#TechCrunch Japan

[leomacgivena]

ピッチの準備をするときには、アルバート・アインシュタインがかつて言った、「簡潔に説明できないのは、十分に理解していないからだ」という言葉を心に留めておいてほしい。

90秒で相手に興味を持たせるピッチとは―、投資家からCEOへのアドバイス｜TechCrunch Japan (via leomacgivena)

[stevebattle]

Pekoppa communication plant (2008), Sega Toys, Tokyo, Japan. "The Pekoppa from Sega Toys is an innovative new communication plant that can respond to your speech with physical reactions using an internal “bio metal” that moves and bends depending on the current put through it. Pekoppa uses an internal chip that detects patterns in human speech, and responds to you by bending the stem and moving the leaves. A deep “bow” by Pekoppa shows agreement with what you’re saying, so you can carry on a two-way conversation without missing a beat!" – Pekoppa communication plant, Japan Trend Shop.

"According to Sega Toys’ official press release, the target group consists of office workers and people in desperate need of two-way communication. Pekoppa’s official tagline is “Heal yourself with this plant, which is a good listener!” " – Meet Pekoppa, the plant which listens to your sorrows, TechCrunch.

[partisan-by-default]

Amazon Japan has said it will collaborate with Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) after the watchdog conducted an on-site inspection related to suspected violations of anti-monopoly laws.

The e-commerce giant is under suspicion of inappropriately urging vendors to lower their prices on its online shopping platform in return for better product placement, as first reported by Reuters, citing a source.

“We are cooperating fully with the [Japanese] authorities,” Amazon Japan spokesperson, Tomoko Inoue, told TechCrunch in an email statement.

The action concerns Amazon’s Buy Box system, which highlights one seller’s products as the preferred choice on a product page. Shoppers need to go to different pages to see products from different vendors so the Buy Box funnels shoppers’ attention to whichever products have been selected to be featured.

The tech giant has been accused of requesting “competitive pricing” (i.e., lower prices) versus competing e-commerce platforms in order for products to be featured in the Buy Box system, according to reporting by the Japan Times.

Moreover, sellers were allegedly asked to use Amazon’s internal logistics and payment services to be eligible for the Buy Box promotion.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.28

Holidays

Bhai Dooj (India)

Bhai Tika (Nepal)

Children’s Day (Australia)

Chucks-N-Pearls Day

Civil Servants’ Day (Brazil)

Common Fig Day (French Republic)

Cox Plate Day (Australia)

Day of International Concern About Young People and Gun Violence

Engineer’s Day (Venezuela)

Flying Baby Day

Folly Day

Gone-ta-Pott Day [every 28th]

Hari Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge Day; Indonesia)

Honoring the Nation’s First Responders Day

International Animation Day

International Creole Day

Liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Invaders Day (Ukraine)

Milvian Bridge Day

National Caroline Day

National Comprehensive Sex Education Call-In Day

National Cry Yourself to Sleep Day

National Day of Outrage

National First Responders Day

National I Love You Day

National Immigrants Day

National Internal Medicine Day

National Internment Commemoration Day (Canada)

National William Day

Ohi Day (a.k.a. Ochi! Day or Oxi Day; Cyprus, Greece)

Part Your Hair Crooked Just To See If Anyone Will Say Anything About It Day

Plush Animal Lover's Day

Prefectural Earthquake Disaster Prevention Day (Gifu, Japan)

Q Day

Republic Day Eve (Turkey)

Separation of Church and State Day

Stan Lee Day (Los Angeles)

Stargate Day

Statue of Liberty Day

Ticker-Tape Parade Day

Time Day

Twitter Emancipation Day

Ugly Pickup Truck Day

Vote Early Day

World Judo Day

World Tobacco Growers’ Day

Youth Pledge Day (Indonesia)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Chocolate Day

Wild Foods Day

4th & Last Monday in October

African-American Cotton Pickers’ Day [4th Monday]

Bank Holiday (Ireland) [Last Monday]

Equality Day (Antarctica) [4th Monday]

Green Monday [Monday of Last Full Week]

International School Library Day [4th Monday]

Labour Day (New Zealand) [4th Monday]

La Saoire i mi Dheireadh Fomhair [Last Monday]

Meatless Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Meditation Monday [Every Monday]

Monday Musings [Every Monday]

Moody Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

October Bank Holiday (Ireland) [Last Monday]

