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Posts Tagged ‘ Buy ’

The Akai Renaissance MPC Is No Joke.


While the majority of technology execs are packing their cases for Vegas, for some it’s all about Anaheim. Akai is clearly ramping up its NAMM campaign, outing the latest in its legendary MPC series: the Renaissance. While the new boy is no dumb controller — it packs a full audio interface, USB hub and lots of I/O — for the first time the MPC gets dedicated external software. Sound familiar?  Well yes, it’s no doubt a direct response to the popular Maschine hardware / software combo from Native Instruments, but Akai isn’t just playing catch-up here. The new hardware includes a “vintage” mode that recreates some of that legendary MPC3000/60 crunch, and the standalone software comes with a massive sound library, instant VST mapping (so you can work with all your third-party synths) as well as the option to run in VST / AU / RTAS mode itself. If you’re worried about the possible implications of a “tethered” MPC, take a peek at the promo video over the jump, which should soon allay your fears.

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Coach Unleashes The Year Of The Dragon Collection.


In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Coach has collaborated with Chinese artist Zhang Lan to put his stamp on a collection of exclusive items.  Mr. Lan’s dragon illustration, in the traditional style of ink painting, adorns Coach’s iconic tote shape, as well as an assortment of matching small leather goods.  The gold design pops against a backdrop of the brand’s Signature pattern in mahogany.  Drawing on traditional Chinese mythology, the dragon imagery represents “Qinglong” also known as the “Azure Dragon of the East.”  As one of the four symbols of the Chinese constellations, Qinglong represents the East and the Spring season, and has been reincarnated as famous generals from Chinese legend and folklore.  Mr. Lan, a multi-disciplinary artist, is a member of the EDGE Creative Collective, and is widely recognized in China as a pioneer in tattoo and street art design.

The IWC Top Gun Pilots Watch.


For IWC, 2012 will be all about its “Pilot’s watch” collection, following 2011 being the year of the Portofino.  Here is the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph “Top Gun Miramar” edition, one of five new Pilot’s watches we can expect to see from IWC for 2012.  The IWC Top Gun Miramar watch is a tribute to the place in California where the myth of the elite pilot (the “Top Gun”) was born.

This watch features a sleek looking dark grey ceramic case (48mm in diameter), and a vintage-military color set, including the green textile strap.  Inside is IWC’s in-house movement which features a flyback chronograph and a power reserve of 168 hours.

Cognac Glasses by Normann Copenhagen.


These unusually shaped Normann Copenhagen glasses are designed to enhance the bouquet, temperature and volume of fine Cognac.  Designed by Rikke Hagen, these 11cm diameter glasses are beautifully crafted, with an innovative design that sees the glass having no stem.  “The shape of the glass increases the intimate experience of drinking cognac by accentuating the deep color and movement of the liquid”.  The set for two can be purchased online for the cost of $61,00.

The Bentley Continental GT V8.


Two new Bentley Continental V8 models will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 9th January 2012.  The new Continentals will come in GT coupe and GTC convertible versions with power from a turbocharged 4.0-liter eight-cylinder engine that puts out 500 hp.  With a new 8-speed automatic transmission directing the power to the road, the V8 Continental will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds and have a top speed of more than 180 mph.  No official details have been released on fuel economy and emission figures, but Bentley informs us there is a 40 percent reduction compared to the W12 model.  Since the launch of the original GT in 2003, the W12-engined Continental range has gone from strength to strength with over 50,000 sales worldwide.

The Most Expensive Beach Apartment On The Planet.


Originally listed for $27M in 2010, this penthouse just sold for $21.5 million and was owned by Netscape Founder Jim Clark.  The Miami Beach condo property is a 5803 square-foot, multi-story residence that sits at the top of The Setai, overlooking South Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.  The world-famous 40-storey Setai Resort is serviced by Singapore-based, five-star hotel management company GHM Hotels.

Nike LeBron 9 “Christmas” Editions.


