Bang & Olufsen's BeoSound 5 controller in the wild?

We're still retaining a slight bit of disbelief here, but the long teased BeoSound 5 controller could be awfully close to a formal release. Judging by scads of cryptic (and probably diluted) hints and just two images (one above, one after the break), we're led to believe that this here device will sit atop one's table and enable users to flip through multimedia and play back tunes through their Bang & Olufsen gear. The sell, obviously, is the design. Truth be told, this thing looks like something a few years ahead of its time at first glance, but considering just how ridiculous (that's a compliment, we'll have you know) the BeoCenter 2 looked over four years ago, we'd say this is just par for the course with B&O. Here's hoping some more concrete information flows forth shortly.

[Thanks, JK]

[Sean Robbins @ Oct 13th 2008 7:48AM]

If this thing had a dial as the controller, that would be AMAZING! :)

[John @ Oct 13th 2008 4:48PM]

I was thinking the same. This thing is SEXY!

[ScooterDe @ Oct 13th 2008 8:35AM]

'cludgy' and 'overwrought' come to mind. B&O lost the design lead a while back. Rather than forward-leaning the brand now just looks quirky.

[Kurian @ Oct 13th 2008 8:48AM]

Yessss! Now I can attach this to the handle of the rolling chair at my computer and have my own Stephen Hawking chair!

[Cybergypsy @ Oct 13th 2008 8:54AM]

I kinda love it maybe because i love B&O so much...

[Convenant @ Oct 13th 2008 9:30AM]

This must be the first contraption B&O has made that I kinda like

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 13th 2008 10:40AM]

So what does this do that my keyboard and mouse do not?

[kuliand @ Oct 13th 2008 12:02PM]

Well for starters it won't sound rubbish like your your pc will which is connected to your mouse and keyboard this is for audiophiles only.

[noyp @ Oct 13th 2008 11:57AM]

Not really, B&O is kinda like a posh version of bose, it sounds a bit better than blose, but not close enough to justify the price.

[kuliand @ Oct 13th 2008 12:03PM]

Well i agree some of there stuff is form over function but the beolab 5 and 9 speakers are as good as any other brand in there price ranges. So this could be a good device either way it will sound better than a pc.

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 13th 2008 12:17PM]

What I was saying is that you can make a computer that controls your devices like this does. With a bigger screen and more functionality.

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 13th 2008 12:33PM]

I just came a little in my pants with that picture.

[Jon Doe. @ Oct 13th 2008 12:37PM]

Oh and FYI. That is what should have been on the genesis device in Star Trek 2 when Khan was arming the system. They got the round part right though. :P

[warmachine @ Oct 13th 2008 1:50PM]

looks like somthing outa ironman. :) id love to have a jarvis of my own

[Neeko @ Oct 13th 2008 2:21PM]

Yupp thats it. This is Jarvis from Tony Starks house. hmm this design would be awesome for home use. controls your media,security and temperature control..Hmm the future is here.

[frankXchange @ Oct 13th 2008 2:24PM]

B&O have always produced amazing stuff, but I don't know if they can produce a product in the digital realm that is worth the very heavy premium they charge. In this case, at that size, it had better be the media server itself instead of just a controller. Having the server kept in the middle of the room as an interactive objet d'art would be very cool indeed.

[kuliand @ Oct 13th 2008 2:49PM]

I can say that this is the server itself don't know if the storage is built in but it is not something you are supposed to move around.

[solarbuddy @ Oct 13th 2008 5:33PM]

And this is amazing? What part of teeny-weeny icons do you find so attractive? I love to go into the BO store in Singapore just to mock their pretentious crap. Now that Sharper Image is gone BO has a lock on glossy schlock.

[rektide @ Oct 13th 2008 8:50PM]

There's a scene in the opening of Iron Man where he takes home a reporter, she wakes up to an empty house, wanders around in awe and tries to interface with a device on the wall that looks exactly like this. The house is not impressed.

[salman @ Oct 14th 2008 3:41AM]

http://i37.tinypic.com/qyfp08.gif

[Jeff @ Oct 14th 2008 4:08AM]

I love B&O. They're pretty much the only company that makes ridiculously overpriced equipment that I can forgive because their stuff is so cool.

I have an old Beogram RX2 turntable and it's the shit.

[solarbuddy @ Oct 17th 2008 7:16PM]

While I knocked B&O in a previous post, your turntable--provided you got it on Ebay for a song--is actually awesome. Congrats.

[felsby @ Nov 6th 2008 4:38PM]

@solarbuddy: The RX2 was not expensive, price compared with entry-level Sony and Pioneer record players at the time.

[mads @ Nov 12th 2008 3:30PM]

...not wireless - what gives? The thing is WIRED to the mainframe, yes. Why oh why

[yep @ Nov 16th 2008 3:53PM]

I thik the stuff they make it`s for people who can aford to buy, some of the people trying to be more unique, if someone can afford to buy it`s cool. I think it just like a brend how trying to makes a mney from people, how don`t what it`s Apple, and how to work with them.
I heart about one danish person. he has a house i spain, he order all sustem in his house. it cost 200.000 kr.40.000 usa.
The funy thinks many of this people they don`t realy care what thiks they can buying for this money, and one more for example the person has 1000 cd how he can put this cd inside this sustem, he need to send them to sweeden and tfor extra money they will put everthynk inside, aha but what about if he both one more cd? because usualy this people they don`t now how to burn cd, they take a cd ans send to BO company and thru internet you will get...................... yep.....................