School Library Day (Canada) [Last Monday]

Independence & Related Days

Bokonton (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

Czechoslovakia (Now the Czech Republic; from Austria-Hungary, 1918)

Erusia (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

Foundation Day (Davao Occidental, Philippines)

United Republics of Michigan (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 28 (Last Week of October)

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week (Hudson Valley, New York) [thru 11.10]

Festivals Beginning October 28, 2024

American Indian Tourism Conference (Marksville, Louisiana) [thru 10.31]

Supply Side West (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 10.31]

TechCrunch Disrupt (San Francisco, California) [thru 10.30]

Tokyo International Film Festival (Tokyo, Japan) [thru 11.6]

Feast Days

Abdias of Babylon (Christian; Saint)

Abgar V of Edessa (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Ayad Akhtar (Writerism)

Eadsige (Christian; Saint)

Evelyn Waugh (Writerism)

Extra Kinky Day (Pastafarian)

Faro, Bishop of Meauz (Christian; Saint)

Feast of the Einherjar (Norse)

Feast of the Lord of Miracles (Peru)

Fidelis of Como (Roman Catholic Church)

Firmilian (Christian; Saint)

Francis Bacon (Artology)

Fyribod (a.k.a. Forebode; Norse beginning of Winter)

Godwin of Stavelot (Christian; Saint)

Gumby Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Isis/Osiris Mysteries I (Pagan)

Job of Pochayiv (repose) (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Jude Thaddeus (a.k.a. Jude the Apostle; Western Christianity)

Leibnitz (Positivist; Saint)

Lord of Miracles (Lima; Christian; Saint)

Makoshe’s Holiday (Honoring Mother Earth; Asatru/Pagan Slavic)

Michael Noakes (Artology)

Neot (Christian; Saint)

Paraskrevi of Iconium (Christian; Saint)

Simon the Zealot (a.k.a. Simon the Canaanite; Simon the Apostle; Western Christianity)

The Tortoise (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 50 of 60)

Premieres

All Quiet on the Western Front (Film; 2022)

An Alpine Symphony, by Richard Strauss (Tone Poem; 1915)

Barking Dogs Don’t Fite (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1949)

Because I Got High, by Afroman (Song; 2001)

Bee Movie (Animated Film; 2007)

Black Beauty (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1978)

The Blue Danube (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, by Truman Capote (Novella; 1958)

Decade, by Neil Young (Compilation Album; 1977)

Decline and Fall, by Evelyn Waugh (Novel; 1928)

The Desperate Showers (George of the Jungle Cartoon; 1967) [#8]

Droopy (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1955)

Educating Rita (Film; 1983)

The Futurological Congress: From the Memoirs of Ijon Tichy, by Stanisław Lem (Novel; 1971)

Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift (Novel; 1726)

How Green Was My Valley (Film; 1941)

Inferno (Film; 2016)

Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park (TV movie; 1978)

The Legend of Zorro (Film; 2005)

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl (Philosophical Book; 1959)

News of the World, by Queen (Album; 1978)

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, by Ursula K. Le Guin (Short Story; 1973)

The Pet Store (Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Pinterest (Social Media App; 2009)

Pop ‘im Pop! (WB LT Cartoon; 1950)

Puss in Boots (Animated Film; 2011)

Pussy Willie (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Puttin’ On the Dog (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1944)

The Quail Hunt (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1935)

Richard Pryor … Here and Now (Stand-Up Comedy Film; 1983)

Rotten Hood (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#18

The Rum Diary (Film; 2011)

Stargate (Film; 1994)

String Along Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Supermarket Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Talking Book, by Stevie Wonder (Album; 1972)

Tinker Bell (Animated Film; 2008)

We Can’t Dance, by Genesis (Album; 1991)

Today’s Name Days

Judas, Simon, Thaddeus (Austria)

Juda, Šimun, Siniša, Tadej, Tadija (Croatia)

Státní Svátek (Czech Republic)

Judas, Simon (Denmark)

Siim, Siimo, Siimon, Siimu, Simmo, Simmu, Simun (Estonia)

Simo (Finland)

Jude, Simon (France)

Freddy, Simon (Germany)

Evniki, Vili (Greece)

Simon, Szimonetta (Hungary)

Giuda, Simone (Italy)

Antoņina, Ņina, Ninona, Zemgals (Latvia)

Almantė, Gaudrimas, Simas, Simonas, Tadas (Lithuania)

