Sure, that's cool, but you're probably wondering what's up with that crazy escape pod shell at the head of the chair. Well, that's kind of what it is: It's a music-playing enclosure that will cycle through three different mood lighting programs, and sync up with your MP3 player to boot. On its website, OSIM says the shell was inspired by butterfly cocoons.

The OSIM uSpace seems well equipped to help you getaway for a little while, though it also costs as much as a vacation at $6,000. (Just between me and you, I'm hoping a uNaming meme doesn't become the next iSore.)

OSIM, via Selfridges & Co

Of the apps by Crestron, Lifeware, Z-Wave and Control4 we've seen here at CEDIA, Crestron's seems to be farthest along (pictured above). It can control multiple rooms in multiple houses all via Wi-Fi or AT&T data, and is a free download and add-on. Z-Wave, probably the most accessible system that you don't have to have a Cribs-worthy home to run, will sadly charge you $10 a month for the privilege of freaking out your pets while you're on vacation or locking your doors from bed. Lifeware's app is still in its nascent stages, but it will pack more Media Center integrations (in case you're running the baddest Media Center in the world).
Control4's app (above) is the least impressive—the first version will only work in your home on the same Wi-Fi network as your system, which is puzzling. And it'll cost you a "license" that will likely be "over $100 and less than $500," to make up for lost touchscreen remote revenue.

All the apps are currently getting finishing touches, but each will be available before year-end. For now, check out iViewer.

Brian will of course still be around in his new position as editorial director, but the new title gives me a chance to help take Gizmodo from being the best written, most interesting and most readable gadget blog out there to the site that everybody—even people who are only kinda into tech—can't wait to consume every single day. Of course, there's nobody more responsible than the guys who are working here with me every day (Adam, Adrian, Benny, Chris, Dan, Dave, Elaine, Jack, Jesus, John, John, Kit, Logan, Mark, Matt, Sean and Wilson), who help make Giz my, and your, favorite place to pass the time, be entertained and be informed. How we're going to continue to do this in the future is to go beyond just covering trade shows, gadget news or even writing phenomenal features, but to expand and tap into the entire culture of what it means to be a gadget fan.

The new gig also calls for me taking on more management duties, which means you'll seldom see any more 12-post days from me unless the entire East Coast, Midwest and West Coast teams are wiped out from a sexy robot uprising. But that doesn't mean you won't see me on the site; the number one reason why Gizmodo is the best job I could ever dream of isn't because of all the cool tech we get to see, but because we get to write, and do so in the most unfiltered environment you can imagine for a publication of this size.

Here's what the news hopefully means for you: more of what you like, less of what you don't. My email's always open, so drop me a message when you've got an opinion about how we're doing. Gracias.

Some more good news: that photo above was taken when I was on vacation last week, right before I got engaged to the unlucky lady whose shoulder is the only thing remaining after I cropped the rest of her out (she's shy).

[Dilbert Strip]

Apologies to Professor Farnsworth for aping his phrase.

Sony Ericsson today published its Software Developer Kit (SDK) for Xperia X1 and invited developers and content creators to capitalize on the opportunities offered by developing mobile content for the phone.

Whether it is music, photography, email or instant messaging, gaming, social networking or video applications, developers can now create a host of unique multi-media entertainment and content for the Xperia X1 for consumers to enjoy.

Xperia X1 brings a totally new experience to mobile phone users by introducing nine easy-to-use, interactive panels which sit on the touch screen interface of the phone.

Developers can use the Windows Mobile SDK, free of charge, to produce a wide variety of panels to meet the consumer’s demand for a rich, individualised multimedia experience on their phone. Users of the Xperia X1 will be spoilt for choice as they personalize their handset with panel applications to suit their mood and lifestyle.  

• Customise your Xperia X1 panels so you are a touch away from your favourite content – music, film, TV, sports
• Or, be the envy of your friends by watching TV or film clips in DVD quality on the three-inch high resolution touch-widescreen
• Get picture happy on the 3.2 megapixel camera and show the images in crystal clear clarity on the 800 X 480 pixels screen
• Access the latest 3D mobile games by simply touching a favourite gaming panel you have selected

• Access all your contacts and calendar entries wherever you are, as the Xperia X1 can automatically sync with your PC making sure you never miss a birthday, anniversary or meeting
• Search or book a holiday in your lunch hour by going online via a travel panel
• Add your local supermarket website and do your weekly food shop in just a few taps on the bus on the way home
• Read the latest restaurants reviews, look up cinema listings, call a friend or reply to personal email on the move using the full QWERTY keyboard
• Find that bar, restaurant or hotel using Assisted GPS and Goggle Maps for mobile when you’re on vacation or a business trip

• Windows Mobile 6.1 makes working on the move easier with easy access to work emails and Microsoft® Office Mobile applications, such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Always stay up-to-date with colleagues and important appointments by syncing the handset to Microsoft Outlook on your work PC

• Unique arc slider with 3.0” WVGA display and finger touch navigation
• Customisable panels
• Wide pitch easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard
• Four way navigation keys and optical joy stick for stressless browsing
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• DVD quality video and 3D Gaming capabilities
• Windows Mobile® capabilities such as Microsoft® Outlook Mobile, Internet Explorer® Mobile and Microsoft® Office Mobile: World, Excel, Powerpoint

London, UK — 3 September 2008— Sony Ericsson today published its Software Developer Kit (SDK) for Xperia™ X1 and invited developers and content creators to capitalize on the opportunities offered by developing mobile content for the phone. Whether it is music, photography, email or instant messaging, gaming, social networking or video applications, developers can now create a host of unique multi-media entertainment and content for the Xperia™ X1 for consumers to enjoy.

