B&W high-tech wireless HTIB

Wireless HTIBs are nothing too fancy by today's standard, but Bower & Wilkins' CES-announced Liberty system is offering a couple of new tricks under it belt. For starters, it has a new Dynamic Channel Selection technology which toggles audio transmission frequency on-the-fly. This has the advantage of tapping onto a wireless frequency least utilized to minimize interference and sound delay.

Futhermore, its stylish brushed-aluminum digital radio/disc player module is also capable of streaming up to eight audio channels with multi-zone support. This adds the flexibility to set up an independent 5.1 home theater and two-channel stereo. Lastly, you have a choice of either compact bookshelf or floorstanding loudspeakers in addition to a matching center equivalent and a subwoofer.

The B&W Liberty is expected to launch in the fall of 2008.

Via CNET.com | Photo credit: Bower & Wilkins

iPod nano gets a new color

A new iPod nano color is in town and pink is the name. Introduced recently, the latest addition to Apple's iPod nano family is seemingly timed to coincide with Valentine's Day which is less than a month away. It will be the sixth color available for the 8GB version of iPod nano. The 4GB model is currently still offered in silver only. And no, there will not be pink versions of the iPod shuffle or the iPod classic. For now.

Oakley's Medusa headbanging thing

Great balls of subversion! Did Oakley set out to shock? This is just too weird-out not to mention in Crave. If there's segment of the demographics in Asia brave enough to strut around in this ridiculous headgear, we salute you. However, we'd suggest adding another US$250 for the snap-on leather goggles to make this a full-faced mask. That way, your mum/dad/neighbor/employer can't make out that it's you under all that leather dreadlocks and rivets.

Mind you, the Medusa Hat sans eyewear costs US$500 apiece, and doesn't even feature any MP3 options, unlike its Oakley Thumps. Fit only for the post-apocalyptic Mad Max fashion crowd.

Via Uncrate

Here comes the Air accessory deluge

Less than three days since the MacBook Air's debut, companies are working furiously to come out with accessories that will most certainly deluge the market in coming months. So even though Belkin's sleeves and cases aren't exactly revolutionary, they score points for being so quick out of the floodgate.

In fact, Belkin's already got a whole new line on its site, with options for color, leather, neoprene, straps, and fasteners, for US$40 or US$50. It's unclear when they'll be ready for delivery, however. So if you want some faster--and cheaper--you can always opt for "AirMail".

Via Crave CNET

Toyota develops eyelid-monitoring system

If BMW's rumbling steering wheel, Infiniti's Lane Departure Prevention system, and Volvo's coffee-break alert are not enough to keep you awake at the wheel, then Toyota may have developed just the thing for you.

According to a recent announcement, Toyota has developed an enhancement to its Pre-Crash safety system that can determine whether or not a driver's eyes are open.

The system relies on a driver-monitoring camera and image-processing computer, which determine the position of the driver's upper and lower eyelids. The development follows Toyota's existing face-monitoring technology--available on the Lexus LS600h--which tracks the orientation of the driver's face and sounds a warning if it detects a sustained period of inattention.

The eye-monitoring system is scheduled for launch in Japan "in the near future", according to Toyota.

Via Crave CNET (Source: Just Auto)

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