box through your Xbox One. Microsoft is committed to bringing live TV through various solutions to all the markets where Xbox One will be available.[3] • Home. Turn on your entertainment system with two powerful words, “Xbox On,” and a custom-tailored Home dashboard welcomes you with your favorite games, TV and entertainment. • Snap. Do two things at once on the biggest screen in your home. Use Snap to jump into a multiplayer battle while watching your favorite movie, talk with friends on Skype while watching live TV, or track your fantasy team on TV as you watch the big game and more. • Skype for Xbox One. Specially designed for Xbox One, talk with friends on your TV in stunning HD, or for the first time ever, hold group Skype calls on your TV. • Trending.[1] Stay on top of what is hot on TV by discovering the entertainment that is popular among your friends, and see what is trending within the Xbox community. • OneGuide.[1], [2] Find your favorite entertainment easily, searching by network or name, all with the sound of your voice and presented in a tailored program guide. To create the most advanced Xbox system ever designed for games, TV and entertainment, Microsoft created a state-of-the-art gaming operating system and fused it with an equally amazing entertainment platform, so you will not have to switch inputs to watch TV or play a game. An eight-core, x86 processor and more than 5 billion transistors helps make lag and load times a thing of the past, so you can instantly jump between a game and your entertainment at lightning speed or run a host of apps right alongside your game with no loss in performance.Introducing Xbox One titles and exclusives Gaming on Xbox One immerses gamers in cinematic worlds that look like real life, with characters that feel more human than ever before. AAA blockbuster titles unveiled for Xbox One include the following: • “Forza Motorsport 5” from Turn 10 Studios is the latest edit

Tokyo stocks climbed 1.60% to close at their highest level in more than five years Wednesday, with investor appetite unabated due to a weak yen and record-setting levels on Wall Street. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 246.24 points to 15,627.26, the best finish since late December 2007. The Topix…

In this photo distributed Wednesday by Miura Dolphins, 80-year-old Japanese adventurer Yuichiro Miura, right, and his son, Gota, rest on their way to a camp during their attempt to scale the summit of Mount Everest. According to his management office, Miura plans to reach the 8,850-meter peak on Thursday, becoming…

A controversial cull of up to 10,000 wild horses in Australia's harsh outback reportedly began Wednesday in a bid to control the feral animals which officials say are destroying the land. The Central Land Council said animals -- including horses, donkeys and camels -- were dying in their thousands due…

Rookie right-hander Dan Straily pitched seven scoreless innings and Yoenis Cespedes homered as the Oakland Athletics won their fifth straight game on Tuesday, beating the Texas Rangers 1-0 and handing Yu Darvish only his second loss of the season. Straily (2-2) gave up only two singles while facing 22 batters,…

Police said Wednesday they have arrested a 39-year-old man over the death of his 1-month-old baby son in Konosu, Saitama Prefecture. According to police, the man, who has been named as Yuji Obaku, was investigated after his son Ryuto was taken to hospital and diagnosed with brain damage in early…

The Diet on Wednesday approved an international treaty on child abductions after decades of pressure from the United States and other Western nations. Japan is the only member of the Group of Eight major industrialised nations that has not ratified the 1980 Hague Convention, which requires nations to return snatched…

The Bank of Japan on Wednesday held off fresh easing measures, saying after a two-day policy meeting that a continuation of steps introduced last month would help Japan overcome deflation. The central bank said its widely expected decision to stand pat was reached by a unanimous vote by its board.…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dispatched a high-profile official and close confidant to travel to China on Wednesday as a special envoy while Beijing is under pressure to rein in its belligerent neighbor. Choe Ryong Hae, a top Workers' Party official and a vice marshal tasked with supervising the…

From Takara Tomy comes the must have accessory for summer fun – The Dancing Face-Stand for iPhone – it is an iPhone stand that looks like a robot. It will dance with the music you play from your iPhone. Download the dedicated app “Face sing” to your iPhone and you will be able to display your friends or family member and watch as they enjoy the dancing and singing. The Dancing Face-Stand was seen previously at toy shows but will finally be available on June 27. Check out the video on Takara Tomy’s site. You can mount an iPhone with a charging cord on the stand. It is self-powered through batteries, not through the mounted iPhone. Price: 3,465 yen (including tax) Colors: White, Red, Blue Compatible with: iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPod touch (4th generation or later) Size: 170 x 130 x 105mm Weight: 280g Battery: 2 x size AA battery (sold separately)