Pakistan successfully test fires Hatf IV ballistic missile

Successful Test launch of Shaheen 1A

Shaheen 1A is an upgraded version of the Shaheen 1 which is estimated to have a payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms and a range of 750 kilometres. — File Photo

Pakistan on Wednesday successfully test-fired the Hatf IV (Shaheen 1A) missile which is a nuclear-capable intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, DawnNews reported.
According to a statement issued by the ISPR, the ‘Shaheen 1A’ missile is an upgraded version of the ‘Shaheen 1’ with a longer range.
Shaheen 1 is estimated to have a payload capacity of 1,000 kilograms and a range of 750 kilometres. The exact range of the new Shaheen 1A has not been announced.
The test missile’s impact point was in the Indian Ocean.
The ISPR statement further added that SPD Director General Khalid Ahmed Kidwai was also present at the test site.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani congratulated the scientists working on the program over the success of the missile test.
The launch comes days after India announced that it had successfully test-launched a new nuclear-capable, long-range missile. The Agni-V has a range of 5,000 kilometres.

Super Secret Hypersonic Aircraft Flew Out of Its Skin

Super Secret Hypersonic Aircraft …

It turns out that tearing through the atmosphere at 20 times the speed of sound is bad for the skin, even if you're a super high-tech aircraft developed by the government's best engineers at its far-out research agency.

DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, has made public its best guess about what might have caused its unmanned arrowhead-shaped Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2) to suddenly lose contact and crash in the Pacific just a few minutes after slicing through the sky at Mach 20 last August: it was going so fast its skin peeled off.

After an eight-month investigation, DARPA concluded that even though the HTV-2 was expected to lose some of its skin mid-flight, "larger than anticipated portions of the vehicle's skin peeled from the aerostructure," the agency said in a statement Friday.

The agency said it expected the HTV-2, which goes so fast it can make the commute from New York to Los Angeles in 12 minutes, to experience "impulsive shock waves" at such speeds, but shocks it experienced last August were "more than 100 times what the vehicle was designed to withstand."

While the test was very public, the details of the HTV-2's design, stability system and potential purpose remain highly classified.

Two months after DARPA's test, the Army tested its own hypersonic aircraft - this one a long-range weapon system called the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) designed to strike any target in the world in just a couple hours.

By Lee Ferran | ABC News

Related Article

Should President Obama want to strike any target in the world from the homeland in just a couple hours, that capability could soon be at his fingertips thanks to a top secret weapon successfully tested today, the Army said.
The Army's own version of a hypersonic, long-range weapon system blasted off from the Pentagon's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, early Thursday morning and – in less than half an hour -- reached its destination approximately 2,500 miles away at Kwajalein Atoll. The Army would not say exactly how fast the weapon can go, but does describe it as a hypersonic weapon, meaning it reaches speeds of at least five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5.
It was the first ever test for the Army's Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW), part of a Conventional Prompt Global Strike capability in development by the military. The AHW is described by the Department of Defense as a "first-of-its-kind glide vehicle" that uses a three-stage booster system to launch the glider slicing through the air.

"The objective of the test [today was] to collect data on hypersonic boost-glide technologies and test range performance for long-range atmospheric flight," the Department of Defense said in a statement. "Mission emphasis is aerodynamics; navigation, guidance, and control; and thermal protection technologies."

U.S. Army

Today the U.S. Army successfully tested a new... View Full Size

Today the U.S. Army successfully tested a new hypersonic delivery system. An environmental report prepared by the U.S. Army's Space and Missile Defense Command in June includes a computer-generated model labeled as "Advanced Hypersonic Weapon: Hypersonic Glide Body".