Designed with colorful elements that evoke the yuletide spirit, the Nike LeBron 9 is back yet again for a festive installment. Featuring a predominately red exterior matched with green accents, they seem to dazzle in their shape much like St. Nick’s trusty sleigh does. While a release date and confirmation on places to purchase these sneakers are still being gathered, the price does indicate that it will take $170 USD to put these under your tree.

The Deglon Meeting Knife Set.


I’m an avid fan of cooking, I love the concept of mixing and matching ingredients and tastes, and coming up with something that no one else can reproduce.  That might sound a little weird coming from a male Disk Jockey… however, in the words of Drizzy Drake “but the b*tches love it”.  But regardless of why you may enjoy cooking, everyone should take a look at these awesome kitchen knives.  Designed by Mia Schmallenbach, the Deglon Meeting Knife Set won first prize in the 5th European Cutlery Design Awards. This set of sculptural, nested knives is practical, durable and a work of art. The set is made of high quality stainless steel and seemingly appears to be created from a single block of stainless steel. To remove each knife, simply press down near the tip of the blade and lift knife away by the handle. The set includes 4 knifes, a paring knife, a utility knife, a chef knife and a slicer. You can buy it here.

The Skeleton Pocket Watch.


For each of the past few years at the SIHH show in Geneva, Cartier has unveiled a “grande complication” wristwatch featuring a tourbillon, perpetual calendar and monopusher chronograph.  This year, Cartier has drawn inspiration from Cartier pocket watches produced in the 1930′s to produce the eye-catching piece you see here.  The watch is crafted in white gold, with skeletonized Roman numerals, something that we have also seen the past few years in some of Cartier’s higher end pieces.

Should You Buy That Gift?


The Solar Camera Strap.


Most photographers use a sturdy camera strap while clicking pictures and here’s an idea that wants to capitalize on it. This is done by making the strap solar-savvy.  Meaning, adding thin solar films across the width of the strap, so as to harness solar energy when out on the field. Aptly christened the Solar Camera Strap, it’s a neat idea; when we can have solar panels on backpacks and what not, then why not on a camera strap?

The Red Ribbon Grand Marnier.


Grand Marnier is celebrating this year’s winter holiday season with the ninth annual limited edition of its classic Cordon Rouge.  The bottle makes a bold transition from its usual brown and red seal, to brilliant white, with a red ribbon elegantly wrapped around its sleek curves.  The new red ribbon design 70cl bottle will be available in selected wholesalers and luxury retail outlets. The price tag of this Grand Marnier special edition is at $59.

TStout.com Posters.


The few different styles of movie posters, album covers, and most popular media seem to be a dime a dozen now a days, but graphic artist Tyler Stout is trying to change that.  His unique, and multilayered designs, are far more than eye catching.  When compared to the official designs of the projects he’s chosen to replicate, his graphic illustrations are above and beyond.  This is only a small portion of his collection, but check out tstout.com for more.

And of course... My obvious favorite.

The Finder.


Finder is a two-part RFID Locator comprising of the main terminal and tab stickers.  Basically you are supposed to stick the tracking stickers to objects that you tend to misplace often, like keys, phone, wallet etc.  Configure the sticker with the appropriate label on the main terminal and you are set to use it.  No more lost keys again, (yay).

Kotori Headphones.


If you can’t find a pair of headphones that visually meets your needs from Kotori’s more than 100 variations, you may have more serious problems than just the lack of cool audiowear.  However, if you just don’t like any of the suggested color combinations, you can easily design your own by selecting the color of each of the 10 components, or just hit shuffle and see what happens randomly.  With the technology of the Japanese Fostex, supplier of recording and speaker gear for professionals, Kotori headphones should meet your needs also in audio quality.


These headphones will likely add a few problems to your life, though: They are so cool that you will forever be telling everyone where you got them AND you will have to keep a close eye on your Kotoris as your design-hungry friends will want to borrow them.  Apparently, kotori means little bird, or lucky bird in Japanese, and screech owl spirit in native American Hopi language. Either way, you will want to flaunt these, even if you only played your music on mute.


