Luxury

My iPad 2 is looking a little pale and shabby in comparison to the $1.2 million diamond-encrusted iPad from Camael Diamonds. The company calls it the world's most expensive iPad, and I'm not going to argue with that.

For do-it-yourselfers who want to bedazzle their own iPads, this only requires 1 kilo of 18 carat gold and 300 carats worth of perfect diamonds. Black diamonds grace the home button and Apple logo on the back. Just pop down to your local jeweler to pick up all the supplies you need.

Camael will happily customize your gazillion-dollar iPad with the gems of your choice. This is a smart way to go, as it would be horribly embarrassing to accidentally pick up someone else's look-alike diamond-slathered iPad at Starbucks.… Read more

Defining exactly what qualifies audio gear as "high-end" or "audiophile" isn't easy, but I'll give it a try. Sound quality that rises above what's available from mainstream manufacturers would lead the way, followed by exceptional build quality, and a high price.

Well, by those standards it's safe to say Emotiva's ERC-2 CD player is definitely a high-end machine. The only disqualifier might be the ERC-2's price; it's just $449, which includes free shipping in the U.S.. The ERC-2 boasts individually regulated and shielded power supplies that separately feed the CD transport mechanism, the display, microprocessors, and digital and analog electronics sections. Build quality, from the thick machined-metal faceplate; beefy, all-metal remote control; the Analog Devices' digital-to-analog converters; and fully discrete analog circuitry are all more in-line with what I'd expect to see on a $1,500 CD player.

You can also use the ERC-2 as a CD "transport" with an external digital-to-analog converter; it has a "professional grade" digital output XLR connector, as well as RCA and Toslink optical digital audio connectivity. The ERC-2 has RCA and XLR (balanced) analog outputs.

Where most digital players, including many high-end models that sell for many times the ERC-2's price have one- or two-year warranties, the ERC-2 has a five-year warranty!

I listened to the ERC-2 in my high-end system with Pass Labs electronics and Magnepan 3.7 speakers. It's a high-resolution system, so it was easy to hear just how spectacular the sound of this CD player really is. … Read more

Sometimes, if you want a car that delivers major savings on gas, it's going to cost you. Case in point is the upcoming Trident Iceni, a $150,000 convertible sportster that pulls down 70 miles on the road per gallon of green biodiesel burned. In addition to the big-time fuel savings and instant eco-credibility, the Iceni also comes with another bonus--it's a badass supercar.

The Iceni has been on again and off again for a while now, but it appears to really be on this time, with a launch planned for the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power in the U.K. on July 15. At the heart of the green monster is a 6.6 liter, twin-turbo diesel V8 running biofuel, and it's reported the Iceni will run to 230 mph and accelerate from zero to 60 in less than four seconds. And those fuel savings don't just come at low speeds--the Iceni is said to deliver 70 miles per gallon at a constant 70 mph.

The key to the Iceni's combination of power and efficiency apparently has to do with being lightweight and carrying an innovative 8-speed transmission, which... well, why don't I just let this guy tell you more:

(Via Gizmag)… Read more

Meet the EarSet 3i, the latest headphone design from luxury Danish hi-fi brand Bang & Olufsen. It's basically a dual-earbud version of the EarSet 1 Mobile, the company's ergonomic over-the-ear headset made from silver aluminum and a light rubber earpiece.… Read more

Fancy kitchens may be regarded as the domain of the culinary inclined, but that isn't stopping Harman Kardon from attempting to make them a haven for audiophiles as well.

In what could be the first high-end audio system built into kitchen cabinets, the Harman Kardon MaestroKitchen 100 boasts iOS device connectivity and no messy wiring--except for that one cable that connects your iPhone or iPod.

When we say the speakers are built in, we aren't kidding (refer to image below). The main drivers are embedded within cabinet doors, while the subwoofer unit is perfectly concealed behind the skirting boards at the base. A glass control panel with the Harmon Kardon brand subtly emblazoned has a small color LCD screen so users can see what's playing. … Read more

CANNES, France--The Cannes Film Festival wrapped up this weekend and I joined the throng of media shuffling wearily through the Nice airport and away from the perfect sunshine of the French Riviera--but not before having had a look at the obscenely expensive toys of the proverbial nouveau riche.

When not attending screenings, I had a chance to skulk around the Plage de la Croisette along the Mediterranean shore to spy big-ticket items soon to be for sale to those with the most disposable incomes.

I could not avoid the gold- and diamond-encrusted smartphone and tablet cases. In every case, no photography was allowed inside the elite boutiques featuring such accessories. Anyone taking a snapshot of an emerald-studded BlackBerry kit would only be scouting trouble.

So how much were these decorative doodads? A single refrain rules in shops like this: "If you have to ask, don't bother."

But not everything was under wraps. … Read more

Birds and weapons? Sounds like a certain smartphone-game-turned-cultural-touchstone, right? Well, don't worry; we know you've heard enough about that particular phenomenon to last a few lifetimes.

No, this little blog item is about something far less widespread than a popular iPhone app. In fact, the "gadgets" in question here--if one dare call them that--are truly rare. So rare that they're expected to draw $2.5 million to $5 million at a Hong Kong auction later this month.

And though they were created in the early 19th century, and are anything but digital, they still manage to impress with the obvious technical mastery of their makers. … Read more

The Grande Castine horn speakers are the brainchild of Musique Concrete, which means "real music" in French. The unusual contraption should appeal to audiophiles with its deep bass response down to 20Hz, thanks to a sizable 38cm woofer and an efficient horn design. Covering the other end of the spectrum is a 50mm midrange driver and a 25mm tweeter, allowing the Grande Castine to achieve a full 20kHz response. What's more, the speakers' high 106dB sensitivity means they can effortlessly play back soulful tunes utilizing lower-wattage amplifiers, unlike most large and power-hungry speakers.

You can catch the Grande Castine in action at the High End 2011 exhibition in Munich from May 19 to 22, but expect these exotic speakers to cost somewhere around $100,000.

(Source: Crave Asia via Born Rich) … Read more

Last week, Google unleashed Android@Home, inviting developers to have at the code and get going on creating a whole new generation of home automation and interaction. But if you just can't wait for the garage tinkerers of the world to build the gadgets that will finally usher in the Jetsons age, one Korean company is already ahead of the game.

South Korea's Conspin is already offering the Smart Touch URC Andi-One (PDF), which is basically the world's ultimate universal remote, but it also runs on Android 2.1, fulfills much of the promise of Android@Home, … Read more