360 DEGREES Weblog

Mini USA began delivering custom messages to Mini Cooper owners on digital signs the company calls “talking” billboards. The boards, which usually carry typical advertising, are programmed to identify approaching Mini drivers through a coded signal from a radio chip embedded in their key fob. The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef. (INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE)

Paris couture may be reserved for a handful of wealthy clients, but Giorgio Armani on Wednesday gave the whole world a glimpse of his exclusive creations by becoming the first designer to broadcast an haute couture collection live on the Internet. “Now through the democracy of the Internet, we can provide a front row seat for everyone,” the 72-year-old Italian said in a statement. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

“Blaze Columbia” is, by any measure, doing well with his line of designer clothing. He’s on track to generate more than $100,000 in annual profits, barely a year after launching his business. And that’s in addition to a first career as a professional photographer.
There’s just one big difference between the clothing that this Missouri resident produces and that of any other top-of-the-line dress or business suit: His don’t exist – at least not in the physical world. “Mr. Columbia” is an in-game name for a player on Second Life (SL), a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG).
(CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR)

Annie Leibovitz is shooting Disney’s new ads for the company’s Year of a Million Dreams campaign. The ads are far more like high fashion than mass market, despite the use of well known Disney characters. Instead of opting for cartoons, Annie has turned her famous lens onto celebrities that are dressed in character - as Disney stars. Scarlett Johanssen, accessorized with a $325,000 Harry Winston Tiara and Steuben custom glass slippers, stars as Cinderella and David Beckham plays Sleeping Beauty’s dragon-slaying Prince Charming. Only a few shots have been done so far, but 10 or 12 (including Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid) are in development. The photos will run as a series in magazines including Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, GQ, Conde Nast Traveller, Cookie and The New Yorker. And, with luck, they’ll be available as prints, too.

If celebrity patrons are an indicator of a hotel’s popularity, the Maldives super-lux Huvafen Fushi is about as hot as it gets. George Clooney popped in for lunch last month, Kate Moss partied in her Ocean Villa, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes booked in a massage during their honeymoon, Alexander McQueen just left and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce & Gabbana and John Galliano were set to arrive.

Trendsetting Huvafen Fushi has been raising the benchmark since its first inception two years ago. Opening its doors to feature the world’s first underwater spa, Huvafen Fushi has since earned its spot on the coveted Condé Nast Traveller Magazines’ UK and US Hot List.

This discreetly luxurious, contemporary retreat is located on its own lagoon on a tiny island in North Malé Atoll.
Surround sound Bose indoor/outdoor music system, Plasma TV screens, Bang & Olufsen phones, iPod Nano with an incredible selection of music that had already been installed – a separate massive bath which overlooks the ocean, my own private plunge pool, oversized king size bed, Frette linen, designer furniture (including pieces by Frank Gehry) electronic curtains, waterfall shower – the list goes on and on.

Famously, the highest point in the Maldives is only four meters above sea level, so perhaps its not surprising that the Huvafen spa is underwater – something totally exclusive to this resort. It’s like entering a glamorous fishbowl where you are the main attraction to the fish. It’s the perfect environment for a massage.

COOL FACTOR
The friendly, laid-back staff: guests in pavilion accommodation get a 24-hour butler service, while the rest of the resort gets a FISH (Fast Island Service Host), which amounts to the same thing.

FACILITES
Three restaurants, a lively bar, a seriously cool well-stocked underground wine cellar, an over-water yoga pavilion and the world’s first underwater massage treatment rooms complete the picture.

COST
Bungalows from US$880

This year, Huvafen Fushi is proud to announce three new initiatives. An übercool 70ft luxury yacht, an exclusive compilation with one of the world’s most famous DJ and Producer, Ravin from Buddha Bar, Paris as well as an uplift to the world’s first underwater spa.

Thanks CoolHunter

The Electric Car Jack. From the ‘what took you so long?’ dept. Plug it into your car lighter socket, press the switch and lift 1 ton without breaking a finger nail. Then all you have to do is get someone to undo the wheel lug nuts and you’re laughing. £39.99.

Launched in Portland last month, Living Room Theaters intends to create a more intimate and multi-purpose approach to movie going. The small complex has 6 screening rooms, each seating 38 to 64 audience members in home-theater style recliners and loveseats or at low-lit tables with plush chairs. Customers can sit down and relax in the screening/living room half an hour before the movie starts, ordering drinks from a full bar and finger food from a tapas-style menu.

Unlike regular theaters, Living Room also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual restaurant and bar with capacity for 50 people. On sunny days, a roll-up garage door opens the restaurant for sidewalk cafe seating. Completing the being space concept, free wifi is available throughout the lounge and cafe. All of which will help bring in the grown-up customers Living Room Theaters is targeting; not just when they want to see the latest indie flick, but also for meeting up and hanging out in a comfortable, well-designed space, or having lunch while working on their own film scripts.

Of course, let’s not forget the actual movies. Living Room Theaters is all-digital, and offers a proprietary digitizing technology that lets newcomers distribute their films without the high costs of making and shipping celluloid prints. Digital screening also enables the theater to premiere films that haven’t yet been distributed (on celluloid) in the rest of the country. Programming will focus on independent releases and foreign films.

The company’s owners, Felix Martin and Ernesto Rimoch, both went to film school and started the business mainly to offer audiences a new movie-going experience. They’re already working on a second location in Miami, and aim to open 10-15 small theater complexes across the United States. Time for film-loving entrepreneurs in other countries to follow their lead?

Apparently last winter was a pretty rough one for Munich. So, this travel agency decided to take advantage of the frozen spirits and snow covered windshields of the city’s citizens. In this brilliant, and very cheap, guerrilla campaign, flight rates to warmer, happier regions were written in the snow next to the typical flier under the wiper. Big impact. Great, simple and smart thinking.

After suffering declining sales since 2004 and a depressing 8% drop in sales during the five-week holiday season this year, Gap Inc. dumped CEO Paul Pressler on Monday after five years. Also this month, the company lowered its earnings estimate for the third time in six months. It will report fourth-quarter and annual sales March 1. Rumors are swirling that Gap Inc. (GPS), which also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic, will put itself up for sale, close stores and/or sell off divisions. (USA TODAY)

McDonald’s Japan has been forced to limit sales of its new Mega Mac hamburger to counter low stocks resulting from its huge popularity. Customers who have been unable to buy the 350 yen hamburgers due to a shortage of stocks are being handed coupons enabling them to buy them next time for 190 yen. The company had planned to sell the hamburgers until Feb. 4, but it is now planning to extend the sales period for at least one week because of their popularity. (MAINICHI DAILY NEWS)