Engine Control Unit (ECU) first time ever built in Pakistan

A pakistani guy made an Engine Control Unit (ECU) first time in the History of Pakistan from scratch using basic cheap PIC microcontroller. That controls the spraying of the Fuel injectors, manages the Ignition System consisting of Electronics Distributor less Ignition System (EDIS). In Pakistan EFI engines get assembled only but the manufacturing or designing ECU is still a novel idea.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_fpNcJUpcQ


This ECU has following features:
1) Adjustable Idling Speed.
2) Cold Start feature for better cranking in winters. Just starts in first Attempt.
3) Fully Controllable Ignition Timing (Advance/Retard) no need for Advancer in case of CNG.
4) Injector Duty Cycle is Programmable (Rich/Lean).
5) Cooling FAN can be set at any Temperature.
6) Fuel Pump runs only if Engine is running.
7) One can tune it for racing to extract maximum output from the Engine.
8) It can be set on Economical Mode for Extra Fuel Saving.
9) Engine Maximum RPM can be limited at any set point. To enhance the Engine Life.
10) Injectors can be disabled just by giving one Pulse so there’s no need of Emulator for CNG.

ECU Inputs:
Intake Air Temperature Sensor, Throttle Position Sensor, Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor, O2 Sensor, Oil Pressure Sensor, Knocking Sensor, Coolant Temperature Sensor, CAM position Sensor, Crank Angle Sensor, VVT Feedback Sensor.

ECU Outputs:
3-Fuel Injectors, 3-Ignition Coils, Idling Air Control Valve, VVT Solenoid, Purge Valve, Radiator cooling FAN, Fuel Pump, + RS232 port for Data Monitoring

more than that i made all this just for Fun, Engines r my Babies
Best Regards
Engr Asad Hameed

A Tribute to Gayari Heroes of Pakistan Army in Siachen

This is newly released video about Siachen and Pakistan Army Soldiers operating in the area. The video has been made in same base of Pakistan Army which has been trapped under Avalanche. Some of the soldiers who performed in the video are among those trapped.

7 Guideposts to Achieving the Impossible

In this article, former White House advisor, Guy L. Smith, now Executive VP of Diageo North America, offers management strategies to help teams achieve the impossible. The key, Smith believes, is providing your team with the critical motivation to achieve more than others think is reasonable or possible. Below, Smith outlines exactly how managers and team-leaders can make this happen.

It won’t take you long to recall the last time at work somebody resisted changing something. From the mundane and unimportant like changing the stationary, the look of the bulletin board, the type of coffee in the coffee machine or the traditional venue for the office holiday party to much more serious like changing the organization’s name, dropping a product line, merging to survive or closing regional offices.

How many times has someone said to you, “Oh, you can’t do that. In this organization that’s just impossible.” Workplace inertia is so common it is parodied everywhere, from popular TV shows to comic strips.

In part the impossible is held back by risk aversion and fear of change. Change is feared everywhere, but nowhere more than in the workplace. Corporations everywhere are littered with mediocrity, a mediocrity that is simply accepted “because doing that is just impossible.” So, organizations are run within ever-narrowing parameters with grudging acquiescence to never achieving what others see as impossible.

I believe ordinary, accomplished people in organizations, often those in middle management, can achieve the impossible. That belief is grounded in the experience of my Corporate Relations team at Diageo North America.

Instead of focusing on what’s possible, this team has spent the last 10 years striving for the impossible and making it a reality, proving it is not always the Nobel Laureates or Apollo 13 astronauts who have the power to impact real change. Ordinary, accomplished people in organizations, especially those in middle management, can achieve anything. They can and do achieve the impossible.

The first step is simple: eliminate personal beliefs and social pressures that new ideas, large-scale changes, and innovations cannot be achieved by ordinary people. Reframe what is possible. To do this, I believe all we need to give our teams is the motivation – and the support - to strive to achieve more than others think is reasonable or possible.

I’ve worked in the White House; had to get stuff done in Baghdad, Kabul, Sarajevo and Pyongyang; and in some of the biggest companies in the world I’ve seen this idea in action. Now, as Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations for the North American operations of Diageo, I am privileged to lead an incredible group of individuals who initiated fundamental change in our industry that many deemed impossible from the start. Through the use of simple motivational tactics that provide critical structure and support, this team has confounded an entire industry through its achievements.

By utilizing the “The Seven Guideposts to Achieving the Impossible” my team has been the driving force behind some of the largest scale, transformative changes the beverage alcohol industry has seen since Prohibition, remaking the social and regulatory landscape of their industry – something believed impossible just a decade ago.

