Hong Kong (CNN) – From an economist’s point of view, the rallying cry to cure Japan’s ills the past two decades has often been, “Spend, Japan, spend!”

From a demographer’s point of view, the cry is more: “Procreate, Japan, procreate!”

A survey last week underscores the growing problems of the latter point.

The number of single men has reached a record high in the aging nation of 130 million, according to a survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

The number of single men aged 18 to 34 rose 9.2% from the previous survey in 2005. About 61% of unmarried adult men don’t have a girlfriend, while half the adult women surveyed don’t have a husband or a boyfriend. Worse still, 45% of the men and women who don’t have a girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse are not interested in finding one, either.

One in four unmarried men and women in their late 30s have never had sex, the survey found.

A vast majority of the single men and women surveyed – 86% and 89%, respectively – say they one day want to tie the knot. The largest roadblock, according to the survey authors, is financial concerns – more than 40% of the singletons surveyed said money worries are a top reason they don’t marry.

But is that really the case? In the survey, 90% of unmarried young Japanese women preferred to stay single.

That compares to a study earlier this year by Japan Family Planning Association that showed 36% of males aged 16 to 19 were “indifferent or averse” toward having sex, a 19% increase from a 2008 survey. Meanwhile, 59% of teenage females surveyed said they weren’t interested in sex, a nearly 12% increase in two years.

The statistics appear to back the anecdotal rise of the “herbivore men,” a term coined by author Maki Fukasawa in 2006 in a series of articles about marketing to a younger generation of Japanese men. "In Japan, sex is translated as 'relationship in flesh,'" Fukasawa told CNN in 2009, "so I named those boys 'herbivorous boys' since they are not interested in flesh."

This all points toward a demographic disaster for Japan, which has one of the lowest birthrates in the world: 1.34 children, below the 2.1 necessary for a stable replacement workforce, which Japan will increasingly need, as more than one-fifth of the population are above the age of 65.

The nation’s conservative attitudes toward migrant workers and strict emigration policy make it unlikely the world’s third largest economy will find a replacement workforce from abroad.

Three years ago, Japan’s largest business organization, Keidanren, told its 1,600 companies to allow more time for their married couples at home to help boost the nation’s flagging birth rate.

But the figures from this latest survey suggest that Japanese couples, alas, aren’t doing their homework.

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Kate Gosselin is taking her new position as head blogger for Couponcabin.com to a different place.

Early Monday morning she blogged not about great deals on home electronics or gallon jugs of spaghetti sauce, but instead about rumors she has gone under the knife.

“With all of the buzz about me having had a facelift, I will confirm that I have not had one (I am only 36!!!),” she wrote.

Recent photos of Gosselin had revealed a face that appeared years younger than it had while grimacing through Season 12 of “Dancing With the Stars.” (A natural hoofer she ain’t.)

Kate Gosselin and Nadya Suleman in Financial Straits

Regardless, Gosselin chose to look on the bright side of her fresh-faced life.

“I will take all of the talk about how rested and young I look as a compliment! So thanks!” she wrote before getting back to what she gets paid for, blogging about online deals.

Kate Gosselin’s Show Canceled After 150 Episodes

Gosselin became famous on her show “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ which focused on she and her husband’s trials and tribulations raising eight children. She and her husbgand split during the show, and Kate has been trying to keep her career in show business afloat since.

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Apple’s founding documents go up for auction, estimated to bring in $150k originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While I most often use an iPhone as my primary mobile device, I’m not an Android-hater by any means. And resisting the lure of Google’s Android reference device is nearly impossible for an early adopter like me. This year, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is that device, and it’s the first phone to ship with Android 4, otherwise known as “Ice Cream Sandwich.” Here’s what I think of the Nexus, and the latest iteration of Android, and how both stack up to the iPhone 4S and iOS 5.

First impressions

The Galaxy Nexus feels like a very different device compared to the iPhone; almost enough that it seems like it could belong to a different device category. Of course, it’s to be expected that a smartphone with a plastic back and much larger 4.65-inch screen would feel different than one made of metal and glass, sporting a 3.5-inch display. And the screen plays a big part in the different feel, making the Nexus appear to have more in common with something like the 7-inch Kindle Fire than it does with the iPhone, in a lot of ways, including its suitability for consuming media like feature-length movies.

But  not everything about the Nexus impressed me off the bat. I actually managed to nick the plastic back within about 15 minutes of opening the box, for instance. Maybe I should have a cleaner desk, but maybe Samsung should use stronger materials.

