Luxury

Finally, a TV that even Zsa Zsa Gabor would like.

To celebrate shipping 1 million of its "Ambilight" TVs, Philips took the millionth one of the line and inserted 2,200 diamonds from the DeBeers Company into the bezel. Ambilight, which adjusts the TV light level to suit the room, has been one of the more successful technologies in consumer electronics in the past few years for the Dutch giant.

The diamonds are swirled in the white part of the bezel. Plasma TVs of this size weigh about 300 pounds, and the Philips booth is located deep in … Read more

If you're not wandering the floors of Macworld, CES, the Detroit Auto Show or, for that matter, the neighborhood grocery store, you'll likely need some equipment of your own to virtually experience the spectacles in comfort. That's where Empower Technologies comes to the rescue with its iMedia Chair showcased this week on various displays this week.

Not only does this Barcalounger on steroids have a built-in 15-inch LCD, but it also boasts a THX-certified surround-sound system piped directly from your iPod controlled by a separate 3.5-inch touch screen, as BornRich points out. We also appreciate the … Read more

Here at Crave, our specialty might be digital gadgetry (which you're undoubtedly seeing a lot of this week) but sometimes there's some less conventional tech that attracts our attention: for example, the wide array of luxury toys designed to turn bathrooms into high-end epicenters of relaxation. There was that nature shower designed in Kuala Lumpur, and the "Hydro Massage Bathtub" with a built-in TV. But personally, I think this one takes the cake. It's called the Oasis, and according to BornRich, it's supposed to "bring the feel of nature right into your bathroom&… Read more

OK, so you think $842,000 is a wee pricey for a cell phone strap (tightwad). All you bargain hunters out there may be pleased to know that you can get a cheapo alternative for chump change-- just $250--that features a 24k gold charm as seen on Tokyomango to commemorate the "Year of the Boar" (or pig, if that seems more appropriate for this bit of conspicuous consumption). If you're so inclined, you can even get a set of genuine gold and silver USB keys as the perfect accessory. And at this level of decorative wastfulness, it'… Read more

If there's one word that defines wealth (of the monetary variety), it would be "yacht." Even that becomes an understatement when talking about designs released recently for the latest tri-deck "Sunseeker" hailing from the U.K.

The main deck of this 121-foot sea monster boasts a lounge, a master stateroom with office, and a dining area with a table for 12, according to Luxist. Not impressed? The upper deck features a bar and a large saloon, as well as sliding glass doors to a private cockpit. Then, on the sky deck, you'll find a … Read more

If you're not thrilled with the trend toward sandwich-board TV stands, you might want to consider something like this recent addition to Sony's Bravia line of LCD sets. The new Esprit TAV-L1 is built with a sliding decorative panel that hides a 32-inch TV behind it, in a variety of designs to suit your decor. Sony says the Esprit, which is available only in Europe at present, "fused cutting-edge European interior trends with the best of Sony's exclusive sound and vision technology." We like Chip Chick's description a lot better: "A force to … Read more

A bunch of the blogs (Gizmodo, BornRich) have been featuring the Aussie audio company VAF's latest endeavor, which looks like a piece of wall decor out of a Design Within Reach catalog but is actually a very impressive set of speakers. Each side is about two feet long, and they protrude barely five inches from the wall. When they're released in March, they will apparently come in a variety of colors. Neat, huh?

But I've got a bone to pick with VAF's presentation of their cool new product. I mean, come on. We're sharp-eyed here … Read more

This latest installment of our campaign for wireless speakers seemed almost too good to be true--until we saw the price.

The "Planets" from France's Elipson not only claim to provide top-quality sound, but they're also built with Bluetooth modules that allow the speakers to detect and couple with each other wirelessly and automatically, Ministry of Tech says. The versatile orbs, which can receive and transmit digital and analog signals, will work with all manner of devices, including computers, MP3 players and cell phones, as well as amps and tuners.

But we almost forgot--the cost. They're … Read more

What would a true Mac loyalist want if stranded on a desert island? The "i-Trunk," of course. (Presuming that a solar charger or other power source was available.)

French designer Pinel & Pinel not only makes luggage but delivers its pieces fully equipped and "custom-finished to your specifications and preferences," according to Cool Hunting--in this case, with a 20-inch, iMac, JBL speakers and Canon printer. But the best part is the design of the case itself, which resembles a giant iPod when open.

Other models, which come in 51 colors, are outfitted with such equipment as … Read more