Sony Ericsson has just added a new device to the Xperia line of mobile phones, the Xperia acro. This handset is designed specially for users in Japan and packs in a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and Android’s Gingerbread 2.3.

That’s not all. The phone also has an extra wide 4.2” screen, an 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R for mobiles, enabling users to capture low-noise, high quality images and HD video (720p) and there’s also TV-viewing, a mobile-wallet and more. Lucky Japanese.

Onkyo has announced that they are ready to launch a pair of new business-minded Windows 7 tablets in Japan next month. There’s the 11.6-inch 1366 x 728 TW317A7PH and the 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 TW117A7PH. Both come packing in a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU, 2GB of RAM, WI-Fi, Bluetooth and the Microsoft Windows 7 Business OS.

The 11.6-inch model boasts 32GB of hard disk drive, while the 10.1-inch model has a 160GB hard disk drive. No word on pricing just yet, but when we hear more we will let you know.

Nintendo’s 3DS was released in Japan on February 26th and it has been selling great hitting the top of the sales charts. How could it’s sales possibly be surpassed? By the PSP, that’s how. According to Media Create the PSP sold 58,075 units in the week of March 28th to April 3rd, while the 3DS sold 42,979.

So what’s going on? It’s due in large part to the PSP dating sim Amagami, which is an old PS2 game that’s just been re-released for the handheld. Turns out they really love that old game more than 3D.

The 3DS just went on sale over the weekend here in the US, but the console has been available in Japan since February 26. But are they tired of it yet? It’s starting to look that way. Japanese retail blogs are reporting that the handheld keeps being sold back to stores.

That isn’t good news for Nintendo. So, what is the reason? The black screen of death? Well, it seems that there are many reasons that users are ditching the console. There’s the lack of good games for one, even though that will change. Maybe there is just a general disappointment after the buildup.

Toshiba will be closing down their LCD assembly line for at least a month and PC manufacturer Lenovo has voiced concerns that they are suffering from a parts shortage. Toshiba will also joined by Hitachi for a similar time period. Lives and safety take priority over our gadgets, so we hope that these companies take however much time they need. We will be just fine with the LCDs we already have.

This disruption could result in a global supply shortage which would definitely take a bite out of corporate profits and economic growth across the industry. Toshiba’s plant supplies the mobile phone industry as well as auto makers navigation displays, comprising around 5% of the global small LCD display market.

BenQ will be releasing the MW512 Compact 3D DLP video projector for the Japanese market. This one is designed for schools, offices or home theaters and the BenQ MW512 can project a 60-inch wide screen with 2D or 3D videos. Whichever you like.

It measures 265mm x 210mm x 100mm and weighs in at just 2.6Kg. It also features WXGA resolution (1280×800) with a 4000:1 contrast ratio and a 2800 ANSI lumens brightness. The BenQ MW512 Compact 3D DLP video projector will cost you 98,000 Yen in Japan (or $1,190).

The Telenoid R1 just got creepier. Elfoid was developed at Osaka University and with help from NTT DoCoMo and looks just like the Telenoid, even does pretty much the same thing, which is: giving you a human-like silhouette to talk to. At least this one can go in your pocket.

It tickles you when it rings, alerting you to the call. Just talk into its belly and it speaks to you, playing the voice of whoever’s on the line. It also moves and gestures as if you’re actually holding the person you’re conversing with. Weird.

Sadly we can’t head out to our local GameStop for another month yet, but the Nintendo 3DS had a launch in Japan today. Reports indicate that the entire initial shipment of 400,000 gaming handhelds were sold. Some of the lines were up to 2,000 people long.

But those lines were only at a few places as most Japanese retailers sold out when the 3DS went on pre-order over a month ago. The device is already a success, though that isn’t surprising. We all love our Nintendo.

Canon has announced four new printers in Japan, the MX833, MX420, MP493 and iX6530. The Canon MX833 and MX420 support WiFi, Bluetooth, fax and a scanner. The Canon MX833 has a double sided scanner mode and a maximum resolution of 9600×2400 dpi, while the Canon MX420 features a maximum resolution of 4800×1200 dpi.

The Canon iX6530 is an A3 printer with scanner that features a resolution of 9600×2400 dpi, and the MP493 is a basic A4 printer with a scanner and a maximum resolution of 4800×1200 dpi.

Is anyone even using UHF antennas anymore. Apparently so. And since Japan loves Disney Characters, why not make a creepy blank-faced Mickey Mouse UHF antenna and offer it on the Japanese market. It goes by the model name of MCT2B.

It’s pretty much what it says, a blank face with the antenna component inside and a booster that uses an AC adapter. It comes in black and pink for $84 in Japan. We have just one question. Why?

Sony has introduced a new range of OLED monitors that in 17″ and 25″ sizes. You can expect professional hyper accurate color reproduction and perfect image quality without motion blur on fast speed objects. The OLED TVs will come in a super slim aluminum body that looks good.

They measure just 148mm in depth and feature HDMI, DisplayPort, 3G-SDI, SD-SDI and HD-SDI. They will be arriving in Japan on May 25th and in July. The 25″ and 17″ models will be expensive, but we don’t have a price yet.

Kenwood has introduced a new Compact Audio System in the C-414 Series, which features an FM Radio tuner, CD player and a dedicated iPhone/iPod dock. The dock comes packed with DTS Envelo Technology, which allows direct access to your music library.

This dock will also play music through an SD card or USB port. You can expect it to arrive on the Japanese market in your choice of silver, pink and white for $329. Looks pretty sweet.

Hitachi Japan has announced two new audio players for its i.μ line of portable audio players. Both devices offer 4GB of internal storage and support MP3 and WMA files. The HMP-S104 is pretty basic with a small 128 x 64 pixel display and will cost you just $49.

The HMP-V204 features a 2-inch color 176 x 220 display and supports JPEG and BMP files as well, and also has FM radio. It will cost you $61. Both players will be available in Japan starting February 14th.

Most of us have a plain old black PS3. If you’re lucky you have a white version or a titanium blue. This PS3 is a sexy silver satin and is bound to hit Japan on March 10th.

As usual, you get the same specs, with the 160GB model CECH-2500A SS selling for ¥29,980 (about $366) while the 320GB CECH-2500B SS is ¥34,980 (about $427). It even has a matching vertical stand for ¥2,000 (about $24) if you like your PS3 vertical.

Just like when Avatar came out in theaters, there are reports of Nintendo 3DS users feeling ill after using the new 3DS console in Japan. Some user have reported feeling sick after just a couple of minutes using the console.

As you probably know, the Nintendo 3DS features a glasses free 3D display, and Nintendo has recommended that it be used only by children over 6 years old and that the 3D time be limited. We aren’t sure yet if these are just isolated incidents, but it will be interesting to see how many users have the same problem when it goes on sale. Maybe everyone will be cross-eyed ten years from now.