Expensive Gadgets

Most Expensive T-Shirts

2012-02-07T08:45:00.001+08:00

T-shirts, so called due to their ‘T’ shape, were originally considered undergarments. Nowadays, of course, these ubiquitous shirts are commonly used to express the wearer’s taste in art or music, their political views or their fondness for bad jokes. While T-shirts are usually relatively cheap, sometimes they become collector’s items and enter the ranks of the most expensive T-shirts in the world.

Run-D.M.C. “My Adidas” T-shirt – up to $13,000

This T-shirt was produced as a promotional item for a Run-D.M.C. concert in the early 80s. Because of the rarity of 80s hip hop tees, especially Run-D.M.C. shirts, and the group’s legendary partnership with Adidas, this shirt has become something of a collector’s item. The back of the shirt features a joint Adidas/Run-D.M.C. “My Adidas” logo.

John Lennon “Home” T-shirt – $16,400

This shirt was originally given to Lennon by Richard Ross, owner of the now-defunct Home restaurant, frequented by Lennon and Yoko Ono, in New York’s Upper East Side. He wore it for several shows and it became such an iconic part of his image that reproductions are available to this day, despite the restaurant’s closure.

Hanes/UNICEF 1996 Olympics T-shirt – $42,000

In the days leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Hanes and UNICEF partnered up to raise funds for Olympic Aid-Atlanta, an organization dedicated to helping children in war torn countries, by auctioning T-shirts. The daily auctions raised nearly $1 million for the charitably organization and the highest bid came on the final day of the auctions.

UNICEF Cargo Flight – $300,000

UNICEF has been selling t-shirts for some time now to raise awareness of those in need. UNICEF has a line of 12 t-shirts, Good Shirts, starting at $18US and end up at $1,000. Sales from these expensive t-shirts collect money for a variety of causes aimed to fund everything from mosquito nets, energy biscuits, de-worming medication and even cargo flights from Denmark to Kenya, and are available through Threadless.

The Most Expensive T-Shirt, Superlative Luxury – $400,000

In January 2012 a new expensive shirt designed in London by Superlative Luxuryarrived. The current most expensive t-shirt in the world is created using renewable sources of energy like solar and wind power with almost 100% less C02 production when you compare the manufacturing process to traditional t-shirt production.

Superlative Luxury’s most expensive t-shirt in the world features a special spherical pattern exalted with sixteen certified diamonds. Eight of which are 1ct white diamonds, the other eight are extremely rare and hard to find black diamonds, each over 1ct.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive AdWords Keywords

2011-12-12T07:32:00.001+08:00

When we type a word into google, we generally don’t think about how much companies pay to ensure that word generates their ads at the top of the search results. Thanks to a study conducted by Wordstream, a company whose software helps users create search engine marketing campaigns, we now know which keywords garner the highest costs per click (CPC for those in the know) in Google AdWords. For over a decade Google’s AdWords solution has allowed companies to create ad campaigns on google’s search results and participating websites and bid on which keywords lead users to those campaigns. Considering advertising makes up 97% of Google’s total revenue, or 33.3 billion dollars a year, selling these keywords is an integral part of Google’s business model.

Wordstream, a pay-per-click software company, recently study compiled the top 10,000 keywords into categories by weighting the number of keywords within each category and the estimated monthly search volume and average cost per click for each keyword. The results aren’t as exciting as the most searched for keywords on google, (which mostly involve celebrity scandals, current events, and the weather) but they still reveal some interesting trends.

Insurance – $54.31 per click

It turns out ‘insurance’ ranks number one for CPC. That in itself is an astonishing number considering the millions of people who see these ads every day. Keywords in this category include ‘auto price quotes’

Loans – $44.28 per click

Following close behind are ‘loans’, a category that includes ‘consolidate’, ‘graduate’, and ‘student’. The emerging trend here reveals the type of company that can afford to spend a lot on advertising since they’re able to acquire consistent revenue from their customers over the course of their lives.

Mortgage – $47.12 per click

Keeping in mind these figures correspond to the number of keywords in the top 10,000 keywords that belong to that category, Mortgage come in third. Keywords include ‘refinanced’, ‘second’ and ‘mortgages’.

Attorney – $47.07 per click

Continuing the trend of either borrowing or spending large amounts of money for major life activities, ‘attorney’ ranks 4th, with keywords like ‘personal injury attorney’.

Credit – $36.06 per click

It comes as no surprise that ‘credit’ makes it on the list, as well all know credit card companies are constantly looking for new card holders. ‘home equity line of credit’ is an example of a keyword that would generate ads from this category.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Vacuum

2011-08-19T10:11:00.001+08:00

Hardly an icon of luxury, the vacuum is more commonly viewed as the weapon of choice for janitors, maids, stay at home moms, and those who rank somewhere along the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder spectrum. Companies like Dyson, Kirby, and Hoover may offer state-of-the-art sucking technology; but the offensively loud, droning, cat-terrorizing machine is still seen as considerably less sexy and luxurious than, say, a feather duster from The Dollar Tree.

Enter the most expensive vacuum cleaner in the world: The Crystal Ergoripado by Electrolux. Created in 2009 by Polish Fashion designer Lukasz Jemiol, the vacuum was commissioned to commemorate Electrolux’s popular Ergoripado model. The limited edition black and white version of this model was chosen to be adorned head to toe with 3,730 Swarovski crystals. Electrolux lovingly states “Inspired by (the Ergoripado’s) beautiful form, we decided to create something extraordinary” Electrolux has already won several design awards for the sleek Ergoripado.

This one-off, record-breaking vacuum cleaner is still available at a hefty $19,340, leading one to question the overlap between those who could afford the pricey cleaning device and those who actually vacuum their own houses.

Not since the iconic 50’s Stepford wife glided a Hoover around in high heels has the vacuum had such an image make over. The lesson here is that with enough diamonds, Swarovski crystals, or even just a bedazzler, the most humble household item can discover it’s inner diva.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Beds

2011-06-28T08:03:00.001+08:00

A person typically spends a third of their life sleeping, so why not make the most of that time by spending a ridiculous amount of money on an extravagant bed? Each supremely expensive bed is luxurious in its own way, and we’re certain almost anyone will find one of these beds most desirable.

Parnian Furniture bed – over $210,000

Furniture designer Abdolhay Parnian treats his furniture like works of art and it shows in the final product. It’s taken him two years to design this bed and I think you’ll agree that it was well worth the wait. It’s not only visually striking, with the eyelike headboard that will surely dominate any bedroom, but also equipped with features sure to intrigue even the most jaded of millionaires. The purchaser may choose from a variety of materials, including the ebony, sapele and curly maple in the pictured display model, as well as technological features such as iPad holders and charging stations, hidden compartments and pop-up swiveling televisions and computer monitors.

Jado Steel Style Gold Bed – $676,550

If you want to go all out with a bed that conveys wealth like no other, you can’t go wrong with the Gold Bed. As its name suggests, the luxurious waterbed is coated in 24k gold and features Swarovski crystals along the sideboard. It’s equipped with a DVD player and Bose sound system, Blu-ray player, Playstation 3, a foldaway plasma television coated in gold and can even be connected to the internet.

Magnetic Floating Bed – $1.6 million

The 2006 Millionaire Fair in Kortrijk, Belgium saw the debut of a magnetic floating bed that pretty much takes the cake for the coolest bed in the world—and the most expensive. Conventional beds and mattresses haven’t changed much over the years, and that’s where Dutch architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars comes in. The goal in his project was to make a usable piece of furniture that wasn’t constrained by the laws of gravity.

Ruijssenaars reportedly worked on the technology for six years in collaboration with Bakker Magnetics. Permanent opposing industrial-strength magnets allow the bed to float around 1.3 feet off the floor while holding almost 2,000 lbs. This aesthetically pleasing technology could also be applied to other areas in home furnishings like coffee tables, sofas, and Japanese dining tables. How cool would it be to eat sushi and drink sake off a floating table?

While the expensive bed will run you €1,200,000 (US $1.6 million), a smaller unit, one fifth of the full size, costs €115,000 (US $153,000). If you are a millionaire and simply must have this eye-catching bed, the people at Universe Architecture would be happy to make it happen for you.

Baldacchino Supreme – $6.3 million

After four years on the top, the magnetic floating bed has been unseated by luxury designer Stuart Hughes. whose collaboration with Italy’s Fratelli Basile has created nothing short of the most expensive bed in the world–the Baldacchino Supreme.

Fratelli Basile’s Hebanon furniture evokes the timeless qualities of 18th century furniture while making use of modern craftsmanship. This bed, with its chestnut structure and ash wood canopy, is no exception. The exterior is lacquered, patinated and decorated with 107 kg of 24k gold. The bed also features the finest Italian silk and cotton.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Wedding Dress

2011-06-03T09:58:00.001+08:00

A wedding is an expensive occasion for even the most humble bride and groom. Imagine, then, the wedding that includes the most expensive wedding dress in the world. The Diamond Wedding Gown is a collaboration of Renee Strauss, owner of a highly successful bridal salon in Beverly Hills, and Martin Katz, who deals in rare jewels. Featuring 150 carats of diamonds, the dress is valued at US $12 million.

The world’s most expensive wedding gown was unveiled at the premier Luxury Brands Lifestyle Bridal show in February of 2006. Later in the year, Dubai’s Fashion & Diamonds show also featured a gown touted as the world’s most expensive wedding dress. Yumi Katsura’s design, however, is only valued at $8.5 million. Despite being only the second most expensive wedding dress, it features 1,000 pearls and one of the world’s only two 5 carat white gold diamonds.

The Diamond Wedding Gown
(Courtesy of The Diamond Blog).

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Hello Kitty Item

2011-03-08T07:48:00.001+08:00

Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, that adorable cartoon cat that comes to us from Japanese popular culture, has appeared on a host of commercial products from credit cards to the Hello Kitty Jet (an Airbus A330-220). The character, designed by Yuko Shimizu, debuted in 1974 as a decoration on a vinyl coin purse.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Hello Kitty in 2009, Sanrio partnered with crystal maker Swarovski and Japanese jeweler I.K. to create the Super Hello Kitty Jewel Doll. This 4-inch “doll” is made of solid platinum studded with thousands of precious gems, including 1,939 pieces of white topaz, 403 pink sapphires, a pair of black spinels for her eyes, a citrine for her nose and a 1.027-carat diamond on her signature bow.

The ultimate Hello Kitty doll was unveiled at Switzerland’s Baselworld watch and jewelry show and is valued at 15 million yen—about US $167,000!

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Digital Camera

2011-02-01T09:00:00.001+08:00

Digital photography has come a long way since it started to catch on in the 1990s. While even your high-end smartphone may take pictures that look like crap, a real digital camera can make even the stodgiest photographer forget about film.

The Hasselblad H4D-60 is probably the most expensive digital camera in the world. This DSLR camera has an astonishing 60 megapixel 40 x 54 mm sensor. Aided by the Absolute Position Lock processor, Hasselblad’s True Focus system allows the photographer to focus on the composition without constantly fiddling with the focus. The camera has a capture rate of 1.4 seconds per capture and shutter speed ranges from an 800th of a second to 32 seconds.

This pro digital camera costs in excess of $40,000, but that price will also get you membership in the Hasselblad Owners’ Club. The exclusive club promises to hook you up with a considerable network of professional photographers to increase your exposure and expand your client base.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Cell Phone

2011-01-03T06:58:00.001+08:00

Peter Aloisson’s Kings Button iPhone - $2.4 million

The Kings Button iPhone is, surprisingly, a jewel-bedecked iPhone. This time, however, Aloisson had the iPhone 3G to play with—and, apparently, a bit of a bigger budget. One hundred and thirty-eight brilliant-cut diamonds line the sides of the phone, but the real prize is the home button—a rare 6.6 carat white diamond.

Goldstriker iPhone 3GS Supreme – $3.2 million

Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International is known for giving luxury devices such as phones and video game consoles the “Supreme” treatment—covering them with gold and diamonds—and the iPhone is no exception. The iPhone 3GS Supreme features a casing made from 271 grams of solid 22k gold and a screen trimmed with fifty-three 1-carat diamonds. The home button is covered with a single rare 7.1-carat diamond. That’s not all, though—the iPhone 3GS Supreme comes in a chest carved from a single block of granite and sports Kashmir gold and an interior lining made with Nubuck top grain leather.

Stuart Hughes iPhone 4 Diamond Rose Edition – $8 million

If you thought his iPhone 3GS Supreme was impressive, check out the latest iPhone from Stuart Hughes–the iPhone 4 Diamond Rose Edition. Hughes has recreated the infamous antenna band that wraps around the sides of the latest iPhone, as well as the backplate, using rose gold. The band is adorned with 100 carats of flawless diamonds, and the Apple logo is formed with fifty-three more diamonds. Once again, the home button gets the most love–it’s made of platinum and features a rare 7.4-carat pink diamond.

