Hasta La Gadget!

Remember that hugely ambitious “virtual fence” that the US Homeland Security department was so keen on blowing a few billion dollars on? Well, following a bunch of setbacks and delays in its development, it’s now been determined to be too darn expensive and is being scrapped. That’s not without splashing some cash, however, as it’s estimated that a billion dollars has already been spent on installing sensor towers along a 53-mile stretch of the Arizona border with Mexico. The plan now is to redirect funds to more conventional (and commercially available) surveillance measures, such as thermal imaging and unmanned aerial drones, which is estimated to cost $750 million to cover the remaining 323 miles of Arizona’s border. Whatever happens, keeping illegal immigration and contraband smuggling to a minimum isn’t going to be a cheap task. Almost makes you wonder if this isn’t a problem better solved by non-technological means.

US opts to derez virtual fence along Mexico border, replacing it with more affordable measures originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ll openly admit we never knew what African Blackwood was until Gresso started applying the stuff to its line of extremely luxurious cellphone mods, but now we can’t imagine a new product from the Russian company without the 200-year old timber making an appearance. And sure enough, the Gresso iPad’s rear is composed almost entirely of Dalbergia melanoxylon, broken up only by the insertion of an 18-karat gold Apple logo. Strangely, in spite of its extravagant constituent materials, this design is a very restrained, dare we say, classy, affair. It goes on sale on New Year’s Eve at an unannounced price, but you know what they say: if you have to ask or you have to work for a living, you probably can’t afford it.

Gresso classies up the iPad with 18k gold logo and ancient wood case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, sure — gas is bound to hit $4 a gallon before 2020, but you can buy an awful let of petrol with the money you’ll save from dodging Fisker’s increasingly expensive Karma. ‘Course, those looking to blow 100 grand on an eco-friendly automobile are probably doing so just to throw Ma Earth a bone, but still — money matters. Originally teased way back in the fall of 2007, Fisker’s first plug-in hybrid still hasn’t ended up anywhere near mass production, but it has managed to see two rather significant upticks in price all the while. Right around two years ago, we saw the $80,000 MSRP boosted by $7,000, and today, prospective customers are being notified via email that the Karma’s base price is now sitting at $95,900 before a $950 destination fee. Granted, the company insists that this includes an integrated solar roof panel (valued at $5,000), and it still starts at $1,400 less than a Panamera S. And yeah, that base price does shrink to $88,400 after you include federal tax incentives. That said, we’re doubting high-rollers that were dead-set on handing over $73,000 or so after tax breaks are currently stoked about an increase this large, particularly when there’s still no definitive ship date. To Fisker’s credit, we’ve seen General Motors go through similar trials and tribulations surrounding the Volt, and even at $95k, you’ll be hard pressed to find more sexy than this on four (street legal) wheels.

Fisker raises Karma plug-in hybrid base price to $95,900, brings that 750i back into consideration originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 05:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You love your Apple iPad case. You love that it is more like a slim, slip-on skin than a thick case. You love that it seals in the iPad from all sides, and that it has a built in stand for typing. You love that, once fitted, you almost don’t notice it.

Problem: You don’t love the way it picks up dirt, or that you can’t fasten it shut. And you hate its utilitarian blankness, made to look like a corporate, trade-show giveaway by the Apple logo on the front.

Solution: The gorgeous Travelteq iPad case, almost identical in design to the Apple version, only fashioned from leather and costing a scary €225 ($300). The Italian leather is lined in a choice of colors and seals the iPAd in just like the Apple case. There are cutouts for all ports and switches, a fold in the front cover to bend the flap into a typing or movie-watching stand, and a strap to keep the case closed. You even get a business-card holder inside, should you need it.

If only this thing wasn’t so damn expensive. I’m an avowed fan of the Apple case, for all the reasons listed in the first paragraph, and I don’t even care about the cons in the second (apart from the logo). But even I would buy the Travelteq case in a second if it wasn’t over the half the price of an actual iPad.

Travelteq iPad case [Travelteq. Thanks, Brandon!]

See Also:

• Leather Cases Turn iPad into a Book
• BookBook Case Turns iPad into One-Inch Leather-Bound Slab
• Moleskine-Shaped, Bamboo iPad Case
• Slim, Minimal iPad Bag is a Purse for Men
• Hands-On with the ZooGue Genius iPad Case

Well, pardon us. We balked at the $208 price tag affixed to Tokyoflash’s RPM LED wristwatch, but the value proposition there now looks an awful lot brighter when compared to this. Manufacture Royale’s looking to catch at least one or two elitists off guard with its new Opera Time-Piece, a $1.2 million device that’s composed of 319 parts in the wilds of Switzerland. Purportedly, it was designed by Fabrique du Temps, and the minute repeater plays the hours in the key of A as the minutes chime in C sharp. It’s also encased in 18k gold, sapphire crystal and a healthy dose of self-worth. Word on the street has it that only a dozen of these will be made available for sale, with the accordion casing being the standout feature in our eyes. In a manner of speaking, of course.

Manufacture Royale debuts $1.2 million Opera accordion watch, Sir Steampunk scoffs originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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