Screen grabs: KITT the chatty car somehow still needs an Apple Bluetooth keyboard

Our latest micro-series, Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

You'd think a car with AI sophisticated enough to carry on a lengthy conversation with its driver would kind of obviate the need for a keyboard, but hey, maybe that's why we're not in the TV business.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[wow @ Mar 21st 2008 12:23PM]

very cool!

[billy bob thorton @ Mar 22nd 2008 7:55AM]

do people actually watch this lame Ford infomercial?

[Rainier @ Mar 21st 2008 12:22PM]

What...no mouse?

[Jon Doe. @ Mar 21st 2008 1:12PM]

That'll come in the next generation of KITT announced at MW 2009. Cars don't need mice...until Apple invents the car mouse.

[Jeff @ Mar 21st 2008 2:32PM]

soon to be replaced by the car mouse extreme. :P

[Neebs @ Mar 21st 2008 2:42PM]

with only one button.

[Greg @ Mar 21st 2008 3:27PM]

One button?
-.-
Ah, being educated, it's not for everyone.

[Blackstar @ Mar 21st 2008 4:23PM]

I find it far more frightening that people are watching the new 'Knight Rider' at all, let alone intently enough to pick up product placements.

[Neebs @ Mar 21st 2008 4:59PM]

I'm aware that Mac mouses have more than one now :P
Isn't it like five?

[Anthony @ Mar 21st 2008 12:24PM]

I don't know how many times I've had to scream "CUSTOMER SERVICE" into my phone while I'm supposedly talking to a "sophisticated" online operator (you hear that AT&T!).

Sometimes you'd just like to push buttons to get something done.

[Kamokazi @ Mar 21st 2008 12:36PM]

http://www.gethuman.com/

They should tell you how to push the right buttons anywhere you go. Great site.

[eugene @ Mar 21st 2008 1:06PM]

Thank you for calling Amazon, my name is Mike and yes I'm actually in India as you can tell by my thick accent and ridiculous phone delay but we like to give ourselves anglo names so as not to offend, please, how may I help you today?

[fischju @ Mar 21st 2008 2:05PM]

Too bad the actual people aren't much better than the machine. Almost all of them have no idea what they are doing, they are sitting in front of a PC with a flow chart of problems and solutions.

[Shane @ Mar 21st 2008 5:16PM]

I was once transferred to an overseas representative by my bank's automated phone system. I asked the rep for "someone in America" and they actually transferred me back to someone in the US!

[Anthony @ Mar 21st 2008 5:42PM]

I don't mind talking to people in India or Ireland or where ever. I like it, in fact. Once you get them to admit that they're not in the US (which is sometimes difficult) it's usually a pleasant chat.

In fact, I find that the worst service I get is often from people in the US (sorry, South, but I frequently find people in your part of the world manning the phone to be rude, unintelligible or downright slow).

[macona @ Mar 21st 2008 12:30PM]

"KITT, What did you just call me?"

CTRL-ALT-DEL

Format c:

[Pradster @ Mar 21st 2008 12:37PM]

i think kit runs on OSX :P
na na na naaa!
:D

[macona @ Mar 21st 2008 12:38PM]

So then you cant crash KITT?

[rhcpsfan @ Mar 22nd 2008 2:56PM]

i will bet you a million dollars that some fanboy trashes both microsoft and apple somtime during this thread

[Cammerv8 @ Mar 21st 2008 1:00PM]

not just use

sudo rm /

[CraigJ @ Mar 21st 2008 1:45PM]

sudo rm -r /

[Zak @ Mar 21st 2008 2:13PM]

It just means that if you crash one part of the car, the other parts will keep running.

[Ace b @ Mar 21st 2008 3:44PM]

@Pradster

Kitt is running a windows OS.How do i kno that?If you watched the crappy movie thing,you would have realized that he gets hacked in under 2 minutes.

Deff not a mac.

[zargon @ Mar 21st 2008 4:10PM]

@Zak

Pot calling the kettle black...

[Zak @ Mar 21st 2008 5:50PM]

Zargon: Please have your sense of humor upgraded ASAP. I was making a joke based on OS X's preemptive multitasking.

[Pradster @ Mar 22nd 2008 12:30AM]

you could always let it go by the side of a cliff, or snap the batteries out,dont worry dude...revenge shall be yours!

[Idlemind @ Mar 21st 2008 12:41PM]

Isn't it a Mustang? It should be using Microsoft Sync.

Good thing it has airbags to shield you from the crashes.

[rndmnme @ Mar 21st 2008 2:10PM]

But this is Engadet and there clear Apple bias has led them to point out... yet another Apple product for their Screen grab series.

Oh Dear... I've become "that guy"

[Jeff @ Mar 21st 2008 2:35PM]

@rndmnme:

first of all, it's "their"

second of all, shutup.

[Donnie @ Mar 21st 2008 3:48PM]

@ Jeff
First of all.... this is not English class. I have just started reading engadget and I have noticed that all you do is shoot down people for their spelling/grammar.
It’s really getting old. Could you please stop? We are not getting graded on this…. Or did I miss that memo?

[601210 @ Apr 27th 2008 10:08PM]

@Jeff
"shutup" is not a word.
Extra homework for you.

[ms330005 @ Mar 21st 2008 12:41PM]

I hear it comes with a 64g SSD for $1299.

[Sime @ Mar 21st 2008 12:45PM]

probably just some small form of advertising

[Leo @ Mar 21st 2008 4:37PM]

that's totally what I thought when I saw it - even though it was only in frame for a second or two, it was enough for anybody that has seen that keyboard before to regonise it... and I think with their budget they could afford a mockup fancy-looking sci-fi keyboard or whatever... also later in the same episode there's a giant apple logo at the back of a casino...