The phone comes in an imperial pink 7-kilogram chest cut from a single block of granite and lined with nubuck top-grain leather. It also comes with an 8-carat flawless diamond that can be used in place of the pink one.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Expensive Apps on the Android Market

2010-12-16T07:34:00.001+08:00

The Android Market was opened in 2008, a mere day after Google released the initial version of its mobile operating system. This mobile software store, according to a 2010 survey by Distimo, over twice as many free apps, by percentage, as any of its competitors—including Apple’s vaunted App Store. Additionally, unlike the App Store’s maximum price of $999.99, Google only allows developers to charge up to $200 for their Android Market apps.

In December, 2010, Business Insider published a list of the most expensive Android apps. Here are the five apps that topped their list.

MobileNavigator GPS – $126.58

This GPS navigation app from Navigon features text-to-speech, live traffic updates and photo-realistic displays.

Emergency Central – $129.95

Unbound Medicine dominates the upper end of the Android Market spectrum with their medical reference apps. This one, intended for use in the ER, features “the Emergency Medicine Manual, Davis’s Drug Guide, Diagnosaurus DDx, Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests, and MEDLINE Journals.”

Anesthesia Central – $149.95

For anesthesiologists, this app is a go-to resource full of information about diseases, drugs, tests and procedures.

Nursing Central – $159.95

This app caters to both nurses and students, including Davis’s Drug Guide, Tabor’s Medical Dictionary and a study system to help aspiring nurses pass their exams.

Medicine Central – $159.95

This app, intended for physicians, nurse practicioners and students, includes a “5-Minute Clinical Consult”, MEDLINE journals and resources on drugs and drug interactions.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Apple Computer

2010-12-09T07:15:00.001+08:00

Before the iPad or the iPhone, before the iPod or even the Macintosh, a pair of Steves created what would be the first model in a long line of Apple computers. One of those computers has become the most expensive Apple computer in the world.

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs met in 1971, when the latter was only 16 years old. Five years later, Jobs was able to convince a local computer store to buy fifty preassembled computers for the price of $500 each and, based on that purchase order, managed to convince a local hardware supplier to credit him the parts he needed to assemble the fifty computers. The two Steves assembled the fifty computers in time to pay off their credit and the Apple I went on sale for a marked up price of $666.66.

Apple Computer, Inc. went on to produce approximately 150 more Apple I computers before introducing the Apple II. It is considered the first commercially available personal computer, as computer hobbyists at the time usually had to purchase the parts and assemble them on their own.

The Apple I came with 4 KB of memory, which could be expanded to up to 48 KB, and a 1 MHz CPU. Users still needed to supply their own keyboard and monitor—in this case, oddly enough, a television set.

An original Apple I went on sale at Christie’s in London in November, 2010. The computer, model number 82, sold for over $210,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Hotel Suites

2010-11-12T07:16:00.001+08:00

The most important element of a vacation, aside from the destination, is the hotel where you spend your downtime. If you’re going to take a true luxury vacation, of course, it won’t do to have anything less than one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world.

Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens, Greece – The Royal Villa
$32,000/night

Another three-bedroom suite, the Royal Villa has two pools—an indoor pool and a heated outdoor pool. The nearby marina and beach cement the fact that this suite is a swimmer’s paradise. Visitors will also have access to a private chef to accompany the fully equipped kitchen, a butler and even a pianist.

Hotel Cala di Volpe in Costa Smeralda, Italy – Presidential Suite
$34,000/night

Costa Smeralda—the “Emerald Coast”—in northern Sardinia, is home to many draws for the obscenely wealthy, not the least of which is this fabulous suite. The duplex suite has three bedrooms and as many bathrooms, an outdoor saltwater pool and a private gazebo and solarium.

Four Seasons Hotel in New York, USA – Ty Warner Penthouse suite
$35,000/night

With a carpet that’s so expensive that anyone who walks across it must wear special booties provided by the hotel, ample views of the nation’s largest city, a 700 square foot library and even a waterfall in its Zen room, this suite—which covers the hotel’s entire 52nd floor—is truly a luxury location. It’s named after the founder of Ty Inc., manufacturer of the popular Beanie Babies stuffed toys.

The Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France – Penthouse Suite
$35,000/night

This luxurious suite is located on the seventh floor of the Hotel Martinez, already a ritzy location with its Michelin-starred restaurant and prime location on the Croisette in Cannes. The suite itself consists of four bedrooms and an impressive terrace—complete with Jacuzzi—which commands an equally impressive view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada – Hugh Hefner Sky Villa
$40,000/night

The City of Sin’s most expensive suite is appropriately named after the Playboy Mansion’s famed resident, and it shows in the 250-person capacity and the extravagant amenities. This suite houses a poker table, wet bar, full size gym with sauna and spa, and a balcony with a spectacular view of the Vegas strip as well as an equally spectacular infinity edge jacuzzi. All of this is centered around an 8-foot rotating round bed.

Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland – Royal Penthouse suite
$65,000/night

If you’d prefer a secure suite to an extravagant one, look no further than Switzerland. The Royal Penthouse suite, renamed and repriced from the $35,000 Imperial Suite, boasts a private elevator, bulletproof windows, armored doors, surveillance cameras and even bedside panic buttons. Of course, it’s not all about security; the suite also features a number of period pieces and stunning views of Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva.

Taj Boston $6 million Hotel Suite in Boston, USA
$6 million/two nights

Less than 5 miles from Logan Airport and overlooking Boston’s majestic Public Gardens, Taj Boston will be king of the crop for a very limited time. On the weekend of October 15-17, 2010, the hotel’s presidential suite became the most expensive hotel suite in the world to comemmorate the new theatre complex at the Boston Conservatory.

Along with two nights in the 1,540 square foot presidential suite, the $6 million price tag included transportation to Boston on a private jet, limo service, a Jaguar XJ, an engraved Chistofle sterling silver platter, etched Tiffany Champagne flutes and a magnum of Cristal Rose Champagne. The guest also received two lifetime services–valet parking at the hotel and tickets to performances at the Boston Conservatory.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of this expensive package is that the guest’s name will be engraved on the Conservatory’s new theatre.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Baby Cribs

2010-10-22T09:39:00.001+08:00

It’s never too early to get your child started on a life of luxury and pampered living, so why not buy a luxurious crib? Whether you’re more concerned with the aesthetic quality of the crib or the technology that reduces your stress, check below for some of the most expensive cribs in the world.

Intellicot – $1,576?

For a crib with as many bells and whistles as your favorite smartphone, look no further than the Intellicot. This high tech crib features automatic rocking, a mattress-raising system to reduce strain on your back, air circulation to keep your child cool, a soft blue nightlight and a video monitoring system so you always know your little one is safe and sound. Unfortunately, Intellicot is still under development and current pricing is unavailable, but the crib was originally intended to sell for around £1,000.

Camelot Crib – $3,650

This custom crib, offered by aBABY, is handcrafted out of solid hardwood and hand painted in pink “garden” colors that will let everyone know that your baby is a perfect princess. The mattress height is adjustable and the crib features a single dropside.

Corsican Cinderella Carriage Crib – $3,749

Inspired by the timeless fairy tale, this iron crib features large wheels and a crown decorated with leaves and birds for that classic pumpkin carriage look. The Cinderella Carriage Crib is available in six colors, including white, antique steel and pink. Best of all, it probably won’t turn back into a pumpkin at midnight.

Majestic Carriage Crib – $19,995

This luxury crib is constructed with a solid cedar frame. It features birch details, a round mattress and a faux leather seat with a maximum weight of 25 pounds. Best of all, you’ll save space with the luggage rack, located on the back of the carriage, which is actually a changing table. This baby crib is custom-built when you order and requires some assembly upon delivery. Available from Posh Tots

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Car

2010-08-25T08:36:00.001+08:00

If your passion for performance and luxury autos cannot be stopped, and your McLaren F1 is becoming a bore along with the rest of your exotic cars, it might be time to check out Top Gear’s “Car of the Decade,” the Bugatti Veyron. The most recent model, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, has an estimated price tag of $2.3 million and, if that figure is even close to the ultimate price, will be the most expensive car in the world.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport “World Record Edition”

The Super Sport, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2010, is not your typical luxury car. Its W16 engine—essentially two narrow-angle V8s sharing a crankshaft—with four turbochargers generates 1,200 hp and, along with improved aerodynamics over the original Veyron, allows it to reach a top speed of 268 miles per hour. That makes the Super Sport the fastest production car in the world.

The original Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which entered production in 2005, hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, does the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds and reaches its top speed of 252 mph in just 55 secs. It came after a long absence from the market for Bugatti and helped the brand reclaim its title as the ultimate performance car and reign supreme as the world’s most expensive production car.

Bugatti Veyron Speed Test

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Veyron is named after Pierre Veyron, who won the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving a Bugatti Type 57 with Jean-Pierre Wimille.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Bicycle

2010-07-16T10:44:00.001+08:00

Of the four most expensive bikes in the world, three were created in honor of Lance Armstrong, whose victory over cancer is as legendary as his ongoing career. The Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded in 1997 after Armstrong was diagnosed with the disease, raises funds and awareness to support cancer research and help cancer sufferers.

7-Diamond – $75,000

This expensive bike was sold to an anonymous buyer at the Lance Armstrong Foundation Gala in 2005. Studded with seven 1-carat Gemesis man-made diamonds and 300 white diamonds, the gold-plated bike commemorated Armstrong’s victory over seven Tour de France events. The expensive bike was a joint effort between Trek Bikes, Nike, jeweler Alan Friedman and artist Lenny Futura.

Aurumania’s Gold Bike Crystal edition – $114,000

Aurumania’s Gold Bike Crystal edition is almost entirely plated with 24 karat gold—even the spokes. The seat is a Brooks saddle made of the finest leather, while the handlebars have grips made with hand-sewn, chocolate brown leather. Even the numbered badge is made of leather. Of course, the bike isn’t called “Crystal edition” for nothing. It’s decorated with over 600 Swarovski crystals—including the Aurmania name written in Braille along the crossbar. Only ten of these spectacular bicycles were produced.

Trek Yoshitomo Nara Speed Concept – $200,000

Yoshitomo Nara created this work of art, a Trek Speed Concept bike embellished with his signature angry, childlike figures and his own take on the Livestrong logo, as a custom time trial bike to commemorate Armstrong’s renewed cycling career in 2009. The bike was displayed at the Stages event organized by The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike to raise cancer awareness. It was sold at the Bikes of Stages auction at Sotheby’s, which raised $1,125,000 for The Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Trek “Butterfly” Madone – $500,000

Like the Speed Concept above, this Trek Madone was decorated in honor of Armstrong’s return to cycling. When Damien Hirst got his hands on the bike, he coated it with hundreds of wings taken from butterflies. While PETA were predictably angry at Hirst’s chosen medium, the “Butterfly” Madone became the most expensive bicycle in the world at the Bikes of Stages auction.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

2010-05-06T09:59:00.001+08:00

Here in the US, you can expect to pay the same for a speeding ticket whether you’re a millionaire or a pauper. Not so in Europe, however, where countries like Switzerland, Germany, France and Austria assess traffic fines based on the offender’s income.

In 2007, Switzerland overhauled their flat traffic fine system due to the disregard wealthy individuals had shown for basic traffic laws. This has led to a $290,000 fine for one repeat offender with an estimated $20 million in assets who was caught doing twice the 30 mph speed limit through a small village.

Similarly, a driver in France was charged 70,000 francs for speeding at 151 miles per hour.

Both of these fines, however, are dwarfed by the penalty to one Dutch 22-year-old who was caught doing 100 mph in a 50 mph zone near Rotterdam. In the Netherlands, an offense of that severity can result in the offender’s vehicle being confiscated by the authorities.

Unfortunately for the youth, son of Trust International CEO Michel Perridon, he was driving dad’s Bugatti Veyron valued at around $2.4 million, and now the most expensive traffic fine in the world.

Oh, he lost his license, too.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Cupcakes

2010-04-28T14:50:00.001+08:00

Do you like cupcakes? What about diamonds? Gold? If you said “Yes!” to all of these questions, then you’re in for a treat—or two—as we tell you about the most expensive cupcakes in the world.

Decadence d’Or – $750

First, there’s Decadence d’Or by Pastry Chef Long Nguyen. Available at Las Vegas’ Palazzo Resort, ‘Decadence’ is made with edible gold flakes, gold-vanilla caviar, a Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac bottled around 1900 and Palmira Single Estate Chocolate. This cupcake truly has the “most expensive” look with its fantastic ornamentation.