Managers and their teams can apply these essential ideas by personally connecting to The Seven Guideposts to Achieving the Impossible:

1. Believe in yourself. Life-changing and market-leading achievements require individuals and team members to believe in their ability to accomplish the task. This creates a critical starting point, giving one a sense that there are no barriers too big to overcome.
2. Believe in the Mission. From the start, everyone on the Diageo Corporate Relations team understood what we were working toward, creating a common goal that supersedes all else. But we didn’t stop there. Everyone carried the fundamental belief that what he or she needed to accomplish was of enduring value, even when others refused to believe achieving it would be possible.
3. Be willing to change the rules of the game. Change is one of the most common and most feared concepts – in business and in life, especially in corporate America. Yet one of the keys to achieving the impossible is being willing to change the rules of the game. It takes the ability to look into the future and see that “the game” can be played differently. Diageo first changed the rules of the game when we stopped treating critics as “the enemy.” Instead, Diageo shifted to a practice of openness and “constructive engagement” that created real dialogue and progress.
4. Have the humility to ask for and use help. Athletes are trained to support their teammates with an RBI, an assist, a pass, whatever. This is a natural part of teamwork and working against a common opponent. In the business world, however, “the team” and “goal” are often not nearly so obvious. To make corporate teams truly effective, they need to develop a clear, shared vision and identify the issues that truly require shared focus and effort. But asking for help does not come naturally to all people. In addition, many corporate teams are not structured to engage in this way, and in actuality, are not really a team at all. The Diageo North American Corporate Relations team clearly held a shared purpose, and many of its projects required true collaboration, starting with asking for help from others who have the knowledge, skills or resources that you do not, taking that help freely to accomplish the task at hand.
5. Focus all available assets against a single objective. To make substantial change, the individual and the team have to assemble a broad range of resources and commit these resources to the shared goal. This is when the impact is most evident.
6. Have the tenacity to relentlessly, tirelessly persist. Making fundamental changes in any complex environment takes a great deal of persistence. One has to have a vision for the future and persevere toward that vision, working day after day, week after week, year after year, to accomplish the end goal.
7. Use your knowledge, skills, experience and training. People with training in a profession or skill have changed their definition of impossible because they have learned and practiced the component skills necessary to achieve seemingly impossible tasks. Even when a new situation appears impossible to the well-trained individual, his or her training “kicks in” and helps that person figure out how to create success out of certain failure.

Over the last decade, Diageo’s Corporate Relations team has consistently worked toward the goal of changing the social, legal and regulatory landscape for beverage alcohol. All along the way, each of us – individually and collectively – knew we were capable of this task, because we were personally connected to each one of these guideposts. It is through accepting and following these tactics any team can achieve the impossible.

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About Guy Smith
Guy L. Smith has been Executive Vice President of Diageo North America, the world's leading premium drinks company, since 2000. He is responsible for all internal and external communications, government affairs, reputation management, public policy and corporate social responsibility. Smith was previously in the Clinton White House as Special Advisor to the President. Prior to that he spent more than 25 years in senior corporate, NGO and government roles.
Guy Smith and the entire Diageo North America Corporate Relations Team have just released a new book, If It's Not Impossible, It's Not Interesting: Leveraging Personal Experience to Create a High Performance Team, a compilation of 41 empowering stories of overcoming personal obstacles to achieve the impossible; the stories illustrate what can be accomplished by following ‘The Seven Guideposts to Achieving the Impossible’. Available through http://www.amazon.com.

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Titanic 100th anniversary

The 100th anniversary of the Titanic expedition is under way. You can choose which moment you want to commemorate: The luxury liner left Belfast on April 2, 1912, sailed on its maiden -- and final -- voyage April 10, and hit the iceberg on April 15. The centenarian observation has spanned the globe, from memorial cruises to movie rereleases.

Tempting fate? The MS Balmoral's Titanic Memorial Cruise follows the same course, sans iceberg. The ship set sail with the same number of passengers (1,309) and planned to rendezvous with the wreckage site on April 15 before heading to New York. Winds up to 45 mph, though, prevented the luxury cruiser from docking in Ireland. Winds aside, the conditions seem promising: A supermoon won't be causing a hiccup this time ... although global warming has been unleashing more rogue icebergs.

The ship is stocked with the descendants of survivors, including the grandson of the first steward and the only Titanic survivor relative to dive to the wreck.