Simen, Simon (Norway)

Juda, Szymon, Tadeusz, Wszeciech (Poland)

Iachint (Romania)

Dobromila (Slovakia)

Judas, Simón (Spain)

Simon, Simone (Sweden)

Nestor (Ukraine)

Dayanara, Eunice, Jonah, Jonas, Jude, Liberty, Simeon, Simon, Simone, Thad, Thaddea, Thaddeus (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 302 of 2024; 64 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 44 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 2 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 26 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 26 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 24 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 2 Wood; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 14 October 2024

Moon: 12%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 Descartes (11th Month) [Gibbon / Robertson]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 6 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 36 of 90)

Week: Last Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 5 of 30)

[celinewrites]

‘Batman Unburied’ podcast series to debut on Spotify

ByCeline Littlejohn|Apr 8, 2022

(L-r) ROBERT PATTINSON as Batman and ZOË KRAVITZ as Selina Kyle in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure “THE BATMAN,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The shift to streaming for entertainment becomes more evident with a podcast series based on characters from Batman being released on Spotify following HBO Max’s premiere of “The Batman”

The world of entertainment and how fans consume technology has changed from what it was even a decade ago. With movies having a smaller theatrical window and faster release at home through streaming services, more people have easier access to the latest Hollywood blockbusters than before.

This has become even more apparent with Spotify, the audio streaming giant, signing on to a multi-year deal with both DC Comics and Warner Bros. for scripted podcasts. According to The Verge, the DC podcast universe will feature nine shows focusing on characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, the Riddler, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Lois Lane.

There’s even a Marvel podcast universe, with Marvel partnering up with SiriusXM to release unscripted and scripted series of their own, going through such services as Pandora, which SiriusXM owns.

The Batman releases on HBO Max on April 19, followed by April 23 for the traditional linear HBO network.  The Spotify podcast, Batman Unburied, will follow soon after on May 3.

Starring Winston Duke in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, TechCrunch explains that in this scripted series, “Bruce Wayne works as a forensic pathologist in Gotham Hospital, where he’s tasked with examining the victims of The Harvester, a cannibalistic serial killer.”

The release fits perfectly as audiences are still feeling the elation of seeing The Batman. The Batman has performed well at the box office, earning the second-best pandemic era opening with $128.5 million at the box office, as reported by Complex, coming in second to Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s $260 million box office debut, and joining only No Way Home, No Time to Die, F9: The Fast Saga, and Venom: Let There be Carnage as films to make $500 million worldwide during the pandemic.

Complex also explains that The Batman was number one in the United Kingdom, as well as Mexico, Japan, and Australia. This was just for the opening weekend.

Add this number of viewers to the wider audience the film will gain when it premieres on HBO Max and HBO’s linear network, and many people will be filled with even more enthusiasm for the Batman franchise.

With the film being number one in other countries as well, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the podcast series will be adapted for a global audience, “with each country’s version featuring local talent to voice the characters.” This includes Brazil, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, and Mexico.

With Duke playing Batman/Bruce Wayne, The Hollywood Reporter shares that the rest of the “U.S. English-language version will feature Hasan Minhaj as The Riddler, Jason Isaacs as Alfred, Gina Rodriguez as Barbara Gordon, Lance Reddick as Thomas Wayne, Toks Olagundoye as Martha Wayne, John Rhys-Davies as Dr. Hunter, and Ashly Burch as Vicki Vale.”

David S. Goyer, who previously worked as a screenwriter for Batman Begins, is the creator and executive producer of the series.

Content for comic books and superheroes has grown beyond just theatrical film releases and the traditional physical comic book. From spinoffs like The Peacemaker, based on James Gunn’s 2021 film, Suicide Squad, and the planned Penguin spinoff from The Batman, to alternate releases of films, as seen with the HBO Max release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, it’s a great time for superhero content to expand across multiple platforms. Streaming is the main target, whether it is through visual series and films such as seen on HBO Max or podcasts like on Spotify.