Diamond cupcake by Mervis – $30,000

Created by Mervis Diamond Importers, these classy cupcakes weren’t just well-decorated—they were well-decorated with diamonds. Made to usher in the 2009 wedding season, each cupcake included a single, 2-carat asscher cut diamond surrounded by eight brilliant cut diamonds. Clearly the cupcakes weren’t bad enough for your teeth without the diamonds.

ROX diamond cupcake – $150,000

Created to mark the three-day Glam in the City fashion event in Glasgow, Scotland, this iced pastry—pardon the pun—is sparkling with gems from ROX luxury jewelers. ROX collaborated with Cupcake Glasgow to create this delightful diamond dessert. The event, fronted by fashion consultant Gok Wan, runs from June 18th to June 20th, 2010.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Apple MacBooks

2010-04-15T10:54:00.001+08:00

Apple’s MacBook laptop computers may have gotten off to a rocky start in 2006, but that doesn’t mean things can’t get rockier still. Of course, we’re not talking about random shutdowns anymore. No, this time the rocks are diamonds and Swarovski crystals.

PowerMax Maxbook pro – $6,499 or $7,999

In late 2007, PowerMax introduced us to the gold-plated MacBook Pro. The 24k gold case, complete with diamond-studded Apple logo, housed a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and could be purchased in 15.4” and 17” models.

Bling My Thing MacBook Air – $40,000

The extraordinarily thin MacBook Air has been given the Swarovski treatment. The Golden Age MacBook Air is coated with 12,000 hand-set Swarovski crystals. These special lead crystals bring out the sparkle in the 24k gold plate that forms the laptop’s case. Only twenty of the expensive MacBook were made and it took about a week to place all those crystals by hand.

Stuart Hughes MacBook Air Supreme Ice Edition – $200,000

Stuart Hughes’ “Supreme” luxury devices are usually high-end consumer electronics with their outer shells swapped out for solid gold and buttons replaced with precious stones. With the MacBook Air, however, he’s gone a slightly different direction. This time, the shell is made of 2.5 kilograms of pure platinum. Of course, he hasn’t forgotten the stones–the Apple logo is made with 53 flawless diamonds weighing in at 25.5 carats. The most expensive MacBook in the world is a limited edition of only 10 notebooks.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Wallpaper

2010-03-18T11:04:00.001+08:00

What kind of artist works with a hunting knife? Ask Mark Evans, the pioneer whose work has been called “leather sculpting.” That work will soon adorn the walls of one Russian billionaire’s mansion as the most expensive wallpaper in the world.

Evans works by etching the leather down to the suede with a number of bladed tools of different sizes, from a large hunting knife to several sculpting knives. The results are photorealistic depictions of animals, the crucifixion and even the celebrated “Fight of the Year” between Doug Jones and Muhammed Ali.

Evans’ leather etchings will cover the walls of two rooms in a mansion in Moscow. The unnamed billionaire’s wallpaper will cost $2.71 million, or around $23,675 per square meter.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

World’s Most Expensive Ice

2010-02-03T07:12:00.001+08:00

As if the bottled water craze that has stigmatized tap water consumption wasn’t enough of a waste of money, one company has hit upon an even more fantastic way to throw away your money—some of the most expensive ice in the world.

Gläce Luxury Ice Co. have eschewed the typical ice cube for a more pleasing sphere. Each 2.5” sphere is carved by hand and made with pure water to preserve the flavor of high-end drinks. Gläce recommends allowing a sphere to “age” for 3-4 minutes once you’ve removed it from the freezer, lest your precious status symbol be marred by “crackling” and “spidering.” These luxury ice spheres cost $8 each.

Gläce isn’t the first company to make ice spheres for beverage cooling, however. Okamoto Studios—New York’s most expensive ice sculptors—once made ice balls for an event at a bar. Using a leather strap, screws and dog bowls, they made ice balls for patrons’ drinks. By using differently sized bowls, they were even able to vary the sizes of the balls.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

World’s Most Expensive Jeans

2010-02-03T06:58:00.001+08:00

The popular worker’s denim trousers have become modern day fashion and status symbols. Designer jeans come in and out of popularity but in the early 2000s, expensive jeans started coming back into fashion with brands such as APO Jeans, Chip and Pepper, Paper Denim & Cloth, Seven for All Mankind, True Religion and many other brands costing $200 or more per pair.

The Guinness Book of Records listed a pair of Gucci Genius jeans featuring elaborate feathers, beads, rips and buttons as most expensive jeans off-the-rack at a cost of $3,134 and Forbes once showcased Escada’s Swarovski crystal-encrusted jeans that sold for US $10,000.

Levi Strauss Company bid $46,532 to buy a pair of their own brand of jeans back on the popular auction site eBay. However, the most expensive old jeans were an average pair of 501 jeans manufactured in the 1880s and purchased by a Japanese collector in 2005 for $60,000.

None of those prices, however, can even hold a candle to that commanded by Dussault Apparel’s Trashed Denim line of luxury jeans. These men’s jeans are handmade using a special process where they are washed thirteen times, with dying and painting performed between each washing to add depth to the jeans. That’s not all, though, as each pair of Trashed Denim jeans is adorned with sixteen 1-carat rubies, twenty-six .05-carat rubies, eight .05-carat diamonds and 1080 grams of 18k white or rose gold.

So how much are the most expensive jeans in the world? Try a quarter-million dollars. That’s right; Dussault Apparel’s Trashed Denim jeans are priced at $250,000. They can be purchased at the Dussault store in Los Angeles or Kustom in New York City.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Terms and Conditions

2010-02-03T06:52:00.001+08:00

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Most Expensive Playstation 3

2010-01-19T06:49:00.001+08:00

Retailing at around $600, the Playstation 3 was already an expensive console when it was released. Its price has dropped considerably since then but, thanks to luxury gadget designer Stuart Hughes, you can still break your bank on a PS3.

The most expensive Playstation 3 in the world, like the Wii Supreme, sports a 22k gold exterior accented with flawless diamonds. Fifty-eight .5 carat diamonds decorate either side of the disc loader on the PS3 Supreme and over 1,600 grams of gold were used to create its shell. The entire process took twelve weeks from start to finish.

The world’s most expensive PS3 is valued at £199,995—around US $323,000. If you want one, though, you’d better snap it up soon—the PS3 Supreme is limited to only three consoles.

Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Two-Way Speaker System

2010-01-06T06:49:00.001+08:00

Two-way speakers—speakers with only woofers and tweeters and no midrange drivers—don’t get a lot of love from the high-end audio industry. Once you’re spending big bucks on loudspeakers, it seems like you might as well go with three- or even four-way speakers. That hasn’t stopped Audio Note from releasing their high-end AN/E two-way speaker systems.

While we previously reported Bower and Wilkins’ Signature Diamond system as the most expensive two-way speaker system in the world, its price is dwarfed by that of the Audio Note AN/E SOGON system.

Audio Note’s watchword seems to be “efficiency.” Well, at more than 95 decibels at 1 Watt, the AN/E certainly delivers. The AN/E SOGON is housed in a cabinet designed for both driver dispersion and bass output and has frequency bandwidth from 18 Hz to 23 kHz at -6 dB. It features AN silver foil caps, ALNICO woofer and tweeter magnets (as available) and braided strands of Audio Note’s 99.99% pure silver SOGON cables.

This luxury two-way speaker system is priced at $125,000, but several less expensive versions of the AN/E are available.

Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Exclusive Golf Car

2009-12-08T06:32:00.001+08:00

Introducing The Garia - the world's most exclusive golf car, made at the same factory as the Porsche Cayman and the Porsche Boxster.

Innovative thinking and quality craftsmanship make The Garia the only golf car in the world created with a meticulous attention to design and luxury. The result is a truly unique golf car that is guaranteed to give you an exceptional driving experience.
The Garia features an in-built refrigerator, hand-stitched seats, and an exclusive personalization program where you can choose to have The Garia painted in your favorite color or matched to your other cars. There is no doubt that you will get the most desirable golf car ever created.

Built to the highest standards of the automotive industry The Garia features a double wishbone front suspension similar to those found in sports cars and inspired by Formula 1 cars. The drive train is built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes. The aluminum profiles in the frame are made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo. Hydraulic brakes on all four wheels with discs in the front and drums at the rear. The Garia is manufactured at the Valmet Automotive factory in Finland, manufacturer of the Porsche Cayman and Porsche Boxster.

Designed by Danish designer Anders Lynge, The Garia follows the renowned Scandinavian tradition of clear-cut and classic lines combined with functionality. The Garia Golf Car is a complete reinvention of the traditional golf car. Unsurpassed in terms of luxury, design and quality, The Garia sets new standards for the golf car industry.

Visit garia.com for video presentations, press photo gallery, and the Garia Design Center where you can design your own Garia. Prices start at USD 17,499/ Euro 13,999 (excl. delivery and taxes)

[Source: www.garia.com]

Most Expensive Office Chairs

2009-11-27T08:54:00.001+08:00

How much time do you spend in your office chair? For some, the comfort offered by an office chair is important as that of a bed. After all, anyone with a desk job can spend over half of their day in one or the other. If that sounds like your typical day and you happen to be a millionaire, then the world’s most expensive office chair may be right for you.

Created by Pininfarina, an Italian car design firm best known for designing luxury cars like Ferraris and Cadillacs, the Aresline Xten could be the most comfortable chair ever made. The Dynamic Synchronized Tilting system allows users to tilt the back and the seat independently while the Technogel in the cushions makes them conform to the shape of the user. The chair is also made from a durable fabric called Dynatec, which is also used by Olympic athletes.

The most expensive chair in the world is priced at $1.5 million. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, it’s also only offered in the UAE—as if there’s a market for luxury items in places like Dubai.

If you’ve considerably less to spend on your office chair but you still want something expensive, then check out this chair by award-winning designer and architect Hadi Teherani of Germany. As far as we know, it’s the world’s second most expensive office chair at a (relatively) low price of $65,000. Instead of high-tech features and rare leathers, this chair is just well-designed. Of course, it also features silver and gold plating. That can’t hurt the price.

If you’re interested in purchasing one of the most expensive office chairs in the world, check your company’s expense account policy first. You never know, they might approve it.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Sneakers

2009-11-04T06:39:00.001+08:00

Would you pay $50,000 for a pair of sneakers? What if they were encrusted with diamonds? Laced Up, a boutique based in Atlanta, Georgia, has just launched a new customization service called Solitaire Kicks. Their first offering, a $50,000 pair of Nike Air Force One “So Cals,” may just be the most expensive sneakers in the world.

Solitaire Kicks offers customers the chance to deck out their sneakers with yellow, blue or white diamonds as well as gold and platinum. Laced Up offers the service in partnership with Prriya & Chintans Couture and Jewelry, with whom customers will consult when customizing their expensive sneakers.

The So Cals themselves bear a Nike logo cast in gold and adorned with 11-carat diamonds. The diamonds’ casings are affixed to the shoes by gold stitching. The most expensive sneakers in the world were presented to rapper Big Boi at the Solitaire Kicks launch party in late November.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive SUVs

2009-10-20T06:53:00.001+08:00

Extremely expensive sports utility vehicles are nothing new. Porsche and Hummer currently produce some of the world’s most expensive SUVs. An infatuation with high-priced gas-guzzlers has produced a market of jaw dropping SUVs that are sure to impress even the toughest critics.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ($112,000-150,000)

This 520 horsepower beast is capable of handling even the most extreme conditions. The Cayenne Turbo S has a base MSRP of $112,000 and hit sales floors in 2003. But if you want it with all the amenities like colored Porsche crests on the wheels, the off-road tech package, and the 20-inch wheels and tires, you can expect a price tag of almost 150 grand! When off-road, the Cayenne Turbo S features a 2.4 inch suspension articulation for those pesky boulders or fallen trees as well as a unique “hill-descent mode” where the SUV can safely inch its way down a slippery slope at a set speed without assistance from the driver’s foot. This SUV will put your standard sports car to shame, running the coveted 0-60 miles per hour in an astounding 4.8 seconds.

Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris (around $300,000)

Originally called the D12, the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris SSUV was introduced in 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show. Some of the standard features of the Spyker SSUV include: fulltime four-wheel drive, four doors (suicide configuration), carbon-ceramic matrix brakes, and all aluminum construction. While it was originally intended to have a Audi W12 engine, it is now believed to be fitted with a V8 by an unknown American company—hence the change from “D12″ to “D8.”

“Warrior One” Hummer H1 ($1.25 million)

On January 20th of 2007, CNN auctioned off a Hummer used by journalists that were covering the war in Iraq. Proceeds from the auction were donated to the Fisher House Foundation. Dave Liniger, a Vietnam veteran and the founder of Re/Max International Inc., purchased the most expensive SUV ever sold at auction, bidding $1 million for the Hummer. Another bidder, Dave Ressler, contributed an additional $250,000 to benefit the charity. The Hummer H1 was the world’s most expensive SUV until it ended production in 2006.

Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition – $1.5 million

Perfect for the urban warrior, this bulletproof SUV is an upgrade from the original 8.1 liter GM V8-powered Dartz Kombat T98. Debuting at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco show, the most expensive SUV in the world will feature ruby red matte paint, gold-plated bulletproof windows, 22″ Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels, tungsten exhaust and a coating of kevlar. The badges and dials are made with white gold, diamonds and rubies. It also features a special Vertu mobile phone with an “alert” button and a Rogue Acoustic Audio System. Best of all, the interior is lined with whale penis leather!

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Toilet Paper

2009-09-21T08:48:00.001+08:00

Do you ever feel like your toilet paper doesn’t communicate your wealth as well as it could? Fortunately for anyone who has, that insurmountable problem has been surmounted by Renovo, makers of the most expensive toilet paper in the world.

Renovo’s luxury toilet paper is the ultimate in luxury toiletries. This soft TP is made of 100% virgin pulp for maximum softness. It’s three-ply and colorfast. Yes, you read that right—it’s colorfast. Renovo’s designer toilet paper comes in six different colors—black, red, green, orange, blue and fuchsia.

Renovo toilet paper is priced from just over $3 for a single roll to $7.60 for six rolls. It can be seen—and, I suppose, used—in upscale restaurant and hotel bathrooms in the US, Canada and Europe.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive RV

2009-09-07T07:34:00.001+08:00

Whether you call them campers, caravans, coaches or recreational vehicles, RVs represent both the freedom of the open road and the comfort of home. While no RV can be a substitute for a hundred million dollar mansion, the world’s most expensive RV certainly tries.

Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way first—yes, the Vantare Platinum Plus holds a car. It doesn’t come with a car—you have to supply that yourself—but it can carry a sports car in the port between its front and rear wheels. You probably couldn’t fit an Oldsmobile in there, but why would you have an Oldsmobile when you can afford an RV like this?

The next bit of luxury comes as you enter this expensive camper. The entry steps are made of rare Inca marble sporting hand-made glass and copper risers. Entering the helm, you’ll see an Italian leather ceiling, sapele veneer on the dash and steering wheel and an Avic N-2 GPS system.

The Platinum Plus features a salon area with a reclining Italian sofa, a liquor cabinet stocked with Michael Weems glasses and a Neiman Marcus decanter and a desk complete with notebook, printer and sueded drawers.

In the stateroom, a plasma TV rises from the floorboard across from the luxuriously adorned king-sized bed. The galley is equally well-appointed, though you’ll have to hire your own chef. There’s even a treadmill in the aft closet.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Hard Drive

2009-08-24T07:17:00.001+08:00

Okay, technically it’s a whole lot of hard drives.

The most expensive storage on the market is an array of twenty RamSan-620 solid state drives weighing in at a grand total of 100 terabytes. According to Texas Memory Systems, makers of the storage system, the RamSan 6200 is capable of 5,000,000 IOPS (independent operations per second) and sustained bandwidth of up to 60 GB/s.

The RamSan 6200 offers data protection with dependable chips, an “active-spare” system in case a drive actually does fail, and data mirroring in separate Logical Storage Units.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the system is that it draws only 6 kilowatts.

The world’s most expensive storage system has a hefty price of $4.4 million.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive iPod Accessory

2009-08-17T09:07:00.001+08:00

It’s larger than some living room furniture and over 170 lbs—not exactly a mobile device—but it may just be the world’s most expensive iPod accessory. Switzerland-based Geneva’s GenevaSound Home Theater system embodies the concepts for which Apple has become famous—utility and simplicity.

Each GenevaSound system is completely housed in a lacquered wooden cabinet that not only belies the sophistication of its inner workings but also ensures the sound is natural and warm. The Home Theater features seven individually powered speakers—2 x 1″ tweeters, 4 x 5 1/4″ woofers and a 12″ sub-woofer—and an equal number of digital hi-fi 100-Watt amplifiers. The horizontal surface is 66” x 21”, so there’s ample space for a high-definition television, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or whatever else you want to put on it. The system also features a CD player, FM Radio, and both digital and analog line-in.

It also has a universal iPod/iPhone dock that can deliver both audio and video output from your iPod to your home theater.

Am I stretching the definition of “iPod accessory”? Perhaps I am, but kindly note that nearly every promotional image of this extraordinary piece of equipment features one of Apple’s iconic devices and the word “iPod” displayed on the GenevaSound’s display.

The most expensive iPod accessory in the world has a retail price of $3,999. Geneva also produces GenevaSound System Models M, L and XL—audio systems intended for rooms sized from small/medium to extra large—for $799-$1,449.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Wii Game

2009-08-03T13:57:00.001+08:00

September 9th, 2009 will see the release of The Beatles: Rock Band. The latest game in the Rock Band series of music video games, The Beatles will be a standalone game based on the band that started the British Invasion in 1964. It will also be the most expensive game on the Wii console—even without peripherals like guitars and drumsets.

The game is a collaboration between MTV, Harmonix—developers of the Rock Band series—and The Beatles’ Apple Corps. Ltd. (which does not make iPods). The game’s developers are striving to make it historically accurate and input from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono will only help them in this endeavor.

While Wii games are generally priced at $49.99, MTV has decided that The Beatles: Rock Band for Wii will have the same pricepoint as its later-generation counterparts on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360—$59.99. A $250 Limited Edition Premium bundle featuring the microphone, drums and guitar will also be available.

I imagine if you are a fanatical, albeit rather broke Beatles and gaming fan, you may even consider getting an easy cash advance to have this premium limited edition bundle series of the popular Rock Band game. It will surely be worth the time spent with your friends and family, pseudo-rocking out as the world's first (and best) boy band.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Trash Can

2009-07-20T08:04:00.001+08:00

The world’s most expensive garbage cans are the work of contemporary pop artist Sylvie Fleury.

Created in a limited edition of twenty-five pieces, these garbage cans are made of steel pressed with gold leaf. Each one is stamped with “SF 2003” and its individual number on the underside. Number 25 was made available at Phillips de Pury & Company’s Contemporary Art Sale in New York on May 15th 2009.

Fleury’s other works include various “MINISKIRTS ARE BACK” paintings and an installation featuring a pyramid of Slim-Fast boxes.

The most expensive trash cans in the world are valued at $10,000-15,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive BlackBerries

2009-05-26T07:30:00.001+08:00

RIM’s BlackBerry has come a long way in the years since its introduction as a two-way pager in 1999. Known for its push e-mail feature, the BlackBerry series held a place among the elite smartphones before anyone had even heard of an iPhone.

If that doesn’t scream “Cover it in diamonds,” well, I don’t know what does.

Swiss luxury designer Knalihs Athem has created a suitably expensive BlackBerry. Each Knalihs Athem BlackBerry Bold Limited Diamond Edition is customized with the buyer’s choice of pink, yellow, black, champagne and white diamonds. The back of the phone is also customized with leather, crocodile or snake skin, or denim—each available in at least two different colors. Of course, it also has all the standard features of the BlackBerry Bold.

The Knalihs Athem BlackBerry isn’t the first BlackBerry to get the diamond treatment—Amosu released their own BlackBerry Pearl Diamond Edition in 2008. The diamonds used to make this particular phone were recyclable—owners could have them refit to their next BlackBerry when the Pearl became obsolete. Sold for over $88,000, the Amosu BlackBerry came with a concierge service giving purchasers access to a variety of luxury services.

So which one is the most expensive BlackBerry in the world? Unfortunately, the price of Knalihs Athem’s BlackBerry seems to have been filed under “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Airsoft Rifle

2009-05-11T18:30:00.001+08:00

Airsoft is a sport much like paintball with its military simulations, replicas of real firearms, etc. The only thing missing, of course, is the pain—airsoft players must rely on the honesty of their opponents. Given the level of seriousness with which the game is taken, it’s no surprise that players are willing to dole out beaucoup bucks for their airsoft weaponry.

This offering by RedWolf Custom Guns may be the world’s most expensive airsoft rifle. It’s a Systema PTW (Professional Training Weapon), which can handle both Systema M90 and M150 cylinders. The piece also includes a custom adjustable ergonomic stock, Prime CNC receiver with STAG markings, a customized but fully functional Magpul MIAD adjustable grip and a 12” stainless steel Air Surgeon outer barrel. Use of this weapon may qualify as overkill—it fires at an amazing velocity of 460 feet per second.

The most expensive airsoft rifle is up for grabs on Red Wolf’s site for $4,288. If you can find an airsoft gun more expensive than that, we’d love to hear about it.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Netbook

2009-05-01T06:48:00.001+08:00

Netbooks, smaller and less powerful laptops meant to be used in conjunction with a host of web-based applications, entered the public consciousness with the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Association’s goal of distributing the ultraportable computers throughout developing countries. Now netbooks like Asus’ Eee PC and Acer’s Aspire One are starting to overtake the laptop PC market.

So, you know, eventually someone will have to go and stick some diamonds on one.

Until then, the most expensive netbook in the world is this unique Aspire One painted in the Kyo Yuzen tradition by UFO-Hayashi, a Japanese artist known for his work on iPods, phones and other gadgets. The painting represents life in its spring, rebounding after the long and cold winter. Painting the device took the artist around three months to finish and shavings from nautilus shells were used in the process.

As for its specs, the unique netbook features the Aspire One’s typical 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB memory and a 120 GB hard drive.

The world’s most expensive netbook is up for grabs on eBay until May 1st with a starting bid of $3,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Suit

2009-04-27T08:52:00.001+08:00

Luxury designer Alexander Amosu, whose London-based design house is mostly known for gem-studded phones and accessories, has done something a little different this year—he’s created the world’s single most expensive suit.

The fabric of the single-breasted suit is made from vicuña wool, the most expensive wool in the world due to its scarcity and stringent regulations on wool-gathering, and qiviut, luxury wool made from the coats of muskoxen. It’s also threaded with 18-karat gold and its single button features pave set diamonds.

This fantastic suit took a total of 80 hours to make and has already been sold to an anonymous buyer for an equally fantastic price of £70,000—over US $100,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Car Audio System

2009-04-16T11:59:00.001+08:00

Looking for a top of the line audio system to put in your spacious new SUV? Why not try the world’s most expensive car audio system? Up and coming luxury audio system creators Rogue Acoustics made a splash when they unveiled their premiere car audio system, the RA:1K.

While the RA:1K is highly customizable, the majority of systems will be installed with nine or ten drivers—four tweeters, four mid-range drivers and one or two subwoofers. These will be supported with up to six amplifiers capable of delivering extraordinarily clear sound at equally extraordinary volumes (0.0008% harmonic distortion at 100 watts and a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 115dB). All of these features will ensure that your car stereo will sound better than it ever has.

Additionally, the central amp will include a cellular connection allowing Rogue technicians to remotely tune the system or even disable it if it’s stolen. The system can even diagnose itself and, if necessary, automatically request that a service appointment be scheduled.

The most basic version of the most expensive car audio system can be purchased for $72,000, but a serious audiophile can spend over $300,000 on all the bells and whistles that may be included.

Prior to the unveiling of the Rogue Acoustics Audio System, Critical Mass’ CES5.1 Electrostatic Surround Sound System was the most expensive car audio system available. It was lauded for the twelve relatively small electrostatic speakers included in the system; such speakers are normally quite large. In fact, the system outfitted four seats with independent left, right and center drivers while a single pair of rear speakers and a UL12 subwoofer dominated the back of the car. Only ten of these systems were made and they were priced at $259,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal

Most Expensive Irish Whiskey

2009-04-11T09:15:00.001+08:00

When the heir of the Persse family estate, including the Nun’s Island Distillery in Galway, Ireland, decided to pursue racehorse training instead of continuing the family business, he probably didn’t realize he was creating what may be the world’s most expensive Irish whiskey—that is, if anyone ever buys it.

According to whisky seller Ken Thomas’ story of the expensive bottle, it was brought to him by a customer who had inherited it from a lady friend of the Persse heir. Dating from the late 1800s, the 25 Year Old Pure Pot Still Whiskey was one of the last bottles produced by the Nun’s Island Distillery, which closed its doors around 1913.

Thomas’ Arkwrights Whisky and Wines store is offering the bottle, on behalf of its owner, for £100,000 (US $143,020). If it sells at that price, it won’t just be the most expensive Irish whiskey ever sold—it’ll be the overall most expensive whisky ever sold.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Home Entertainment Center

2009-03-28T19:38:00.001+08:00

Would you settle for an enormous widescreen television and 7.1 surround sound system? What if you’re a sound engineer, producer and multimillionaire? Thus is the case with Jeremy Kipnis and the world’s most expensive home entertainment center.