In the appealing Japanese style that it both cute and sleek in its rounded friendliness and minimalist functionality, Kotori headphones have a yummy sensibility that makes you want to choose several pairs at once. Each of the seven pre-set themes – pop, sweet, cool, vivid, natural, animal, and delicious – has 15 variations. Our current favorites are the Mikan in Vivid and the retro Woody in Natural.

The Braun BN10 Digital Watch.


Available in stainless steel or black plated stainless steel, the Braun BN10 Digital Watch is the cutting edge of cool. Both versions come with either a stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap depending on the type of outward image you like to project. Featuring the EasySkroll v2.0 operating system, it’s water resistant up to 30m and scratch resistant thanks to K1 hardened glass. The BN10 is currently available for pre-order now via Braun, with retail set at $680 USD.

The Pop Up Shop 2011.


On a recent venture down to The City Of Angels, I was asked to DJ a gig called the Pop Up Shop.  The Pop Up Shop was a brilliant joint venture between ‘Team Iso’, ‘Rockit Scientists’, ‘Class Villians’, ‘Phreedom’, ‘Boomtho!’ and a whole host of other amazing brands to display their latest and greatest works at the Dream Factory.  Not to be confused with the Fantasy Factory, the Dream Factory is a one of a kind art gallery on Main Street in downtown LA.  I spun the all day event as all the brands and their representers were out in full effect.

Now, this is the part that will undoubtedly cause me to get a whole host of angry emails about how I cut people out, and forgot about this person and that person, but I don’t care.  All the brands that were in the house worked their hardest to come through with the best product they had to offer.  Every size of every color-way or every look and every style of every piece were award worthy, hands down.  And that being said, I have to be honest, I was a bit busy doing my job to get the background on every single brand in the building (there were quite a few), but below are a few peeks at some of the material from ‘Rockit Scientists’, ‘Team Iso’, ‘Class Villains’, and ‘Boomtho!’.  Check the method.



All in all the event was a blast, and I have to try and shoot out everyone who helped everything run as smoothly as it did, starting with my amazing assistant Ashley F., who not only held it down at the event, but also managed to take all the photos in this post.  Shouts to Keoni, Brittany, Louis V, Lil Ryan, and the whole Team Iso crew.  Nico Santana, Reg Slvstr, DT, and everyone else involved with the Rockit Scientists.  All of NhT, and every other performer who hit the stage to perform during the evening.  And shouts to all and everyone who came through to support their brands, and most of all, anyone who bought something at the gallery.  (You helped us get paid… so THANK YOU).  By the end of the night, everyone was like family (on my twitter, you can see us all grubbing at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffels on Pico), and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Hit me up in a comment if you want the details on the next one, or any of the brands pictured in this post.

The Crashed Ferrari Coffee Table.


This is a coffee table containing the compacted remains of a Ferrari inside constructed by designer Charly Molinelli.  He came up with the idea after a customer asked him to design something “a bit special” for their front room.  He then sourced a wreck and built a wooden cabinet on wheels to present to his client – although the price of the swanky piece is unknown.

MetroFarm DJ Decks.


From Berlin Germany, MetroFarm Studio has produced a number of stunning, custom built DJ Desks. Having released a concrete DJ table a couple of years back, the new desks, in folded stainless steel and wood painted black and neon orange demand attention.  But they’re not just for finely tuned vinyl slingers looking for the perfect ergonomic ratios to heighten their musical flow. They’re for anybody with a musical mind and an eye for detail, looking to add spark to a lounge room, club or gallery.  It’s art for the DJ’s sake.

I Didn’t Know Japan Make Whisky.


