Japanese Tech Stock Weekly Summary

The following is excerpted from IRG's weekly stock report:

Hardware

• Sanyo (SANYY.PK) added higher resolution photos, better quality video and an improved face detection function to the latest waterproof Xacti digital still and movie camera. In the new camera, called the DMC-CA8, the resolution of the image sensor has been increased from 6 megapixels on the old model to 8 megapixels. The top still image mode outputs a 4,000 pixel by 3,000 pixel resolution image. The sensor has also been switched from a CCD (charge couple device) image sensor to one based on a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) production process. CMOS sensors can work faster than CCD, allowing Sanyo to increase the frame rate on the top-quality video mode from 30 frames per second to 60 frames per second.

• Fujitsu (FJTSY.PK) introduced a line of high-performance servers powered by Intel's (INTC) latest Itanium dual-core processor. The Primequest 520A, 540A, and 580A servers are available with up to 8, 16, and 32 9100 series processors, respectively. The product line is expected to ship in May. The servers are available with either open source Linux or Microsoft's Windows Server. The systems are built for running databases, enterprise resource planning applications, and scientific computing. The new products are updates of the midrange Primequest 520 model and the high-end 540 and 580 models. The three systems were introduced in July 2006.

Media, Entertainment and Gaming

• G4 has broadened its focus to young men and carved a distinctive niche airing Japanese stunt shows in prime time. The channel now reaches 64 million homes. It had 15 consecutive months of growth among its target audience of men ages 18 to 34. This summer, look for more humor aimed at the Maxim set: Hurl, an original U.S.-made eating-and-regurgitating competition that will gorge contestants on chicken pot pies or clam chowder, than strap them into spinning rides. And on June 1, the channel will premiere animated series Spaceballs, based on the Mel Brooks movie, along with the TV premiere of The King of Kong, a documentary about the quest for high-scoring stardom in Donkey Kong.

Disclaimer: IRG is not responsible for the accuracy of the news compiled within this article, which is based on publicly available information.