Gizmodo: asian

Camera Misses the Mark on Racial Sensitivity

Odelia Lee — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:40:00 EDT

I know this Nikon S630 is just trying to be helpful, but a little tact wouldn't hurt. Some people's eyes just extra squinty when they smile, OK, camera? [Flickr via BoingBoing]

Nintendo DS Health Control Game Timer is So Asian It Hurts

Jason Chen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:40:00 EDT

This Health Control Game Timer may be incredibly weird to Americans, but Asians know exactly what this is for—taking the place of parental nagging.

The HCGT does two things: beep when your face gets too close to the screen and beep when you reached the 30/60/90/120 minute game timer limit. This is essentially what my parents nagged me about when I was playing my Game Boy in 1989—get your face further away from the screen and stop playing so much. So thanks, Health Control Game Timer, for bringing back those wonderful memories for $40. [Game Timer via Impress Watch via Kotaku via Dvice]

A Round up of Random, Delightfully Crappy Gadgets from CES 2009's International Gateway

Adrian Covert — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:20:00 EST

Up in the Siberia of the Las Vegas Convention Center there's International Gateway, where obscure Asian electronics companies congregate to hawk their wares. It's generally boring/terrible, but sometimes you stumble on wonderfully goofy gems.

I scoured the entire area, and found what I consider to be the most amusing items there and placed them into a gallery below for your consumption.

The Ultimate Box Cutter From Japan

Jason Chen — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:07:54 EDT

Hey dudes, Jason here. I'm back after a week of nonstop eating, sleeping, and general debauchery in lands East of here. Not only have I brought back about 10 pounds worth of food in the form of an even larger gut than before, I've also brought back some neat Asian gadgets. Here's one.

This Japanese box cutter, as you can see, is unlike the retractable ones we have here. Instead, it's like a knife with serrated edges that can tear through cardboard with a sawing motion just as easily as it goes through tape and other packing material. There's even a convenient sheath so you don't "accidentally" shiv your wife (or yourself) in the face when it's not in use.

Not sure where you can find this online, but had I known these were so good I would have bought more than one. – Jason Chen

Jason Chen, Asian to the Max, Gets Interviewed

Travis Hudson — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 16:45:47 EST

We usually like to give props when one of our own goes out of the fenced-in Gizmodo area for an interview with another news source. For example, Charlie has been interviewed by everyone and their dog. And today is Jason Chen's lucky day. The automobile blog, Jalopnik has decided to interview him. No, it isn't for his expertise on the Zune or anything else technologically related. It is for his expertise of being an Asian-American. Click the link below to see Jason Chen decipher the meaning behind an Asian-heavy Ford ad. –Travis Hudson

Ad Watch: Do Asian-Americans Like To Live On The Edge, Make Bold Weddings Happen Every Day? [Jalopnik]