November 7, 2008 (Tokyo, Japan)āAcrodea, Inc. (CEO and President: Junya Tsutsumi), headquartered in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, announced today the installation of VIVID UI, developed as a user interface platform for mobile terminals, and the installation of VIVID Movie, VIVID Message and VIVID Panorama in the winter 2008 model handsets released by SoftBank Mobile Co., Ltd. (CEO and President: Masayoshi Son; āSoftBank Mobileā), headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Among the winter 2008 models announced, the AQUOS Keitai FULLTOUCH 931SH, 930SH, NEW PANTONEĀ® 830SH, 830SH s, and Disney Mobileās DM003S to be released in cooperation with Walt Disney Company (Japan), Ltd., have adopted fundamental VIVID UI technology and compatibility with Softbank Mobileās service āKisekae Arrangeā as handsets made by Sharp. The service allows the modification of the standby screen, menu screens, battery level indicator, signal status indicator, etc., with preferred icons and graphics. Mobile phones compatible with the service contain a pre-installed selection of Kisekae Arrange content, depending on the model. In addition, by purchasing basic template files, subscribers with certain compatible models can modify the graphics of specific parts, or, in essence, arrange the screen designs as desired. Moreover, the AQUOS Keitai FULLTOUCH 931SH and 930SH have implemented VIVID Movie, which enables even more attractive UI that incorporate video for Kisekae Arrange content.
Next, the models 930SH, NEW PANTONEĀ® 830SH, 830SH s, and DM003SH (made by Sharp), and 830P (made by Panasonic Mobile Communications) have adopted fundamental VIVID UI technology and compatibility with Softbank Mobileās original service āS! Onajimi Sosa.ā This service is a breakthrough feature that allows subscribers to continue using familiar operating environments of previously used model handsets by downloading menu screen data corresponding to any of numerous models released in the past. Since subscribers can continue to use the operating feel from models of other manufacturers, the perplexity of operation accompanying a change in handset model disappears, and new mobile phone features and services can immediately be put to use.
Next, the models AQUOS Keitai FULLTOUCH 931SH, 930SH, NEW PANTONEĀ® 830SH, 830SH s, and DM003SH (made by Sharp); 830P (made by Panasonic Mobile Communications); 830T and 831T (made by Toshiba); and 930SC OMNIA (made by Samsung Electronics) have adopted Acrodeaās VIVID Message, and are compatible with Softbank Mobileās original service āDerumoji Hyoji.ā This service features the display of animated 3D expressions in email text in response to specific picture fonts, emoticons, and key words found in the main body of an email message. The animation comprises around 150 graphics that initiate action, including a heart, question mark, cloverleaf, the sun, fireworks, an automobile, etc., and creates a colorful, emotionally enriched email screen. The same 3D expressions display in response to the specific picture fonts, emoticons, and key words contained in email texts received from mobile phones other than Softbank models, or even PCs.
Finally, the AQUOS Keitai FULLTOUCH 931SH, 930SH, NEW PANTONEĀ® 830SH, and 830SH s (made by Sharp) incorporate VIVID Panorama as a camera feature. Users of these models can enjoy panorama photography with a very simple operation.
About VIVID UI
VIVID UI is a user interface platform developed by Acrodea for mobile phones, and represents innovative middleware that can integrate various types of multimedia content, such as still pictures, 3D graphics, animation effects, and video. VIVID UI enables mobile phones that can be readily customized with graphically enhanced menus and standby screens according to user preferences. The VIVID UI authoring tool incorporates features for creating menu transitions through a visual context, as well as for menu content emulation. By using this tool, handset manufacturers and content providers can easily create compatible content with a wealth of expression.
About VIVID Movie
Jointly developed by Acrodea and Silicon Studio Corporation (CEO: Takehiko Terada), headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, VIVID Movie comprises software for compressing and expanding video for handheld devices. VIVID Movie achieves sophisticated video processing that can play rich movie content in memory-constrained and CPU performance-limited environments, such as mobile telephones and compact handheld devices. The technology is provided as middleware for mobile devices, and, in conjunction with VIVID UI, can deliver a highly expressive user interface with the adoption of movie content. The high video compression rate means an optimum solution can be achieved for downloaded content also.
About VIVID Message
As middleware with a visual communication function, VIVID Message is a solution developed jointly by Acrodea, and Megachips Corporation (CEO and President: Yukihiro Ukai), headquartered in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, and enriches the expressive capacity of email on mobile handsets by taking plain, two-dimensional text and adding 3D graphics and animation effects for a stereographic and dynamic presentation.
About VIVID Panorama
Jointly developed by Acrodea and Morpho, Inc. (CEO and President: Masaki Hilaga), headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, VIVID Panorama consists of middleware for camera functionality. VIVID Panorama permits the user to create panorama photos (images extended in one direction for a wider or taller viewing angle than ordinary photos) easily by operating the mobile handset with a built-in digital camera like a camcorder and panning the desired range. Although previous handsets have been equipped with panoramic photography functions, the āpanorama-likeā photo involved stitching together each, individually taken photo. The panoramic image-generating technology of VIVID Panorama is fully automated on the basis of the video data captured. The process is rapid and completed in real time. Users may immediately preview the panorama photo taken. This convenience is an additional feature of VIVID Panorama.
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Acrodea, Inc., is a software technology R&D firm involved in middleware technology for mobile terminals. The company is particularly focused on interface technologies connecting between the user and terminal, and currently provides UI (user interface) technologies and email enhancement technologies to the market. We are also applying R&D energy towards the enhancement of graphics performance, which is indispensable in facilitating usage of mobile platform interfaces. Our stance and efforts are a continual commitment to superior products and improving technology, for which we have received recognition worldwide. In addition to Japan and Korea, Acrodea is engaged in business on the global market, including China, Europe, and North America. Listed on the Mothers Market (Code: 3823, TSE), Acrodea is headquartered in Tokyo, and maintains an overseas presence in Seoul, Korea; Helsinki, Finland; and Newport Beach, California, U.S.A. For more information, please visit http://www.acrodea.co.jp.
Marketing Department at Acrodea, Inc.
TELļ¼+81 3-5768-8603Ā Email: products@acrodea.co.jp
