Well I guess this one is more Ferrari-humor than BlackBerry humor, but the video above still gave me an extra chuckle at the 54 second mark when the BlackBerry Bold makes its appearance (warning: might want to turn your speaker volume down a bit). Here's the background of what you're watching...
Over the years, F1-style gearboxes has evolved and -- in most cases -- proven to be faster and more efficient than a manual, with far less physical labor. Ferrari's recent lineup is chock full of auto 'boxes, and one F430 Challenge owner who frequents the track finally got fed-up with the teasing from his manual shifting brethren and decided to poke back at those who call his Maranello masterpiece the Ferraromatic. Hit play on the video above to watch all the things you can do in a self-shifting Fezza, including knitting, texting and wine tasting (simulated). Sure, it's all a clever ruse (a few inconsistencies with steering angle spoil the illusion), but it's damn funny all the same.
Though subtle, there's one really important smartphone take away from this video. Though capactive touchscreens are all the rage these days, there's always going to be a market for non-touch screen devices. I mean, there's just no way the guy in the video could use a Storm or iPhone with racing gloves on! And PS: Texting While Driving is Bad, so just don't do it. Thx to Rico for sending this in!
[ Axis of Oversteer via Autoblog ]
afropoika Oct 20, 2009 at 10:03 am
Kevin that video almost blew my speakers. Please put there a small word of warning!
Kevin Michaluk Oct 20, 2009 at 10:13 am
done. warning added!
Macneil_S4 Oct 20, 2009 at 10:06 am
I find it funny how he drinks out of a glass and drums to music also! Great video....
JMDBERRY Oct 20, 2009 at 10:23 am
It would have even been cooler if the Ferrari driver had sent an MMS to his race boddies of him passing them on the track. His msg to them in the MMS would be for them to check the time stamp,...they would have pondered how he did that once returning to the pits and checking their phones.
Technology,...gotta love it these days. Thanks for the chuckle....
JMDBerry
Mr.Miagi Oct 20, 2009 at 10:37 am
That made me laugh pretty good, too bad its not real.
thachamp Oct 20, 2009 at 4:57 pm
yeah, i concur.
thachamp Oct 20, 2009 at 4:57 pm
yeah, i concur.
BTSee Oct 20, 2009 at 10:41 am
I wonder if he got kicked out of his driving club for that?
zyxwvu44 Oct 20, 2009 at 11:23 am
good thing its fake!
AgentScribe Oct 20, 2009 at 11:25 am
Loved the video! But, gee, hated to see the BB associated with an automatic. ;)
imompero Oct 20, 2009 at 11:40 am
yeah saw the video, the home screen didnt' seem to change, just going through the motions. Incredibly unsafe still but fake.
cepler Oct 20, 2009 at 11:44 am
The biggest giveaway that it was fake was that the drivers hands never pass in front of the larger video... That and the steering response is way off. But amusing none-the-less.
ELvolution Oct 20, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Yeah it's clearly fake, but that was an awesome video
Tifoso Oct 20, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I'm not so sure that Kimi Raikkonen doesn't already tweet from his Ferrari in mid-race.
clevername Oct 20, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Is that at VIR??
that track looks familiar
i didn't catch the hands but good look
jeepguy_1980 Oct 20, 2009 at 1:42 pm
i can use my Storm with my flight gloves on.
JRSCCivic98 Oct 20, 2009 at 2:06 pm
This is definitely fake. At 2:26 when he turns the radio on and hits the high-speed chicanes, there's no steering input... not gona happen. The angle on the wheel is also a bit off on some of the turns. I've raced Solo 1 and 2 and this is fako-mako. It was fun to watch though. :)
tarjan Oct 20, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I love VIR, especially the resounding thump coming down the hill onto the front straight at 100-110mph. Honestly though it is SO long on both of those straights, your mind does tend to wander a bit.
Can't say I have ever texted anyone on the track, but I did turn on the camera when I remembered hadn't done it before heading out.
haxit Oct 20, 2009 at 2:29 pm
That is why there are still resistive touch screens around.
TamCat Oct 20, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Lol, that's a cool video even though it's not real. But he needs to work on his knitting, I'm pretty sure he dropped a stitch there!
usernam9102 Oct 20, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Very funny. I will say when you are racing at that track you dont have time to play with a phone. I have raced on that track. Virginia International Raceway.
Jordy357 Oct 20, 2009 at 8:35 pm
that was clearly an iphone
JrpKrft Oct 20, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Still good for a laugh
snakebite6 Oct 20, 2009 at 10:30 pm
tsk tsk, drinking while driving
zelda26 Oct 20, 2009 at 10:58 pm
HAHAHAH THAT IS SO FUNNY! This made me ROFLMFAO!