Gotta Have It! | So Freaking Cool

Gemballa McLaren 12C Spyder

Rides By Sam Jordan on May 23, 2013

To make a sports car more “spider-like” I imagine you’d probably need to create a silk-shooting cannon somewhere in the front bumper. Fortunately, Gemballa did no such thing when customizng the McLaren 12C Spyder ($62,000), though there are some cool additions. Carbon fiber is like the cowbell of cars, you always need more. So, Gemballa gives this McLaren plenty of it, but the 625 hp Twin-Turbo V8 engine stays intact. New bumpers, tailpipes, and a fresh leather interior all sound better than a silk cannon, quite frankly.

MORE: Rides, Sports Cars

AGENT: A Smartwatch So Smart Its Battery Actually Lasts

Style By Sam Jordan on May 23, 2013

A smartwatch suddenly becomes a lot less smart when its battery runs out. Then you’ve just got a weird plastic thing on your wrist that leads people to ask you what time is and induce a massive wave of shame over your entire body because you have no clue. “5ish? I dunno. Ya got me” Don’t let that happen. Check out the AGENT smartwatch, a new timepiece that promises unparalleled battery life and plenty of functionality. Connecting to your phone via Bluetooth enables the AGENT to display caller ID and texts, control your music, and alert you when you’ve left your phone behind.

MORE: Style, Watches

Snarkitecture Black Ping Pong Table: How Johnny Cash Would’ve Played

Gear By Sam Jordan on May 23, 2013

If you’re like me and spent many a restless night wondering why Johnny Cash didn’t play more ping pong, you’ll be relieved to know we now have an answer. It wasn’t because table tennis didn’t fit his tough guy image, no, it’s because he never had an all-black table like this one to play on. “Slice” from the Brooklyn-based design studio Snarkitecture is made of Richlite, steel, rubber, and the souls of ping pongers past. It’s how Johnny would’ve played.*

*conjecture

MORE: Gear, Sporting

TrackingPoint Smart Rifle: Point (Kinda) And Shoot

Gear By Sam Jordan on May 22, 2013

Forget years of practice at the shooting range, with the TrackingPoint Rifle ($22,000) you’re an expert marksman on day one. Think of it as a smart rifle; the scope features a cutting edge color display that lets the shooter lock a laser onto their target, the trigger is pulled, and then… nothing happens… until the gun decides to shoot. Yep, only when the rifle knows it has the shot lined up will it fire the shot. That means taking into consideration wind, distance to the target and more. The TrackingPoint features a built-in laser range finder, ballistics computer, and Wi-Fi transmitter to stream live video and audio to a nearby iPad.

MORE: Gear, Outdoors

Xbox One: Living Large In The Living Room

Tech By Sam Jordan on May 22, 2013

Finally we can retire all those silly code names (Durango, 720, Infinity) and focus on Microsoft’s next living room titan, the Xbox One. The styling of the system itself is surprisingly straightforward, but it’s what’s inside this black box that promises excitement. The specs: Blu-ray drive, 500GB hard drive, 8GB of system memory, USB 3.0 ports, an 8-core CPU and HDMI in/out ports. Each system will also come with a new version of the Kinect camera featuring improved voice recognition and a revised controller (better D-pad, but no touch screen). HD Skype calls will be ready to go, as well as a new partnership with the NFL for fantasy football lovers. The system will be sold “later this year” at a price point to be determined. 15 Xbox exclusive games are expected within the first year, and everything Call of Duty will arrive on the Xbox One first. Nothing was said about whether the new console will require an “always on” internet connection, but some sources have us concerned about backwards compatibility and used games.

MORE: Accessories, Tech

Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection: Bundled Melodrama

Media By Sam Jordan on May 22, 2013

If you’ve never played any of the Metal Gear Solid games, or if you’ve been longing to have the complete collection in one shiny box, here is your key to one hell of a brilliant, bizarre, and cut-scene-filled extravaganza. You’ll seriously need to set aside a couple of years to work your way through it. Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection ($50) features eight complete games, including Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: HD edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD edition Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. Two graphic novels and a 100-page art book round out this impressive package. Now go kiss your wife goodbye.

MORE: Media, Video Games

Kobe Red: Beer-Fed Jerky Tastes Like Victory

Culture By Sam Jordan on May 21, 2013

Move over pork rinds, there’s a new Manliest Snack in Town. Kobe Red ($7 and up) is jerky made from organic Japanese Kobe beef, considered perhaps the finest in the world. But the real rub here is that these Kobe cows are all beer fed. That’s right, while you’re drinking Mr. Pibb, these cows are chugging Heineken (we use that term and brand loosely here; could also be PBR). The result is chilled out cattle, and chilled out cattle are usually pretty cool with being turned into succulent strips of jerky. Try the Brown Sugar-Lemongrass.

MORE: Culture, Food

Bang & Olufsen Beolab 14: Your 4K TV’s Companion

Tech By Sam Jordan on May 21, 2013

If you’re the kinda guy who’s already planted a 4K TV in his living room, then 1) we’re jealous of your extreme wealth, and 2) we’ve found your surround speakers for you, sir. Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab 14 costs a cool $3,995, and that’s for a 4.1 setup mind you. The styling is of course impeccable, with a 280-watt cylindrical subwoofer anchoring the bass and four individually powered 2.5-inch satellite speakers (140 watts) bringing you the highs of your favorite films. The aluminum casing on the speakers promises to keep the sound as pristine as the visuals. Sony’s ready with some 4K(ish) content. Are you?

MORE: Home Audio & Speakers, Tech