Titanic shoes"The seabed between the two parts of the ship is scattered with shoes. You begin to think they belonged to somebody. Those shoes were somebody's possessions. It was very moving," said [Philip] Littlejohn.
"It was something grandfather never spoke about. It had a tremendous effect on his life -- it turned (his hair) completely white with shock," Littlejohn said. (Montreal Gazette)

Encyclopedia Titanica compiles a list of survivors and links to their biographies.

What Titanic means, 100 years later. The shipwreck has always symbolized tragic glamour, and its 100th anniversary has inspired a ghoulish costume-party atmosphere, like the re-creation of the last meal that a Houston restaurant is offering for $12,000. Ultimately, 1,514 died in freezing waters. "Titanic" director James Cameron, who recently satisfied a seven-year obsession to solo-dive a record 35,576 feet, has become the go-to spokesperson of its cultural meaning: He was featured in the National Geographic documentary, solipsistically titled "Titanic: The Final Word With James Cameron." Cameron zeroed in on the way this tragedy bundles hubris, class, and the mystery that the deep still holds for people.

It's not about numbers. It's about the hubris of the shipowners, for example; it's about society at that time. It was a very optimistic time: Technology was advancing; people built aircrafts; they enjoyed electric light; everything looked like there would be a great future. And the Titanic stood for that. And then, suddenly, the unthinkable happened, as if all of this went down with the Titanic... [S]he is and will remain a metaphor. (April 6 interview with Die Spiegel)

Titanic movie
Obsession and embarrassment in stunning 3D: Among the many events surrounding the anniversary is the "Titanic 3D" release. The retinkered movie scored third in the domestic weekend box office, beaten by "Hunger Games" and -- ouch -- "American Reunion." Oddly, the rerelease wins more favorable ratings from critics than from the audience. Then again, the cast's embarrassment could be dampening the ardor:

No one's heard a peep out of Leonardo DiCaprio (though Cameron relayed his sentiments after hosting a brief screening; the actor was "practically crawling under the seat").
And as for Kate Winslet, the film's heroine, the past 15 years have, apparently, been hell: she was "haunted" by "Titanic" jokes; bristled at her nude scene, "I'm not going to look" -- (calling your bluff, Winslet) -- and and wanted to vomit upon hearing Celine Dion's ballad "My Heart Will Go On." (That last one is fair.)
She also briskly described the pair's physical transformation: "He's fatter now -- I'm thinner." Zane put it a bit more delicately: "Kate's gotten sweeter with age and Leo's swarthier now." (Huffington Post)Ways to commemorate: An admission ticket: $50,00-$70,000. A letter from the captain of the rescue ship Carpathia, $90,000-$120,000. The first distress message from the signal book, which includes the words "WE HAVE STRUCK AN ICEBERG," $25,000-$35,000. These items and more will go on sale at the Bonhams auction.

An even bigger sale is going on in Richmond, Virginia, on April 15, hosted by the company that found the Titanic wreck in the 1980s.

The biggest sale ever of Titanic relics is set to take place Wednesday in Richmond, Virginia, where more than 5,000 objects retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean seabed since the wreck's discovery in 1985 are to be auctioned by Guernsey's as a single collection — as ordered by a U.S. court — to preserve its historical integrity. (Post Media News)

If all these items prove too expensive for a souvenir, many cities are cashing in on the event by re-creating meals and hosting walking tours. Other ways to see the Titanic:

TV specials

• "Save the Titanic With Bob Ballard" (April 9, 10 p.m., National Geographic)
• "The Titanic With Len Goodman" (April 10, 8 p.m., PBS)
• "Titanic" (April 14, 8 p.m., ABC miniseries written by Julian Fellowes, writer of "Gosford Park" and "Downton Abbey")
• "A Night to Remember" (April 14, 10 p.m., Turner Classic Movies)
• "Why Ships Sink" (April 18, 9 p.m., PBS)

Travel

• Expedition Titanic 2012. (July 1-14, July 13-26, July 26-August 8, August 7 -20). The 13-day RT tour from St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, cost $59,680. (Sorry, the Groupon deal with DVD signed by a Leo DiCaprio impersonator sold out.)

