luxury

LAS VEGAS--Wireless peripheral maker Parrot is showing off an update to its Philippe Starck-designed Zikmu Solo wireless speaker system. Due sometime this year, the system doesn't differ much aesthetically from the original model introduced back in 2009. The latest version, does, however, offer improved innards, powerful sound, and a lower price point.

The $999 Zikmu Solo has 2x100-watt output and a built-in 1GHz ARM A8 processor that the company says "controls the path of the coil of the bass loudspeaker in real time" to greatly reduce distortion during playback.

The 2.1 stereo audio speaker system features built-in Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC (for quick pairing). Aside from the array of connectivity features, the Zikmu also jives with DLNA for networked streaming and can even connect with another Zikmu (over Wi-Fi) for even more output. A built-in speaker dock at the top of the device works with older iPhones and iPods with a 30-pin power port.… Read more

We don't usually talk about beds here on Crave, but we know our readers just had to see the techy Anemone multimedia box spring bed by Lavital. Developed by Dutch interior designer Robert Kolenik, the 35,000 euro ($43,901) sleeper costs as much as a mid-grade Audi car. A perfect gift for the one-percenter in your life!

In all seriousness, the overall frame does sport a few nifty features that you can adjust through an iPhone or iPod Touch app. Yes, you read the correctly -- the bed comes with an app, which for that price it most certainly should. … Read more

A gentleman's timepiece should never be too exuberant, but Crave feels compelled to give a curious nod to the ultra-expensive Pac-Man and Space Invaders watches by Swiss timepiece crafter RJ-Romain Jerome. Each dial features a miniature replica design of the arcade classics set in a pixelated appearance.

Perhaps understated from first glance, these geeky watches (waterproof to 98 feet) with rubber straps contain some real stellar inspirations. For starters, each steel timepiece features real fragments of the Apollo 11 lunar module, and the designer took it a step further by modeling the four joints of the watch after lunar landing module legs. To top off the extravagance, the back of the watches contain low-oxidation silver mixed with real moon rocks, specially patterned like the lunar surface. … Read more

With a cabin that abounds in leather and metal, the Bentley Continental GT shows true luxury coachwork. Double-paned windows and excellent engineering insulate passengers from the outside world, making the cabin of this tourer a cozy room on wheels.

All this luxury makes this coupe weigh over 5,000 pounds, but the twin-turbocharged W-12 engine does not strain even when running uphill. A six-speed automatic runs smoothly, making for effortless driving. However, put the car in sport mode, and it suddenly changes from meandering bison to swift-footed cheetah. It seems almost miraculous how this car deals with winding roads, given … Read more

Nokia is reportedly looking to sell its luxury brand Vertu to a private equity group for about 200 million euros, or about $265 million.

The once-dominant cell phone maker is in advanced negotiations with Permira to unload the U.K.-based subsidiary, which is best known for offering $20,000 cell phones, the Financial Times reported today (subscription required). Goldman Sachs was reportedly advising on the sale.

Following a similar move by Fitch Ratings last week, Standard & Poor's on Friday cut the rating for the Finnish mobile phone maker to "junk." The weaker rating reflects a … Read more

If you're a headphone fanatic who enjoys the finer things in life, the Muramasa VIII by Final Audio Design could be the ultimate luxury purchase.

The Japanese company may not be very well known, but it has already released some of the most expensive in-ear headphones around. At a cool $8,000, the Muramasa is one of the more costly pair of headphones we've seen. They're also the first over-the-ear cans by the company.

Final Audio Design previously made headlines with its Piano Forte X-VIII in-ear headphones, which were almost $2,700. The Muramasa VIII now take the top spot for the company's priciest headphones. … Read more

Production of the 2013 Infiniti JX, which offers the first backup collision intervention (BCI) system, is now in full swing in Nissan's Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee.

The 2013 JX gets 21 mpg and 20 mpg for the front-wheel-drive and intuitive all-wheel-drive models, respectively. The BCI system warns the driver if an obstacle is detected; the system gives visual and audible cues. It can also step in and automatically apply the brakes to help avoid a potential impact, Nissan said in a press release.

In another first, the seven-passenger JX offers a multimode middle-seat design that makes it … Read more

For the past few months, I've been trying to figure out how to rearrange my old wall art to make it look fresh again, but nothing's working at the moment. These mosaic LCD tiles would be the perfect solution--you know, if I were rich.

The Planar Mosaic LCD Tiles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be arranged in different patterns, while proprietary software allows you to program whatever video or image you want displayed across all screens.

Customers can choose from the three models. The first is the Planar Salvador, which is a square LCD that measures 15.6 inches on each side and ideal for use over larger surface areas. Meanwhile, the Planar Pablo has a rectangular shape and measures 40 inches wide, or you can go slightly bigger with the 48-inch wide Planar Vincent.

Planar designed the mounting hardware so that the displays can hang in any position and at various angles, including "concave and convex arrays."… Read more

To install your spanking new flat-panel TV on the wall, you can either purchase a regular bracket or go all out with a made-to-order Art Motion frame.

These window-like frames are compatible with screen sizes ranging from 37 to 65 inches and come in a choice of standard, deluxe, and ultimate versions. The standard edition is designed to clamp onto your TV's bezel, while the deluxe and ultimate equivalents go one step further by offering easier access to the sockets behind the panel.

Meanwhile, a total of 10 speakers and a powerful 100W amplifier have been integrated right into the ultimate version. … Read more