Buddha Phones All Look The Same

[omae mona]

Looks like CNET got one minor detail wrong here about those goofy Japanese. Anybody notice the catch?

Photos: Japanese 'Buddha phone' launches, plays Nirvana
CNET UK 26 May 2009

MP3 playback? Check. Two cameras? Check. Built-in mobile Buddhist altar? Che... Wait, WTF?!

You read correctly. The Odin 99 has landed on the streets of Japan, and a single tap of the phone's dedicated lotus-leaf button will load a private, customisable, animated altar.

The idea is to allow Buddhists to perform their dedications and rituals conveniently when away from home. You can simulate incense burning, purification rites and play music to help you meditate wherever you happen to be.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Chinee?

[Doctor Stop]

Someone's been playing with their travel expenses.

[omae mona]

Chinese?

Yes, SJ wins the prize. Apparently this star CNET writer liked the perfectly accurate article from his CNET Japan colleague based on the pictures. So instead of getting somebody to translate it, I guess he just made up his own story to go along with the pictures, and assumed it was about a Japanese product since it was on the Japanese CNET website. Very impressive

[Samurai_Jerk]

Hey, I spelled it like that on purpose. You know, like Chinee Foo' or Por' Fri' Ri'.

[IkemenTommy]

This should be in the "newbie rediscovers Asia" thread. Obviously, this misinformed guy at CNET obviously has never been out of the UK or lazy enough to not been to Japan either.

[Mulboyne]

This should be in the "newbie rediscovers Asia" thread.

There's a whole newbie reporter forum now and that story is in it.