Exhibits. The RMS Titanic site lists exhibits from Atlanta to Singapore.
Others:

• "Titanic: 100-Year Obsession," National Geographic Museum, Washington D.C. (March 29-July 8)
• "Titanic Belfast" Queen's Island, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Opening March 31, the museum bills itself as the world's largest Titanic visitor experience.

Titanic search chart

Rescue Operation for Brave soldiers of Pakistan Army

Chief of Army Staff visited Siachen Forward Base

World's most expensive hotel suites

15. The Presidential Suite, Intercontinental, Hong Kong

US$13,715 per night

Great limo service, but why would you ever leave?

Renowned for being Asia's finest Presidental Suite, the room offers an “IMAX” experience of Hong Kong. Experience a wrap-around harbour view terrace (2500 sq. feet) with a rooftop infinity swimming pool and Jacuzzi overlooking Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
The dining room, master bedroom and bathroom and private gym also have panoramic harbour views. The suite also has a private study and kitchenette.
Guests also get a choice of riding in a Phantom VI Rolls Royce, Bentley or Mercedes limousine.
+852 2721 1211, www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com

14. The Sultan’s Suite, Çirağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul

US$15,332 per night

Prince Charles, Liz Hurley and Uma Thurman have all slept in the same bed.

Originally built of wood in the 16th century, and eventually the residence of the last Ottoman Sultans, this palace was rebuilt in marble for Sultan Abdülaziz in 1857.
Now a lavish five-star hotel with a guest list that includes Prince Charles, Liz Hurley, Uma Thurman and Giorgio Armani, it has all the trimmings: a gorgeous pool, boat and helicopter service and an amazing breakfast buffet.
The Sultan’s Suite overlooking the Bosphorus comes with private butler service, opulent chandeliers, period furniture and fine art. What more could the average oligarch need?
+90 212 326 4646; www.kempinski.com

13. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

US$18,000 per night

If you think Moscow be cold in winter, wait till your next meeting with your bank manager.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Ritz-Carlton Suite frame an unparalleled view of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Christ the Savior Cathedral.
With classic Russian Imperial furnishings, the 232-square-meter suite comes with a spacious living room, dining area, library, office, grand piano and heated flooring, perfect for bone-chilling Moscow winters.
+7 495 225 8888; www.ritzcarlton.com

12. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai

US$18,716 per night

What you'd get if Ali G was your interior decorator.

There are luxury hotels, and then there’s the Burj Al Arab. Since its 1999 opening, the iconic, sail-shaped Dubai resort has been a benchmark of no-holds-barred extravagance that others have tried and failed to emulate.
All of the suites -- the word "room" does not exist here -- are arranged over two floors and have whirlpool baths, living and dining areas and dedicated butlers.
+971 4 301 7777; www.jumeirah.com

11. Royal Suite, Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

US$24,550 per night

At this price you should not only get to take the towels with you, but the artwork, too.

There are a pair of Royal Suites at Hotel George V. Both have private terraces overlooking the historic art deco fountain of the Three Graces.
Stuffed with magnificent French antiques, these vast suites are adorned with 18th- and 19th-century fine art. Crystal chandeliers glitter and huge vases of pale pink roses perfume the air.
The master bedrooms have spacious marble bathrooms with steam rooms, sauna and a walk-in dressing rooms.
+33 149 52 7000; www.fourseasons.com

10. Royal Towers Bridge Suite, Atlantis, Bahamas

US$25,000 per night

Hopefully you don't have a gold allergy.

This 10-room suite with gold sofas, cushions, gilt mirrors and chandeliers is enough to make minimalists break out in hives. This is shameless glamour.
The grand foyer dazzles the eye with an elaborate floor made of four kinds of marble. The 15-meter-long living room holds a baby grand piano. The vast entertainment center comes with a full-service bar.
Throw in the eye-popping balcony views, and a butler, and this is no ordinary pad.
+1 242 363 3000; www.atlantis.com

9. Ritz-Carlton Suite, Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

US$26,300 per night

Lofty -- like our dreams of ever staying here.

