Toshiba, Canon delay next-generation SED TV's release till late 2007
March 8, 2006Toshiba Corp. and Canon Inc. said Wednesday their alliance will delay the release of a next-generation high quality-image TV, known as a surface-conduction electron-emitter display television, or SED TV, until the October-December period of 2007 from the originally planned release date this spring. A Canon official said the two decided to put off the release as they have found it hard to cut production costs quickly enough, in light of the speed with which the retail prices of such conventional flat-panel TVs as liquid crystal display TVs are falling amid intensive competition.
3 Japanese astronauts voice hope of staying at ISS
March 8, 2006Three Japanese astronauts who have been certified as U.S. space shuttle mission specialists spoke of their hopes and expectations in Tokyo on Wednesday about staying at the International Space Station. Satoshi Furukawa, 41, Akihiko Hoshide, 37, and Naoko Yamazaki, 35, hope to stay in the Japanese space laboratory compartment Kibo that is to be added to the ISS and conduct experiments there.