Birds and weapons? Sounds like a certain smartphone-game-turned-cultural-touchstone, right? Well, don't worry; we know you've heard enough about that particular phenomenon to last a few lifetimes.

No, this little blog item is about something far less widespread than a popular iPhone app. In fact, the "gadgets" in question here--if one dare call them that--are truly rare. So rare that they're expected to draw $2.5 million to $5 million at a Hong Kong auction later this month.

And though they were created in the early 19th century, and are anything but digital, they still manage to impress with the obvious technical mastery of their makers. … Read more

The Grande Castine horn speakers are the brainchild of Musique Concrete, which means "real music" in French. The unusual contraption should appeal to audiophiles with its deep bass response down to 20Hz, thanks to a sizable 38cm woofer and an efficient horn design. Covering the other end of the spectrum is a 50mm midrange driver and a 25mm tweeter, allowing the Grande Castine to achieve a full 20kHz response. What's more, the speakers' high 106dB sensitivity means they can effortlessly play back soulful tunes utilizing lower-wattage amplifiers, unlike most large and power-hungry speakers.

You can catch the Grande Castine in action at the High End 2011 exhibition in Munich from May 19 to 22, but expect these exotic speakers to cost somewhere around $100,000.

(Source: Crave Asia via Born Rich) … Read more

Last week, Google unleashed Android@Home, inviting developers to have at the code and get going on creating a whole new generation of home automation and interaction. But if you just can't wait for the garage tinkerers of the world to build the gadgets that will finally usher in the Jetsons age, one Korean company is already ahead of the game.

South Korea's Conspin is already offering the Smart Touch URC Andi-One (PDF), which is basically the world's ultimate universal remote, but it also runs on Android 2.1, fulfills much of the promise of Android@Home, … Read more

The Equus is not your typical Hyundai. First of all, it costs a lot more, over 50 grand, than you would expect from the economy car maker. It also has a V-8, massage seats, and a refrigerator between the rear seats. It competes favorably with the Lexus LS 460, which Hyundai clearly had in its sights when it designed the car. And although it might seem pricey for a Hyundai, it undercuts every other luxury sedan on the market by 10s of thousands of dollars.

In Ultimate trim, the Equus comes with two big, powered seats in back, the right side featuring an ottoman. There is also a rear seat entertainment system. With all the money you save buying the Equus over a Mercedes-Benz S-class, you can give the chauffeur a raise.

Read our full review of the 2011 Hyundai Equus. … Read more

You're looking at your boring old Kindle. You're thinking, "Gosh, this sure could use a little more excitement." Well, I have a special offer for you! Amosu Couture, a company known for its Midas touch, has unveiled the Amazon Gold Kindle.

For the paltry sum of $1,950, you, too, can own this Cadillac of e-readers. Naturally, this is the top-of-the-line 3G model. Choose from white, rose, or yellow gold to match the massive gold chain you undoubtedly wear. It comes in hardened 24-carat gold with optional Swarovski crystals. As we know, crystals make everything better, … Read more

You love the OCZ Vertex 3 solid-state drive but can't afford it? Well, there are now more affordable choices from the same company.

OCZ announced today that it's now shipping new SSDs that offer an "outstanding balance of performance and value," the Agility 3 and Solid 3.

Like the Vertex 3, the two new drives support the latest SATA 3 standard (6Gbps) and, according to OCZ, feature the SandForce SF-2200 SSD processor and will significantly outperform traditional hard drives as well as SATA 2 (3Gbps) SSDs.

The new drives come in the 2.5-inch (laptop) design … Read more

The Swiss aren't generally a people known for making a lot of noise. That's why they're good at hiding money. So maybe it's not surprising that Empa--a Swiss "interdisciplinary research and services institution"--has introduced lightweight, translucent curtains that absorb sound.

Designed via computer simulations by acoustic scientists and material engineers, the curtains blend sound obstruction and redirection with specialized textile properties to reduce decibels in rooms facing noisy adjoining environments. As Empa puts it, "With a gap of 15 cm between curtain and wall, the new developed curtain--depending on the frequency--absorbs up to five times more sound than typical lightweight curtains."

Sound-absorbing materials already exist, of course, but they don't tend to complement the average living room too well--unless you're into the rubber and foam aesthetic. Empa's curtains are the stuff of scientific conferences and published tech papers right now, but the imagination reels (quietly) at the possibilities when these curtains become widely available around the world. It's fun to envision the situations and environments where the curtains would be most desirable--even mandatory. … Read more

If you dream of riding around in a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but can only afford a rusted old beast with the fender hanging off, take heart. Rolls-Royce has released a free app for enthusiasts wanting to create a virtual customized version of the luxury car.

Using the Phantom app, users can apply any mix of trims to their car from a choice of 44,000 colors. If that's not enough variety for you, you can use an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch camera to capture a new color from any surface (even nail polish--ever seen a Rolls in Miss Bossy Pants?) to create a completely unique version of the luxury car.

Users can experience interior ambiance interactively through features like a starlight headliner, where hundreds of illuminated optical fibers are woven into the roof lining of a virtual vehicle. The app even has the ability to turn up or down the degree of illumination.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom app features 360-degree exterior views and three interior angles from the front, side and rear seat. It can be used to create a virtual Phantom, Phantom Coupe, or Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Or users can recreate the Royal Wedding bride ride. Kate, you may have heard, was transported to Westminster Abbey in a 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI.

A similar app for the Ghost came out in March of last year.… Read more

Eau de elf. Essential oil of orc. Chaotic cologne. The one feature that Dungeons & Dragons has always lacked is a sense of smell. It's incredible that nobody has come up with a scratch-and-sniff dungeon adventure. That vast oversight has now been remedied by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's RPG series of perfumes.

The idea is that you build your own scent just like you build a D&D character. Choose your alignment (such as lawful or chaotic), add your class (like cleric or paladin) and top it off with your race (including half-elf or orc). Layer the fragrances together and you get the odor of your D&D alter ego. Ah, the sweet smell of a 20-sided dice.

The perfume descriptions read like wine-tasting notes. The paladin perfume smells like "immaculate white musk, sweet frankincense, bourbon vanilla, white leather, and shining armor." I'm not sure what shining armor smells like, but I'd sure like to find out.… Read more