At 300 square meters, the Ritz-Carlton Suite has many of the usual big suite highlights -- Frette linen sheets, an oversized marble bathroom, huge beds, flat-screen TVs and individual rain shower booths.
The clincher is the fact that it tops the tallest skyscrapers in Tokyo and has proposal-worthy views over the Imperial Palace, Roppongi Hills and Mount Fuji.
+81 3 3423 8000; www.ritzcarlton.com

8. Villa La Cupola Suite, Westin Excelsior, Rome

US$30,000 per night

When in Rome ... blow your budget?

For the ultimate in La Dolce Vita, check into the stunning Villa La Cupola suite in Rome’s Westin Excelsior.
One of the largest in Europe, the suite is inspired by ancient Rome, with extensive use of marble, stained glass and frescoes. There’s a gorgeous wraparound terrace where you can soak up the sun, a private spa with sauna, whirlpool and steam bath, as well as private cinema.
+39 06 47081; www.westinrome.com

7. Presidential Suite, Hotel Cala di Volpe, Sardinia, Italy

US$32,736 per night

One of the most exquisite, but not the most expensive. Bargain!

Perfect for sun-kissed networking, the Presidential Suite overlooks the sparkling brine of the Costa Smeralda. Billed as one of the most gorgeous suites in the world, this three-bedroom luxury pad stands above the rambling towers and pantile roofs of the luxury Porto Cervo resort.
An understated blend of Mediterranean style and sensational bay views, the suite also has its own pool on the private roof terrace, along with a wine cellar and outdoor gym.
+39 789 976111; www.luxurycollection.com/caladivolpe

6. The Royal Villa, Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens

US$34,356 per night

Two pools, a private chef and myriad reasons to enjoy every penny of your inheritance.

With a butler, private chef and pianist at your beck and call, there's little need to lift a finger -- except to sip martinis -- when you stay at this three-bedroomed villa.
When you're feeling more active you can also take advantage of an indoor pool, outdoor heated pool and gym, as well as a steam bath and massage room.
There's also a nearby private marina and beach.
+30 22910 76000; www.lagonissiresort.gr

5. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa Palms Resort, Las Vegas

US$35,487 per night

Bunnies not included? Not worth it then.

The Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, high in the Palms' Fantasy Tower, is fitted out with everything Playboy: racy artwork selected by Hef himself, a huge, rotating circular bed and an indoor pool, branded with the Bunny logo, leading to a hair- -- and libido- -- raising cantilevered spa bath high above the Strip.
This 836-square-meter, two-bedroom pad also includes an orgy-sized bathtub, bar and poker table and an indoor waterfall.
The eye-watering price doesn't include breakfast -- or Bunnies.
+1 702 942 7777; www.palms.com

4. Penthouse Suite, Hotel Martinez, Cannes, France

US$37,500 per night

Two bathrooms, hammam, sauna, spa bath and shower -- because you'll feel so dirty after spending this much on a room.

On the Croisette, Hotel Martinez has a Michelin-starred restaurant, piano bar and huge private beach.
Decked out in art deco style, you’ll have a sitting room, dining room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms with hammam, shower, spa bath, dressing room and sauna at your disposal, as well as a huge terrace overlooking the Bay of Cannes.
+33 4 92 98 73 00; www.hotel-martinez.com

3. Ty Warner Penthouse Suite, Four Seasons Hotel, New York

US$41,836 per night

Soak in the expansive tub and try not to think about the US$30 it's costing you each minute.

This 400-square-meter penthouse tops the entire top floor of this magnificent hotel, offering a 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline.
The nine-room suite is the brainchild of designer Peter Marino, architect IM Pei and the hotel's owner Ty Warner (the billionaire creator of the Beanie Babies).
It sports fabrics woven with platinum and gold, an indoor-outdoor Zen garden, a stupendous chandelier, the services of a personal butler, personal trainer/therapist and private chauffeur.
+1 758 5700; www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs

2. The Presidential Suite, The Raj Palace Hotel, Jaipur, India

US$45,000 per night

Private museum. Need any other reason to blow 45 large?

