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Sure, the cold metal exterior looks like a regular old car, but the 2010 S-Class from Mercedes-Benz has a fuzzy technological heart, including an abundance of readout displays and a Splitview screen. Quite like it sounds, the Splitview display offers up one view to the driver (like a map), while the passenger sees a completely different image (like a movie, or a picture of somebody looking at a map), and after hearing all about it for the past while, Mercedes is actually giving us a glimpse of it in an overly-dramatic promo video for the latest S-Class to clutter up the roads. Check it out after the break.

BMW has already clearly shown that it wants to make its cars as smart as possible, and it looks like that extends right down to the doors, which have now been smartened up with a little help from the Technical University of Munich. According to New Scientist, the pair have developed a prototype door that uses a range of sensors to detect any oncoming dangers, and work in concert with an accelerometer in the door to prevent it from being opened. What’s more, the sensors are apparently also able to detect the proximity of the object and adjust the resistance of the door accordingly — for instance, slowing the door down if you’re about to slam it into a lamp post. The current prototype does apparently have a bit of a problem when it comes to field of view, however, although BMW says that can be remedied with some added cameras in future versions, which could possibly be in actual cars in as little as a year — though it’s quick to point out that it hasn’t made a final decision just yet.

Make no mistake, that thing you see pictured above definitely looks no nicer than $2,000, but hey, at least it actually is just $2,000. Indian Autos Blog was on hand at the Tata Nano’s official unveiling in Mumbai, and naturally, it fired off a number of images to share with those of us not able to hop a flight to see it in person. The car is set to take showrooms around the nation by storm starting this Wednesday, but for those of us stuck elsewhere on the planet just longing for a (new) beater car for under two large, the pics in the links will simply have to suffice.

SwitchEasy’s ThumbTacks are far from being the first third-party microphones designed to function nicely with Apple’s iPod nano 4G and second-generation iPod touch, but we’ll be darned if they aren’t the cutest. Clearly designed to mimic the iconic thumb tack, these itty-bitty microphones function with all third-party voice applications and can be selected in black, white or red. Not too shabby for $15.99 shipped, wouldn’t you say?

An Ohio mom is filing a lawsuit against Apple on behalf of her son, whose “iTouch” popped in his pocket and proceeded to torch his pants. He had to be treated for second degree burns on his leg, had a hole burnt through his pants pocket and got an underwear melting to top it all off. Also, according to the lawsuit, “He continues to suffer from both physical and mental conditions which will cause him to suffer pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of his life.” Poor kid! In addition to Apple, the lawsuit seemingly randomly names 10 Apple retail employees, and wants $150,000+ and attorney fees in damages. While we’ve seen a couple burnt charging cables of late, this is the first we’ve heard of an iPod touch “popping,” and it’s especially odd because the lawsuit claims the iPod was turned off at the time of the incident. Whether or not that’s true, we’ll be certainly keeping an eye on a trend developing here. When it comes to our children, burning pants are everyone’s business.

Gamers everywhere are wondering what Nintendo can do next to top the Wii. Now that Nintendo has (finally) incorporated motion controls that don’t stink (hello, PowerGlove), it seems like virtual reality is the only logical next step. But what if Nintendo isn’t the company to debut true VR controls for the home gaming scene? What if it’s a dark horse company, one that comes from out of nowhere to make a home system not geared toward soccer moms and families but high-end consumers who just have to play their Halo 4 completely immersed in the virtual environment? A design group called NAU may just be that company.

NAU is currently developing the “Immersive Cocoon,” a human-sized pod akin to those seen in The Fly series of movies. Although CNN has discussed the I-Cocoon being the next generation of computer interfaces, the Cocoon is actually designed with videogames in mind. And while it certainly won’t be “the next Wii” in a literal sense, its immersion and interactivity definitely make it a candidate for what’s in store, at least conceptually.

“With full 3D surround sound and graphics as well as native Internet connectivity, the Cocoon is the ultimate gaming environment to challenge friends from around the world,” says NAU’s Web site for the Cocoon. “If action games aren’t to your fancy, why not try next-generation karaoke where you can play an air guitar with a virtual band or sing to an adoring, interactive concert crowd?”

Good questions indeed, and ones that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are all probably considering at this point, although arguably not in this grand a scale. The Cocoon includes motion-tracking cameras that track users’ movements, essentially doing away with the need for controllers connected to a console. Imagine using not the Wii Remote to hunt enemies in Metroid Prime 4, but your entire arm. Imagine ‘jacking a Wraith in Jalo 5 not by pressing the A or X button, but by literally jumping on the platform inside the Cocoon. This is the gaming world NAU envisions.

