Samsung launches YP-R2, YP-Z3, MP3 HD compatible PMPs

Samsung has had its sights set on a PMP with MP3 HD support for some time now -- first announcing (and later killing) the IceTouch in 2010, and now launching the YP-R2 and YP-Z3 in markets including Russia and Korea. Claiming that the lossy/lossless HD MP3 sound is five times better than the standard variety, the company will put it to the test with access to Melon, Korea's largest 2.2 million song music store. So far, Samsung has only confirmed the R2 has a 3-inch WQVGA full touch display, is .3-inches thick and weighs around 52 grams, while the Z3, on the other hand has a 1.8-inch display and measures in at 36 grams. The music players also support photo and text viewing, FM radio and 5.1-channel surround sound. The R2 comes in black and silver and costs 149,000 KRW ($140) for 4GB, and 169,000 KRW ($160) for 8GB. The Z3 comes in white, pink and blue and costs 89,000 KRW ($83) for 4GB, and 119,000 KRW for 8GB ($110). There's no word yet if these devices will ever see US release

Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th

Remember that crazy wearable 3D display concept Sony was showing off at CES 2011? Turns out the company is actually going to make it, and the HMZ-T1 is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 11th. While the design has changed slightly since we first laid our eyes, and heads, on it, the specs appear to be the same, with two 1280x720 0.7-inch OLED panels mounted in front of each eye giving the wearer an experience similar to viewing a 750-inch screen from 20m away, as well as 5.1 surround sound from headphones integrated into the Head Mounted Display (HMD). You can see the helmet above, as well as the processor unit (complete with HDMI input and output, so you can take off the helmet and watch on TV) that it must remain tethered to. Pricing is expected to be 60,000 yen ($783 US). Check out the press release and our hands-on video from CES after the break and decide if living out a Geordi La Forge-style fantasy is worth it.

Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation, funds charities

Scoshe already offers a fairly impressive range of mobile accessories, but its now branched out into some uncharted territory with its latest offering. The company has just announced its new RDTX-PRO radiation detector and app for the iPhone and iPod touch, which launches in Japan next month. With no calibration needed, the device attaches to your iOS handheld via the dock connector and offers gamma radiation detection above 60keV within +/- 5% accuracy. If that wasn't enough, the peripheral can also be used as a standalone alarm for radioactivity for up to 96 hours, and the aforementioned app will let you to share your findings via Facebook, Twitter or Google Maps. Still not convinced Scosche is fighting the good fight? Well, $10 from each $330 unit sold will benefit a group of charities dedicated to aiding those affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. For an closer look at the U

iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy

British football fans agree on very few things: how much everyone likes Jimmy Bullard, Arséne Wenger's need to buy a proper centre-half and how painful it is to be dragged out shopping just before kickoff on Saturday. It's those sympathetic and forward-thinking people at Sky who have the answer, at least to that last one. The company has teamed up with supermarket Sainsbury's (which has a track record of innovation) to trial a new trolley with a solar-powered iPad dock and speakers. Now you can watch the game, or anything else, via the Sky Go app on your device and get the grocery shopping done at the same time. Worried about getting so engrossed in Juan Mata's footwork that you'll be a danger to others? Rest easy, the cart has proximity sensors attached to let you know when you're about to sideswipe a pensioner. It's being trialled in the Cromwell Road Sainsbury's in West London -- all you need to try it yourself is an iPad, Sky Go access and a desire to be on the cutting edge of sports and technology. If the thought of shouting 'Taxi for Bent!' down the fruit aisle appeals, you can catch another pic and the press release after the break.

Toshiba's new Regza WL800A HDTV hooks up with your smartphone via MHL

The MHL Consortium wants to banish HDMI ports from our phones in favor of its Mobile High-Definition Link connection, and the tech has found its way into handsets like the GSII and the EVO 3D. But until now, there were no TVs to connect to. Toshiba's latest in the Regza line, the WL800A, is the lone set in its 2011 lineup to pack the 5-pin port that pulls 1080p from your mobile device and puts it up on a 46-inch or 55-inch edge-lit LED panel. Best part is, the MHL connection pushes power back into your phone at the same time video is streaming -- so you don't have to worry about your phone dying on you in the middle of your mobile movie marathon. Currently for sale in the land of Oz for $2,329 (46-inch) and $3,179 (55-inch) AUD, the WL800 won't be coming to America. However, now that the GSII has landed stateside let's hope some MHL-equipped TVs follow suit.

Garmin launches StreetPilot onDemand iPhone app, offers transit schedules

Garmin is best known for its in-car navigation systems, but today delved deeper into the realm of personal navigation with a brand new iPhone app for the eternally lost. For a dollar, you'll get standard walking, driving and public transportation directions, but go premium for $2.99 a month or $29.99 for the year, and you'll cop more add-ons designed to transform your iPhone into a full-fledged PND. Like the standard iPhone mapping system or HopStop, the subscription-based version of this app lets you integrate public transportation into your journey -- but the added feature here is the ability to view public transit schedules like you can in the Google Maps app for Android. It also has spoken turn-by-turn directions, Garmin's traffic routing and Google search, making it a handy alternative to a clunky navigation system.

