Gadgets

Roland Iten For Bugatti Belt Buckle

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Mar 6th 2011 at 11:01AM

Watch brand Parmigiani makes Bugatti labeled watches and now inventor and "world's most complex" belt buckle maker Roland Iten, has teamed up with Bugatti for a special belt buckle - and it is almost as complex as the Veyron.

The belt buckle is hard to explain if you haven't had experience with Roland Iten. I have a little video and some hands-on information with a similar Roland Iten belt here. Basically the buckles are designed to preserve the life of the belt, to offer smooth operation, and micro-flexibility in size and adjustment. The Bugatti edition belt buckle is based on the Roland Iten Mk.I-22mm. It offers precise micro-adjustments for the perfect fit and does so in the neatest of manners. This belt will fit your exact waist - and adjust to when that size changes....

Tags: belt, buckle, bugatti, mk.1, roland iten

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New iPad Wine Lists Help Wineries Get Creative

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Mar 2nd 2011 at 1:01AM

The iPad may have forever changed the wine list. Now instead of providing their guests with a book-length wine list they can hand over a slim tablet. But the iPad adds more than mere portability, part of the appeal is that the iPad can also serve as an educational tool to learn more about the wine as you choose. Tech-savvy wineries who are already using multimedia platforms have a jump on this technology. One of them is Jordan Vineyard & Winery which has created a winemaker tasting note video series, created for iPad wine lists, as well as smart phones. The ready-made videos of winemaker Rob Davis offer taste profiles for specific wines. Chicago Cut Steakhouse was the first restaurant to premiere a video on its iPad wine lists in February, which features the winemaker discussing 2006 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon and signature Chicago Cut dishes.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery has invested in technology, becoming the first family wine estate to create an in-house department for high-definition web video production. The winery began integrating video into all aspects of its sales and marketing beginning in early 2010 and is ready to provide custom videography services to key restaurateurs and retailers. The ready-made digital wine list videos are two-minute vignettes where the winemaker briefly describes the style and taste profile of the wine, as well as cellar life span and suggested food pairings. Custom videos of similar length include subtitles to accommodate restaurant noise levels and can be tailored to suggest specific restaurant dishes that would pair with Jordan Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tags: ipad, jordan winery, wine, wine lists, wines

RLX Ralph Lauren Launches First iPad App

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Mar 1st 2011 at 4:01PM

Ralph Lauren is launching its first ever iPad app for the brand's high-tech RLX line, utilizing some cool new technology. The RLX Ralph Lauren iPad app allows users to interact with world-class athletes on screen by tilting, rotating, flipping and tapping the iPad to manipulate different movements, colors and environments. There are 12 different "chapters" within the app that showcase the athletes wearing items from the new RLX line; each features an interactive key utilizing the iPad's built-in accelerometer, digital compass, assisted GPS and multi-touch screen capabilities to activate the stylish scenarios.

The application also allows users to shop the entire collection by creating a direct portal to RalphLauren.com. Created to answer the demand for superior high-performance outfitting, RLX for men and women unites the highest standards of luxury, technology and style. From cutting-edge functional gear for professional athletes to exceptionally luxe lifestyle apparel for modern living, RLX "defines the next evolution of design with a philosophy focused on purity of form, unrivaled construction techniques and the world's most innovative fabrications."

Tags: Apple, Apple iPad, apps, athletes, designer, fashion designer, gadgets, iPad, iPad app, Ralph Lauren, RLX, RLX Ralph Lauren, sports, technology

Grabbit iPad Grip Case Review

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Feb 25th 2011 at 2:01PM

When I first learned about this new case/grip for the Apple iPad I was stoked - it seemed to be exactly what the iPad needed to be more more usable in a lot of instances. I don't hide the fact that I think Apple designs pretty piss poor items from an ergonomic standpoint. The iPhone is like a slippery pebble, and holding the iPad with one hand and using it with another causes wrist and hand strain after prolonged use. Basically, the iPad is like a heavy piece of paper, with nothing to really hold on too. They just sort of deferred usability to the world of accessory makers that happily come to the rescue.

