[Technology Review] LINE Application

LINE is a popular communication application for iPhone and Android that enables users to make free calls and send SMS messages from anywhere in the world.  There is also a desktop program available for Windows and Mac OS X for those who wish to use it on their computer instead.  Though the application is extremely similar to other free call applications such as Skype, what makes LINE unique is its high range of customization in its user interface.  LINE offers users to download and pay for stickers, which are basically large and over dramatic emoticons of people, animals, and iconic characters from Evangelion and even some original sets.  Combine that with the stickers, and the options for user customization are endless!

Additionally, LINE also comes with a camera application that has better quality and filters than most preset smartphone cameras.  Similar to Instagram, it can take photos and allows users to personalize them with cropping, custom borders, and filters with more options for lighting.  However, unlike Instagram, LINE also allows users to decorate their photos with stickers, ranging from stickers with phrases like “cute” and alphabet letters, to stickers of characters and dazzling effects.  There is also a custom paint brush tool built into LINE, so user can use the touch screen to draw on photos or create a digital painting from scratch.  The beauty of these features is that users can edit their photos to be as simple or as detailed as they want with these tools.  The only downside of this is having to pay for preset sticker sets.  However, with enough artistic ability, people can easily decorate their photos with just as much flare if they download the free LINE brush and make custom edits.  There are also social media games available to play similar to those found on Facebook and the app store, so users never get bored while they’re on the go.

The cons of LINE as compared to other popular applications is that is still has yet to enable video calling, and many of the additional filters and add-ons have to be purchased.  Users can only send short audio and video messages and are limited in space.  Some users are fed up with the uselessness of the stickers, and if you don’t like sending or receiving emoticons, you may find them repetitive and annoying.  However, to balance its lack of video capability, LINE offers much more flexibility than FaceTime and overall is one of the most customizable apps to date.  From backgrounds, stickers, brushes, and photo effects, LINE’s store is constantly being updated and tries to provide something likeable for everyone.  Overall, as technology improves, LINE is predicted to eventually allow more video capability.

I would personally give the LINE application a 4/5, because it takes the most unique features of currently popular apps on the market and combines all of them to a single application set.  Of all of the free social applications that I’ve used, LINE offers the most customization.  It even allows users to post statuses and has a profile system that is similar to Facebook’s timeline layout so people can easily communicate with one another and customize their header image.  Unlike Skype, that is limited to just calling and SMS, or Instagram, that is limited to a preset amount of filters, LINE builds off of all of them and creates an app that contains all of the features that users desire to create social media and interact with others.  While I was in Japan, I used LINE very frequently to keep in touch with my friends and family back in the States.  I am grateful to find an application that is easily accessible, has a unique user interface, and that is usable by people of all ages.  Therefore, I would highly recommend this application to people who travel often and wish to use an app that can share media with an individual touch.

Big Shopping in Akihabara

With its wide selection of electronic, anime, videogame, and specialized goods, Akihabara is a dream come true for anyone even slightly interested in Japanese pop culture!  As we strolled through the lively streets, my group was amazed by the diverse and wide range of products.  As we made our way to the central streets, we were greeted by shops filled with anime figurines and mecha models.  We also entered Akiba Central that was 8 floors and contained manga of all different volumes, anime DVDs, and figures upon figures behind glass cases.  Being the huge anime and videogame fans that we are, we spent hours browsing the goods and were like kids in a candy store.  Shopping in Akihabara is intense and filled with so many choices that we didn’t even know where to begin!

Intense advertising in Akihabara!

After exploring the main streets and entering a few more figure and games shops, we decided to dig a bit deeper and search for a store that I’ve wanted to visit since I was a child: The Tales of Store, a homage to my favorite videogame series.  It was on the 2nd floor of a shop called Kotobukiya and there I dropped over $200 on specialized merchandise.  I picked up a towel, hair tie, and alarm clock of my favorite character Leon Magnus from Tales of Destiny, and also a T-shirt and necklaces from the latest title, Tales of Xillia.  I also picked up a NERV T-shirt from Evangelion, a Spookies mug from SMT: Soul Hackers, a Saber Lily keychain from Fate/Stay Night, and a Haro and Zaku model for a friend.  It’s safe to say that I spent my worth in Akihabara!!  And this is only our first time here!

My wallet took a critical hit! But it was well worth it!

The thing I like about shopping in Tokyo and Japan in general is that everything is conveniently located nearby at a walkable distance. I enjoy shopping at tiny specialized shops instead of huge general malls like in America.  Our shopping experience tonight was truly unforgettable, I loved being able to see so many things that are relevant to my interests.  My friends and I got some amazing deals on figures and will definitely come back here to hit up some more shops!

Digital Frontier and Future Scope

Today was a jam packed day filled with traveling, meeting the presidents of 2 famous CG and graphics design companies, and traversing through the streets of Harujuku.  The first company we toured was Digital Frontier, who is famous for its CG work behind the animated Biohazard movies, better known as Resident Evil!  I enjoyed seeing their demo reel presented in HD and listen to them talk about their OPAKIS motion capture studio and the process of transforming it with 3D modeling through Maya and CG.  I am familiar with the mechanics of 3D modeling and it was exciting to see professional office workers use the exact same software as me!  I hope one day I can work in a similar atmosphere with a bunch of graphics designers who display their anime, videogame, and manga collections in their offices and “work hard and play hard.”

Leon S. Kennedy for the win!

The second company that we toured was Future Scope, which developed a lot of social mobile games and even an Evangelion-themed one!  I was impressed with their emphasis on character development in their mobile games, a lot of US mobile game developers overlook that and I would definitely play their games if they ever became localized.  I also enjoyed seeing their CG work in Majestic Prince, an anime that I am currently watching!  I was surprised to see their involvement in it and now appreciate the CG scenes even more.  The most exciting part of their office was all of the Eva merchandise they had!  Eva-themed PSPs, custom calendars, posters, a golden statue of Eva Unit 01… the list goes on and on!  Overall, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will greatly treasure for years to come.  Neon Genesis Evangelion has been my favorite anime for 6 years now and touring a studio that helped promote it makes it mean even more to me.  So thankful for this cultural experience!!

Harujuku Shenanigans!

Today our group wandered the streets of the extremely popular Harujuku and went on some crazy shopping adventures.  Harujuku is basically the fashion capitol of Japan and boasts a variety of chic and crazy styles.  Our group visited the designer closing store Bathing Ape and I was able to score a T-shirt for my little brother for a mere $35 as opposed to the online 70$ retail price–quite the bargain!  We also visited the Tokyu Mall and chilled up on the 5th floor with green tea frappuchinos and go some beautiful pictures of the Tokyo skyline.

Harujuku, what’s up!

After traversing the streets and eating at an udon restaurant, we then traveled to a unique sticker store called B Side that literally was piled up with stickers from the floor to the ceiling!  I bought some hilarious pins, all including unique designs with an alpaca, duck, and an anteater.  These are truly the souvenirs that are worth living for!  Afterwards, I bought a T-shirt of Eva Unit 01 from Neon Genesis Evangelion at a fashion boutique called Stay Real.  The Eva fan in me has never been happier!

As for our dinner plans, we decided to eat at a fancy yakiniku (or Korean barbecue  restaurant near Future Scope with the company president himself!  Yakiniku is truly an experience like no other.  Grilling food BBQ style and having an unlimited buffet was a great combination.   Though I am a vegetarian and didn’t care much for the meat, the vegetable dishes and the ice cream crisps were absolutely delicious.  Here is a picture of Dan Losh and I there:

 

I enjoyed seeing some of Japan’s crazy fashions and look forward to more cultural experiences like this one!