The audio portion of the system includes thirty-seven Snell and MuRata speakers attached to thirty-five Mark Levinson, McIntosh and Crown Audio amplifiers as well as thirteen Theta Digital surround sound processers. For video, Kipnis chose a professional-grade Sony video projector and an 18-by-10-foot laboratory-grade motion picture screen. He doesn’t need to worry about media formats, either; the multitude of players included in his system can play Blu-ray discs, HD DVDs, CDs, DVDs, Laserdiscs and even VHS tapes. In case that isn’t enough, there’s a SATA drive that holds 72 hours of HD footage and a PlayStation 3. There’s even a kind of swordfish-shaped model ship thing.

All told, the most expensive home entertainment center in the world set Mr. Kipnis back a mere $6 million. Considering the sheer number of devices that make up the system, I’d say that’s a bargain.

Picture Elements:
Sony SRX-S110 Professional Video Projector (4,096-by-2,160)
Stewart 18-by-10-foot Snowmatte 1.0 Gain Laboratory-Grade Motion Picture Screen

Players and Sources:
Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player
Sony PlayStation 3 Gaming Console
Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player
JVC HMDH-5U D-VHS Recorder
SATA Drive (72 HDTV Hours Total)
Mark Levinson N° 51 DVD/CD Media Player
Pioneer HLD-X0 Hi-Vision HDTV MUSE Laserdisc Player

Surround Processing and Decoding:
Theta Digital Generation VIII 32-bit 8x Oversampling Dual Processors (13)

Amplification:
Mark Levinson N° 33h Amplifiers (2)
McIntosh MC-2102 Amplifiers (30)
Crown Macro Reference Gold Amplifiers (3)

Speakers:
Snell 1800 THX Music & Cinema Reference Subwoofers (16)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference Towers (8)
MuRata ES103A Super Tweeters (10)
Snell THX Music & Cinema Reference LCR-2800 Center-Channel Speakers (3)

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Saxophone

2009-03-21T09:42:00.001+08:00

Unveiled at the Thailand Millionaire Expo, an event held in honor of that country’s King Bhumipol, the world’s most expensive saxophone is a hard one to miss. It was created by Diamonds in Glass, an aptly-named workshop that specializes in combining diamonds and glass.

This silica sax is made of glass plated with 2.82 ounces of gold and adorned with ten 2-carat diamonds. The magnificent instrument was handmade, taking a total of sixty-five hours to create.

It was presented at the November 2007 event as a piece to be auctioned to benefit the Princess Pa Foundation. The most expensive saxophone in the world was estimated to be worth over $60,000.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Grill (For Your Teeth, Not Your Barbecue)

2009-03-14T10:41:00.001+08:00

If you’re male and listen to hip hop, then you’ve probably considered getting a grill at one time or another. After all, what better way is there to show off your bling than to stick it to your teeth? Of course, if you want to put the most money where your mouth is, you’re going to have to get the most expensive grill in the world. A Paul Wall grill

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Ring

2009-03-06T10:01:00.001+08:00

If you’re an aging bachelor and billionaire looking to wed someone half your age, you may want to look into expensive engagement rings. One such individual’s proposal to an ex-model involved a $1.5 million engagement ring. That may seem way out there, but it’s not even close to the most expensive ring in the world.

The Chopard Blue Diamond Ring is the ring that makes any other diamond ring look bad. Set with an enormous, oval-shaped blue diamond, the expensive ring also has diamond shoulders and an 18k white gold band paved with diamonds.

Blue diamond is among the most expensive diamonds in the world. It is found among boron deposits, from whence it derives its shade. This particular gem weighs in at nine carats.

The world’s most expensive ring is valued at $16.26 million, enough to put a dent in the wallets of even the wealthiest individuals

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Chair

2009-02-27T16:58:00.001+08:00

A chair belonging to late and great French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent has just made history as the world’s most expensive chair.

The founder of the eponymous YSL luxury brand, Saint Laurent died in June of 2008 just a few days after marrying his partner and co-founder, Pierre Bergé.

The expensive armchair had belonged to a Paris-based art dealer before finding its way into the hands of Saint Laurent and Bergé. Reportedly, that very same art dealer is the person who paid ten times the chair’s estimated value to procure it at a Christie’s auction.

The chair was made by Irish designer Eileen Gray sometime between 1917 and 1919. Called the “Dragons” chair, it is one of Gray’s masterpieces and was expected to sell for €2-3 millions.

At Paris’ Grand Palais, held February 24th, the most expensive chair in the world was sold for €21.9 million—that’s US $27.8 million!

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Cloth

2009-02-20T20:15:00.001+08:00

Holland and Sherry—a Scottish textile company that has outfitted George Clooney, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise—has recently announced their production of the most expensive cloth in the world.

The fabric is the first in the world to be woven from 100% worsted vicuña. Vicuña, as you may recall, is the world’s most expensive wool and can only be shorn from the animal once every three years. The cloth can be purchased in three different colors—natural, midnight and black.

Unfortunately for Holland and Sherry, their offering, priced at £3,000 (US $4,319) per yard, falls somewhat short of being the world’s most expensive fabric.

Scabal—whose clients include Bill Clinton, Daniel Craig, Robert DeNiro and Jack Nicholson—announced their expensive fabric a mere eight months before Holland and Sherry announced theirs. Also made of vicuña, Scabal has gone one step further by weaving gold into the cloth. The result is the Gold Treasure range, priced at £4,000 (US $5,759) per meter—that works out to $1,755 per foot versus Holland and Sherry’s $1,439 per foot.

It can be purchased in charcoal, black or midnight blue.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Pizza

2009-02-17T11:28:00.001+08:00

Pizza is one of the staples of the modern American diet, especially amongst the young and the lower class. It’s generally regarded as a cheap and convenient meal with more going for it than its fast food competition. So when we heard about chef Domenico Crolla’s “Pizza Royale 007″, we were quite shocked. It didn’t seem likely that someone would have set out to make the world’s most expensive pizza when usually pizza is such a low budget meal.

The 12 inch pizza pie is densely packed with an assortment of some of the world’s most expensive food ingredients, such as lobster marinated in cognac, caviar soaked in champagne, sunblush tomato sauce, Scottish smoked salmon, venison medallions, prosciutto, and vintage balsamic vinegar. In addition to all these fine ingredients, it’s topped with a significant amount of edible 24-carat gold flakes.

Mr. Crolla originally claimed that the novelty luxury pizza was worth some $3,700, and he would auction it on eBay and donate the proceeds to The Fred Hollows Foundation. The Fred Hollows Foundation is a UK organization that seeks to eradicate avoidable blindness in developing countries. The auction ended November 19, 2006 with the highest bid by Italian lawyer Maurizio Morelli reaching £2,150 (approx. $4,200 in US dollars). Morelli is a charitable food connoisseur from Rome who also collects fine wines and truffles. The Guinness Book of World Records is reviewing the details of the pizza’s sale and it is under consideration for taking the record for “World’s Most Expensive Pizza” from a less extravagant white truffle pizza created by Gordon Ramsay’s Maze restaurant in London.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Pool Table

2009-02-09T21:34:00.001+08:00

How much do you love the game of pool? Do you love it more than your car? More than your house? Well, thanks to Vincent Facquet, you now have the option to really vote with your wallet by buying the world’s most expensive pool table.

The Luxury Billiard is a 117-by-67-inch table with a 100-by-50-inch playing surface made of Iwan Simonis 860, the same cloth used on tables at any major billiards event. Surprisingly, the sights—a. k. a. “diamonds”—on the most expensive billiards table aren’t made with diamonds. You heard that right—someone actually managed to resist the urge to deck out an ultra-luxury item in precious gems. Instead, they’re inlayed with gold or platinum. Gold or platinum are also used in leaf-form to create the exquisite pattern on the table’s legs.

The Luxury Billiard is just as functional as it is beautiful. It features an automated drawer that can hold a set of pool cues and balls. Additionally, the triangle is built into the table so that you need only push on it—like the CD-ROM drive on a laptop—to eject it from the table.

The most expensive pool table in the world can be had for a mere $177,000. It comes in three models—Noblesse (18k gold), Majesté and Royal (platinum)—but custom configurations are available.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Hotel ever Built

2009-02-06T22:22:00.001+08:00

The Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi may or may not be a profitable enterprise, but it’s certainly an impressive one. Costing over three billion dollars to build, the Emirates Palace is the most expensive hotel ever built. The hotel is, reportedly, intended to raise Abu Dhabi’s profile among international travelers.

And what a profile it has! This enormous hotel is lined with more gold than the cache at Fort Knox. The remainder of this expensive hotel’s façade is made of imported marble. In fact, the only part of the hotel we can safely assume isn’t made of one precious material or another is its mile-long private beach.

The hotel also boasts a nearly 200 foot high atrium, a highly advanced conference center and its own waterfall. The least expensive rooms in the world’s most expensive hotel are the Palace suites, which are each equipped with three bedrooms, a dining room and living room and go for over $700 a night.

In point of fact, the government of Abu Dhabi doesn’t refer to Emirates Palace as a hotel at all. To them, it’s a national landmark. Its name says all you need to know. In every sense of the word, it’s a palace.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Yacht

2009-02-04T20:38:00.001+08:00

The Jacht was originally a lightweight Dutch naval vessel used to pursue pirates in shallow waters. When King Charles II chose to sail in one on his return to England in what would later be known as the English Restoration, the Jacht became a symbol of important and, eventually, wealth and luxury. Today, that tradition is still quite alive and nothing demonstrates that fact better than the most expensive yacht in the world.

The most expensive yacht has gone by three names since its inception—Platinum 525, Golden Star and, most recently, Dubai. The Platinum 525 was commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei in 1996, but a lack of funds caused the project to be abandoned a scant couple of years later. In 2001, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, then Crown Prince and now ruler of Dubai, took over the project and renamed it the Golden Star. Since its recent completion, it has reportedly been sold and rechristened once again.

Dubai, as it is now called, is as expansive as it is expensive. The 525 foot yacht features an owner’s suite, five VIP suites and a number of guest bedrooms. The bridge features the captain’s quarters, an office and a lounge. The foyer and atrium connects each deck while lighting them from above via skylight. The luxury yacht is powered by four diesel engines with over 9,000 horsepower altogether.

Dubai’s $300 million price tag not only lives up to the boat’s namesake, where many of the world’s most expensive projects have taken place, but also ensures its place as the world’s most expensive yacht.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Corvette

2009-01-29T08:28:00.001+08:00

The long anticipated Corvette ZR1 may finally see the light of day in 2009. First unveiled at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in 2005, the car was supposedly the result of GM CEO Rick Wagoner wondering what his Chevrolet designers could do for $100,000. The answer, of course, is the most powerful and most expensive Corvette in the world.

Equipped with a new LS9 engine,a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 that produces 620 horsepower (100 hp per liter) and 6500 RPMs, this costly Corvette is reportedly capable of top speeds over 200 mph and experts guess it will be able to do 0-60 in around 3.0 seconds. That’s .6 seconds faster than the Z06. It also features a number of carbon-fiber body parts and adjustable suspension.

The Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z1 was formally announced in December 2007. The world’s most expensive Corvette still has a sticker price of $100,000 and, for anyone who wants to pimp out this luxury sports car, chrome wheels and premium interior options are available.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Champagne

2009-01-26T08:56:00.001+08:00

Champagne, a sparkling wine named after the Champagne region of France is the costliest wine to produce. To produce champagne there must be two fermentation processes, with the second step trapping carbon dioxide and making the bubbles. In most of Europe, the name “champagne” is legally protected meaning only the most expensive sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France can be marketed as champagne. In the United States and other areas, $3 bottles of wine are often labeled champagne.

People often drink Champagne as part of a celebration and when celebrating success many feel the need to show off. The most expensive champagnes are more about image than what is in the bottle.

Cristal Brut 1990 “Methuselah”
$17,625

This six-liter, gold-labeled bottle of Cristal Brut 1990, dubbed the Methuselah, was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York to an undisclosed buyer in 2005. At the time, Cristal was a favorite of the hip-hop crowd.

Dom Perignon White Gold Jeroboam
$40,000

During the same year, a limited edition bottle of Dom Perignon became the most expensive champagne in the world. Sold in three-liter bottles, the Dom Perignon White Gold Jeroboam was sold to commemorate the New Year. Much of its price, however, is surely due to the white gold bottle from which the expensive wine takes its name.

Pernod-Ricard Perrier-Jouet
$50,000

Each of the 100 sets contains twelve bottles of fine, expensive champagne. Marketed only to the ultra-rich, buyers will have the chance personalize their drinking experience by choosing the liqueur used in the champagne—and they’ll have to fly to Eastern France to do so. The sets are being sold to consumers in the United States, Britain, Japan, China, Russia, Switzerland and France. The price even includes a storage nest where the champagne may be allowed to age for up to eight months!

Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck
$275,000

These hundred year old bottles of Champagne from the Heidsieck vineyard in Champagne took over eighty years to reach their destination. Shipped to the Russian Imperial family in 1916, a shipwreck off the coast of Finland caused this champagne to be lost at sea until divers discovered over 200 bottles in 1997. Now they’re finally being sold—to wealthy guests at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow, at least. Of course, the wine’s extraordinary tale and incredible age are what makes it the world’s most expensive champagne.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive Club Membership

2009-01-23T15:43:00.001+08:00

Being filthy rich probably isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Imagine how much trouble it is planning which beach to lounge at, which ultra-luxury vehicle you’re going to drive that day and any other ways you may need to display your wealth that day, lest those around you forget their place. Enter consultant-turned-“Lifestyle Designer” Richard Nilsson, whose Résidence Supérieur may just be the most expensive club membership in the world.

The Résidence Supérieur Black Card allows its holder to access to a host of services—including private jets, butlers, fleets of luxury cars, Michelin-class chefs and more—based in the Résidence Supérieur resorts. Each of their properties are owned or designed by Résidence Supérieur to ensure that members get only the best of the best.

Villa Oxygene, the original Résidence Supérieur property in Super Cannes, was designed by one of France’s most distinguished architects and includes four luxury bedrooms, a garden house and, of course, a decently large swimming pool. Other Résidence Supérieur properties include Necker Island—one of the British Virgin Islands—and The Lodge in the Verbier ski resort in the Swiss Alps.

Best of all, cardholders need only give six hours notice to access any of these properties.

The Résidence Supérieur Black Card costs €200,000 (US $266,000) annually. It may be the world’s most expensive club membership but, hey, can you really put a price on “Extreme Luxury?”

[Source: Most Expensive Journal]

World’s Most Expensive Watches

2009-01-22T09:08:00.001+08:00

Watch collecting may be one of the most expensive hobbies in the world, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. Many antique timepieces are a testament to the brilliance of early and modern innovators.

Vacherin Constantin’s Tour de l’Ile - $1.5 million
Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin marked its 250th anniversary in 2005 with the world’s most complicated wrist watch—the Tour de l’Ile. The watch is so complicated that it required over 10,000 hours of research to create. Its name refers to one of the historical sites of the venerable company, located next to the current Maison Vacheron Constantin on the Quai de l’Ile.

Only produced in a limited edition of seven pieces, this expensive watch is also the most complicated double-face watch. Tour de l’Ile is made with a totally original combination of horological complications (that is, features beyond the simple telling of the time of day) and astronomical indications composing a list of sixteen different points including a minute repeater, sunset time, perpetual calendar, second time zone, a tourbillion device, the equation of time and a representation of the night sky.

At $1.5 million, this is one of the world’s most expensive watch produced in recent years.

Patek Philippe’s Platinum World Time - over $4 million

The Platinum World Time created by Patek Philippe was sold at auction for over $4 million USD in 2002. It is believed that only one was created and, at the time, it was the most expensive wristwatch in the world.

In fact, Patek Philippe had produced all of the ten most expensive watches in the world. The company, headquartered in Geneva, made their first wristwatch in 1868. They had already made a name for themselves prior to that, however, by providing watches to Queen Victoria herself in 1851. Other notable customers include Pope Pius IX, a king and queen of Denmark, an Italian king and Saddam Hussein’s son-in-law.

Patek Phillipe’s Supercomplication - $11 million

Patek Philippe’s most expensive watch was a yellow-gold pocket watch created in 1932 for New York banker Henry Graves, Jr. The watch, Supercomplication, was created as part of a vain competition Graves had with Ohio automobile engineer James Ward Packard to have commissioned a watch with the most complications in the world. This watch, of course, guaranteed that Graves won the contest. Supercomplication wasn’t surpassed until over fifty years later, when Patek Philippe created the 18k gold Caliber 89 which had a total of thirty-three different functions.

Graves’ watch became the most expensive watch in the world when it was sold at auction in 1999 for over $11 million USD. Caliber 89 went for a mere $6 million.

Chopard’s $25 million watch

Yes, you read that right: twenty-five million dollars. This gaudy timepiece by Chopard is adorned with three heart-shaped diamonds—a 15-carat pink diamond, a 12-carat blue diamond and an 11-carat white diamond. For good measure, they threw in 163 carats of white and yellow diamonds to bring the total to 201 carats of diamonds. The result is something that looks rather like a geode that’s been turned inside out and dipped in lemon Kool-Aid. Add to that the fact that the size of the watch’s face must make telling time into a fun game of Where’s Waldo and you’ll see that Chopard has truly created a recipe for success.

Of course, its $25 million price tag guarantees its place as the world’s most expensive watch for years to come.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Stuff

2009-01-22T08:51:00.001+08:00

Filipino Web Design

You have a great business idea, you have great products, and you know that the Internet is today's greatest resource for potential customers. Only one thing stands between you and the 700,000,000 people in the world who have Internet access: you aren't a web designer. At this point, you say to yourself, "I need to hire a web designer to get my small business on-line."

We offer the tools to assist you in marketing your business to it’s full potential. From designing or re-designing a brand new, professionally designed custom website to creating a new corporate identity logo, We have what it takes to help you in reaching your goals.

Check out the website: http://www.filipinowebdesign.com
Check out Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/FilipinoWebDesign

Adobe Photoshop CS2 on Ubuntu

This HOW-TO covers up the whole process of installing Adobe Photoshop CS2 on a Ubuntu box in a few simple steps. This method has been tested only on Ubuntu, but it should work on any other linux flavor. Any questions or feedback leave them in the comments.

-What you need?

A fresh install of Ubuntu + all the updates
A Windows box with a fully installed and activated version of Adobe Photoshop CS2

- Fire up a terminal session and type the next commands;

TIP: Instead of using apt-get, you can install them with the Synaptic Package Manager located in the System/Administration menu

1 sudo apt-get update
2 sudo apt-get install wine
3 sudo wine
4 sudo apt-get install recode

- Then you need to copy all the necessary files from the Windows box;

Copy the whole Adobe folder from “c:\Program Files\” to “/home/YOURNAME/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/”

- Now you need to export the registry keys of the Adone Photoshop CS2;

In your Windows box, type “regedit” in the command-line and export the whole “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Adobe/” to “adobe.reg”.
The next step is to copy that file to your Ubuntu box and convert it to the encoding of YOUR system. For example, if your Ubuntu box has as default charset ascii and your Windows box has ucs-2 then “$ recode ucs-2..ascii adobe.reg” would do the trick.
After you converted your adobe.reg file, type “$ sudo wine regedit adobe.reg” to import it to wine.

That’s it! Type “$ sudo wine –winver winxp “[path to Photoshop]/photoshop.exe” or create a launcher and enjoy Adobe Photoshop CS2 on Ubuntu :)

[Source: LuisCosio]

Desktoptopia
http://desktoptopia.com/
Desktoptopia is a FREE desktop background manager that automatically loads and displays designer desktops on your monitor, as often as you wish.

Desktoptopia is packed with features that make it simple to automatically update your monitor with our designer desktops as often as you like.

Huge Collection of Designer Desktops
We are working with some of the most talented designers in the world to create a master collection of backgrounds exclusive to Desktoptopia. Our huge collection grows everyday, so you're sure to to be inspired with the freshest and latest designs. Why hunt through all the landscapes and Hello Kitty desktops out there? Let us bring the best to you.

You're In Control
Loving the current desktop? Can't stop staring at it? Just click Pause in the menubar, and stare all you want. You can also go back, or to the next desktop right from the menubar. Setting how often your desktop changes is just as simple.

The Wisdom of Crowds
You can rate desktops anytime from the menubar. You can also subscribe to categories like Photography, Illustration, Typography, Architecture, Graphic Design, 3D, and Abstract. Or you can mix it up with a little from all the categories.

Multiple Monitor Support
Got two monitors? We're so jealous. But, Desktoptopia has got you covered. You can decide how you want Desktoptopia to work with your multiple-monitor set up. You can have twice the love and duplicate the desktop on both monitors, only show desktops on one (whichever one you want), or show different desktops on each monitor.

My Desktop
Need to switch to windows for my work. here's my new desktop for January 2009

Theme: eno vs by ~lassekongo83 [link]
Wallpaper: De Fréu by =Uribaani [link]
Icons: Tango Patcher 2600 8.06 by ~vertigosity [link]
Rainlendar: Default Skin
Rainmeter:
System Info: forgot where i got the skin. (but i modified this one)
CD Art Display: Sticky Cover for CAD by ~derrington12 [link]
Weather by ~Jetpac [link]

Geeks Social Network http://geeks.pirillo.com/
Do you consider yourself a geek? Find other geeks here. You can be geeky about anything in life. We're passionate. Early adopters unite!

My Geeks Profile [link]

Pidgin
http://pidgin.im/
IM all your friends in one place

Pidgin is a chat program which lets you log in to accounts on multiple chat networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on MSN, talking to a friend on Google Talk, and sitting in a Yahoo chat room all at the same time.

Pidgin runs on Windows, Linux, and other UNIX operating systems. Looking for Pidgin for OS X? Try Adium!

Pidgin is compatible with the following chat networks out of the box: AIM, ICQ, Google Talk, Jabber/XMPP, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, IRC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, QQ, Lotus Sametime, SILC, SIMPLE, MySpaceIM, and Zephyr. It can support many more with plugins.

Pidgin supports many features of these chat networks, such as file transfers, away messages, buddy icons, custom smilies, and typing notifications. Numerous plugins also extend Pidgin's functionality above and beyond the standard features.

Pidgin is free and contains no ads. All our code is open source and licensed under the GNU General Public License. This means you can get Pidgin's underlying code and modify it to suit your needs, as long as you publish the changes you make for everyone to benefit from as well.

What I Like

2009-01-22T08:50:00.001+08:00

The Drummer.
This is what I am known for because I started holding the drumsticks ever since I was 12 years old. I became the school drummer back in high school, and I am currently playing for our band.

The Music lover.
But I wasn't contented with the drums, and started playing the guitar as well. Bass, lead, even the keyboard. I guess everything can be achieved as long as you practice hard enough.

The Webpage Developer.
My interest in computers made me discontented with a Management course, and I pushed through in studying programming and web page developing. This is what I love doing.

The Car lover.
I used to love cars ever since i was born. i know everything about cars. From racing cams to traction control, rocker-arms to exhaust manifolds, stabilizers to short-throw shift knobs, everything! kidding?... try me!

The Foodaholic.
Honestly, I'm such a pizza and tomato lover. From Dominos and Sbarro to home-made pizzas, From salsa to fresh tomatoes, Name it, I eat it. And don't be surprised with my big appetite.

The Sporty.
No, No, I used to play baseball, but ever since I started holding the drumsticks, I let go of the bat.

About Me

2009-01-22T08:47:00.001+08:00

John Benedict [zer0sIx]

Born on the banks of the Sta. Isabel river in the swamplands of central Malolos, I was raised by a group of traveling gypsies who taught me to fend for myself by pick pocketing and scamming tourists on the outskirts of Bulacan.

I spent the first twenty years of my life running from the police and experimenting with hard drugs. Sleeping in abandoned trailer parks, and stealing packed lunches from small children to survive, I was able to elude the authorities for quite some time. And, if I hadn’t consumed that entire gallon of homemade moonshine and passed out naked in the middle of NLEX near Exit 32, I’d probably still be running.

As it happens, getting arrested that day was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. After being charged with twelve different misdemeanors, I was sentenced to 36 months community service. My time there was not pleasant, and I will not go into the details here. I spent most of my time in the institution reading computer manuals and teaching myself every programming language I could find a book for. Yeah, it was difficult only having access to a computer for one hour every week, but I managed to learn the entire syntax of nine different programming languages during my 36 month sentence.

After I was released from the institution, I moved north, forged some documents (I’m not proud of this, but it had to be done), and got myself accepted to a computer university in Bulacan. There, I excelled as a computer science student, and graduated near the top of my class. I was also introduced to 3D modeling by a friend, and it magically sparked my interest in the arts.

These days, I spend most of my time in my Home, tucked away in a dimly lit dungeon, making video games for Disney Interactive Studios. I also continue to create strange and unique 3D renderings and digital artwork in my spare time.

_{Disclaimer: You should not believe everything you read on the internet.}

Most Expensive Presidential Inauguration

2009-01-22T00:00:00.001+08:00

You might have heard that the 2008 presidential election was the most expensive election season in the history of the United States. Surprise, surprise—it’s being followed up with the most expensive inauguration.