Tags: case, grabbit, grip, handle, iPad, review

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The New Yorker Art Deco Keyboard

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Feb 24th 2011 at 3:02PM

A keyboard's just a keyboard, right? Some may have extra features or a more ergonomic design, but what if you're looking for a little bit of extra style? This could be your answer, but only if you've got $2,800 to spend on a computer peripheral.

Inspired by the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, the New Yorker Art Deco keyboard is a modern celebration of classic New York style. It's made of aluminum and polished brass, with keys that look like they'd be at home in a classic skyscraper's elevator. It could be that perfect touch for a richly decorated office where the usual array of sleek or just plain boxy keyboards would look out of place.

[Source: Datamancer.net via Luxurylaunches]

Tags: aet, art deco, keyboard, new yorker, new yorker art deco keyboard

Luxist Giveaway: V-MODA Crossfade LP Headphones

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Feb 18th 2011 at 10:04AM

Did you hear? Those pathetic white earbuds are out in favor of actual headphones that don't destroy your hearing (as much) and sound a lot better. Actual headphones also give you the ability to show off cool designs. You can look like a DJ from any era with what is available out there. For our loyal readers I've got one pair of new V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones available to win (in your choice of color). With a name like the "Crossfade LP" these headphones have a name with two disc jockey terms! That must mean something good, right? They do actually look neat and offer actual memory foam ear cushions for extra comfort. The long cord has a controller on it to control the volume as well as controlling playback (with compatible devices). You can get these Crossfade LP headphones in one of five colors. and they retail for $199. To enter for a chance to win one, see below.

Tags: crossfade, giveaway, headphones, lp, luxist giveaway, v-day

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Start Me Up: The Rolling Stones Pinball Machine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Feb 16th 2011 at 3:01PM

Here's one for the ultimate baby boomer game room. Stern Pinball has announced the Rolling Stones pinball machine. While playing the game, you collect famous record albums, ride Rolling Stones ramps and advance through four decades of rock and roll. The machine plays 13 Rolling Stones favorites during game play, including "Brown Sugar," "It's Only Rock 'n Roll," "Start Me Up" and many more classic Stones hits.

Tags: pinball machine, rolling stones

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The $40,000 Lobster Press at the Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — Feb 10th 2011 at 11:01AM

It's never too early to start thinking about outfitting your beach house, so might I suggest that The Regent Grand Hotel in Bordeaux, France, offers an idea worth copying.

If you love to eat those delightful sea crustaceans, and who doesn't, you will want to do like the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Pressoir d'Argent, and acquire a lobster press.

There aren't very many of these devices in the world -- it's 90 pounds, made of silver, and looks like a cross between something Willy Wonka might dream up and a torture device -- but it's also shiny and adorned with lovely lobster sculptures as it's meant to be used tableside.

The idea is similar to a duck press -- after removing tail and claws, the rest of the lobster is inserted into the press, where a two-person team works the device to press out the lobster juices. (See the gallery for an action shot.) The result: lobster jus, much stronger in flavor than you'd get from the most developed lobster stock. At The Regent, the chef adds the jus to bearnaise sauce, and serves that on top of roasted lobster meat.

The lobster press is are custom made by Christofle, and take 150 hours of labor by ten master craftsmen to create -- they cost 30,000 Euro, just or around $40,700.

Or you can just book a table at the restaurant, and after such grand meal, you'll certainly require a room. It's hard to beat the view at the Royale Suite, which has a terrace jacuzzi -- but I like the Prestige Suites, which come with their own private wine bar within rolling distance of (the very comfy) bed.

Which, come to think of it, is another fine idea for your beach house.

Gallery: The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux, France

The Lobster Press in Action at Le Pressoir d'Argent

Lounge Area at Le Pressoir d'Argent, Bordeaux

Dining at Le Pressoir d'Argent: The colors are a bit more subtle at night

Another View of the Dining Room at the Michelin Starred Le Pressoir d'Argent

Tags: bordeaux, bordeaux hotel, france, kitchen gadgets, lobster, travel

Lamborghini Hard Drive by Asus

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Feb 9th 2011 at 3:02PM

If you're driving a Lamborghini sportscar, you might as well pick up a Lamborghini laptop computer to go with it. But what do you do if your Lamborghini laptop doesn't have enough storage capacity? Why, you get a Lamborghini hard drive, too!