Google explores re-ranking search results using +1 button data

Google is making plans to turn its +1 button into a crowdsourcing tool that helps it re-order search results and fight web spam. While not surprising, the move would bring Google's search engine into the social networking era, while simultaneously creating a new avenue for blackhats to manipulate search results and potentially incurring the wrath of trust-busting authorities.
Google confirmed its plans in an e-mail to Wired.com.
"Google will study the clicks on +1 buttons as a signal that influences the ranking and appearance of websites in search results," a spokesman wrote. "The purpose of any ranking signal is to improve overall search quality. For +1's and other social ranking signals, as with any new ranking signal, we'll be starting carefully and learning how those signals are related to quality."
But these plans are a touchy subject for the search giant, especially given the scrutiny that Google is under from regulators in Washington and Europe over complaints that the company's results favor its own products over those of other companies.
As if to underscore that point, Google prefaced its admission of the +1 search integration project to Wired.com with a statement downplaying its potential significance: "There are more than 200 signals that we use to determine the rank of a website, and last year we made more than 500 improvements to the algorithm."
Introduced in March, the +1 sharing button debuted with little incentive for web surfers to click on it. If you +1-ed a story on a website that embedded the button

Robots aren't good at talking to themselves

Have you ever looked at your smartphone or laptop -- or even a robot, if you're lucky enough to come in contact with one -- and wondered, "What the heck are you thinking?" Well, if so, here's your answer.
Cornell's Creative Machines Lab posted a video this week of a computer's inner monologue, and it's making the rounds on the Internet not because the machine is having profound thoughts about world domination or the future of technology -- but because the discussion it has with itself is totally ridiculous.
Researchers used the "Cleverbot" for this test case, which is regarded as one of researchers' best attempts to mimic human conversation patterns with computer intelligence. Cleverbot actually "learns" from the conversations it has as it has them, which is fairly impressive, as this episode of WNYC's "Radiolab" podcast discusses at great length
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Facebook pays $40,000 to bug spotters

Facebook wants you to try to hack into its site -- and if you succeed, it will pay you for the details.Facebook said this week that that it has paid out more than $40,000 under its new "bug bounty" security initiative. Launched three weeks ago, Facebook's program invites security researchers -- both the professional kind and hacker hobbyists -- to send it the details of any Facebook vulnerabilities that they uncover. If the report checks out, Facebook will pay a finder's fee of at least $500.
It's willing to go higher for extra-impressive bug spotting.
"We've already paid a $5,000 bounty for one really good report," Facebook Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan wrote in a blog post. "One person has already received more than $7,000 for six different issues flagged."
Although the social networking has its own security team, Facebook launched its bug bounty program to tap into the collective wisdom of the site's 750 million users.
"We hire the best and brightest, and have implemented numerous protocols," Sullivan wrote. "We realize, though, that there are many talented and well-intentioned security experts around the world who don't work for Facebook."

Sony Ericsson Announcements: New Xperia Neo V & All 2011 Xperia Phones Getting 2.3.4

Sony Ericsson just announced a new Android phone that looks pretty impressive. They unveiled the Xperia Neo V and, although most of their phones have been rather drab for a while, they are apparently stepping up their game now. The phone has some decent specs and is actually fairly attractive as well:

• "Facebook inside Xperia"
• "3D sweep panorama" feature = records and plays 3D when connected to a 3D TV's HDMI input
• Available in white, blue or silver
• 3.7-inch display at 480x854 resolution
• Reality display powered by Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine
• Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread
• Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor at 1GHz
• 5MP rear camera
• VA front-facing camera
• 320MB internal storage
• 2GB microSD card included

Motorola Titanium Announced, Available For SouthernLINC

Motorola brought out this rugged device at CES, and just recently, finally made it available for SouthernLINC users. The super rugged device that meets MilSpec 810G for dust, shock, vibration, low pressure, solar radiation, high temperature and low temperature just hit the shelves. The device comes with push-to-talk, as well as Android 2.1, and Motorola's Blur user interface.

The device comes with a $149.99 price tag for the people willing to sign 2 years of their loyalty with the southern carrier. Reducing the contracted period means you can also add $100 to the total price.

[Exclusive] Droid Bionic Amazing CostCo Deal $299 Includes Extra Battery, Dock & More

We have an exclusive for you today. One of our tipster/sources let us know that CostCo will be offering an amazing exclusive deal on the Droid Bionic. The price is the same as through Verizon, $299.99 on contract, but with that you also get an extra Battery, a charger for that battery, a Docking Station and a Navigation Dock included! Supposedly, they will be receiving their displays on September 8th, and the phone soon thereafter.