User Voting to Decide Lineup for 5th Series of Capsule Toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment'
Tarlin International and AP Communications are conducting a user voting project to determine the product lineup for the 5th series of their 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' capsule toys. They are soliciting entries from IT infrastructure equipment manufacturers, and the top four models chosen by user votes are scheduled for release in June 2027.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 11:06 (34 min after Collected)
Tarlin International Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; President: Naoshi Sato) and AP Communications Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Takeshi Uchida) will jointly implement a user voting project to decide the product lineup for the 5th series of their collaboratively developed capsule toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series.
This series is planned and comprehensively supervised by AP Communications, with manufacturing and sales handled by Tarlin International.
In conjunction with the voting project, starting April 24, 2026, entries for products eligible for voting will be accepted from IT infrastructure equipment manufacturers on a special website.
'Palm-sized Network Equipment' 5th Series User Election Special Page: https://www.ap-com.co.jp/tenohira5-vote/
■ Background and Purpose of this Project
The 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' capsule toy series was developed with the aim of broadly conveying the appeal of equipment that supports IT infrastructure, and has shipped a cumulative total of 550,000 units. Thanks to this, it has been well received by many, from infrastructure engineers to miniature fans.
Based on numerous requests received via social media and other channels during the development of past series, such as 'I want this equipment to be a capsule toy too,' the 5th series will be the first user voting format that can directly reflect the wishes of fans. This project aims to connect users and manufacturers, and to be enjoyed by the entire IT industry, as well as capsule toy fans.
■ Overview of the 5th Series User Voting
The top four models by user votes will be selected as candidates for commercialization in the 5th series. The voting form will include entries from manufacturers, as well as a 'free description field' where voters can freely enter equipment names.
● Voting Period: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Friday, July 17, 2026
● Voting Method: Via the voting form on the special page (up to 4 votes per person)
■ For Manufacturers: Regarding Equipment Entry
We are widely recruiting manufacturers who wish to enter their equipment. Manufacturers who participated in past series are also welcome to apply. Multiple product entries from one company are also possible.
● Eligible Equipment: 19-inch rack-mountable equipment, related options, etc.
● Entry Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026 – Sunday, May 31, 2026
● Manufacturer Entry Document Request: https://form.run/@tenohira5-vote-entry
*Regarding Result Announcement: Results will be announced as the '5th Series Lineup' only for models that have been decided for commercialization. The rankings and vote counts of unselected products will not be disclosed.
*Regarding Scope of Consent: At the time of entry, participation is granted only with consent for 'participation in this user voting project' and 'use of images on voting sites, etc.' A formal commercialization contract for capsule toy adaptation will be discussed separately after selection. Withdrawal after selection is also possible.
*Regarding Entry: Products that have been nominated in advance via this form will be listed on the voting form as 'options with product images and PR comments.'
■ Future Schedule (Planned)
● April 24: Manufacturer equipment entry acceptance begins
● May 31: Manufacturer equipment entry acceptance closes
● June 10 – July 17: User voting
● Around September: 5th series lineup announced
● June 2027: 5th series scheduled for release
■ About the Capsule Toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' Series
The capsule toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series, supervised by IT infrastructure equipment manufacturers, reproduces equipment, server racks to house them, and even small accessories in miniature. The 1st series was released in 2023, the 2nd in 2024, and the 3rd in 2025, with cumulative shipments of 550,000 units. The 4th series is scheduled for release in June 2026.
Main Features:
・Miniature network equipment can be connected with LAN cables
・Assembly-type server racks also include cooling fans, cable holders, PDUs (power strips), etc.
・Compatible with existing 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series
The 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series can also be connected to the previously released 'Palm-sized PC & Supplies' and 'Palm-sized Wi-Fi Router' series. Furthermore, it can be mounted on the 'Nitto Kogyo Server Rack FS Series,' which was released in October 2024 as a dedicated server rack for the 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series.
▼ 'Palm-sized Network Equipment 1.3' Product Introduction Page
https://tarlin-capsule.jp/product/704
▼ 'Palm-sized Network Equipment 2.1' Product Introduction
This series is planned and comprehensively supervised by AP Communications, with manufacturing and sales handled by Tarlin International.
In conjunction with the voting project, starting April 24, 2026, entries for products eligible for voting will be accepted from IT infrastructure equipment manufacturers on a special website.
'Palm-sized Network Equipment' 5th Series User Election Special Page: https://www.ap-com.co.jp/tenohira5-vote/
■ Background and Purpose of this Project
The 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' capsule toy series was developed with the aim of broadly conveying the appeal of equipment that supports IT infrastructure, and has shipped a cumulative total of 550,000 units. Thanks to this, it has been well received by many, from infrastructure engineers to miniature fans.
Based on numerous requests received via social media and other channels during the development of past series, such as 'I want this equipment to be a capsule toy too,' the 5th series will be the first user voting format that can directly reflect the wishes of fans. This project aims to connect users and manufacturers, and to be enjoyed by the entire IT industry, as well as capsule toy fans.
■ Overview of the 5th Series User Voting
The top four models by user votes will be selected as candidates for commercialization in the 5th series. The voting form will include entries from manufacturers, as well as a 'free description field' where voters can freely enter equipment names.
● Voting Period: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Friday, July 17, 2026
● Voting Method: Via the voting form on the special page (up to 4 votes per person)
■ For Manufacturers: Regarding Equipment Entry
We are widely recruiting manufacturers who wish to enter their equipment. Manufacturers who participated in past series are also welcome to apply. Multiple product entries from one company are also possible.
● Eligible Equipment: 19-inch rack-mountable equipment, related options, etc.
● Entry Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026 – Sunday, May 31, 2026
● Manufacturer Entry Document Request: https://form.run/@tenohira5-vote-entry
*Regarding Result Announcement: Results will be announced as the '5th Series Lineup' only for models that have been decided for commercialization. The rankings and vote counts of unselected products will not be disclosed.
*Regarding Scope of Consent: At the time of entry, participation is granted only with consent for 'participation in this user voting project' and 'use of images on voting sites, etc.' A formal commercialization contract for capsule toy adaptation will be discussed separately after selection. Withdrawal after selection is also possible.
*Regarding Entry: Products that have been nominated in advance via this form will be listed on the voting form as 'options with product images and PR comments.'
■ Future Schedule (Planned)
● April 24: Manufacturer equipment entry acceptance begins
● May 31: Manufacturer equipment entry acceptance closes
● June 10 – July 17: User voting
● Around September: 5th series lineup announced
● June 2027: 5th series scheduled for release
■ About the Capsule Toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' Series
The capsule toy 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series, supervised by IT infrastructure equipment manufacturers, reproduces equipment, server racks to house them, and even small accessories in miniature. The 1st series was released in 2023, the 2nd in 2024, and the 3rd in 2025, with cumulative shipments of 550,000 units. The 4th series is scheduled for release in June 2026.
Main Features:
・Miniature network equipment can be connected with LAN cables
・Assembly-type server racks also include cooling fans, cable holders, PDUs (power strips), etc.
・Compatible with existing 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series
The 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series can also be connected to the previously released 'Palm-sized PC & Supplies' and 'Palm-sized Wi-Fi Router' series. Furthermore, it can be mounted on the 'Nitto Kogyo Server Rack FS Series,' which was released in October 2024 as a dedicated server rack for the 'Palm-sized Network Equipment' series.
▼ 'Palm-sized Network Equipment 1.3' Product Introduction Page
https://tarlin-capsule.jp/product/704
▼ 'Palm-sized Network Equipment 2.1' Product Introduction