Japan‘s top whisky distiller has started accepting orders for a limited run of a whisky that has been aged in oak barrels for more than 50 years.  Shipments of the Yamazaki Single Malt 50-Year-Old Whisky will begin on Dec 13, in response to orders taken at department stores and liquor shops across Japan.  Suntory said it is only producing 150 bottles, but added that demand had already been strong and that it is considering another similar release in the future.  Whisky is enjoying a renaissance in Japan, in part because of the newfound popularity of the highball among a new generation of drinkers, but also because of the growing reputations of Japanese distillers.  Suntory, for example, took the top prizes in the International Spirits Challenge, held in London in November 2010, with its 1984 Single Malt winning both the best whisky in the competition and the Supreme Champion Spirit award.  With the release of its 50-year-old vintage whisky, Suntory is aiming to promote interest among connoisseurs.  The company said the drink had been matured in barrels of Japanese oak that has helped to create a fragrance and flavor that are unique.  Reddish-amber in color, the taste is both mellow and strong, reminiscent of rich, ripe fruit, while the aftertaste is sweet and faintly smoky.  Each 700-milliliter bottle will be priced at Y1 million (€9,511).

Givenchy’s ‘Watch The Throne’ Tour T-Shirts.


Recently, Jay-Z and Kanye West rocked the world’s most famous arena during a pair of New York performances for their much-anticipated Watch the Throne Tour. With that, we now get a detailed look at the designer T-shirt they have been donning on stage. Riccardo Tisci was in charge of the intricate art detailing of the actual album, so in appropriate fashion, both emcees have been sporting coinciding Givenchy Watch the Throne shirts. The tees not only feature unique designs from Tisci, which highlight the project, but also welcome each artist’s initials on the sleeve.

The Black Cancan Millesime 2000 Bottle.


Jean Paul Gaultier has collaborated with Champagne brand Piper-Heidsieck on two new bottles – Black Cancan Millésime 2000 and the Piper-Heidsieck French Cancan.  The Cabaret-inspired French Cancan bottle is dressed in black latex, fishnets and ruby masquerade mask at the neck.  The Black Cancan Millésime 2000′s adornments include a Swarovski Crystallized stocking, a studded collar of diamond-cut crystals, and a JPG seal.  Nestled alongside it in the sleek crimson and midnight-colored case are two other Gaultier creations — gothic Schott Zwiesel flutes with gold harness rings.  Only 60 bottles of Black Cancan Millésime 2000 exist, and one bottle “offered in a sensual case” will run you $630.

The Nike 6.0 2012 Spring Collection.


FINALLY I’m on time with the game when it comes to the release of a shoe collection.  All too often on this blog I’ll find some dope shoes, and either someone on my staff or one of my close friends will gently pull me aside and say “Storm… those are old as HELL.  Everyone has already seen those.”  So when I caught a glimpse of Nike 6.0′s upcoming Spring 2012 footwear collection I danced a little.  Evolving many of its signature pro models via updated colorways and redesigned construction and some new iterations of the Paul Rodriguez V, Mogan Mid 2 SE and the Encore 2, the models incorporate the use of the new Nike Lunarlon cushioning system with an installment of silhouettes including the Braata LR and Zoom LeShot LR. Overall the arrangement maintains a minimally chromatic palette, avoiding overused patterns or textures, but I still find the entire collection quite dope.

Tripple Your Storage Space.


‘Detach’ is a portable hard disk with three USB Sticks integrated into it. Each stick has its own unique appearance and memory capacity. The idea is to use it as one single memory drive or as individual modules, giving you the ultimate portable HD.  In other words, simple living for a complex worker.

The Meiosis Backpack.


The Meiosis backpack designed by Davidi Gilad, is an equipment bag which was developed to utilize the physical properties of the elastic materials in which the bag is made.  Sounds complex, but its just a complicated way of saying the bag is strong.  It is constructed from rugged geometric polygonal shapes that harness the tension of the elastic fabrics, which is gained by attaching the rugged parts to the while they are stretched on a frame.  When released, the geometric shapes prevent the fabrics from shrinking back, resulting in the bag’s form and structure.  The tension and flexibility of the design maintains its shape while it is opened and closed.  The bag’s strength and shape is maintained when opening and closing, and it just plain looks cool.

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