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The AfterMath: A week of excesses
Too much food? Too many bargains? With a handful of antacids nearby, we hope you've enjoyed this Thanksgiving week. Following in tradition of all that indulgence, we're all about size and excess here at TAM. Nuclear-powered data centers, puffy nuggets of gold, huge numbers of user names hacked... and a suggestion for next year's Thanksgiving dessert. We'd suggest you start making room now.
Electronic House hands out its Home of the Year awards, offers yet more excess and inspiration
Just as it does each May, Electronic House magazine has selected a handful of integrated homes and home theaters that it's deemed to be the best of the best and awarded them Home of the Year awards in categories that range from $50k or less to $150k or more. The winner of the latter is pictured above -- a garage that's gone from storing farm equipment to a top-end 3D Runco SC-50 projector and equally high-end sound system (to say nothing of the change in decor). Other winners include a completely hands-free home that's also energy efficient (at a cost of $48k), another home that's largely iPad-controlled, and a blood red nightclub-inspired home theater that's not too far removed from a David Lynch movie. Hit the source link below to take a tour of each.
There is now a $4.6 million Tata Nano made of gold
There are people who ask why, and people who ask why not -- and yet others who decide to turn a $2,500 car into a $4.6 million car by covering it with gold and jewels. Yes, that's none other than a lowly Tata Nano in an extravagant disguise that you're looking at, and, yes, it's very much real -- and apparently for sale if anyone's interested, according to the Tata jewelery subsidiary responsible for it (at least once it's done touring it around for a few months). Head on past the break for a video of the unveiling from ITN. [Image credit: Megha Bahree / The Wall Street Journal]
Fisker raises Karma plug-in hybrid base price to $95,900, brings that 750i back into consideration
Oh, sure -- gas is bound to hit $4 a gallon before 2020, but you can buy an awful let of petrol with the money you'll save from dodging Fisker's increasingly expensive Karma. 'Course, those looking to blow 100 grand on an eco-friendly automobile are probably doing so just to throw Ma Earth a bone, but still -- money matters. Originally teased way back in the fall of 2007, Fisker's first plug-in hybrid still hasn't ended up anywhere near mass production, but it has managed to see two rather significant upticks in price all the while. Right around two years ago, we saw the $80,000 MSRP boosted by $7,000, and today, prospective customers are being notified via email that the Karma's base price is now sitting at $95,900 before a $950 destination fee. Granted, the company insists that this includes an integrated solar roof panel (valued at $5,000), and it still starts at $1,400 less than a Panamera S. And yeah, that base price does shrink to $88,400 after you include federal tax incentives. That said, we're doubting high-rollers that were dead-set on handing over $73,000 or so after tax breaks are currently stoked about an increase this large, particularly when there's still no definitive ship date. To Fisker's credit, we've seen General Motors go through similar trials and tribulations surrounding the Volt, and even at $95k, you'll be hard pressed to find more sexy than this on four (street legal) wheels.
CrystalRoc Galaxy Tab: 5,700 Swarovski crystals, zero shame
We can only assume that Stuart Hughes will eventually one-up it with a gold-plated, diamond-encrusted model of its own but, for the time being, it looks like this new CrystalRoc Galaxy Tab is the most "exclusive" Android tablet around. While there's no word on a price (we assume it's on a need to know basis), CrystalRoc does proudly boast that the tablet packs 5,700 Swarosvski bright crystals, not to mention a custom logo to match. Head on past the break for a quick video, and look for this one to show up exclusively at Harrods in London on Monday, November 1st.
iPhone 4 Diamond Edition: white, unlocked, and $20k
Looking for something a bit more eye-catching than a iPhone 4 with a wooden veneer? Then it looks like you can once again thank Stuart Hughes for throwing any subtlety to the wind and going all out with the so-called iPhone 4 Diamond Edition. As you can see, not only does the phone pack a smattering of diamonds (including a bedazzled Apple logo), but it's a white iPhone 4 (32GB, naturally), and unlocked for good measure. Of course, there's no guarantees you'll actually get it before white iPhone 4s become commonplace, but we're pretty sure this is $20,000 well spent either way.
The King Midas of iPads redefines excess
What do you get the person with a US$1,200 stroller? A golden iPad, of course. Now you can be the obnoxious jerk at Gymboree with this eyesore. Encased in 22ct "solid gold" (how heavy is this thing?) and bedazzled with 53 gems, the iPad Supreme Edition by Stuart and Katherine Hughes shouts "Mug me." You'll pay £129,995 (about $190,000 as of this writing) for the privilege of bringing The Smugness™ to epic levels. Conversely, you could buy 300+ Mac minis, a BMW 7 Series or 4 tons of Gummy Bears. Happy shopping! [Via Engadget]
Stuart Hughes' gold Privé brick phone redefines 80s excess
Stuart Hughes usually reserves its gold and diamonds for recent gadgets, but the fine purveyor of ridiculous excess has taken a slightly different approach with its latest offering: the $200,000+ Privé brick phone. In addition to a 22ct gold shell and a smattering of diamonds, this apparently functional phone packs a color screen and features like SMS support and, um... buttons. Limited to just ten but, amazingly, still in stock.
Mom installs 98-inch screen in son's bedroom ceiling, deservedly garners award nomination
Thought you had it all set with a 14-inch TV and an NES in your room as a kid? Then you might want to look away for a minute, lest your childhood memories be diminished. Everyone else can take a good look at this 98-inch screen that Patti Deni had installed flush in the ceiling of her son's bedroom. At the center of the setup is an NEC projector paired with some Draper projection mirrors, which fills that 98-inch StarGlas60 display with some full HD images than can be viewed from just about any angle. As you might expect, however, this wasn't exactly the easiest of installs, and apparently even involved reframing and reinforcing the ceiling. No word on any mom of the year awards just yet, but the setup itself has at least attracted the attention of Electronic House's Home of the Year awards.