[isfeed]

World partners with Tinder, Visa to bring its ID-verifying tech to more places

World, the biometric ID company best known for its eyeball-scanning Orb devices, at an event late on Wednesday announced several partnerships aimed at driving sign-ups and demonstrating the applications of its tech. World is partnering with Match Group, the dating app conglomerate, to verify the IDs of Tinder users in Japan. Via collaborations with Kalshi […] Source: TechCrunch World partners…

[moko1590m]

ChatGPTが｢これまでに伝えたすべて｣を記憶するようになった 2025.04.28 14:35 Lifehacker 2025年4月28日掲載の記事より転載 ChatGPTに何を共有するかには注意が必要です。なぜなら、ChatGPTはあなたがこれまでに言ったすべてを記憶するようになったからです。 OpenAIは、ChatGPTに新たなメモリ機能のアップデートを導入し、過去のすべてのチャット内容を参照できるようにしました。 過去のやり取りを引き合いに出せることで、ChatGPTはあなたの質問や問い合わせ、ディスカッションに対して、より関連性の高い回答を提供できるようになるのです。 自然な形でユーザーを記憶できるように OpenAIのCEOであるサム・アルトマンはX上でこの変更を発表し、あなたのすべてを知っているAIシステムの有用性をアピールしました。 もともとChatGPTには1年以上前からメモリ機能がありましたが、今回OpenAIが導入するアップデートと比べると、これまでの機能はかなり制限されていたものです。 たとえば｢自分の好きな要約の形式｣や｢呼び名｣などの嗜好やリクエストを覚え、それをチャットごとに引き継ぐことは可能でした。 自分でレンズ交換できる360度カメラ 自分でレンズ交換できる360度カメラ Sponsored by Insta360 Japan株式会社 しかし、その機能は完璧ではなく、｢メモリ｣という言葉から想起されるような自然なかたちで過去の会話を参照することはできませんでした。 Advertisement 以前のバージョンのChatGPTでは、そうしたデータを｢保存済みのメモリ｣として一括で管理。ユーザーはいつでもこのメモリバンクにアクセスし、過去の会話に基づいてChatGPTが記憶している内容を確認できました。 ただ、こちらから特に覚えてほしいと指示していない情報まで記憶しているのを目にすると、新しい友人が会話で得た｢有用な事実｣をひそかに書き留めていた、というような奇妙な感覚を覚えるかもしれません。やはり少し気味が悪いというのが正直なところです。 今回の新機能が導入されるにあたり、これまでの｢保存済みメモリ｣がどう扱われるかはまだ明確ではありません。 おそらく、わざわざ特定の記憶のバンクを管理しなくても、ChatGPTが自動的にこれまでの発言すべてを参照できるようになるため、これらのメモリは廃止される可能性が高いと思われます。 ｢覚えられる｣ことをどこまで喜べるか？ 私自身は、ChatGPTを新機能のテスト以外ではあまり使っていないので、この機能がど���ほど有用かははっきりとは言えません。 過去の会話で伝えたことを参照できる点はたしかに便利かもしれませんが、同時に、チャットボットにこれまで話したすべてを｢覚えられている｣という状況は、あまり気が進まないのが正直なところ。 これは生成AIをパーソナルアシスタントとして使うことにあまり魅力を感じないせいかもしれませんし、テック企業にこれ以上データを取り込まれること自体が嫌だからかもしれません。 やりすぎ感がハイパー。使ってわかったHyperX製品のハイパーすぎるポイント やりすぎ感がハイパー。使ってわかったHyperX製品のハイパーすぎるポイント Sponsored by 日本HP とにかく、この拡張されたメモリ機能がユーザーにとってどれほど便利かは、実際に使っていくなかでわかることでしょう。 Advertisement この機能はまずChatGPT PlusおよびProの加入者向けに導入されますが、無料プランのユーザーがいつ使えるようになるかはまだ不明です。 また、イギリス、EU、アイスランド、リヒテンシュタイン、ノルウェー、スイスのユーザーも現時点では使えません。 現地の法律により追加の審査が必要で、すぐにはリリースできないからです。（むしろすべての国で、AI企業が機能をリリースする前に追加審査を受けるよう義務づけるべきかもしれませんね）。 ChatGPTのメモリを無効化する方法 もし私と同じように、｢自分のチャットボットにこれまでの会話がすべて記憶されてしまう｣ことに抵抗があるなら、メモリ機能をオフにする方法があります。 私自身はまだこの新機能を試せていないので、画面や設定表記が変わる可能性はあるものの、現時点では下記のように操作できるとされています。 心地良い音は、耳が教えてくれる。弦の振動までも感じられるヘッドホンBowers ＆ Wilkins「Px7 S3」 心地良い音は、耳が教えてくれる。弦の振動までも感じられるヘッドホンBowers ＆ Wilkins「Px7 S3」 Sponsored by Bowers & Wilkins ｢設定｣を開く ｢パーソナライズ｣＞｢メモリ｣と進む ｢保存されたメモリを参照する｣というトグルスイッチをオフにする もしメモリ機能は有効にしたままにしたいものの、特定のチャットだけは覚えられたくない場合には、｢一時チャット｣を使うと、その会話が隔離されます（ただし、OpenAIは最大30日間、会話の内容を保持する可能性があることは頭に入れておきましょう）。 話題のChatGPT画像生成。進化した要因とは？ | ライフハッカー・ジャパン WORK FAST, LIVE SLOW.仕事を充実させ、生活を楽しむ。ビジネスはスマートに、暮らしは豊かに。ポジティブに生きるために現実を見据えて考えたい人の... https://www.lifehacker.jp/article/2503chatgpt-got-image-generation-upgade/ 文章メインで活用する��らClaudeでしょ！私がChatGPTよりもClaudeを使う6つの理由 | ライフハッカー・ジャパン ChatGPTよりもClaudeの方がAIアシスタントとして優秀？どこがどう使えるのがご紹介します。 https://www.lifehacker.jp/article/2504-reasons-use-claude-instead-of-chatgpt/ 著者：Jake Peterson 翻訳：ライフハッカー・ジャパン編集部 Image: Robert Way / Shutterstock.com Source: X, TechCrunch