Xperia™ X1 brings a totally new experience to mobile phone users by introducing nine easy-to-use, interactive panels which sit on the touch screen interface of the phone.

Developers can use the Windows Mobile SDK, free of charge, to produce a wide variety of panels to meet the consumer’s demand for a rich, individualised multimedia experience on their phone. Users of the Xperia™ X1 will be spoilt for choice as they personalize their handset with panel applications to suit their mood and lifestyle. Whether it is a search engine, advanced calendar or social networking application, music or film catalogue, sports or news related content, the panels enable you to access any information – quickly and directly – with a simple tap on the 3” super high resolution touch screen.

“Sony Ericsson is committed to providing its customers with rich, open content environment to make their mobile experience more enjoyable and entertaining,” said Rikko Sakaguchi , CVP and Head of Creation and Development at Sony Ericsson. “Making the Windows Mobile SDK available for free to developers and mobile content creators will accelerate the development of new panels and applications for the Xperia™ X1, offering consumer choice and personalisation.
The Xperia™ X1 will offer the richest mobile user experience, putting the world at the fingertips of the user.”

Entertain yourself:

* Customise your Xperia™ X1 panels so you are a touch away from your favourite content – music, film, TV, sports
* Or, be the envy of your friends by watching TV or film clips in DVD quality on the three-inch high resolution touch-widescreen
* Get picture happy on the 3.2 megapixel camera and show the images in crystal clear clarity on the 800 X 480 pixels screen
* Access the latest 3D mobile games by simply touching a favourite gaming panel you have selected

Make your personal life a little easier:

* Access all your contacts and calendar entries wherever you are, as the Xperia™ X1 can automatically sync with your PC making sure you never miss a birthday, anniversary or meeting
* Search or book a holiday in your lunch hour by going online via a travel panel
* Add your local supermarket website and do your weekly food shop in just a few taps on the bus on the way home
* Read the latest restaurants reviews, look up cinema listings, call a friend or reply to personal email on the move using the full QWERTY keyboard
* Find that bar, restaurant or hotel using Assisted GPS and Goggle Maps™ for mobile when you’re on vacation or a business trip

Work on the move:

* Windows Mobile™ 6.1 makes working on the move easier with easy access to work emails and Microsoft® Office Mobile applications, such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint
* Always stay up-to-date with colleagues and important appointments by syncing the handset to Microsoft Outlook on your work PC

“The X1’s panels are a simple but immersive way of interacting with content, services and applications that will delight and engage consumers,” said Todd Peters, corporate vice president, Mobile Communications Marketing Group, Microsoft Corp. “Sony Ericsson’s X1 is a fantastic demonstration of how to harness the power of Windows Mobile to connect people to the things they care about most.”

Xperia™ X1
The Xperia™ X1 is the first product under Sony Ericsson’s new premium sub-brand Xperia™. Designed to meet consumers’ needs for a converged entertainment and mobile web communication experience, the Xperia™ X1 is an extremely stylish handset, with a striking arc-slider design, encased in real stainless steel, supported by a powerful panel multimedia ecosystem.

The Xperia™X1 can be personalised through its nine panel user interface to suit the user’s moods and lifestyle. Users can access content quickly and directly through the touch screen, easily switching between applications by touching one of the unique customisable panels.

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X1 – A new era in mobile convergence

* Unique arc slider with 3.0” WVGA display and finger touch navigation
* Customisable panels
* Wide pitch easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard
* Four way navigation keys and optical joy stick for stressless browsing
* 3.2 megapixel camera
* DVD quality video and 3D Gaming capabilities
* Windows Mobile® capabilities such as Microsoft® Outlook Mobile, Internet Explorer® Mobile and Microsoft® Office Mobile: World, Excel, Powerpoint

Distribution information
The Sony Ericsson SDK for Windows Mobile™ 6.1 will be made available for easy download on the Sony Ericsson Developer World website: www.sonyericsson.com/developer.

Click on http://www.sonyericsson.com/x1panelvideo/ to see a video of Ramanath Bhat, Application and Product Planning for the Xperia™ X1, talk about the phone’s unique panel interface and the benefits of publishing the Windows Mobile SDK for Xperia™ X1.

Samsung S860 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

I’m not a Trekkie by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve enjoyed some of the Star Trek TV shows and movies (ok, really just TNG) and I have to admit I’m just a little sad to see that Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton has closed. I don’t know how many times I’ve been on the ride, or ate at the restaurant, but whenever I was in Vegas for a trade show or vacation, I made sure to stop by. And while some parts of Vegas can be pretty tacky, I have to say the Star Trek: Experience was really first class, with loads of props used in the TV shows and films on display, and some decent interactive rides. (Consider yourself at a loss if you never experienced the transporter effect there.)

Unfortunately in the end a dispute over the lease between the attraction’s owner, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., and the Las Vegas Hilton is what brought the decades old Star Trek attraction to a close. I’m not sure how they intend to re-purpose that space, since that part of the Las Vegas Hilton is saturated in a science-fiction theme, but I do know that Trekkie’s all over the world are pouring a Warp Core Breach on the curb in remembrance.

[ CNN - Star Trek: The Experience closing down ]