This positively palatial suite was a former Maharaja’s residence. At nearly 1,500 square meters, the suite is one of the biggest in Asia, and comprises a four-floor apartment lavishly decorated in gold leaf, stucco, ivory and mirror work.
With a private roof terrace and swimming pool offering panoramic views of the pink city of Jaipur, and its own private museum, there seems little reason to leave.
+ 91 141 2634077; www.rajpalace.com

1. Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

US$65,000 per night

With 12 rooms, this suite is essentially a house, and costs about the same.

For the security-conscious, or the merely paranoid, there's nowhere better to stay than the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson Hotel, which has panoramic views of Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc.
With bulletproof doors and windows, it’s the perfect safehouse for visiting heads of state, or privacy-conscious celebs.
Taking up the entire top floor of the hotel, the suite has its own private elevator to whisk guests to an apartment with 12 rooms, which hold a Steinway grand piano, billiard room, library and private fitness center.
+41 22 906 6666; www.hotelpwilson.com 

Most Expensive Cars In The World

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you had the money and opportunity, you would probably spend a small fraction of it on a collection of supercars for your private garage.

1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sports $2,400,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today (the base Veyron costs $1,700,000). It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is also the fastest street legal car when tested again on July 10, 2010 with the 2010 Super Sport Version reaching a top speed of 267 mph. When competing against the Bugatti Veyron, you better be prepared!

There is a tie for #2!

2. Aston Martin One-77 $1,850,000. The name "One-77" says it all: beauty and power in One, limited to 77 units. With 750 hp, it is able to travel from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 220 mph.

2. Pagani Zonda Clinque Roadster $1,850,000. One of the most exotic cars out there is also one of the most expensive. It can go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of

217 mph.

We have another tie for 3rd place:

3. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the third on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. Koenigsegg Agera R $1,600,000. The Agera R can burn 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 260 mph. It has the parts to reach 270 mph, but the supercar is electronically capped at 235 mph. With the completion of certain paperwork, the company will unlock the speed limit for one occasion.

4. Maybach Landaulet $1,380,000. The Landaulet is the most expensive sedan on the market and it can reach from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. Probably the most luxurious car ever made with a convertible roof that can open fully at the rear. This car is made especially for those CEOs and Executives who have their own personal driver.

5. Zenvo ST1 $1,225,000. Able to reach 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 233 mph. The Zenvo ST1 is from a new Danish supercar company that will compete to be the best in speed and style. The ST1 is limited to 15 units and the company even promised "flying doctors" to keep your car running.

6. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built more than 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and outperforms many other supercars.

7. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most popular supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

8. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 8th most expensive car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

9. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, this American made car is actually the 3rd fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost less than half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to compete against the most expensive car. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

10. Ascari A10 $650,000. This badboy can reach a tested top speed of 215 mph, zooming 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. The British car company plans to assemple 50 of these supercars in their factory in Banbury, England.

Most Expensive Cell Phones

Most people enjoy having a quality cell phone, but they also recognize that cellular phones are a consumable good and will have to be replaced within in a few years. For this reason, people often do not purchase the most expensive cell phone when they purchase their mobile. Some, though, must have a costly mobile phone. The world’s most expensive cell phones were made to satisfy just that type of person.

Ulysse Nardin’s The Chairman – up to $49,500

The Chairman by Ulysse Nardin is the world’s most expensive Android smartphone, and includes both a touch screen and a physical number pad. The Ulysse Nardin name is most often associated with luxury watches and that fact shows in the Chairman’s sophisticated design. The volume controls look like watch buttons and the crown between them can actually be wound to generate power for the device. In fact, the phone features a kinetic rotor power system visible through the backplate.

Nokia 8800 Arte with pink diamonds
$134,000
Designed by Peter Aloisson, this solid 18k white gold phone features over 680 pink and white brilliant cut diamonds totaling over 21.5 carats. Some of the phone’s features are a 3.15 MP camera with autofocus and video, a music player, Bluetooth and voice memo.

Peter Aloisson’s iPhone Princess Plus
$176,400
The Princess Plus got its name from the Princess cut used on 138 of the 318 diamonds on its surface. The other 180 diamonds on the phone were brilliant-cut. In total, the phone has 17.75 carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold around its rim. The iPhone Princess Plus is worth $176,400 while the somewhat more pedestrian “Brilliants only” version sold for $66,150.

