Sony has launched its new research project called the Future Lab Program . While it’s first prototype isn’t being revealed until March 12 at SXSW, the company has announced that it will be relying on users to help it develop and tweak future products and ideas.

The only thing we know about the prototype is that it’s codenamed “N” and is a hands-free wearable device. From the teaser published by Sony, you can see it’s set to be a music player of sorts but there’s no indication of what it will look like or how it works just yet.

The company says the device “creates a new way of experiencing audio such as music and sound, allowing the user to receive audio information without having to insert any object into his or her ear.” But we’ll have to wait another week to find out what that really means.

Since the aim of the Future Lab Program is for Sony’s users to collaborate on the research and development projects, there’s a chance that it will be calling on people for feedback following the reveal of “N” and other prototypes at SXSW.

➤ Sony Unveils New “Future Lab Program” [Sony]

You can now buy the Apple Watch Hermès online

Confirming rumors earlier in the week, you can now buy the Apple Watch Apple Watch Hermès online for the first time.

Previously the luxury collection was only available from select Apple retail locations in major cities, which made it quite inconvenient to buy if you didn’t live around those areas.

The Hermés models are the only time we’ve seen Apple partner with a luxury fashion brand. Fittingly the collection consists of the priciest Apple Watch models that aren’t gold-plated; prices start at $1100 on the Single Tour, $1250 for the Double Tour and $1500 for the Cuff.

Other than the fancy leather straps, the watch is largely the same as the steel Apple Watch, although you do get some Hermés branding etched into the back, as well as a single, apparently very expensive watch face.

If you have the cash to burn, you can buy the watches from either Apple’s Web store or from the official Hermés site .

➤ Apple Watch Hermés via MacRumors

Your next car will need a firewall

As our cars become increasingly connected to the internet, and eventually drive themselves, we’re going to want them to be rock-solid secure. The recent Chrysler exploit and FBI warning both highlighted just how vulnerable our vehicles can be to malicious hackers.

The idea of anti-virus software for cars has been around for several years , and this year there’s even an entire conference about in-car cybersecurity. Karamba Security is a new company in the space that is offering what amounts to a firewall for your ride.

Karamaba’s technology secures the Electronic Control Units (ECUs) in vehicles that are designed to work with external devices via the likes of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB ports. It blocks unauthorized code from running on your car and thus reduces the threat of a hacker being able to take control. The product can also alert manufacturers if ‘dropper’ code that may later be used to install malware is deployed on an ECU.

Backed by $2.5 million in seed funding, Israel-based Karamba wants to persuade manufacturers to retrofit its technology into cars that are already on the road as well as installing it on the production line.

While terms like ‘anti-virus’ and ‘firewall’ have largely fallen out of mainstream consumer awareness as operating systems like Windows and OS X have become more inherently secure, it’s likely that drivers will soon be keen to know exactly how well protected their new vehicle is from software vulnerabilities.

Companies like Karamba are poised to be in the right place at the right time to help. A good thing too .