Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at

Augmented reality and optical character recognition have just come into their own, beautifully intertwined into an instant translation app for the iPhone. Download Word Lens, pay $4.99 for a language pack, then point it at a sign and watch as it replaces every word with one in your native tongue. It's a little bit like Pleco, but without the whole language learning stuff. We just gave it a spin, and while it's not quite as accurate as this video claims, it's still breathtaking to behold -- especially as it doesn't require an internet connection to do any lookup. Sadly, it only translates to and from English and Spanish for now.

Another Key Feature Of Google +1: Massive-Scale Social Video Conferencing

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been able to dig up a bunch of details about Google’s secret forthcoming social service. The service, previously codenamed “Emerald Sea” but currently being called “+1“, essentially seems to be a toolbar that exists along the top of Google’s various properties to allow for easy sharing. 

But there’s also quite a bit more to it, based on what we’ve been hearing. For one thing, we’ve been hearing a bit of talk about specific mobile applications, which may or may not be called “Loop” — after one of the key features of +1 (think: groups). But another feature of +1 is apparently large-scale video conferencing. Hit read more for details.

Google Takes Another Big Step to Retain Employees: Autonomous Business Units

There’s a lie that companies and entrepreneurs tell themselves in order to commit to an acquisition.

Oh, we’re not going to change anything! We’re just going to give you more resources to do what you’ve been doing even better!

Yeah! They bought us for a reason, why would they ruin things?

It usually works for a little while, but big company bureaucracy– whether it’s HR, politics or just endless meetings– almost always creeps in. It’s a law of nature: Big companies just need certain processes to run and entrepreneurs hate those processes because they stifle nimble innovation.

Google has a new policy to fight it, according to several sources close to the company. Hit read more for details.

Nokia To Adopt Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 !?

Hold on to your seats everyone. According to well known Nokia prognosticator/troll Eldar Murtazin from mobile-review.com, Nokia is in talks with Microsoft to bring WP7 to their handsets, ending the long, worldwide Symbian nightmare. The translated post on Mobile-Review doesn’t say much, but generally it notes that Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has been talking to Microsoft for the past few months about launching a WP7 handset. This would, in short, meld Nokia’s excellent skills as a handset manufacturer with Microsoft’s excellent skills as a 7000 pound gorilla. Hit read more for the exact words!

Nicely done Motorola! - 'Tablet Evolution' video teases some Honeycomb at CES

It's on, suckers. Just like 2010 was the year you saw Android take over the world (so to speak) 2011 - excitingly enough - is turning out to be the year for tablets! Motorola just sent us this "Tablet Evolution" teaser video for their CES 2011 announcements, and it doesn't mince any words -- it calls the iPad a "giant iPhone" and says the Samsung Galaxy Tab is running Android "for a phone" before closing out with a buzzing bee over that new red Motorola logo. That certainly suggests some Honeycomb action to us -- and it fits perfectly with Andy Rubin demonstrating the next-gen version of Android on a Motorola tablet back at D: Dive Into Mobile. You know, the tablet that's since leaked out with a Verizon logo on it. Yeah, we're ready for this to go down -- and you know we'll keep you updated!

BMW uses bright lights, "SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES" to sell motorcycles (video)

The BMW S1000R is fast enough and sexy enough to sell itself, and you'd think a commercial showing World Superbike rider Ruben Xaus flogging one around the track would be quite enough to get people inclined to buy the things. Not enough for BMW. The company used the optical illusion of afterimage to temporarily imprint "BMW" onto the retinas of theater-goers. Behind the screen was a giant cut-out backed by an even bigger light (a Profoto Pro-7B, we're told). It flashed for an instant during the commercial and, while all the spectators noticed was a quick pop, when they were asked to close their eyes they saw the logo hovering in their vision. Subliminal? Possibly. Illegal? Maybe. Ingenious? Absolutely. 

Regio Smart Toilet is self-cleaning, music playing, and definitely overkill

So, this is what the future looks like: the Regio Smart Toilet by INAX combines a bidet and a self-cleaning toilet with such features as automatic flushing and deodorizing, an automatic seat and lid, and dual flush modes, with a throne-side media player that supports an SD card reader for custom audio playlists. We just hope that this comes pre-loaded with "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" by The Gap Band. Available in black or white at Crescent Supply in Lawrenceville and select retailers worldwide -- hit the source link to get one for yourself. Hit read more for a video!

YouTube moves solidly into the future by supporting 4K content

You didn't expect the High definition video spectrum to come to a halt after 1080p, did you? Say hello to 4k! Hit read more for details.

Nokia to revamp Symbian UI, ship dual-core phones in 2011

We don't have any hard details yet, but Computerworld reports that Nokia's planning a busy 2011, with four to five updates to the Symbian UI on tap, as well as dual-core phones. Hit read more for details about Nokia's 2011 plans.

Android Founder Andy Rubin's full D: Dive Into Mobile interview video posted

This is a really interesting interview of Andy Rubin the father of Android! He mentions how it would be impossible for him to keep Android running if Google hadn't bought his company. He also mentions the future direction of Android and shows some prototype devices! When you have time do check it out! Hit the source link to find the full video!