Luxury

Milk Desk does a body good

We've been logging some long work days of late--deadlines, you know--and the experience has given us the opportunity to make a few observations. First, most desks are just no good for geeks. In addition to the normal paper detritus, a mess of peripherals, accessories, and their attendant cords can quickly turn a desk into a disaster zone. Second, when you sit for a long time in the same desk chair, no matter how ergonomic your setup, your hip joints will threaten to fuse together in a permanent L shape.

The Milk Desk, though, looks to solve both those problems … Read more

$2 million to beat Porsche in the water

Porsche may rule the road in many eyes, but it has a ways to go on the open seas. While its much-publicized $300,000 racing yacht boasts a top speed of 88 mph, for example, the new XSR48 claims to exceed 100 mph.

Called "the world's fastest diesel production boat," it will attempt to break various world records this year, according to Luxist. Its speed isn't the only thing that will hasten heartbeats: Its price is estimated at nearly $2 million.

Please don't pop the light-up inflatable bar

The idea of a "light-up inflatable bar" might evoke corny 1970s kitsch, but this one is going for the swank factor. Made by a company called Bubble Miami, these bars are designed to set up easily and quickly, support a considerable amount of weight, and then deflate and when it's time to make everybody go home. Plus, they light up. How cool is that?

Unfortunately, you really have to be careful with anything inflatable at any kind of occasion that involves alcohol. There are all kinds of serious threats lurking around--you know, stiletto heels, or broken glass, … Read more

Talking mirror melds security, fairy tale

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what's the wackiest home-networking gadget of all? The "Magic Message Mirror" by California-based Themeaddicts would certainly have to be up there. It looks and functions like a decorative wall mirror, but hook it up to a home security system and it verbally provides real-time information about people walking up the driveway, entering the yard, doing a jig on the front lawn and so on.

The device, created by Hollywood special-effects expert Craig Barr, will also theatrically reveal an integrated live camera feed to show the area that's being monitored.

Verbal information … Read more

TV hides the bed, and vice-versa

Remember the TV that hides under your bed? Well now we have a bed that hides under your TV.

It's not an exact opposite, however, because this bed is actually vertical when in hiding. As BornRich points out, the flat TV appears when the Murphy bed folds into its upright position, exposing an underside that looks remarkably like a wall unit. But we're not sure how comfortable we'd be swinging our TV set around like this every night, not to mention the fact that we'd never be able to doze off while watching Letterman.

Neither concern … Read more

Spock's spacesuit sells for $10,100

What a day for date repellants. Just hours after we mentioned the "Lightsaber Umbrella" did we hear of another ill-advised purchase, one that would be the envy of every nerd at the convention: Spock's spacesuit.

As noted by Spluch, an eBay auction that ended today claimed to have the "authentic spacesuit featured prominently in Star Trek I: The Motion Picture when 'Spock' (Leonard Nimoy) left the Enterprise to conduct a mindmeld with the 'V' Ger Probe." Wow. The frightening thing is there are people out there who will instantly recognize this scene by that description, … Read more

A Titanic-inspired home theater

Now that we've taken care of your outdoor entertainment needs, it's time to concentrate on your home theater. You'll need a theme, of course, and perhaps you can find some inspiration from this home in Tennessee--which is modeled after the interior of the Titanic.

Why its owners chose one of history's most notorious shipwrecks for its decor is beyond us, but you've got to admit it's creative. Among the 20- by 14-foot theater's many features are a custom 120-inch screen and surround-sound speakers embedded in the room's pillars and ceiling. And … Read more

LED lamp looks like alien vehicle

This designer LED lamp isn't quite egg-shaped enough to qualify for the evil ovum empire, but it's close enough. Just look at this thing--it's like a spherical spaceship opening up to reveal its alien passengers or a battery of death rays (most likely both).

The "Barry" fixture from Sweden's Flux has a mirrored upper interior that reflects about 70 white LEDs from the bottom half, according to OhGizmo. But the real offense here isn't alien domination of Earth; it's the price--$1,100.

If that's not enough to start a War of the Worlds, … Read more

Prada does what it knows best: accessorize

iPhone comparisons aside, LG's Prada handset is sure to have at least one thing in common with its erstwhile competitor from Cupertino: must-have (and therefore overpriced) accessories. Just weeks after its official debut, we're already getting reports of a Bluetooth headset, though little else is known other than a purported May release schedule. SlashGear does note that it appears to have "a small LCD display, revealing info such as battery, volume and perhaps caller ID." And, of course, its coveted label is prominently displayed. (We mean Prada's, not LG's. Just FYI.)

Your yacht needs an HD satellite

Now that you've ordered your Porsche yacht, what will you do in it when not racing? Raymarine has just the antidote to your boredom with its satellite HDTV system.

The seagoing dish is made specifically to work in boats, according to Gizmowatch, with antennae that continually change angles for optimal reception. The package, which includes an HD DirecTV receiver, is designed for uninterrupted signals even in extreme weather and oceanic conditions.

Depending on the model, it can cost as much as $9,000. But that's a drop in the Atlantic compared with the $300,000 you'll be … Read more