Like the branded Lamborghini mobile phone and the aforementioned laptops, the new external hard drive is made by Taiwanese electronics company Asus, and features a design inspired by the exotic supercars. It will be available in 500GB and 750GB sizes, with either high-speed USB 2.0 or SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectivity. But with prices starting at around $120 for the 500GB USB 2.0 version, they cost nearly twice as much as a competing device without the supercar styling.

Tags: Asus, Asus Lamborghini, Asus Lamborghini Hard Drive, Asus Lamborghini HDD, Lamborghini

The $85,000 Custom Diamond & Alligator Guitar

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Feb 8th 2011 at 11:01AM

Rock Royalty, a new Nashville-based luxury design house that manufactures one-of-a-kind, custom guitars, is offering the ultimate in rock star decadence: an $85,000 custom alligator skin, diamond and sterling silver Fender Telecaster. The eye-popping instrument comes wrapped in exquisite natural black alligator skin from Louisiana, and features black diamond and sterling silver volume knobs, a selector switch set with rubies, and six handmade diamond tuning keys set in sterling silver. They also have a custom Gibson Les Paul for $125,000, set with almost 50 carats of black and white diamonds if that's too cheap. The company promises never to duplicate a design so that each piece remains totally unique. The Telecaster and Les Paul are two of nine original designs created for the brand's debut; other models come wrapped in stingray skin and various other exotic finishes. The only question is whether to play them or hang them over the fireplace.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Rock Royalty Custom Guitars

Tags: alligator, alligator+guitar, alligatorguitar, custom, diamond, guitars, music, Nashville, Rock Royalty, sterling silver

Dunhill Carbon Fiber Games Compendium

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Feb 7th 2011 at 2:01PM

London luxury goods firm Dunhill has come out with the ultimate gentleman sports car enthusiast's accessory, a carbon fiber games compendium for $4,000. A masterpiece of understated, elegant design, at first glance its merely a sleek black box made of carbon fiber, resembling a type used in the latest supercars. The compendium is handmade by expert artisans exclusively for Alfred Dunhill and is inspired by some of the finest pieces in the firm's archive, originally made of saddle leather. Inside the box you'll find all the requisites for playing two traditional and well loved games: chess and backgammon. A folding two-sided playing board is also finished in carbon fiber, with stainless steel playing surfaces, a steel dice cup and anodized aluminum counters and pieces.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: carbon fiber, Dunhill, games, London, UK

Louis Vuitton Launches First iPhone App

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) — Feb 7th 2011 at 11:01AM

Famed French luxury goods house Louis Vuitton has just launched Amble, designed to be the ultimate iPhone app for chic travelers. The Amble application, Vuitton's first, interacts with a dedicated Amble website, enabling travellers to prepare their luxe journey on their computer or iPad. According to the company, Amble is "an invitation to explore the world at a leisurely pace [and] make serendipitous discoveries", which you can then record on your iPhone in photo, video, audio or note format in the "My Amble" section of the application. The app draws on the treasure trove of information provided by the acclaimed Louis Vuitton City Guides.

Addresses are provided free with Amble for various cities covered by the guides, while the full Louis Vuitton City Guide content can be purchased from iTunes for selected cities. In addition, at any time users can click on the "Around Me" icon, an ergonomic interface using the GPS iPhone facilities, in order to discover places of interest near to their position. The app also offers users the opportunity to share their favourite "spots" along their journeys with their friends via email, Facebook or Twitter, as well as to submit them to Louis Vuitton, where they may be published on the website. Amble can now be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store.

Tags: app, Apple, apps, iPad, iPhone, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, luxury travel, technology, travel

Engaging The Millennial: Augmented Reality And The Wired Generation

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) — Feb 1st 2011 at 9:01AM

Millennials are defined as those born in the 1980s -- between 42 and 50 million (USA Today stats) who came of age with the new century, now between 18 and 28, and have also come of age truly wired, far more so than Boomers ( now reaching retirement age) or Gen Xers, ages 30-45. Millennials have grown up linked by BlackBerries, Androids, IPhones, computers, IPods, and video games. This is the generation of Wii, Facebook, Twitter, free downloads, access to just about everything. How do luxury brands engage these mindsets?