The ceremony, which President-elect Barack Obama has attempted to make as accessible as possible, is expected to attract 1.5 to 2 million attendees—around three to four times the normal population of Washington, DC. In response, the outgoing Bush administration has declared a state of emergency in the District of Columbia. That decision allowed the allocation of emergency funds to cover the costs of the influx of people flooding the capital.

The inauguration will be preceded on the 18th by a free concert featuring Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Beyoncé. On the 19th, Obama and Biden will celebrate Martin Luther King Day at various events around Washington. The ceremony proper will begin at 10:00 AM (EST) on the steps of the Capitol building and the first African-American President of the United States of America will be sworn in by noon.

All told, the event is expected to cost over $150 million—more than three times the cost of President Bush’s inauguration in 2005. Forty-nine million of that has been budgeted by the federal government. The rest will be paid for by donations, including $43 million raised by Obama for the ceremony.

[Source: Most-Expensive Journal]

Contact

2009-01-21T22:27:00.020+08:00

Most Expensive Apartment

2009-01-19T17:58:00.001+08:00

London has long been one of the exclusive real estate capitals of the world. In fact, the world’s most expensive house was just recently sold there. Houses aren’t the only expensive properties in London, though. The city also boasts the world’s most expensive apartment—and construction on it hasn’t even been finished!

The four penthouse apartments atop One Hyde Park, London’s newest and most luxurious address, sold well before the arrival of the new year. The building, developed by Candy & Candy and funded by Qatar’s foreign minister, will include eighty apartments designed by architect Richard Rogers. It will also feature communal spas, squash courts and even a private wine-tasting facility. The building will cost £1.5 billion (around $3 billion USD) to develop and Candy & Candy plan to have it finished sometime in 2010.

One of the four penthouse apartments was sold for over £100 million (over $200 million at the time), making it the most expensive apartment in the world. Each of the four penthouses will have a number of security features, including bulletproof glass, panic rooms and access to an underground passage leading to a nearby hotel.

Other apartments in the building are going for an average of over £20 million (around $40,000,000).

[Source: Most Expensive Journal]

Most Expensive iPhone

2009-01-15T12:38:00.001+08:00

Apple iPhone 3G 'Kings Button' is made of solid 18-carat yellow gold, white gold and rose gold!

An Austrian jeweller has given 'bling bling' a new definition by designing the world's most expensive phone.

The new Apple iPhone 3G 'Kings Button' is made of solid 18-carat yellow gold, white gold and rose gold!

The one-of-a-kind phone features a rare 6.6-carat diamond on its home button, reports The Sun.

Aloisson is credited as being the ultimate pioneer when it comes to blurring the lines between gadget, art and jewellery.

Most Expensive Earphone

2009-01-09T09:25:00.001+08:00

iDiamond ear earphones is made of 18 karat gold set with 204 diamonds (1.65 carats total)

The Sennheiser Orpheus may be a great pair of headphones for audiophiles, but what about those who prefer style over sound quality? Well, that’s what the world’s most expensive earbuds are for.

Created by Thomas Heyerdahl of Heyerdahl Jewellery, the same person behind the iDiamond iPod, these blinged out buds aren’t just a one-off for charity—they were carefully constructed in a series of 1,000. Each pair of iDiamond ear earphones is made of 18 karat gold set with 204 diamonds (1.65 carats total). Each pair is numbered, so you know that your pair is entirely unique.

Of course, getting one now may be a hassle. They were distributed to high end jewelry stores in March of 2008 and, at the time, sold for $6,400. Considering their limited availability, purchasing a pair now might require a considerably larger investment.

Most Expensive Earrings

2009-01-01T10:41:00.002+08:00

The most expensive earrings in the world are worth $8.5 million.

One of the world’s oldest forms of body modification, the practice of wearing earrings has almost certainly been around longer than recorded history. The world’s most expensive earrings, on the other hand, were created much more recently.

Harry Winston’s Extraordinary Diamond Drop Earrings weren’t made by Harry Winston—he died nearly thirty years before they were made—but they remain an important part of his legacy. Created by the House of Winston in 2006, this pair of pear-shaped, diamond earrings weighs in at 60.1 carats altogether.

Winston himself was a jeweler famous for donating the Hope diamond, which he’d had in his possession for a decade, to the Smithsonian Institute in 1958. He got his start when he purchased Arabella Huntington’s jewelry collection, one of the largest of the time, and reworked them on his own to reflect contemporary fashion. His name has since been attached to the millions of dollars jewelry lent out to celebrities on Oscar night.

The most expensive earrings in the world are worth $8.5 million. They can be purchased from the House of Winston on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hill, California.

Most Expensive Christmas Tree

2008-12-25T09:04:00.001+08:00

Ginza Tanaka’s 24k gold Christmas tree cost $1.6 million to create.

‘Tis the season the empty your wallet—as if it wasn’t empty enough already. Despite any global economic crises or whatnot, this year marks the unveiling of yet another world’s most expensive Christmas tree.

Outdoing last year’s tree, a million-dollar Soo Kee Jewellery masterpiece displayed at the Bugis Junction shopping mall in Singapore, Ginza Tanaka’s 24k gold Christmas tree cost $1.6 million to create. The golden tree is adorned with 240 jewels—diamonds and strings of pearls included—and weighs in at 46 pounds total. That’s a far cry from last year’s 7,000-pound, 20-foot Christmas tree.

The most expensive Christmas tree in the world will be on display at the Ginza Tanaka jewelry shop in Shinsaibashi, Osaka throughout the holiday season.

Most Expensive Toy Car

2008-12-17T10:32:00.001+08:00

Hot Wheels unveiled the world’s most expensive toy car. What makes this car more expensive than any other toy car? Well, it could be all the diamonds

To commemorate their 40th anniversary, as well as their 4 billionth car, Hot Wheels commissioned jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills to coat an 18k white gold casting of their Custom Otto with over 2,700 blue, white and black diamonds. While even the tires are set with them, diamonds aren’t the only precious stone used in the costly 1:64 scale car. Its tail lights are actually rubies.

Underneath the hood of the car, the familiar Hot Wheels logo is also given the diamond treatment.

The most expensive toy car in the world is valued at $140,000. 98 Degrees’ Nick Lachey had the privilege of not only unveiling the car, but also choosing which charity the car’s sale would benefit. The actor/singer chose Big Brother Big Sister and the auction will happen later this year.

Most Expensive Desktop PC

2008-12-15T09:26:00.002+08:00

Zeus, a Japanese manufacturer, is selling a computer in just such a case. Their PC, called Jupiter, is the most expensive desktop computer in the world.

A desktop computer can be an expensive investment, but most of that expense usually goes to the monitor and the gear inside the case. After all, an extraordinarily expensive case is still only $600 and nobody’s going to put a case like that over hardware that costs less than two or three times as much, right? Well, what if the case was made of platinum and diamonds? Zeus, a Japanese manufacturer, is selling a computer in just such a case. Their PC, called Jupiter, is the most expensive desktop computer in the world.

Jupiter features a case made of platinum and encrusted with jewels arranged in the shapes of constellations. As for the hardware, Jupiter features Intel’s 3GHz E6850 Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of DDR 2 memory, a 1TB hard drive and a dual Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive. Additionally, it ships with a 24” 1920×1200 native resolution monitor.

The world’s most expensive desktop PC has been released in Japan, where it can be purchased for ¥80,000,000 ($748,720 USD). Of course, if you’re on a tight budget then you could opt for gold instead of platinum, reducing the price to ¥60,000,000 ($561,540).

Most Expensive Dessert

2008-12-10T09:43:00.004+08:00

at $1,000 the most expensive item on their menu became the official recorder holder as the most expensive ice cream sundae in the world!

The most expensive ice cream sundae in the world is called the “Grand Opulence” Sundae and was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Manhattan restaurant Serendipity 3. Serendipity 3 celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2004 and decided to create the world’s most expensive ice cream sundae as a publicity stunt. They were later recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having accomplished their goal - at $1,000 the most expensive item on their menu became the official recorder holder as the most expensive ice cream sundae in the world!

Serendipity describes the Golden Opulence Sundae as follows: “5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla and covered in 23K edible gold leaf, the sundae is drizzled with the world’s most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porceleana, and covered with chunks of rare Chuao chocolate, which is from cocoa beans harvested by the Caribbean Sea on Venezuela’s coast. The masterpiece is suffused with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragets, truffles and Marzipan Cherries. It is topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, an exclusive dessert caviar, made of salt-free American Golden caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It’s sweetened and infused with fresh passion fruit, orange and Armagnac.

The sundae is served in a baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon to partake in the indulgence, served with a petite mother of pearl spoon and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel. How many customers have been willing to spend the $1,000 that this sundae costs? The founders admit it’s an outrageous price tag, but they say it has “snob appeal”. It has been popular enough since its introduction that they still serve it today, and recently the 15th Golden Opulence Sundae sold was ordered in advance for someone’s Sweet 16 birthday party. If you want to try it yourself, be sure to call ahead, as it takes a few days to prepare!

Top 3 Luxury iPhone Cases

2008-12-08T09:16:00.007+08:00

Why not spend some money to protect your precious iPhone? These luxury iPhone cases are made from Napa leather, mahogany, ostrich skin, alligator skin and even gold adorned with diamonds with prices range from $35 to $20,000 USD.

3. Orbino Strada

There are other iPhone cases out there made of the “finest” Italian leather, but what makes the Strada unique is its patented belt clip/pedestal. Not only is this belt clip removable, it’s also made of palladium metal and it can even be used to prop up your iPhone so you can watch videos at your desk. After all, you probably don’t have any other viewing apparatus there. The Strada also features a screen protector and connector access. Oh, it’s also hand-stitched. That automatically makes it at least twice as good. The Strada starts at $99, but you can pay more to get one made from one of a variety of gentle woodland creatures—from ostriches ($249) to crocodiles ($319).

2. Louis Vuitton iPhone cases

Louis Vuitton is now offering four different flavors of iPhone case: Monogram Canvas, Taiga Leather, Epi Leather and Alligator Skin. Everyone knows adding the LV logo to something makes it practically priceless. But these prices range from $225 for the Monogram Canvas case to $1120 for the Alligator Skin case. Unfortunately, these costly cases commit the cardinal sin of covering the phone’s screen.

1. Diamond iPhone Case

If you think buying a case worth fifty times the phone it carries makes perfect sense, then this is the case for you. At $20,000, it’s the most expensive iPhone case and, with its 42 VVS1 diamonds (3.5 carats), it’s the most bling for your buck. That’s only $5,714 per carat. Great deal, huh?

Most Expensive Vacations

2008-12-04T08:24:00.002+08:00

Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi offer $1 million vacation packages

The competition is fierce as two giants in the hotel industry vie for the right to call their package the most expensive vacation in the world. The two competitors, Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and The Leading Hotels of the World, both offer $1 million vacation packages.

Lead Hotels’ package, “Around the World in 80 Ways,” celebrates both their 80th anniversary and the 80th Academy Awards ceremony. Leading Hotels invites two vacationers to take a 28-night journey via private jet. The voyage begins in London and includes twelve destinations, staying in some of the world’s most celebrated hotels along the way. The trip includes a stay at the Lake Palace in Udaipur, India, a hot air balloon ride in Dubai, a traditional tea ceremony in Tokyo and a final stop in New York City.

Emirates Palace’s package is somewhat more localized. Apparently part of a concerted effort to take over the Guinness Book, their package was made with a world record in mind. The vacation starts with a first class trip to Abu Dhabi from anywhere that’s serviced by Etihad Airlines. That’s just the start of the seven-day, all-inclusive stay in one of Emirates Palace’s 7,000+ sq ft Palace Suites. Among the services provided is a daily spa treatment in the Anantara Spa. The package also includes three day trips by private jet—to Iran, where you’ll have a Persian rug hand-made to your specifications; to the Dead Sea Jordan, where you can have your spa treatment in the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar and to Bahrain for a deep-sea diving experience.

Considering their equal pricing, both may take the record. However, when you look at cost per day, Emirates Palace’s package is a clear winner at over $142,000/day as opposed to Leading Hotels’ $35,000/day. Both contenders plan to donate a portion of the profits to charity.

Most Expensive Aircraft

2008-12-03T08:30:00.005+08:00

The cost of a single B-2 bomber vary from $737 million to $2.2 billion, but the most often cited figure for the most expensive aircraft in the world is $1.3 billion.

Anyone who’s ever read anything about US military spending shouldn’t be surprised that the world’s most expensive aircraft was a Department of Defense project.

Created as part of a secret project in the 1980s, the expensive plane is a design executed with the Soviet Union in mind. The Northrop Grumman ATB (Advanced Technology Bomber) was designated the B-2 Spirit after it was chosen over a Lockheed/Rockwell design in 1981. The stealthy bomber was meant to be able to penetrate even the most impregnable anti-aircraft defenses.

