People around the world are complaining left and right about missing and messed up map components. Now Japanese as jumping on the complaint wagon.

This morning the news on local TV stations broadcast stories of people bemoaning the use of the Apple maps on their recently updated iPhones. Many wish they had never updated their phones and are afraid of using the new Apple map because they are noticing problems all on their own without the help of online or televised news stories.

Some of the complaints are:

Many want Apple to succeed in creating a good mapping service, but they are frustrated that Apple brought out the mapping service and it is so flawed. Many people have worked hard getting their businesses listed in Google Maps so others can easily find them. Not being able to find their hard work listed in the new Apple Maps makes people feel like they are back to square one. Apple had better get to work on fixing this or it will spoil the sweet flavor many have come to know and enjoy!

While I was waiting, I looked around at the new iPhones they had on display.

The new iPhone 5 is a nice piece of technology. I played around with the phone to see how well it worked. Apps and graphics opened up quickly. The phone felt lighter than my iPhone 4, but I couldn’t really tell how much lighter it was because of the cable Softbank has attached to the sample unit. It’s definitely thinner and the screen feels a bit smoother when swiping. Overall, I liked the phone.

Now would I buy one? Yes, but…

Softbank has changed their service plans. They used to offer ¥0-¥4980 monthly unlimited service plan and a flat rate monthly service plan that was around ¥4980 or so. Anyone with an iPhone 5 now has to pay ¥5460+315+980+¥2570-¥2140 which equals a total of ¥6755 per month, plus the cost of phone calls to users outside Softbank. If a buyer chooses to get the larger 32 gigabyte iPhone 5, they will have to pay an additional ¥430 per month for 25 months.

If would not buy the 16 gigabyte phone. Why?

The 16 would be way too small since the iPhone 5 camera is now 8 megapixels and apps are now slightly larger in size with the latest larger screen. Anyone with a 16 would be constantly juggling apps, photos and videos around or have to upload constantly to the Cloud. This is going to be a huge issue in the future as more and more people find it hard to store the pictures and videos they take. But that’s another article!

If you have an older iPhone, especially a 3G, 3GS or 4, upgrading would bring you much improvement in speed and technology and allow you to do much more than your current iPhone allows you to do. But it is going to cost you a little more money…at least for now…until 4G and Cloud pricing comes down to earth.

The prices for iPad 2 have been marked down 10,000 yen for now. But don’t expect prices at Softbank to drop much more any time soon.

On a slightly different note, Softbank just came out with a much faster 4G LTE wifi router that operates at 75Mbs replacing their current model that operates at 42Mbs. The older model was priced at 3880 yen a month, but now the newer model is being sold at that monthly price. There was no price for the slower 42Mbs router being displayed.

Currently, on the Softbank website, there is no mention of the much faster 75Mbs router, but at stores locally, it is available. The body styling of this unit is sleek and sexy, but a little heavy. It would be best carried around in a bag, not anyone’s pocket.

Prices for iPad 2 have already dropped, but once iPad 3 comes out, they should drop even more. That’s good for those who don’t care about the iPad 3 and are willing to use a machine that is strong, but slightly outdated. Of course, in today’s society where technology changes like the wind, a few days after a product comes out, it could become passe.

That kind of thinking has slowly changed over the years as more and more people see TV advertising and the growing numbers of people riding public transportation enjoying their smartphones as they go back and forth to work chatting, emailing, surfing the Internet and playing games. Those who still haven’t switched to a smartphone can be seen or felt looking over smartphone users’ shoulders as they try to get a glimpse of what their smart devices can do. These people anxiously await their 2-year contracts to end so they can rush to the store and upgrade.

Now that even larger Android phones have come out on the market and fewer old style flip-phones are being sold, most who once thought iPhones were too big, now drool over larger-screened devices. What used to be thought of as a big minus has now become a major plus.

The smartphone market is on fire in Japan and people from all age groups are flocking to stores to get one!

KIX uses the screen to display videos introducing visitors to the airport giving them guidance how to get around the airport along with information on sightseeing spots in the Kansai area.

The speakers will be experts from different fields involved in development of “Nihongo de Care-navi”, an online Japanese-English dictionary developed by the institute featuring useful expressions for nursing and caregiving.

Admission is free, but registration is necessary and should be done before February 29th, 2008.

Please call (072) 490-2601 for more information.

As of today, officers are stopping motorists for holding their cellular phones while driving, reading email while driving and of course talking on them while driving.

Police officers set up check points throughout Japan today and pulled everyone over doing any of the previously mentioned no-noes.

The fines for driving while using a keitai (cellular phone) depend on the vehicle you are driving. The fines range between 5,000 yen to 7,000 yen. Drivers also lose one point on their license. And if a fine goes unpaid, drivers can expect to pay as much as 50,000 yen.

If you just can’t get by without having access to your phone, go buy a hands-free headset because it’s the only legal way you can use a keitai while driving.