Hasta La Gadget!

It looks like your luxury extra-national seafaring utopia just got one step closer to reality. The Ocean Empire Life Support Vessel is a 144-foot Catamaran Superyacht manufactured by Sauter Carbon Offset Design, and it features not only “all of the hotel amenities of a luxury global voyager” but two hydroponic farms and fishing facilities and three sustainable power sources: a 400 square meter 70kw solar array, an auxiliary 80 square meter (200kw) automated SkySail that drives the ship to 18+ knots and charges her battery systems, and a Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR) system developed with Maurer Sohnes Gmbh that can produce up to 50kw of electricity as it steadies the ship on rolling seas. How much will it cost you to take yourself, nine of your closest friends, and a crew of eight to the sea — and remain there indefinitely? About $17 million. Hit the source link to order a couple for yourself. The vessel is built to order and you can have it ready to go in about eighteen months. At least it’s cheaper than Saddam’s yacht!

Ocean Empire LSV is the self-sufficient superyacht for the super-rich originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:36:00 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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A recent trip to the laid-back neighborhood of Sangenchaya, a wee bit west of Shibuya, I stumbled upon this bizarre and slightly mysterious vending machine.

Tucked very inconspicuously behind a mobile phone shop entrance, the King’s Treasure Box promised to give up top-end electronic devices, luxury wallets and more to any Aladdin who rubbed its lamp to the tune of just 1,000 yen (about $12). “Make your dreams come true,” it proudly declared!

The actual product names and brands were not clearly marked, however. Instead there was just a vague poster covering the window with images of generic iPod-like gadgets, cameras and tempting fashion items. Clearly the excitement on not knowing what you will get is meant to be part of the lure. On closer inspection a notice stated that your purchase may possibly differ from the products depicted on the front of the vendor.

So, is this just a rip-off? You feed in 1,000 yen and get a tatty bit of plastic not even worth 100? Who knows. I did like, though, how it was opposite Seiyu, a famously low-cost retailer. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the “dreams” the vendor promises, or am I just being cynical?

Checking online, there seem to be some others, including one in that den of strangeness, Akihabara. I didn’t have the bravery actually to make a purchase but it seems that you get a plain white box, inside of which is your unknown brand item. It reminds us of the fukubukuro lucky bags that are popular in the New Year sales in Japan, only with a little less class.

Alain Mikli, for those of you (and us) who didn’t know, is a highly regarded designer of eyeglasses. LG, as we’re all aware, is a 3D-peddling purveyor of HDTVs. Marry the two together and the offspring is a rather fetching set of 3D goggles, built out of “select metals,” and featuring a co-patented nose bridge and perfect weight balancing for the utmost in user comfort. LG promises to let us play around with the new eyewear at CES next month, which we’ll be more than happy to do — telling you about the eventual price tag, on the other hand, probably won’t be such a pleasant experience. More imagery of the specs and the full press release follow after the break.

Continue reading LG’s next set of 3D glasses were designed by a designer, will grace CES 2011

LG’s next set of 3D glasses were designed by a designer, will grace CES 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 06:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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