[Julio @ Mar 21st 2008 12:46PM]

Well, if the car gets uppity or goes crazy he can just do a quick rm -rf.

[Pradster @ Mar 21st 2008 12:51PM]

you could always let it go by the side of a cliff, or snap the batteries out,dont worry dude...revenge shall be yours!

[Jesse S @ Mar 21st 2008 12:52PM]

People can actually use those things?

I always thought they were just for show, like iMacs.

[Bani-Banan @ Mar 21st 2008 3:00PM]

Well... if it comes with Microsoft sync, I bet they installed OSX86.
I think they just added the support

[Glancing Aft @ Mar 21st 2008 1:37PM]

the iMac is the best computer I've ever owned, and I've owned many, so STFU!

[CraigJ @ Mar 21st 2008 1:46PM]

Troll much?

[Jesse S @ Mar 21st 2008 1:49PM]

It's incredibly stupid to tie a machine to a monitor. Monitors can be good for years and years, but people usually upgrade their PC's within a year or two.

I cannot respect anyone who ever buys something like an XPS One or iMac.

And, so what if I was trolling a little? Those keyboards are ergonomic nightmares...Do people actually sacrifice their wrists to show off or buy something from Apple?

[Chad @ Mar 21st 2008 2:11PM]

When people upgrade their computer, they usually get a new screen with it. With the deals that Dell and HP have, I'd say it's rare that someone buys a computer without a screen, no matter what they have at home. Why would you turn down a free screen?

I can't respect anyone who insults others for their computer purchases.

The keyboard is no different than using a laptop, and only slightly different than the default keyboard that come with every Dell, HP, and Gateway.

[Zak @ Mar 21st 2008 2:17PM]

Yeah Jesse, you know what's incredibly stupid? People who think that every other person on the planet should have the same needs and values as you do. Yes, shockingly enough, there are people out there who don't have a problem with owning an all in one system. It's incredibly stupid of you not to realize that people are different and there is no "one size fits all".

[Jesse S @ Mar 21st 2008 2:19PM]

And laptop keyboards are also horrible nightmares, why use one when you're sitting at a desk?

I have a 24" screen that I got two years ago, and it is good. Why would I get another one when I build a new pc or upgrade my current one, unless 30" screens shoot down in price?

I will say it again, it is monumentally stupid to tie your monitor to your computer (unless it's something like a laptop or UMPC, in which you have no choice). Hell, it's also stupid to buy a pre-built computer in almost every case, considering how much money you can save using sites to find the best prices on parts. (Surprisingly, not much money can be saved when considering a Mac Pro vs. building your own with the same specs.) Not to mention you aren't limited in how you want to house or cool it.

And don't cop out and say it takes too long to build a PC...It takes, at most, half an our to shop for parts, and another half an hour to build the PC, and then you can do a nice unattended install of XP or a Linux distro (I don't know if you can do Hackintosh installs unattended, I haven't personally looked into it).

[Jesse S @ Mar 21st 2008 2:20PM]

There is no one-size-fits-all, Zak, which is why everyone with the ability (I would think everyone reading Engadget) should build their own computer. Then you get exactly what you need, at a good price.

So, what niche does an all-in-one fill with tech-oriented Engadget readers?

[Jeff @ Mar 21st 2008 2:42PM]

oohh, jesse, i get it.

you're one of those people stuck in 1998. "It's sooo much cheaper and better to build your own box3n, that anyone who doesn't is a total newb!"

You obviously have no concept of 99.8% of the consumer market who has absolutely no interest in scrounging around for cheap parts, LEDs and glowing case fans. ...not to mention that these days, someone buying 1,000,000 sticks of RAM are definitely getting a better price-per-unit than you are at pricewatch. You apparently don't understand that nearly everyone likes things like build quality, warranties, simplicity, et all.

that "self-built is teh best, anything else is stupidz0r!" standpoint is incredibly naive.

[CraigJ @ Mar 21st 2008 3:49PM]

Monitor tech is advancing about as fast as the the computer itself, and they are so cheap that I usually get a new one with the system. I just bought a new Dell and I got a 22" Samsung monitor for about $100. I have no problem purchasing an all-in-one system for some purposes, and I guess I'll just have to live with your lack of respect if I end up getting one. I don't currently have a Mac, but I know at least two who do and have the new keyboard and they like it fine, so forgive me if I accept the word of people who *actually* own and use it (new iMac with new BT keyboard) every day over your ranting.

[wootman @ Mar 21st 2008 4:10PM]

jeff, that still doesn't change the fact that keeping a monitor for more than one computer is generally a good idea.
also, the person buying 1000000 sticks has to make a profit, while you do not.
99% of the time it is cheaper to build your own computer, mainly due to the freedom in GPU choice.

[Jesse S @ Mar 21st 2008 6:54PM]

Jeff, we are on Engadget. We are NOT average consumers. We are technologically oriented, we know how to build our own PC's.

And it is always cheaper to build your own PC. In the Mac Pro's case, it's only around $200 cheaper.

Warranties? Each part in my machine has one. If one breaks, I can RMA it.

My computer is housed in a simple black, aluminum case (by Lian-Li). It sits under my desk. I have a few Mini-itx systems hidden around my abode that perform various functions, and a few old computers I've turned into servers sitting in my basement.

Good 24" monitors cost $500, and up. Why would I waste $500 when my current one is almost as good? (What's a few ms response time?)

Again, (what is this, the third time I'm saying this?), this is ENGADGET. Engadget's readers are tech oriented, and I'd gather that every single one of us can, and has, built our own PC's. I am NOT talking about Joe Consumer.

[agroupofletters @ Mar 21st 2008 1:03PM]

More importantly, that screenshot looks like it comes from a comcast dvr, and i'm amazed someone was actually able to pause it right where they wanted to