Sony Ericsson Black Diamond – $300,000

The price of this phone comes from actual state of the art technology instead of a bunch of shiny rocks—but that doesn’t mean it lacks visual appeal. OLED technology underneath the polycarbonate skin that covers the phones entire face gives the 4 megapixel screen a borderless look. The mirror finish gives the phone a sleek, futuristic look.

Vertu Signature Cobra
$310,000
This gaudy phone is so exclusive that only eight will ever be made. Designed by French jeweler Boucheron, the Signature Cobra is made with two diamonds, two emeralds and 439 rubies. For buyers who are only filthy rich, rather than obscenely rich, twenty-six of the less flashy (read: no rubies) Signature Python phones will be available for a mere $115,000. Both phones will feature the real draw—they have frikkin’ snakes on them. Awesome.




Gresso Luxor Las Vegas Jackpot – $1 million

This ultra-exclusive phone, limited to only three units, truly lives up to its name. Not only is it extraordinarily expensive, but its Egypt-inspired design will look right at home in the hands of a Vegas high-roller. The phone features 45.5 carats of black diamonds decorating the bezel and a back panel made from 200-year-old African blackwood—the most expensive wood in the world. As if that weren’t enough to ensure the Jackpot a place among the world’s most expensive mobile phones, each key is cut from a hand-polished sapphire crystal. All of these luxurious materials are set in a 180-gram solid gold frame.


The Diamond Crypto Smartphone – $1.3 million

Created by luxury accessory producer Peter Aloisson of Moscow-based JSC Ancort, this luxury smartphone’s price stems from the platinum body, the cover adorned with 50 diamonds—including eight that are rare blue diamonds. Additionally, the Ancort logo and the navigation key are made of 18k rose gold. Built on the Windows CE, this expensive cell also features a high-resolution color TFT display and a 256 bit cryptographic algorithm. This expensive mobile phone features SMS, MMS, E-mail and Internet capability, WAP, JAVA support and even a media player.


GoldVish ‘Le Million’ Piece Unique
$1.3 million

Guinness World Records certified GoldVish SA’s ‘Le Million’ Piece Unique on January 29th, 2008. The Geneva-based luxury communications company’s expensive mobile phone was designed by Emmanuel Gueit as an addition to the Illusion Collection. The phone is made of 18k white gold and set with 20 carats of VVS1 (only microscopically flawed) diamonds. The phone also features Bluetooth, 2 GB of storage, FM radio, a digital camera and MP3 playback. This expensive cell phone is available only by special order.

Peter Aloisson’s Kings Button iPhone
$2.4 million
The Kings Button iPhone is, surprisingly, a jewel-bedecked iPhone. This time, however, Aloisson had the iPhone 3G to play with—and, apparently, a bit of a bigger budget. One hundred and thirty-eight brilliant-cut diamonds line the sides of the phone, but the real prize is the home button—a rare 6.6 carat white diamond.




Goldstriker iPhone 3GS Supreme – $3.2 million

Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International is known for giving luxury devices such as phones and video game consoles the “Supreme” treatment—covering them with gold and diamonds—and the iPhone is no exception. The iPhone 3GS Supreme features a casing made from 271 grams of solid 22k gold and a screen trimmed with fifty-three 1-carat diamonds. The home button is covered with a single rare 7.1-carat diamond. That’s not all, though—the iPhone 3GS Supreme comes in a chest carved from a single block of granite and sports Kashmir gold and an interior lining made with Nubuck top grain leather.

Stuart Hughes iPhone 4 Diamond Rose Edition – $8 million

If you thought his iPhone 3GS Supreme was impressive, check out the latest iPhone from Stuart Hughes–the iPhone 4 Diamond Rose Edition. Hughes has recreated the infamous antenna band that wraps around the sides of the latest iPhone, as well as the backplate, using rose gold. The band is adorned with 100 carats of flawless diamonds, and the Apple logo is formed with fifty-three more diamonds. Once again, the home button gets the most love–it’s made of platinum and features a rare 7.4-carat pink diamond.
The phone comes in an imperial pink 7-kilogram chest cut from a single block of granite and lined with nubuck top-grain leather. It also comes with an 8-carat flawless diamond that can be used in place of the pink one.