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Sony looks to be catering to headphone-wearers of all sorts with its latest offerings, busting out the full-size DR-BT22 Bluetooth phones alongside the decidedly small DR-EX32SF earbud headset. In addition to keeping things cordless, the DR-BT22 model also keeps things relatively compact with a foldable design, and you’ll get all the most desirable Bluetooth-related acronyms, including A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP. Those looking for even more portability can opt for the company’s DR-EX32SF headset, which drops the Bluetooth but adds a built-in microphone (and your choice of black or white colors). While there doesn’t appear to be any word on a North American release, those in Japan should be able to pick up either one starting September 10th, with the Bluetooth phones setting you back ¥10,000 ($87) and the earbuds running just ¥3,000 ($26).

[via Engadget]

While it doesn’t look like there will be AIBOs scampering around Toyota offices anytime soon, it appears that the company has in fact turned to Sony for some of their robotics-related expertise. According to the AP, the two companies will be working together to develop an “innovative, intelligent, single-seat vehicle” as part of a deal that stems from Toyota’s acquisition of various Sony technology and patents earlier this year. Under the new partnership, seven Sony researchers have started to work temporarily in Toyota’s robot research unit, helping Toyota make sense of the technology. While details on the vehicle itself are light, as the AP points out, Toyota’s i-swing “personal mobility vehicle” does seem to meet the general description. In related news, Toyota also officially unveiled its TPR-Robina showroom guide robot today, which we’re guessing has already given those visiting Sony researchers a suitably creepy welcoming.

[via Engadget]

Ear candy aside, Nokia showed a bunch of other goodies today to adorn that special handset in your life, too. First up, the LD-4W GPS Module adds a little style — “Nseries style,” sez Nokia — to the previously released LD-3W, offering 10 hours of operation on a single charge; it’ll be available for about €125 ($170) and promises compatibility with a “wide range” of Nokia hardware. Next, the MD-7W stereo Bluetooth speakers let you share the tuneage with those around you, willingly or not; they’re also designed with the Nseries in mind but should work with any device supporting A2DP when they hit for €130 (about $177). Last but certainly not least, the DC-1 Power Pack acknowledges that media-centric phones aren’t always the easiest on the battery, offering juice to one or two phones with 2mm Nokia power ports simultaneously. Look for this one to run about €105 ($143). All of ‘em should be available “globally” in the fourth quarter of the year.

[via Engadget]

We’re expecting an announcement any time now, but Google cache has already revealed some inadvertently posted product pages for a trio of new Kodak EasyShare shooters. The Z812 IS (pictured, top-left) is an 8.2 megapixel cam with 12x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon zoom lens which doubles-up as a chubby 720p / 30fps video recorder. It’s also said to feature a 0.23-second click-to-capture capability while packing optical image stabilization to help manage the shake and noise from that biggie zoom and reported ISO 3200 sensitivity. The V1253 (pictured, bottom) and V1233 then, are both 12 megapixel shooters that offer the same 720p video recording as the super zoom. The V1253 packs a 3.1-inch LCD to the 2.5-incher found on the V1233. Both lack any kind of optical image stabilization, however. Now come on Kodak, make ‘em official with dates and pricing.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

In addition to their new 500 GPS navigator, Nokia also announced a slew of new accessories this morning. On the headset front, they’ve loosed a Bluetooth pair: the new BH-903 (pictured above) and BH-902. The 23-gram BH-903 brings an OLED display and support for A2DP, AVRCP, PBAP, HFP and HSP Bluetooth profiles. It’ll be good for 15 hours of talk/music when it hits globally in Q4 for €200/$274. The 8-hour BH-902 then, brings the same display without the dongle and stereo remote capabilities for an all-in-one, on-the-ear solution weighing 18.2-grams. Just be sure to take advantage of the neckstrap and clip to make that display useful ya hear? The BH-902 ships in Q4 as well for an estimated €115/$157 (pre-tax) — pictured after the break.

Hate interacting with humans? Well then we’ve got the restaurant for you, located in Nuremberg, Germany. The restaurant, called Bagger’s, eschews waiters and waitresses for gravity operated ramps that sends food directly to tables. Customers order on touch screens, swipe their cards on built in readers, and wait for their food with a read-out that shows when the food is expected to be delivered. So, get ready to yell at your ordinateur when your fries are late. “Garcon!” ain’t gonna cut it in this restaurant.

[Via The Raw Feed]

You’d think that a 13-foot / 2 ton, cast iron Scopedog mecha wouldn’t require the services of a knee-pad wearin’ festival waif, but there you have it. Built by Kogoro Kurata — the celebrity blacksmith behind the Steampunk laptop — this 1:1 scale robot was locked and ready for action at Japan’s Character and Hobby Collection 2007 show held over the weekend. Seriously though, how tough could the mech be if he’s held at bay by some chinsey chain-link?

[Via Impress]

Nokia’s second in-car navigation system, the Nokia 500, was just unveiled in Espoo. Not only does it do the satnav, multimedia, and handsfree Bluetooth calling like the 330, the 500 does it big with a relatively jumbo 4.3-inch display. Integration between the 500’s navigation and communications allows you to receive details for the POIs you pass as well as instant directions to the addresses stored in your contacts list. The 500 also features Nokia’s Traffic Message Channel Service offering jam alerts as well as an embedded FM transmitter to feed audio out any FM radio. Expected in Europe for a pre-tax price of €300/$410 sometime in Q4 2007 with other, unannounced markets to follow.

Ok, we can understand the whole heated floors thing, especially in the dead of winter where your hardwood often feels like it’s going to give your toes a mild case of frostbite. But level with us here, Panasonic, if you’re going to develop an electric blanket, at least have the decency and sense of humor to make the damn thing into the most powerful covert Van De Graff generator the world has ever known. Yeah, we’re totally the types to give our guests static shocks bad enough to burn holes in their clothes — so what? On sale in Japan this September.

[Via Shiny Shiny]

PXA270 processor, 128MB of RAM, an SD expansion slot, stereo speakers, USB 2.0 connectivity, AV inputs, audio in / out, and a built-in media player that understands Make no mistake about it, HTMS sure knows how to make a navigation system look awfully good whilst routing you around, and the Provia A1 is further proof. Sporting a seven-inch 800 x 480 resolution touchscreen, this bad boy includes a 520MHz IntelDivX, XviD, H.264, WMA, WMV, OGG, MPEG3/4, and a host of other formats. Additionally, you’ll find WinCE.net 5.0 runnin’ the show and a DMB TV tuner for extra entertainment, and while there’s no word of a price just yet, those outside of South Korea probably shouldn’t worry over it, anyway.

[Via TechaBob]