Gold Nokia 8800

Gold Nokia 8800
For those who found the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin edition to be too cheap and too plain, here is a really gaudy answer. It's a Nokia 8800 tarted up with 24K gold. It costs $2,700 and the specs are the same (a camera, 64MB of memory, Bluetooth, FM Tuner, MP3 player, etc.) so truly the only reason to buy this thing is for the flash factor. It's available through Siamphone and even the charger is all gilded up. I defended the Aston Martin version, but this gold version is the type of tacktacular thing that should only be in the hands of those who also require gold faucets and toilets.

The World’s Smallest Mouse

The World’s Smallest Mouse
Miniaturization is an increasingly important trend nowadays, especially because of the need to create smaller and smaller, yet function-rich devices. And MicroNav, developed by Interlink Electronics, represents a true spearhead of this trend, because it is probably the world’s smallest pointer control device, with dimensions of just 10mm x 10mm x 1.4mm.
MicroNav enables precise, 360° cursor navigation for consumer handheld devices including cellular phones, wireless e-mail devices, PDAs, tablet PCs, GPS systems and even digital cameras
The device uses a technology developed by Interlink, called Force Sensing Resistor, which allows it to “sense” the pressure exerted upon it (more precisely, any pressure within the 1-100 N range), and is compatible with most mass-production technologies, which makes its integration into other devices a very easy task.

Moreover, the MicroNav concept offers a high degree of versatility, since it can be very easily adapted to other pressure-based pointer control products (a touch scroll control system, for example).

Skype Signs Up More Than 100 Million Users

Skype Signs Up More Than 100 Million Users
Internet telephony provider Skype announced Friday it now has more than 100 million registered users worldwide.
Skype, which was bought last year for $2.6 billion by online auctioneer eBay Inc., said it has nearly doubled in size from September 2005 when 54 million people were using the service.

Founded by the creators of Kazaa, the free music-sharing program that riled the music business, Skype gives away software that lets people talk for free from computer to computer, or pay a small fee to place and receive calls from regular phones.

Internet phone providers like Skype are creating upheaval in the telecommunications industry and putting pressure on traditional operators.

Their Voice over Internet Protocol technology is cheaper and more efficient than traditional circuit-switched phone systems, and VoIP usage figures to become more prevalent as broadband penetration deepens.

Did Jessica and Ashlee Turn Down Coq au Vin for Pizza Hut?

Did Jessica and Ashlee Turn Down Coq au Vin for Pizza Hut?
It sounds like a publicity stunt but gossip newsletter Popbitch is reporting that when Jessica and Ashlee Simpson were recently in Australia they weren't too thrilled with the local cuisine. They went for dinner at the lovely Glass Brasserie in the Hilton where they were staying. Instead of indulging in the fancy fare, the girls ordered in from Pizza Hut (Jess does commercials for the company). Given that the Glass Brasserie offers everything from crab bisque to creme brulee, it sounds like the girls missed out on a treat.

The Ferrari Motorcycle

The Ferrari Motorcycle
No, Ferrari hasn't started making motorcycles (although apparently they did briefly in the past) but one enterprising builder has made his own. George, a former vintage GP racer built two Frankenstein-style Ferrari motorcycles using bits from other motorcycles, cars and airplanes. The V-12 Ferrari shown here is called "Dino": It has a 350 hp Ferrari engine. It's not the sleekest thing I've ever seen and is probably not that easy to handle but what a great sound it must make when you turn the key!

Penthouse Suite at The Hotel Martinez

Penthouse Suite at The Hotel Martinez
The never-ending quest for the most expensive one-night stay in the world continues, as the Hotel Martinez now offers a suite that costs $37,200 per night. The Hotel is in Cannes, France and attracts more than its fair share of celebrities when they flock to the international film festival every year, but the luxury hotel is popular all year round. The penthouse suite, also known as the Exceptional 7th Floor Suite, is over 2,000 sq. feet, has four bedrooms, marble baths, multiple luxury living and dining rooms, plasma screen TVs with satellite programming, and a spa on a terrace which affords panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Interestingly, the rooms are also soundproofed. For those looking to save a few dollars, the floor can be divided into four individual suites, as well.

Gucci Charm Bracelet

Gucci Charm Bracelet
Jewelry gets more ornate this season, with designers creating large, detailed pieces. Gucci went glitzy as well, updating the classic charm bracelet with this modern gold version. Called the Flora Charm bracelet, it's made of 18kt yellow gold and adorned with machalite, sugilite, and tiger eye pendants. Price: $4,590.

Hawaii Is the Most Expensive Summer Vacation in the U.S.

Hawaii Is the Most Expensive Summer Vacation in the U.S.
It's no big surprise that Hawaii is the most expensive place to vacation in the U.S. AAA has released their annual vacation costs survey. They found that a summer vacation will cost 5.4 percent more than last year.

The top five most expensive places for food and lodging for a family of four per day are:
1. Hawaii--$559
2. Washington D.C.--$518
3. Nevada--$348
4. Rhode Island--$329
5. New York--$329

For those on a budget, the bottom five are:
1. North Dakota--$191
2. Nebraska--$191
3. Kansas--$193
4. Iowa--$196
5. Oklahoma--$200

The national average is $261 and the average hotel rate is $141 per night.There are no big surprises in the bottom five but I had no idea that Washington D.C. ranked so high. If I had to guess I would have chosen New York second and placed California and Massachusetts in the top five.

Flowerbomb Too Explosive For Norway Airport

Flowerbomb Too Explosive For Norway Airport
Have security concerns gone too far? Cosmetics News reports that the Oslo Airport in Norway has pulled the Viktor & Rolf fragrance Flowerbomb from two airport boutiques. Why? The two boutiques in the airport took the fragrance off the shelves because of the distinctive grenade-like appearance of the bottle. The bottle shape breaks security rules because it looks like a weapon. Other items such as a child's water gun are also prohibited.