Thankfully, Augmented Reality, is proving to be a major force in this engagement. It is a process already in existence that combines two diverse dynamics: the perception of personal exclusivity and, a multi-dimensional, sensory experience. Augmented Reality, or AR, is a method for using a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input, like sound or graphics. It presents unique opportunities in terms of virtual fashion shows, digital flagship stores, 3D advertising campaigns, augmented reality Iphone applications, iPad magazines, Facebook live-streams and Twitter-based customer service. These are just a few examples of the long list of digital innovations that luxury brands have pioneered in 2010. And the field is growing. According to figures from ABI Research, the market for augmented reality (AR) in the US alone is expected to hit $350m in 2014, up from about $6m in 2008, or, around 50 times more from 2008 to 2014.

Augmented Reality is taking digital marketing strategies to a more sensory, immediate, attuned level -- perfect for Millenials, and others on either side of the generational divide. AR enables consumers to virtually try on jewelry, watches, clothing and handbags. The technology requires object recognition and computerization on the PCs, Macs or mobile devices as well as 3D renderings to superimpose images on the real world. What this process does is allow greater interactivity in the selling/buying process, creating an emotional connection between product needs and consumer desires. As a prime example, Tissot Reality: through its website Tissot lets users print and cut out a paper strip in order to try on virtual watches. Tissot showcased the application with an interactive Selfridges, London window display. This reportedly resulted in increasing in-store sales at Selfridges by 85%, while the YouTube views of the campaign have surpassed 70,000. See below, with the Tissot wrist watch AR video:

Tags: ABI Research, Adidas Originals Augmented Reality Game Pack, Audi Augmented Reality Car Calendar, Augmented Reality, Augmented Reality Airwalk Jim Shoe, Augmented reality and Millennials, Gucci Group Augmented Reality, Millennial Generation, Millennials, Pew Research Center Millennials, Ralph Lauren 4-D Fashion Event, Robert Polet, Social Media Millennials, Tissot, Tissot Augmented Reality, Tissot Reality, Toyota Auris virtual test drive, Toyota Scion Digital Campaign, Virtual Mirrors

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Audi Displays Type C e-tron at International Toy Fair

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Jan 23rd 2011 at 8:01PM

Last year Audi became the first automaker to display at the International Toy Fair. But as fun as their cars can be, it wasn't their full-size automobiles that were on display at the Nuremberg expo: it was their range of toys, of course, including a children's pedal car styled after the iconic Auto Union Type C "Silver Arrow" grand prix car, only about half the size.

This year Audi came back with an electric version bearing the same "e-tron" label as its full-size electric concepts. The "Type C e-tron study" packs a 1.5-horsepower electric motor to drive the little car up to 18.64 miles per hour with a range of over 15 miles on a single charge, which takes two hours on a standard 230-volt European socket. Best of all, while it's designed for children, it can accommodate an adult up to 5'11".

Unfortunately it appears to be just a concept at the moment, but with enough enthusiasm Audi could very well put it into production, perfect for scooting around the grounds of a private estate or gated community.

Tags: audi, audi e-tron, Audi Type C, Auto Union Type C, e-tron, international toy fair, pedal car, silver arrow

Vertu Ascent Ti Ferrari Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) — Jan 18th 2011 at 10:02AM

Luxury phone brand Vertu is back with another Ferrari-themed device. Based on the recently updated Ascent Ti, the Ferrari edition features a matte black PVD-coated titanium case with a sapphire crystal display, quad-band 3G connectivity and of course Vertu's trademark 24/7 concierge service to arrange everything from roadside assistance to the best nightspots for owners to be seen climbing out of their exotic supercars.

The special edition is further differentiated by red accents from the leather trim on the back to the crackle-finish side grips inspired by a Ferrari engine's cam cover, with the requisite Prancing Horse logo front and back. Only 2,011 examples will be offered this year, with prices expected to reach well into the thousands.

Tags: ascent, ascent ti, ferrari, mobile, mobile phone, phone, vertu, vertu ascent, vertu ascent ti, vertu ascent ti ferrari, vertu ascent ti ferrari edition

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