Screen grabs: KITT the chatty car somehow still needs an Apple Bluetooth keyboard
By Ryan Block 
posted March 21st 2008 12:20PM
posted March 21st 2008 12:20PM
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]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Yeah, it took me like 20 minutes of pure frustration, let me tell you.
What Comcast DVR do you have? I have an HD Comcast box (Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD) and mine looks nothing like that. Just curious because the theme on that screenshot is a million times better than the shitty GUI on my box, lol.
Im watching K.I.T.T right now and I missed it. Just goes to show you cant beat a hard keyboard no matter how sophisticated the product is.
That thing was a month ago- friggin slow people.
Maybe KITT needs a KB because KITT is really Val Kilmer?
So much for the old adage comparing systems running Windows vs. OSX to cars, with Macs being the equivalent of cars that can only drive on 10% of roads.
Wasn't that show canceled? I watched the pilot and wasn't impressed. Then I didn't see it on the TV listings ever again.
You watched a 2 hour made-for-tv movie.
They may put it into production though as a regular series.
I'm pretty sure it has been green-lit as a regular TV series. The ratings for the backdoor pilot were good, if not great. And I'll readily admit that the TV movie was at least as good as the old show, as-bad-as-it-was-in-the-80s plot included, apart from a lack of explosions and turbo-boosts.
I noticed that the first time it was on TV...
(Did any one else notice that NBC didn't even bother to block out the Roomba logo on the battery when that guy picked up the vacuum cleaner?)
That was a clever act of product placement...Just as the entire show is just one giant ad frakenstiened together from all the "in" mainstream companies to make a cheap half baked show to sell all of their expensive half baked crap.
You got to love capitolisim.
*Capitalism* and yes, I think it is preferable to having the government telling me what I can and cannot watch.
Indeed, CraigJ, because the void left by the absence of a capitalist system would invariably be replaced by totalitarianism. Drop the conversational terrorism and start addressing the points being made.
Oh, does engadget pay you to police the grammar in the comments, or is that on a volunteer basis? I only ask because I'm looking to supplement my income.
KITT now comes with magsafe!
is there seriously an ad for "My dad is better than your dad"?
god dammit.
Is that seriously Bill Nye, The Science Guy?
:D
"Science Rules"
so, i have comcast hd-dvr (Scientific Atlanta Box)...how would I go about getting one of these apparently better looking UI dvr's? Can i go up to comcast and ask, Hey, do you have a HD DVR that does not have a UI that looks like monkey dick? Its 2008....wtf
I knew KITT was too smug to be a PC.
KITT is a MAC. What they don't tell you is that gas for KITT is $20/gallon, tires cost $10,000 apiece. A headlamp is about $4500...
No, the original KITT was (and still partly is) a Cylon.
Thank you for confirming! I thought I noticed that the first time I watch it.
Blogged that 18 days ago: http://null.perl-hackers.net/2008/03/kitt_is_back_with_a_mac_keyboa.html
Nice... good find!
This is kinda old. it was shown multiple times.
Wait so KITT runs MacOS? What does that say about the future security of the OS when KITT was hacked into during the show?
So I'm wondering, how can you tell it's the bluetooth one and not simply the flat aluminum keyboard with a cord? Did they remove it from the tray in the episode?
Nope. The difference between the Apple Bluetooth KB and the wired KB is that the BT version does not have a number pad, however their reasons completely excape me. Stupid bloody Apple
I know! it's silly. you can either have no wires on your desk, or no number pad... it's so stupid...
Not to be pedantic but wasn't the Knight Rider sequel on months ago ? You only notice now ?
Don't know what all the waffle about ergonomics is I've set up one of the new iMacs for a customer and the keyboard was great to use, which surprised me ! best looking keyboard I've seen
@Jesse S
Whats the big deal about iMacs and all-in-one computers ? they have a good spec and you can also upgrade every year if you want as the intergrated monitor (which are very great looking screens) mean a very high resale value compared to your usual PC, admittedly they are generally out of my price range but they are very nice well spec'd machines that look nice anywhere.
But then you upgrade every year so must be a "power user" lol
Never underestimate the usefulness of a keyboard. Imagine if the only way you had to interface with your computer was with voice commands. I'm disappointed in you Engadget.
...i'm not Engadget's philosophy teacher, so i'm not "dissapointed" in them, but i agree; voice command only would be awful.
IDK, it worked fine on StarTrek...
One of my first electronics projects when I was a kid (8th grade or so) was to try to build a KITT (original model, of course). I got a few rocker switches and some wire from Radio Shack, and even a breadboard or two. Acquiring an '82 Trans Am was rough, even in '84 - but I had my eye on one and even convinced myself I could somehow acquire it for my evil plan.
It all fell apart when William Daniels' agent wouldn't let him lay down those soundboard tracks I needed.
http://gizmodo.com/358317/kitt-uses-apple-slim-wireless-keyboard-for-some-reason
My god... couldn't they have even used a keyboard that isn't so obviously from one brand? it makes even less sense when KITT is a black car (I think)
FYI people who can type (60 words a minute) can obviously type faster than they talk... Its just math. Don't be afraid.
Afterhours,fully mellowed on some primo synthetic hydrocarbons (if you know what I mean), KITT longs wistfully for his old, DVORAK-style Hasselhoff-vomit-encrusted 'supplemental hot-hands input device'...
K.I.T.T.'s brain soon to be replaced with a 16GB iPhone. Now it'll be twice as smart as it was before and totally get off on having his touchscreen stroked.
SARCASM
How come no one has commented on the Nokia N95 with the touch screen dial pad? I wish my N95 had that.