Sony Ericsson's motion activated MH907 headset could change things forever (update: or not)

See that? That's the device that will forever change the way you to listen to music. At least that was the promise made in the teaser running up to today's press event. The buttonless MH907 buds are the world's first "Motion Activated" headphones with Sony Ericsson's "SensMe Control" tech: bung them into your ears to automatically start listening to music, remove one bud to pause. The buds are activated by body contact and mimick the way we control sound now. What's cool is that the headphones seem to use your body as an electrical conduit (a Body Area Network) based on this quote from the webinar:

"Requires conductive surface to activate the controls - i.e. your ears, hence it won't turn things on in your pocket by just squeezing the ear buds"

If so, this is a first consumer application of this technology that we can recall. Available globally this week for any Fast Port equipped phone for just €39. Video fun after the break.

Update: SE has further clarified that the technology is capacitive in nature. In other words, removing an ear bud isn't breaking the flow of current between buds (and across your noodle) -- it's destroying the dynamic capacitor formed by the touch of human skin. Right, this is technology we've seen before in capacitive touchscreens and trackpads.

Sony Ericsson's motion activated MH907 headset could change things forever

[Herr Synnberg Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:35AM]

Thomas: I fail to see what is wrong with using capacitive tech as long as the end user experience is the same. No one asked you to assume that this is "The first ever application" of whatever. The point is that these are the first ever headphones that allow the user to control music through body contact.

The tech behind it has ZERO effect on the end user's experience. This is not one of your daily "Resistive v/s Capacitive" rants.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:38AM]

It's the difference between evolutionary and revolutionary. One changes things *forever*, one doesn't. I leave it to you to figure out the difference -- Thomas

[DigitalCrypt Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:39AM]

Well, technically, they're correct. Everything that is different changes the way you listen to music in some regards. So, in that sense, they succeeded. Kinda?

[apd123 Posted Sep 21st 2009 2:44PM]

So much fail here.

[Herr Synnberg Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:44AM]

I know what's evolutionary and what's revolutionary. But when it comes to gadgets, the difference between a revolution and evolution solely rests on the user experience. The best hardware in the world is useless if it doesn't provide a great user experience.

For instance, everything in the original iPhone is evolutionary w.r.t. hardware (The capacitive screen, a touch UI, et al), but it is heralded as a revolutionary product. Why? Because it changed the way people used phones (This coming from an anti-Apple guy). The new Samsung Omnia HD has a lot of "Firsts" when it comes to hardware tech, but it's hardly a revolutionary phone. In fact, it is quite unexceptional.

Mobile-review, one of the most anti-SE sites posted their review of this product a few hours ago. And surprisingly, it was quite positive. I leave it to you to figure out what that implies.

[Herr Synnberg Posted Sep 21st 2009 7:45AM]

Bah, comment system fail. I swear I clicked the reply button!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 2:58AM]

@ synn:
I'm pretty sure you're working for SE! - probably as an upstream marketing pro - with all the marketing terminology you throw at us and with all the other info you have provided on SE headsets. Well nothing wrong with that, I mean making use of the platform that engadget provided for you... I'm pretty sure old Steve is also abusing these ranking buttons...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:04AM]

Love the tune, anyone know what it is?

[CJ Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:12AM]

That was worth it just for the ad.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:35AM]

Not bad SE, now bring about some great new handsets and return with a vengeance. I hope yet another powerful player to return to market!

P.S. still love my old Z600 which now rests in the drawer for most of the time.

[DariaMorgendorffer Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:41AM]

This is IT????!!!!

Good in theory, but afraid it's gonna be another SE stinker

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:44AM]

The ad is excellent.

The product, far less so.

* goes back to his MIniDisc with wired remote *

[DestrictoEnse Posted Sep 21st 2009 8:52AM]

Nokia are releasing a resistive pair that will only work half of the time.

[crichton007 Posted Sep 21st 2009 9:50AM]

This is what all the "hype" was about? (AKA, "You want to be my latex salesman?") I don't think so.

[mkpaa Posted Sep 21st 2009 9:51AM]

Quite a flop as a product. But the concept itself seems promising.

[nelagster Posted Sep 21st 2009 9:52AM]

what just happened?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 10:11AM]

your ears took control!

[Nomi Posted Sep 21st 2009 11:05AM]

Wonder if they will work with the iPhone...

[oZEPPELINo Posted Sep 21st 2009 11:27AM]

Nightmares will be had

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2009 1:44PM]

Would some one mind enlightening me on the big thing about Capacitive vs Restive tech, I don't understand the difference.

[nismo334 Posted Sep 21st 2009 9:48PM]

Seriously? No one has yet comment about the huge douche bag in the pictures? He is hands down the nastiest looking person I've seen all day. WTF.

[vicdezen Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:40PM]

Interesting. I should give this a try. But knowing Sony, will those features only come in handy if you're using a Sony player? Or will they actually make their headphones compatible with others?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2009 12:45PM]

That ad could've been condensed to a 20s vid instead of letting the viewer sit there like a fucker for a minute thirty expecting a suprise feature at the end