Also, the display, while stunning for blacks and whites on high brightness, shows some faint criss-crossing lines when brightness is turned down on whites, or when brightness is turned up on grays. This is something users of other Samsung Android devices have complained about before, and might be easily resolved by a software update. Plus, I’ve had iPhone screen issues on new devices as well, which were fixed in time, so it’s not something I’m counting against the Nexus too much. Likewise, the volume bug some customers are experiencing, which Samsung has said it will soon fix.

How big is too big? Hint: Surprisingly, not 4.65-inches.

The Galaxy Nexus has one immediately striking difference from the iPhone 4S in terms of hardware: A screen of epic proportions. It isn’t quite as large as that found on the Galaxy Note, but at 4.65-inches, it beats the 4S by more than an inch measured diagonally. Some of that extra screen comes from a lack of hardware buttons, but the Nexus is still much larger than the iPhone, as you can tell from this image of the two stacked atop one another.

Surprisingly, however, the larger footprint doesn’t actually add up to a much bigger-feeling device, overall. Thanks perhaps to the curved screen and back, or just to smart distribution of the extra surface area, the Nexus feels comfortable both in my hand and in my pocket. It actually feels better than the 4S when you’re using it to make a call, as the curved surface wraps your face in something like a light embrace. Sound silly, but it feels good.

The Galaxy Nexus might be too large for some smaller hands, however (mine are larger than average), so be sure to get to a store and try one out before you make a purchase if you’re concerned about that.

Sparring screens

Both the Galaxy Nexus and the iPhone 4S have beautiful displays. The 4S’s Retina Display, despite being a year old, still renders text more crisply than the Samsung phone, at least to my eyes. But the Nexus does blacks very, very well. So well, in fact, that I use a basic black background as my wallpaper; icons appear to float out of nowhere on an otherwise completely powered down display as a result. Both devices boast very high pixel densities, with the Nexus managing 316ppi and the 4S managing 330ppi, so any differences are down to the use of LED backlit IPS panels for the iPhone, vs. Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology, and preference for either is going to be a matter of taste.

The Galaxy Nexus is a much better device for watching movies and video on, as I mentioned above, partly because of the deep blacks, and partly because of the huge screen size. If you use your device to watch a lot of video, go for the Nexus. If you spend more time reading than watching on your smartphone, the iPhone is the better choice.

Battle of the batteries

Switching between Android and iOS devices, I’m always reminded of just how weak most Android-powered handsets are when it comes to battery life. Even the Galaxy S II, which was strong in most respects, faltered in this one. But the Galaxy Nexus, maybe because of Android 4.0.1 power optimization, has managed to make this a much tighter race. In my use, I managed to get a whopping three days of usage out of a single charge on the Nexus, admittedly with very little movie watching, but using apps and the browser with fair frequency. Given normal use, about two days looks to be very possible, putting it on nearly even footing with the iPhone.

I’m still a little wary, since I often find that battery life on Android devices can be highly erratic depending on which apps you happen to be using at any given time, but the Galaxy Nexus definitely improves in this regard.

No contest for cameras

The iPhone 4S takes better pictures than the Galaxy Nexus. The 4S feels like an adequate replacement for most point-and-shoot cameras, while the Nexus feels like what the Nexus S was; a decent shooter for a smartphone. Discerning mobile photogs should stick with Apple, even though the Galaxy Nexus might have a very slight edge when it comes to shooting speed, but if you’re upgrading from an iPhone 4 you’ll probably appreciate the speed advantages of the Android device more, since photos are otherwise of similar quality.

Mobile OS match-up

Of course, the Android vs. iOS debate will rage endlessly, and Ice Cream Sandwich likely won’t do much to sway either side that much one way or another. But it is a solid update for Android, bringing a level of polish to Google’s platform that it hasn’t really seen thus far.

Android 4.0.1 on the Galaxy Nexus feels like it actually borrows more from Windows Phone 7.5 than iOS, at least in terms of aesthetics, and everything in general seems to work better and smoother. That also might be the result of the dual-core processor powering the Nexus than its software. The new software buttons work well, too, and though I miss the context-sensitive Settings button among them, and don’t quite use the new multitasking tray that replaces it enough to appreciate the change, I don’t find myself missing hardware controls.

I prefer iOS 5′s notification systems to Android’s, as the lock screen still tells me very little about what’s happened while I’ve been away. But the Galaxy Nexus does get one thing I love: A notification light. Practically, it’s really not all that useful; I’m going to check my notifications on either device with about the same amount of frequency, light or no light. But it’s good-looking and provides one more avenue of feedback for users who want one.

In the end, though, Android still has the same problems it always did: it’s harder for new and inexperienced users to get into and navigate, and apps either may or may not work with the device depending on what version of Android they’re coded for and/or what devices they support.

A much tighter race

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is a great smartphone that gets a lot of things right, and is more forward-looking than the iPhone 4S in a number of ways. It’s better at consuming mobile video, for one, and it features a lot of on-board connectivity options the iPhone doesn’t, including NFC and Wi-Fi Direct.

But in terms of the average smartphone user’s priorities right now, I still believe the iPhone 4S is the superior device. The iOS web browsing experience is still better (text rendering is better, the interface is more usable, and double-tap zooming is a necessity for one-hand browsing), text looks better all around, it has a much better camera for capturing mobile memories, and with iOS 5, notifications provide exactly the right kind of information exactly where you want it.

The Galaxy Nexus is the best Android device yet, and ICS is the best version of Android to date, and they do a lot to narrow the gap between Google and Apple’s mobile efforts, but they don’t close it, at least not completely.

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Kickstarter isn’t slowing down all that much for the holidays, and in fact some of its iPhone and iPad accessories are positively on fire right now as online spending goes through the roof. Here’s a look at one cool project nearing the end of its Kickstarter funding, and one just making a promising start.

Twice the suck makes for a very versatile iPad mount

The MobileMount is almost done with its funding efforts — there’s less than 24 hours to go before it becomes funded. But it’s already met and exceeded its goal, with more than $97,000 pledged as of this writing. For $25, you can still get in on the ground floor and receive one of the first devices, which is designed to stick to any smooth surface via two attached suction cup mounts.

So basically, one end could be attached to the back of your iPhone, while the other is attached to your counter, or to a window, for example. You can also use the included vinyl stickers to make it work with surfaces that have a rubberized back or textured surface, like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The suction cup uses a twist-to-lock design, which amps up the suction power and makes it possible for the mount to remain attached for “weeks,” according to its creator. The MobileMount comes in black and white, looks pretty cool, and is expected to ship in January 2012.

A stylus that goes the extra mile

A stylus may not be the most necessary of iPad accessories according to Steve Jobs, but doodlers and fans of handwritten notes might disagree. The iPen is a project that aims to cater to those individuals, tackling the deficiencies inherent in current iPad drawing utensils.

The iPen achieves this by working with an active digitizer accessory that plugs into your iPad’s dock connector port and “talks” to the stylus itself via ultrasonic and infrared transmissions. The added dongle allows for proximity sensitivity, precise drawing and writing, and palm input rejection, which is a really big sore spot when it comes to using the iPad as a notepad currently. It’ll launch with two apps at least that support the hardware, and the iPen’s creator is hard at work convincing other apps to introduce support, too.

The iPen so far has achieved just $8,680 of its $35,000 funding goal, but you can help by pledging $50 to pre-order your own kit via the early bird special, which is reserved for 250 early backers. After that, it’ll be $79 for one, which still seems like a bargain for those interested in being able to use a pen with their iPad without oddly contorting their wrist or sacrificing legibility.

Got an exciting Kickstarter project? Send it to us for consideration in our regular roundup of promising accessories.

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Mega supermodels Christie Brinkley and Cindy Crawford. (Reuters)

Supermodels!

They may not have real super powers, but they can be quite spectacular, and often behave like they are from another planet. 

The role of the supermodel in our society has changed over the years, and many of these women have built themselves and their names into brand powerhouses that go far beyond modeling, including hosting and producing top TV shows (model Heidi Klum on “Project Runway”) to launching successful beauty or furniture lines, like Cindy Crawford.

Pop culture website Snakkle has compiled vintage pics of our favorite famous faces waaaaay before they were mega-models and business moguls.

(Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford may be stunningly beautiful, but she’s no dummy. Before becoming a full-time model, she was valedictorian of DeKalb High School in Illinois and studied chemical engineering at Chicago’s prestigious Northwestern University — on a scholarship.

She didn’t stay in school very long, though, because that modeling thing was going pretty well. And, remember Crawford’s classic Pepsi commercial (we will wait for you to Google it). According to her recent Tweet, she still has “those cutoffs”.

They probably still fit, too.

PHOTOS: See More Pics of Supermodels Before They Were Stars

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library,Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Christie Brinkley

If you look up “aging well” in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Christie Brinkley in 8th grade next to a recent pic of the “original supermodel” (both above).

