Japan Lets You Use Your Passport to Get Free Wi-Fi

Although Japan is renowned for having some of the best customer service on the planet, for various reasons, including language and cultural hurdles, it isn't known as the most tourist-friendly destination.

Some of those hurdles also extend into the tech arena, namely, Wi-Fi. Although sidling up to a café in Europe or North America and grabbing a bit of free Wi-Fi for your mobile device is common, finding such wireless access in tech-centric Japan's major cities remains notoriously difficult. But that's about to change.

A new program launched by NTT (Japan's largest telecom), is designed to serve foreign tourists on the hunt for Wi-Fi. For those who haven't traveled to Japan, the program might seem behind the times, but for anyone familiar with attempting to find Wi-Fi in Japan, this is huge news. (YouTube is littered with video commentary from frustrated travelers marveling at the lack of Wi-Fi access in such a technologically advanced country as Japan.)

Now, when a traveler arrives at a Japanese airport, they can present their passport and register for a Wi-Fi card that offers free Wi-Fi coverage via 45,000 hot spots in the eastern Japan area including Tokyo, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Yokohama, Nagano, Nikko, Kusatsu, Tohoku, Hokkaido and Fukushima.

Additionally, a traveler outside of the country preparing to visit Japan can download the iOS or Android version of the NAVITIME for Japan Travel app and obtain an ID and password beforehand. The app also offers an augmented reality mode that shows you a Street View-style image of the location where an available Wi-Fi hotspot is located.

However, the access only lasts for 14 days (or 336 hours), just enough to get you used to the free access, but not long enough to be truly useful for anyone planning an extended stay in Japan.

According to the Nikkei, the program is also being directed by the Japanese government, which plans to use the initiative to get more buildings in the country to offer Wi-Fi access.

The trial program, which began earlier this year, will last until September 2014.

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My N3RD Helps You Control Devices From Anywhere

A new gadget called My N3RD (pronounced "my nerd") allows users to operate anything with an on-off switch via their smartphone. This includes lights, garage doors and even coffee makers for the the truly tired among us.

"I became frustrated with the number of remote controls I needed to use on a daily basis just to control my stuff," Rob Dorrell, My N3RD's creator, says in a video on the device's Kickstarter page.

My N3RD is wireless, but doesn't need the Internet or a router to work. The device can be controlled through existing Wi-Fi, but if the connection fails, it will automatically compensate by creating its own network — essentially cutting out the middle man. My N3RD's companion app can turn appliances on or off, and can also set timers on lights, fireplaces and sprinklers, among other things.

The app is currently available for iOS users (an Android version is still in development). It's free, but users will have to pay to enable specific features, such as Wi-Fi or timers, that will make My N3RD work. The device's creators also have plans to launch a web interface for the device, and to integrate it with the cloud.

Users will have to directly connect My N3RD to the appliances they want to control with the app. This means My N3RD has the flexibility to work with most household appliances since the device is relying on components that they already have.

Dorrell posted several online tutorials on how to hook up the My N3RD to appliances, including garage doors and electric fireplaces.

My N3RD is expected to start shipping its first round of devices in July. At press time, the device has raised more than half of its $50,000 goal via Kickstarter.

Image: Kickstarter

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MeMini Is a Wearable Camera That Captures Moments After They Happen

Video can capture priceless moments — but not if you miss the shot.

meMINI is a wearable Wi-Fi-enabled camera with recall, which helps users save film-worthy moments in high-definition video after they've already come and gone.

Looping footage is captured every five seconds to five minutes. To permanently store the last recorded moment, users can press the recall button to transfer a file to cloud-based storage or the camera's internal memory. The meMINI can loop video for three continuous hours on a full charge.

What's more, users can attach the camera to their clothing via its magnetic back plates; this allows them to easily take it on the go.

An app compatible with iOS and Android can control the camera, the footage and how video is stored. It also lets users share moments they've recorded via email, social media or with the meMINI community.

meMINI co-developers Ben Bodley and Sam Lee are raising money for the device on Kickstarter. At press time, the device has already surpassed its original funding goal of $50,000.

"Technology changes—our memories should last forever," the camera's Kickstarter video explains. "Imagine if there was a device that captured our favorite moments that would otherwise be lost."

Image: MeMini

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