*Trying to make singing voice more realistic
*Additional language supported: Chinese (pinyin), Korean, and Spanish
Details on software updates (JP): http://www.yamaha.co.jp/news/2011/11060801.html
As for promotional related events and planning:
Megpoid Extend (similar to Hatsune Miku Append) is coming soon to Vocaloid 2. It will have Power, Whisper, Adult, and Sweet versions. The release date is expected sometime this year.
Megpoid Birthday Festival in planning
New partner companies and Vocaloids:
CUL becoming a Vocaloid character:
The voice is provided by Japanese Seiyuu: Eri Kitamura (Yui from Angel Beats! and Sayaka from Mah? Sh?jo Madoka Magica)
Vocaloid 3 Lia version:
Lia!! The anime song singer who did the famous "Tori no Uta" from AIR and more recently "My Soul, Your Beats!" from Angel Beats!
i-style project ("i" stands for idol):
Artwork done by famed artist Carnelian! Only images have been released for this project with no additional information on what the project will be.
Moe Japan's "Vocaroidol" project: mixes 2D Vocaloids with 3D idols
Details on this project isn't fully clear besides a combination of 2D Vocaloids with 3D idols. The image shown below doesn't reveal anything either about the project.
Vocaloid 3 Ring Suzune:
Ring Suzune is voiced by MiKA from the band Daisy x Daisy. It is expected to be released during the VocaFes event later this year.
Coming Soon: Korean Vocaloid 3
Vocaloid 3 will have Korean and Japanese database; however, English is only available through the Korean database. The Korean Vocaloid will be voiced by an up-and-coming Korean idol singer, Kim Tahi, shown below.
Release of Vocaloid Combination CD: [Vocaloid 2] 17 songs + [Vocaloid 3] 1 song.
Date: September 2011
YAMAHA Vocaloid 3 Staff Team (11 people)
Some thoughts:
Based on the upcoming Hatsune Miku's live concert at Anime Expo 2011 and related promotional events such as their collaboration with Toyota and the first single release of supercell featuring Hatsune Miku in the US, the Japanese industry are really trying to get into the foreign market now.
Information from Japanese Site ??????: