Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., BMW
BMW mystery device
Click image to enlarge
If you follow the "read" link your eyes and ears will be under full assault as BMW hypes up a soon to be released gizmo. What is it? We're a bit baffled, but according to the trailer it has the ability to play MP3s, DVDs and CDs, has USB and Bluetooth connectivity, can recognize voice commands and has a 65,000 color LCD. But alas, no nav.
We're still a trifle confused as to why an automaker would begin producing personal electronics, but then again, BMW has a tendency to throw the occasional curve ball, with its products and marketing tactics.
Until it's released in Mid-January 2007, we're just going to call it the "Highend," since that's the only discernable thing we could see in the URL.
A few more images are posted after the jump.
Click images to enlarge
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John P. 9:09PM (12/31/2006)
In-Car Video Phone?
camera lenses and keypads, my guess anyway.
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O.I. 9:30PM (12/31/2006)
Maybe the "device" is the new M3 and what you're seeing are parts from the interior?
Too out there?
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jon... 10:09PM (12/31/2006)
you fools its obviously the new BMW Flux Capacitor.
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JON C 10:15PM (12/31/2006)
No,no.It's the sonic interphase template
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Shoaib 10:33PM (12/31/2006)
Wow people, how can you not realize that its BMW's device for world domination!!
I for one welcome our BMW-overlords!
-PS can I get a M5?
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wibble 10:34PM (12/31/2006)
For some strange reason the first picture made me think of iDrive... hmm new iDrive controler?
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DKB_SATX 10:37PM (12/31/2006)
And it seems likely from the video that either there are multiple devices or these are just teaser graphics rather than being any actual device. This would make sense, the first image displayed in this article seems to be some sort of weirdly anthropomorphized digital camera with music-player buttons for the mouth and some sort of iDrive button for a nose. They'll probably come out with a BMW version of the Verizon "Chocolate" phone, uglified by Bangle, trying to do everything and doing nothing well.
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Bow tie optional 11:56PM (12/31/2006)
It has got be the 1 series launch, I mean it says expect more info mid January, like say at the detroit auto show perhaps??
It seems like a heavily youth oriented ad which fits well with the car's demographic. Its touting versatility, media capabilities, that just screems a youth oriented hatch. Unless god help us all BMW has gon into consumer electronics :(
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Neal M. 12:55AM (1/01/2007)
My only guess would be that this device could plug into iDrive-equipped vehicles for full functionality of all of its aspects. - like music storage, bluetooth, et cetera
I DO NOT think it is the launch for the US 1-series (or !-series as BMW would want you to believe), because this site is on the international page for English of BMW, and the 1 is already sold in English speaking countries abroad.
WHATEVER THIS DEVICE IS, IT HAD BETTER NOT HAVE ANY MICROSOFT JANUS DRM BULL THAT IT PROBABLY WILL HAVE. A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF BMW OWNERS HAVE APPLE MACINTOSHES AND THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS - IF THEY DO SO, THEY CAN SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR SALES TO RICH COLLEGE STUDENTS IN A HEARTBEAT!
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3series 1:01AM (1/01/2007)
BMW has been working on it's "Hand, Head" input technology for years. This is probably the final realization of that technology. A device that can better help you communicate with your car as well as provide personal entertainment outside the vehicle. All in all I think it's very cool. Always exciting to see what BMW will do next.
Check out the link and you'll see how I made the connection:http://www.bmwusa.com/uniquelybmw/Future_Technologies.htm
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Ormenipar 1:07AM (1/01/2007)
Will this make my bmw stocks on trendio go up? :) http://www.trendio.com/word.php?wordid=492&language=en
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Richard 2:33AM (1/01/2007)
iPhone
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Bow tie optional 3:35AM (1/01/2007)
@Neal M.
Good call I never noticed that it was on the world site. Guess I'm not as good of a sleuth as i thought i was...
Well this should be interesting.
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Adam 3:55AM (1/01/2007)
A new iDrive, maybe one that doesn't suck. My 2¢.
And happy new year.
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Sineira 4:24AM (1/01/2007)
A new i-Drive, take cover!
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Zobi 5:05AM (1/01/2007)
I think "3series" is right. I watched the video and it seems as if they are taking a new approach to iDrive. Instead of the "input system" being a knob. You simply just move your hand in whatever direction that you are supposed to and then you would do things like turn off the music or goto the next song. I am guessing motion detecting equipment. Which in this case is camera. So, lets just say you get a call. All you do is nod your head and the camera picks that up, answering the call. If you watch the video "3series" is telling us to watch. You will see what I mean and notice that I just basically rewrote what the guy said in the video.
Happy New Year!
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Kaveh 5:05AM (1/01/2007)
It's just a marketing thing, the first two pics make no sense for a gadget, why does the first pic have a control knob without a screen and two camera's, but has a eject button on the side. The second pic looks like window controls with a tweeter or camera on the top, and the thirst just looks like buttons for the center console
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Bowserusc 8:40AM (1/01/2007)
Looks like HAL 2.0 to me.
Also, #9, you're sounding a little crazy with the whole Microsoft-BMW conspiracy thing.
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GhostDoggy 10:18AM (1/01/2007)
In the theme of Austin Powers, its the Shagulator device that makes all women horny for you when in the Bimmer.
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Ben 3:51PM (1/01/2007)
"Highend" is the BMW websites hierarchical designation for a page that is designed for broadband connection as opposed to narrowband and is unrelated to the actual name of the device.
EG:
BMW International Main entrance:
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/index.html
Users can choose from two options:
BMW Main site index, narrowband:
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/index_narrowband.html
BMW Main site index, broadband:
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/index_highend.html
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