At 57, Brinkley is still the ultimate supermodel: according to reports, her contract with CoverGirl is the longest in cosmetics history. And Brinkley may not have been the first to marry a rock star (she married and divorced Billy Joel), but she was one of the first to cross over into film. Her cameo National Lampoon’s Vacation in 1983 is still imprinted on many moviegoers’ minds.

To see the entire gallery of “Supermodels Before They Were Stars,” go to Snakkle.com.

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Roger Federer won a record sixth ATP World Tour Finals title in London.

Think Roger Federer's chances of winning another major title are over? Think again!

The 30-year-old father of two looks ready and raring to go after a fine finish to the 2011 season.

While his main rivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, whimpered out of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, the Swiss maestro sauntered through his round-robin group, beating Nadal 6-3 6-0 en route, before taking out Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final for the third time in two weeks.

The Frenchman was the only one to really give Federer a run for his money.

Despite his 17-match winning streak to end the season, which saw him lift the Basel Indoors title and the Paris Masters, this is still not the Federer of old – the one that won three major titles in a season in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

He's close though and his dream of winning gold at next year's London Olympics could well come true.

His body will hold up, as it has done throughout a history-making career that has seen him lift 16 grand slam titles, but the question is, can he come through the mental challenge?

He lost his way a few times this year, most notably when he dropped a two-set lead to lose to Tsonga in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and then did the same against Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open semifinals.

On both occasions he looked uncertain and worried, instead of at ease and in control. It wasn't the Federer we're used to seeing.

Under the roof in Basel, Paris and London though, Federer resonated confidence and showed he is still the best indoor player in the world – his topspin backhand was working wonderfully, when sometimes it breaks down.

Outside, open to the elements, it will be harder for him to dominate. His opponents have worked out how to make life uncomfortable for him by bulldozing the backhand to open up the forehand.

And so, while winning multiple majors in 2012 is unlikely, my guess is he'll win one and maybe clinch the title he perhaps wants most of all – singles gold at the Olympics.

If that were to happen, my guess is he'd put all his efforts into winning the Davis Cup and then call it a career. There would be nothing left to do!

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Waiting for the latest Moto Droid to drop?  While it’s not yet official, the Motorola Droid 4 has shown up on leaks this week and it looks pretty sweet.
Design bears some similarities to the Droid Razr, although it’s not quite as slim.  The extra thickness, of course, comes courtesy of the five-row slide-out keyboard, which looks a bit cramped based

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Many of us are smitten with Samsung’s Galaxy Note, in no small part because of its stunning 5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen. It’s also enticed us with the inclusion of an LTE radio on spec sheets, and now Sammy has flipped the switch on that high speed capability, giving us another reason to drool over the jumbo phone. According to a Google translated press release, the Note is destined to ride waves of domestic LTE, though we certainly hope it’ll bring such capabilities to the US. Speaking of, some shots have surfaced of a suspiciously Note-like device sans a tactile home button, favoring four Android capacitive buttons instead. Could Sammy be taking a page out of its Galaxy S II playbook and applying it to the stylus-packing superphone? We can’t say for sure, but there’s more at the source so you can draw your own conclusions.

Galaxy Note gets LTE turned on in South Korea, ready to cross the Pacific? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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My iPhone is so handy and so much better at getting good pictures than it used to be that I find myself taking out the DSLR kit less and less these days, and just doing a little more work on the editing side, something Annie Leibovitz says is the key to great shots anyway. But a new iPhone accessory concept brings the best of both worlds via a single device — albeit one that doesn’t exist, yet.

The iCam is a simple case for the iPhone 5 (yes, iPhone 5), as conceptualized by Italy’s ADR Studio. The studio used a mock-up it had created for the iPhone 5, featuring a larger edge-to-edge screen and oval home button, as the base device for the iCam add-on, but it’s not hard to imagine it working with the iPhone 4 either.

Basically, it provides a slim case that you snap the iPhone into to gain access to an interchangeable lens system, as well as a front-facing small display for self-potrait shots, and a built-in pico projector to show off your slideshows. It also adds hardware controls and a preset wheel like you’ll find on most digital cameras these days, and looks terrific in aluminum. ADR posits that such a device could be made by Apple itself, and the quality of the design definitely lives up to that company’s standards.

It looks great, is actually thick enough that you might be able to believe that it could basically contain much of a 10.1-megapixel compact system camera’s guts, minus those parts the iPhone itself handles, and would really go a long way toward making the iPhone an acceptable semi-pro DSLR replacement, unlike some currently available best-fit solutions that likely won’t satisfy many. But, as mentioned, it’s a concept, so for now it remains a tantalizing, beautiful dream.

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