Ultraseven vs. Aron

Ultraman vs. Gabula & Rigger

Alien Goron vs. Gumonga

Kaiju Ebanashi

Alien Godola, Alien Borg, Alien Baltan, Alien Zarab, Alien Icarus, Alien Bado

Eleking, Dino-Tank

Capsule Monsters: Windam, Agira, Miclas

Ultraseven

Alien Baltan // Magular

Garamon // Kanegon

Litra & Gomess // Peter & Todora

Ultraseven, Alien Icarus, Alien Pega, Alien Cool

Ultraseven, Bostang, Starbem Gyeron

Kaiju Ebanashi

Ultraman vs. Jirass

Seabozu & Zaragas

Peguila & Kanegon

Jamila & Alien Mephilas

Kaiju Ebanashi

Aboras, Banila, Zambolar

Ultraman vs. Jamila

Ultraman, Alien Baltan, Bemular

[Link: Takayoshi Mizuki]

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]]> http://www.removethelabels.com/2010/04/20/ultra-monster-art-by-takayoshi-mizuki/feed/ 0 http://www.removethelabels.com/2010/01/18/rumor-secret-sony-timer-kills-products-after-warranty/ http://www.removethelabels.com/2010/01/18/rumor-secret-sony-timer-kills-products-after-warranty/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:15:34 +0000 William http://www.removethelabels.com/?p=26274

Call it the rumor that wouldn’t die. For decades, people in Japan have alleged that Sony installs a secret timer in its products that causes them to fail after a specific period of time.

Speculation about the existence of this so-called “Sony timer” emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as consumers grew increasingly suspicious of Sony devices that stopped working just after the warranty expired. According to the theory, Sony’s time-activated kill switches are designed to boost sales by driving consumers to purchase replacement parts, repairs, or new models (often the cheapest option) after a scheduled period.

Today, decades after the rumors began, people still talk about the Sony timer. In 2006, after a string of laptop explosions prompted a global recall of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries manufactured by Sony Energy Devices Corporation, Japanese Internet forums were flooded with sarcastic comments raving about how effective the latest generation of Sony timers had become.

Clearly, much of the speculation about hidden Sony timers is tongue-in-cheek, but some people appear to take the claims seriously, pointing to the suspiciously precise timing of product failures as evidence of foul play. Regardless of whether or not Sony timers actually exist, the company has been dogged by the perception that its products break down just outside warranty.

Although “Sony timer” has long been a household phrase in Japan, company officials have only rarely acknowledged the rumors in public. In June 2006, an executive who oversaw the establishment of the VAIO customer service center attracted attention when he mentioned the Sony timer in a speech at G-Force Japan, a large annual conference for the Japanese call center industry. “It’s absurd to think that Sony would install timers that cause products to fail just 13 months after purchase,” he told the audience. “But for some reason, people continue to have this perception. Our marketing, customer service and product development departments are making a deliberate and concerted effort to improve Sony’s image,” he said.

At a shareholders’ meeting in June 2007, in a speech outlining new measures to ensure product quality and improve the Sony brand image, former company president (current vice-chairman) Ryoji Chubachi admitted he knew the phrase “Sony timer.”

Despite the decades of rumors and speculation, nobody has ever proven the existence of the Sony timer. Skeptics argue that if such timers actually existed, a rival company would likely have found one and made it public. With this in mind, the Sony timer is widely considered an urban legend.

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Roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro already got his (Photo: Loving the Machine)

The mechanical doppelgangers are available for a limited time as part of a special New Year’s promotional sale at Sogo, Seibu, and Robinson’s department stores. They will be built by Japanese robotics firm Kokoro, which is perhaps best known for its line of Actroid receptionist humanoids.

In addition to providing the robot with the owner’s face, body, hair, eyes and eyelashes, Kokoro will model the robot’s facial expressions and upper body movements after the buyer. The robot’s speech will be based on recordings of the owner’s voice.

Orders will be accepted from January 1 to 3 at any of Japan’s 28 Sogo, Seibu, or Robinson’s department stores. Only two robot twins are available, but given the hefty price tag of 20.1 million yen (3,000) each, the stores will likely be hard-pressed to find any takers. If more than two orders are received, the purchasers will be selected in a random drawing.

[Source: IT Media]

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“Death Battle with Robot Kong,” an illustration by Takashi Minamimura, features a cutaway diagram of Robot Kong, also known as “Mechani-Kong” in the US version of the cartoon and in the 1967 spin-off film “King Kong Escapes.” Built to defeat King Kong, the 50-meter tall remote-control robot is powered by a 200,000-kilowatt nuclear reactor and can shoot laser beams from its eyes and poison gas from its nose.

The accompanying text describes Dr. Who’s sinister plans to capture King Kong, place a mind-control helmet on his head, and use him to hijack ships and rob banks. He estimates King Kong can carry about 100 million yen in cash in his giant paws.

[View full image]

Appearing in the same issue of Shōnen Magazine is a schematic illustration by Takayoshi Mizuki entitled “Secret Pyramid Base,” which shows Dr. Who’s secret base inside one of the Giza pyramids in Egypt.

The pyramid is equipped with advanced military hardware, including 3D radar, jet launchers, recoilless guns, flamethrowers, rocket launchers, and military tanks that burrow underground. Dr. Who monitors all the action from a wall of TV screens in his room at the center of the pyramid. The base is powered by a nuclear reactor in the basement and surrounded by giant ant-lion sand traps.

Situated nearby is a giant nuclear-powered Sphinx Tank. King Kong battles a variation of this weaponized Sphinx in an episode of “The King Kong Show.” (Watch “The Jinx of the Sphinx.”)

The diabolical Dr. Who and Mechani-Kong also appear in the 1967 film “King Kong Escapes,” which was an adaptation of some of the cartoon episodes.

In the film, King Kong is captured and hypnotized by Dr. Who, but he eventually snaps out of it and escapes to Tokyo. Dr. Who sends Mechani-Kong after him, and the two end up in a battle to the death atop Tokyo Tower.

+ King Kong Escapes – US trailer

[Images via: 昭和の雑誌広告・懐かしモノ]

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Called the “Nice Cup In Bra,” the lingerie consists of a grass-green top that, when removed, conveniently unfurls into a 1.5-meter-long putting mat. When the user sinks a putt into one of the cups, a built-in speaker pumps out a cry of “Nice shot.” (Watch a short video.)

In addition to functioning as a practice mat, the bra incorporates features that can come in handy on the course, such as pockets for storing extra balls and tees, as well as a detachable flag pin that doubles as a score pencil.

The bottom half of the lingerie consists of a detachable pink skirt with the words “Be Quiet” printed in bold letters on the rear. When removed, the extra-short skirt can be used as a flag to encourage onlookers to remain silent.

According to the maker, the Nice Cup In Bra — which is not yet for sale — was created in response to the growing popularity of golf among females in Japan, and is designed to appeal to busy working women looking for a unique and convenient way to practice their putt.

Twice a year, Triumph International Japan unveils a new concept bra that highlights a popular trend or draws attention to social issues. Previous Triumph bras include the Marriage-hunting Bra, Shopping Bag Bra, Solar Power Bra, My Chopsticks Bra, and Voter Turnout Bra.

[ Source: Walkerplus ]

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