The 3D motion-tracking technology used in the Cocoon was, according to CNN, developed by an MIT researcher whose work also inspired “the ‘reach out and grab’ technology” in the Tom Cruise film Minority Report. Reaching out and grabbing in-game characters would inject an all-new level of immersion in gaming, and it would also enable the next generation of console interfaces (Microsoft’s Dashboard and Sony’s Home, for instance) to truly support user interaction a la Second Life — a vibe that Sony appears to be going for already.

NAU’s executive team plans to complete its Cocoon prototype by October 2009, with commercial models available five years later. It remains to be seen, however, whether the technology will ever be cheap enough for mainstream consumers. [Editor's Note: A large part of the sales success of the Wii is, in our opinion, its relatively low cost and thus low barrier to entry.] And make no mistake, the Interactive Cocoon is definitely an expensive proposition.

As shown in the images accompanying this article, the I-Cocoon completely envelops users within its walls — definitely not a system for those with claustrophobia. Inside the Cocoon, a series of motion-tracking cameras in the dome act as the input devices and feed the users’ movements through compact processor units in its base. The visual output display on the LED display is then refreshed instantly to reflect the users’ movement. The result, according to NAU, is that “users can fight in a kung-fu game or swim through a sea of jellyfish, with the display responding in real-time and in surround vision.” That advanced technology isn’t an exactly inexpensive proposition, let alone for mainstream consumers.

Whether NAU can pull all this off is one thing. Whether they can create a system that actually supports this advanced interface for the most popular of the “hardcore games” is another. NAU has a technology team in place that appears qualified to deliver a successful Cocoon, but making the Cocoon a commercial success poses just as strong a challenge.

Gamers are continually on the forefront of technology and interfaces. From Dragon’s Lair to Time Traveler to the Wii, we always like to push technology to the limits. Does the Interactive Cocoon push those limits a bit too much, though? You’ll have to ask Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony; you’d better believe they’ve got people looking at the Cocoon, at least in concept.

Even if the Interactive Cocoon doesn’t appear in a home near you anytime soon — if ever — the prospect of this technology is fantastic. Game graphics and audio seem good enough as they are; it’s the interactivity, interface and immersion we’re most concerned with. If the Wii proved anything, it’s that most consumers feel the same way, even if they are labeled as “only casual gamers.” Yet even hardcore gamers must appreciate this technology. After all, if you wanted to truly “finish the fight” in Halo or eliminate the Helghast in Killzone, wouldn’t it be nice to literally do so yourself?

Thanks To — Jonas Allen

Clearly, the big news from Endless Ideas today at CeBIT was its next-generation BeBook 2. But what about all those existing / to-be BeBook 1 owners? We’ve got a bit of excitement to share with you folks as well. While prying for information today in Hannover, we were informed that one of the biggest issues with the BeBook is being resolved very soon. Yes, friends, WiFi is coming. In just a few months, BeBook users will be able to buy a WiFi-enabling SD card (and download a new firmware update) which will provide wireless access to eBook stores, RSS feeds and lots of other goodies that can only be touched with a live internet connection. We’re told that the WiFi SD card will be sold directly on the BeBook website for around $40, and it should be listed for sale within the next few months. We took the chance to grab some hands-on footage of the original BeBook in video form for you Yanks who’ve yet to see one, and if you hang in there ’til the end, you’ll hear us get tipped off on the forthcoming card.

Windows Mobile 6.5 got the lion’s share of attention this week at MWC, but HTC’s TouchFLO 3D shell for 6.1 got some interesting interface tweaks for the new Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2, and we’d say they’re actually more interesting than 6.5 honeycomb launcher and new unlock screen — especially the newly revised keyboards with haptic feedback. Plenty more screenshots at the read link, and don’t forget to check out our hands-on videos of the Pro2 and Diamond2 if you haven’t already.
[Thanks, msav]

Like Symbian candybars? Then try this surprising little number, the 5630 XpressMusic. Nokia’s 5800-sib is an N-Gage ready, 12-mm slimster with a 4GB microSD card dropped in the box along side a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack to rock whatever buds, plugs, or cans you have an itch for. It’s also packing a 3.2 megapixel, “4x zoom” camera with dual-LED flash and HSDPA/HSUPA data to move your pics and videos up to your favorite photo sharing site on a rocket. Dedicated audio keys and Nokia’s “say and play” feature makes the 5630 a media all-rounder. Expected in Q2 for around €200 pre-tax, pre-subsidy.

Sure, Lady Liberty and a bald eagle are great symbols of American freedom, but they’re also perfect covers for keeping tabs on your friends. Ajoka’s cigarette lighter video camera discreetly records 640 x 480 or QVGA in AVI format at 30 frames per second and supports microSD up to 8GB. It’s got a lithium ion battery for 6 hours of filming and is charged via USB. Best of all, it’s still a working lighter — perfect for cheering up your favorite band’s love ballads and simultaneously bootlegging the performance. Your local spy shop can order these wholesale for $150 apiece.