Here is something of interest for lovers of music and technology. Intel, in partnership with Fender, have designed and produced an amazing one-off instrument, known as the Intel/Fender Telecaster Concept Guitar.

This Internet-enabled super guitar enables any musician to scour the Web for inspiration, send a quick e-mail in-between songs on stage, practice their guitar solo grimaces via a built in Web camera or even check their royalties online. While the convergence of technology is certainly impressive, we're really not sure why anyone would want to check e-mail or surf the Web while playing.

The Intel Concept Telecaster guitar incorporates the latest Intel Centrino mobile technology and was developed to provide the ultimate in technology for music on the move. The guitar can be played when you want, wherever you want, allowing you to plug in headphones and listen to your tunes through the built in amp, record demo songs and e-mail them to friends, go online to find the chords and other music stuff, stay in touch through e-mail or Instant Messenging (IM) – on stage or on the tour bus, conduct Web camera interviews, and download your favourite tunes.

This Telecaster guitar contains a Hewlett Packard TC1100 tablet laptop and an Echo Indigo I/O soundcard. The laptop uses Intel Centrino mobile technology to access a wireless network, where one is available. The guitar's pickups are routed straight into the tablet PC for direct recording.

Two 0.25-inch jack sockets allow you to either play the guitar like a normal Telecaster, or listen to the songs you've downloaded direct from the guitar. Of course, if you want to travel light you can just run a lead from your guitar to the venues PA system and play live through the computer.

Chris Hogg, Intel UK Marketing Manager said: 'Forty years after the first surf guitar sounds came out of California, a new generation of 'surfing guitars' have been born. With this guitar, it doesn't matter if you're Joe Walsh or Joe Bloggs, you'll sound just as good once you get this guitar online, download a few of your favourite tracks, and strike a pose in front of the mirror. And if you're already halfway to becoming a rock legend, this guitar will help you to record, playback and e-mail your music to your agent, your band, or just your mates with the minimum hassle.

BIOS, Nov 29, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Miscellaneous