ChatGPTが｢これまでに伝えたすべて｣を記憶するようになった | ギズモード・ジャパン

[fadingsunsjvj]

Amazon Japan raided by anti-monopoly authorities | TechCrunch

[trendtoday]

Techcrunch's mobility: Lyft buys its way to Europe, Kodiak Spacs and how new China Adas rules can affect Tesla

Welcome back to Techcrunch’s mobility – Your Central Center for News and Knowledge of the Future of Transport. Sign up here for free – just click Techcrunch mobility! Enough with my typical little conversation. Let’s get into the news immediately this week. And there are many of it, including LyftEntry to Europe, the beginning of AV JUST going to Japan, the first car of SUV with clear…

[trendstodaynet]

Techcrunch's mobility: Lyft buys its way to Europe, Kodiak Spacs and how new China Adas rules can affect Tesla

Welcome back to Techcrunch’s mobility – Your Central Center for News and Knowledge of the Future of Transport. Sign up here for free – just click Techcrunch mobility! Enough with my typical little conversation. Let’s get into the news immediately this week. And there are many of it, including LyftEntry to Europe, the beginning of AV JUST going to Japan, the first car of SUV with clear…

[stevebattle]

Baby Animals (2008) by Bandai Namco, Tokyo, Japan. These soft & fluffy robotic pandas, polar bears, white tigers and lions will charm you with their cute voice, facial expressions, and eyes that blink. "Each of the robots is equipped with four sensors and two buttons. The animal will start moving its mouth and making “realistic” sounds every time you touch its head or neck. It will react the same way if you lull it. Ignore the robot for about 5 minutes and it will start sleeping (it then only wakes up by pulling the right ear)." – Serkan Toto for TechCrunch.

[yassinnoovebusiness]

TechCrunch Mobility: Lyft buys its way into Europe, Kodiak SPACs, and how China’s new ADAS rules might affect Tesla

Welcome back to Techcrunch mobility – Your central center of news and insights about the future of transportation. Log in here for free – just click Techcrunch mobility!! Enough with my typical little conversation. Let’s start the news this week. And there are plenty of it, including LitoEntry into Europe, AV startup Only Moving toward Japan, the first ride Lucid gravity suvseveral New York…

[newsus2025]

Japan’s service robot market projected to triple in five years

https://techcrunch-us.blogspot.com/2025/03/japans-service-robot-market-projected.html

[getupmychain]

Threads is testing ads in the US and Japan

🚀 Have you heard? Meta's Threads is dipping its toes into the ad pool with select brands in the U.S. and Japan! It's like watching a toddler take their first swim—lots of splashing and some uncertainty! Instagram's head honcho, Adam Mosseri, promises to listen to feedback before they go global. Just like us freelancers, they’re testing the waters before diving in. After all, nobody wants to belly flop into a market! Stay tuned for more splashes! #Technews #freelancer #businessonline (Source: TechCrunch)