Luxury

Troops on both sides of the sleeved blanket battleground are quick to defend their sides. For example, a friend of mine proudly reps Team Slanket for its utilitarian foot pocket and softer pile fabric, whereas others prefer the larger back section of the Snuggie that makes it more...blankety. Most recently, a third contender has stepped into the lounge-off hoping to pull in the last demographic unswathed by the trend: it's called the Thuggie.

Its cutesy name is the only similarity between the Thuggie and its competitors; it's basically just an extra-long fleece hoodie that extends down to the wearer's knees for optimum coverage.

There's also a kangaroo pocket in the middle for your remote control and/or snacks, but if you think the idea derived from hip-hop's iconic XXL plain white T-shirt trend, you'd be wrong; the Thuggie's genesis story is actually set on the ski slopes of Canada.

Creator Bryan Pudney and three of his friends went skiing in Whistler, B.C., back in 2009 and handmade the first version of the Thuggie as a joke to mock the bulky fashion of other snow-goers. But like a lot of things you can find on the Internet, the irony faded and it became a hit soon after.

The Thuggie store offers an assortment of colors for $75, or you can "design" your own custom Thuggie for a little more. You can't find Thuggies in stores yet, but I predict it'll hit Duane Reade and Walgreens shelves in time for the winter holidays.

Alternatively, if you're not buying into the whole Thuggie thing, Why Not Apparel Inc. also offers Thugglets for babies and Chuggies for your favorite beverage.

More Thuggie pics after the jump.… Read more

The next time you go into a Starbucks for a drink or snack, you could end up walking out with a free iPhone app too.

Apple and Starbucks have long had a partnership that gives Starbucks customers a way to download free music tracks from Apple's iTunes Music Store, and the two companies are now coming together to do the same with paid applications.

Using the same "Pick of the Week" cards the two companies have been using since April 2008, Starbucks is now using that same system to dole out iPhone applications.

Just like for music, users can find free cards waiting for them at the cash register with codes on the back that can be entered into iTunes or the App Store to get the application.

The first application to be offered for free is Shazam Encore (iTunes), a music-identifying app that sells for $5.99 in the U.S. version of the App Store. That's a considerable deal compared to new music tracks, which typically top out at $1.29.

Starbucks declined to comment on the addition of apps, including whether this takes the place of or simply joins music tracks as part of the Pick of the Week program. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. … Read more

With its new engine, driver assistance features, and cabin tech, the 2012 CLS550 represents the cutting edge of what Mercedes-Benz has to offer. At the same time, it preserves and enhances the brand's luxury image. The standard air suspension gives the car a superlative ride.

Beyond its telematics service, Mercedes-Benz hasn't ventured into app integration, as some of its competitors are doing. But its cabin tech is still first rate, with a speedy navigation system featuring 3D rendered buildings and just about every modern audio source you can think of. The highlight is the Harman Kardon audio system, … Read more

This raises "bling" to a whole new level: an armor-plated, gold-trimmed Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The eye-catching vehicle was made by special request for an anonymous Middle Eastern businessman. The unique features of the Phantom include 120kg of 18-carat gold interior and exterior trim.

Armor reinforcement allows the Phantom to withstand automatic gun fire, sniper rifle assaults, and even the blast from a hand grenade.

The entire process of adding the gold and armor reinforcement took about 18 months, according to Stuart Hughes, which now features the Phantom on its Web site.

Liverpool-Based Stuart Hughes collaborated with Swiss company Eurocash AG to create the lavish vehicle, the company states. Eurocash AG offers the Phantom for rent, but for not sale.… Read more

The folks at Airbnb could probably use a nice relaxing night away from it all, and I have just the place.

Last week was a roller-coaster ride for the company, which connects people looking for a room with people willing to rent theirs out. It started with raising over $100 million in additional financing and ended with a bad PR firestorm as the story of the trashing of one woman's apartment by an Airbnb renter went viral.

Now that it appears a suspect is in custody, perhaps it's time for a company retreat to get away from it all, debrief, and recharge the batteries. Fortunately, there's a place called Costa Rica that I'm pretty sure was invented for just this kind of occasion. And even more fortunate for the folks at Airbnb, one of their users has made this unbelievable treehouse suite available.… Read more

There are a lot of things you can buy for $1 million. You could pick up the first comic featuring Superman, a C-X75 Jaguar hybrid supercar, or a copy of Tetris. Wait a minute...Tetris?

Granted, this isn't just any Tetris. It's an original Japanese Mega Drive Tetris cartridge in like-new condition. I can see that you're still not reaching for your stack of credit cards. Let's sweeten the deal. The case is also signed by Tetris creator Alekséi Pázhitnov.

A seller in Spain going by the eBay handle "shinsnk " is auctioning this extremely rare version of Tetris. His ad claims that only a handful of the cartridges are known to exist around the world. Better go check the boxes of old video game gear in your closets, folks.… Read more

We've covered some over-the-top luxury versions of tech products lately. There was a gold-plated Kindle, a $1.2 million iPad, and a Versace-branded cell phone. Talk about must-haves!

Gresso, a Swiss manufacturer of luxury communications devices, gets in on the crazy good times with the Lady Blanche iPhone 4. Gresso doesn't go for the easy target of simply encrusting it with diamonds or plating it with expensive metals.

No, the Lady Blanche features clocks and Swarovski crystals. I know, that sounds weird. You already have a clock built into your iPhone 4; why would you need three more attached to the outside? Because you have $7,000 kicking around and you need something to blow it on.… Read more

As much as I'm reluctant to use the phrase "man cave," mostly because I don't have the space for one of my own, I have to say that I have found a pretty nifty man cave essential. Behold, the Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade!

The Beer Arcade comes from Northern California-based Dream Arcades, which also offers premade arcade cabinets and DIY arcade kits. Take a high-end gaming PC with PlayStation 3 connectivity, a 5.1 audio system, add full driving controls with dual-motor force feedback and variable resistance on the pedals, and, as the name would suggest, a beer tap.

I know, right?

Those are the basics, but it goes further than that. The Beer Arcade also comes loaded with a dozen driving sims (including Hard Drivin' and S.T.U.N. Runner, a few faves of mine) and a fully adjustable steering wheel and seat, and variable-resistance clutch, brake, and gas petals. As Dream Arcades is quick to point out, "Of course we don't condone REAL drinking and driving, but kicking back a few Bud Lights while playing your favorite games is a different story!" … Read more

With $527,000, you could buy a one-bedroom condo in Manhattan's West Village, a Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie watch, or an 82-foot Multiplast Fast Express yacht. But you might also consider an Aston Martin V12 Zagato, a limited-production run car designed to commemorate the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.

Aston Martin designed the V12 Zagato to commemorate the 1960 DB4 GT Zagato, a version of the DB4 modified at Italy's Zagato factory. The V12 Zagato was built on the V12 Vantage platform. Its body is comprised of carbon fiber and aluminum. The car boasts a 0 to 62 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph.

Initially, Aston Martin entered two V12 Zagatos in the 24-hour Nurburgring endurance race, which both cars finished. The model garnered enough interest from the public that Aston Martin announced a limited run, just 150 of the hand-built cars. … Read more