The project didn’t turn out quite as expected, though. A redesign from high-altitude to low-altitude mission profile added two years and $1 billion to the project’s cost, bringing the total expenditure up to a reported $23 billion. Furthermore, the dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in the production being limited to 20 planes—21 if you count an upgraded test bomber.

Reports on the cost of a single B-2 bomber vary from $737 million to $2.2 billion, but the most often cited figure for the most expensive aircraft in the world is $1.3 billion.

Most Expensive Home for Sale

2008-11-29T08:27:00.005+08:00

A Palm Beach Florida home named Maison de l’Amitie priced at $125 million dollars and owned by Donald Trump

The national million-dollar-home sales statistic isn’t available yet for 2005. But, the number of million dollar expensive homes sold in the United States jumped from 10,000 in 1999 to ~51,000 in 2004. Many marketplaces are slowing down with longer sales time and slower appreciation, but the upper-tier segment conditions continue to remain healthy. Rising affluence, ample numbers of second home purchasers, international buyers, and creative low cost mortgages continue to help drive the market.

Donald Trump takes the top spot with an expensive Palm Beach mansion listed for sale at $125 million. A Palm Beach Florida home named Maison de l’Amitie priced at $125 million dollars and owned by Donald Trump tops the list of the 1000 most expensive homes currently on the market as of January 30, 2006 in the U.S., according to the just-released Unique Homes magazine’s special issue, Ultimate Homes, 2006.

New York leads the Ultimate Homes list of most expensive homes for sale with the most properties — 333. California follows with a total of 183 properties, and Florida is a close third with 174. Thirty eight states have expensive homes for sale that made the list.

The most expensive estate is at 513 N. County Road, and is perhaps the most expensive home for sale in the the world. The 75,00 square ft house on 7.65 acres is a short hop from Mar-a-Lago, a name most residents of Florida’s Gold Coast associate with real estate mogul Donald Trump. This most expensive Palm Beach real estate is in a location known as “Billionaire’s Row.”

Trump bought the “House of Friendship” for $41.35 million at a bankruptcy auction over a year ago. The unusually large amount of oceanfront space certainly caught his eye.

Check out video below.

The Most Expensive TV

2008-11-27T11:33:00.003+08:00

Keymat Industrie comes an expensive television studded with 160 real diamonds, 20 carats. Costing €100,000

Modern projection television, flat panel LCDs and plasma TVs have come a long way since the black and white tubes which were first introduced in the 20th century. The TV is the centerpiece and often the TV is the most expensive purchase for one’s home theater system. Someone who truly wants to impress others with their set might ask what is the most expensive television in the wordl?

From Italian company Keymat Industrie comes an expensive television studded with 160 real diamonds, 20 carats. Costing €100,000, the Yalos Diamond is the most expensive TV in the world. This expensive TV has no visible screws or welds, and the aesthetics are the work of Japanese designer Takahide Sano.

Not everyone can afford such an expensive LCD TV, but for those who absolutely must have the world’s most expensive television, the Yalos Diamond is the current choice. If you were thinking of upgrading to your first HDTV, this may not be the best option, but if you are remodeling your mansion, consider this expensive TV set.

The Most Expensive Car

2008-11-26T10:16:00.003+08:00

The car sold for a record £5.5 million at London's Royal Albert Hall

The world's most expensive car is up for sale. And whether or not you think it's worth the estimated $10 million asking price, it's no doubt exceedingly rare, beautiful and--like many follies in automotive history--a triumph of hubris over reason.

This Bugatti Type 41 Royale was the brainchild of Ettore Bugatti--and also a hugely expensive misstep in the history of his firm. In the 1920s, Bugatti was expecting to get a contract from the French military to build 16-cylinder aircraft engines. The contract never materialized, but Bugatti felt he could use half that engine, a straight eight, to form one of the most amazing luxury cars in history.

The Type 41 Royale engine had massive displacement: 12.7 liters, or over 700 cubic inches, roughly twice the size of most of the largest production V-8s that would be built by Detroit four decades later. This is still the largest engine of any car to be sold privately.

Equally massive was the 15-foot wheelbase which, when bodied, stood about five feet tall at the hood alone. The car was incredibly imposing, whether in limousine or coupe form. Unfortunately, however, nobody could afford them--production began right at the start of the Great Depression.

A mere six Royale's were produced and two were never sold, staying instead with the Bugatti estate. This car, the 1930 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Kellner Coach (or 'Coupe') was one of those cars (bricked up behind a false wall during World War II). It stayed with the family until 1950 when both cars were sold to American multimillionaire Briggs Cunningham, who was himself a sports car constructor and Le Mans 24-Hours racing driver. After more than 30 years of ownership, Cunningham eventually sold the car to fellow American auto connoisseur Miles Collier, who placed the Kellner Coach up for auction in 1987.

The car sold for a record £5.5 million at London's Royal Albert Hall before an audience of 4,000 enthusiasts. Now the present anonymous owner--believed to be Japanese--has commissioned Bonham & Brooks in London to offer the Bugatti Royale for resale to anyone willing to pay the asking price. (Offers should be made through Bonhams' offices in London: 011 44 20 7393 3822.)

The world's most expensive hotel-casino in Las Vegas

2008-11-25T14:36:00.006+08:00

Designed and built over a period of five years, cost US$2.7 billion to construct.

The casino, which was designed and built over a period of five years, cost US$2.7 billion to construct. The hotel stands nearly fifty stories above the Las Vegas valley, with a 180-foot tall mountain in front of the main entrance.

Numerous lavish touches contributed to the high expense of the development. The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.

"I think it's going to start a shift of power. It's been the south for a long time. Things will start moving to the north because of Wynn Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson with the expansion of the Venetian, the New Frontier -- that whole area will become the new hot area of Las Vegas for the next decade or so," gaming expert Anthony Curtis told Las Vegas KLAS TV.

As the property opened to the public, developer Steve Wynn greeted visitors at the front entrance.

"It's always fascinating to watch people enter the thing and get their first moment after we open the doors," Wynn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Analysts are not too concerned about the cost of the Wynn development. Wynn paid off the cost of The Mirage hotel-casino in 18 months, much earlier than the planned seven years for which the debt had been scheduled for repayment.

"If you remember the opening of The Mirage in 1989, Wynn needed to make a nut of $1 million a day. Everyone thought he was nuts; 'couldn't be done,' they all said," Las Vegas history department Chairman Hal Rothman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wynn sold his interest in Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand (which became MGM Mirage and is now run by Kirk Kerkorian) for US$6.4 billion back in 2000, then turned around and purchased the property for the Wynn hotel-casino for US$275 million. The property was previously the home of the Desert Inn.

The hotel has 2,359 rooms, and a few hundred deluxe suites and "parlors" for high rollers. The casino has 1,960 slot machines and 137 table games on a 111,000 square foot casino floor. A Ferrari-Maserati dealership and the Le Reve stage show, featuring a million gallon water tank, round out the expensive offerings.

A round of golf will go for US$500 on the elaborate golf course located behind the main building.

All of these specifications add up to a record construction cost of over one million US dollars per room. Other expensive Las Vegas properties cost a fraction of the price, such as the Bellagio, which cost half the price at US$533,000 per room. The most expensive hotel property in the world was previously the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, which cost US$775,000 per room.

"Yes, (Wynn) may be in over his head, but then he has found ways to survive before," Las Vegas professor Bill Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos," British billionaire Richard Branson told Associated Press from the casino floor. "I would say every other casino must be nervous. He's lifted the bar dramatically," Branson said.

The Most Expensive, Gaming PC (2007)

2008-11-25T08:10:00.006+08:00

The most expensive Alienware gaming rig money can buy, which comes out to about half the price. Which one would you get? Full specs after the jump

Aurora™ ALX

Processor: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 6000+ Processor w/ HyperTransport and Dual Core Technology
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® Vista Home Premium - With no Media Center Remote Control or TV Tuner
Chassis: Alienware® P2 ALX Chassis with AlienIce™ 3.0 Video Cooling - Cyborg Green
Chassis Customization : Alienware® AlienFX™ System Lighting - Astral Blue
High-Performance Liquid Cooling: Alienware® ALX High-Performance Liquid Cooling
Accoustic Dampening: Alienware® Accoustic Dampening
Motherboard: Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Motherboard
Memory: 4GB Low Latency DDR2 Performance SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 x 1024MB
System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 1TB (2 x 500GB) Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM w/ 2 x 16MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 2X Dual Layer Blu-Ray/DVD±RW/CD-RW Burner w/ Nero Software
Secondary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 18X Dual Layer DVD±RW/CD-RW Burner
Graphics Processor: Dual 768MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800 GTX - SLI Enabled
Gaming Performance Customization: High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio & Ageia PhysX Processing Unit w/ 128MB GDDR3
Power Supply: Alienware® 1000 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
Monitor: 37'' Westinghouse 1080p Widescreen Flat Panel - Supports Blu-Ray!
Speakers: Alienware® ALX 5.1 Home Theater System by Klipsch
Keyboard: Logitech® G15 Gaming Keyboard
Mouse : Logitech® G5 Laser Gaming Mouse
Exclusive ALX Extras: AlienInspection - Exclusive Integration and Inspection - $100 Value - FREE!
Exclusive ALX Extras: AlienWiring - Exclusive Internal Wire Management - $100 Value - FREE!
Exclusive ALX Extras: Exclusive Alienware® ALX Items
Exclusive ALX Extras: Free Alienware® ALX Mousepad
Exclusive ALX Extras: Free Alienware® Mesh Cap
Warranty: 3-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Power: UPS Protection - Tripp Lite LC1200 (1200W Capacity)

* Special Financing Offer; No Interest for 6 Months! - Valid only with the Alienware Credit Card

SubTotal: $10,117.00

Check Price @ Alienware.com

Most Expensive Guitar in the World

2008-11-24T16:07:00.001+08:00

$3.7 million USD, making it the most expensive guitar yet.

“Blackie”, Eric Clapton’s favorite mid-career modified Strat has been surpassed in value and is no longer the most expensive guitar ever, despite that it was bought for $950,000 USD in 2004 by a guitar archaeologist.

The latest most expensive electric guitar in the world dethroned its predecessor at an auction in Doha, Qatar on November 16th, 2005. The Strat was signed by several rock musicians to benefit a tsunami charity, ‘Reach out to Asia’. It was bought one year ago by Qatar’s royal family for a million dollars and donated back to the Asia Program, bringing in $2.7 million USD at the more recent auction, whose attendees included Former President Bill Clinton. Technically, the guitar has generated a total of $3.7 million USD, making it the most expensive guitar yet.

Signees of this expensive electric guitar included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus & Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard, and Bryan Adams, the coordinator of the project.

Most Expensive MP3 Player

2008-11-24T15:56:00.001+08:00

The TrekStor MP3 player i.Beat

The mp3 player has one gigabyte of memory, a battery life of 25 hours, and supports MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, OGG audio files. But what really makes this an expensive mp3 player is the exterior. The TrekStor MP3 player i.Beat organix Gold is cast in 18 carat gold and adorned with 63 diamonds (one carat). The gadget also has a modest chain ornamented with aquamarine gems. The exclusive, unique player was presented to the public for the first time at CeBIT, the world’s largest IT trade fair in Germany.

Jewelers Wenthe in Mannheim/Germany put over 100 hours of meticulous handcraft into the most expensive mp3 player making it an exquisite piece of jewelry. This mp3 player may never become the most popular, but TrekStor has recently decided to produce a limited series of this magnificent gadget for those who would buy the most expensive mp3 player in the world.

Most Expensive Cell Phone

2008-11-24T15:41:00.003+08:00

This expensive cell phone is priced at $1,300,000 USD

Most people enjoy having a quality cell phone, but they also recognize that cellular phones are a consumable good and will have to be replaced within in a few years. For this reason, people often do not purchase the most expensive cell phone when they purchase their mobile. Some though must have an expensive mobile phone, and because others can see cell phones as a status symbol, one has to ask what is the most expensive cell phone in the world?

A Moscow-based company has begun production to supply people who desire an expensive mobile with what has been reported as the world’s most expensive cell phone. Along with the luxury look, this expensive phone manufactured by the Moscow-based JSC Ancort Company uses powerful encryption technology to for enhanced security.

Luxury accessory producer Peter Aloisson has created the The Diamond Crypto Smartphone. This expensive cell phone is priced at $1,300,000 USD, and what makes this most expensive cell phone in the world cost so much? Apart from the platinum body this expensive mobile phone features a cover adorned with 50 diamonds including ten which are a rare blue diamond. The Ancort logo and the navigation key are made of 18 carat rose gold.

Built on the Windows CE, the most expensive cell also features a high-resolution color TFT display and a 256 bit cryptographic algorithm. This expensive mobile phone is capable of SMS, MMS, E-mail, Internet, WAP, JAVA support and also has a media player.