Porsche Design know a thing or two about penning cool lifestyle products like watches, travel cases and sneakers. What they’ve yet to grace with their signature German design is the world of luxury housing – until now.

The Porsche Design Tower is a brand new US$840 million luxury residential project situated on the iconic sands of Miami Beach. Given its idyllic location, the 56 storey skyscraper wasn’t exactly a bargain to construct but it can now consider itself an architectural masterpiece of Sunny Isles Beach.

RELATED: What It’s Like To Work At Porsche

Highsnobiety were recently given the rare chance to step inside the new digs to experience the tower’s two penthouses that go for US$32.5 million a pop. And unlike the usual run of the mill apartments which skimp on space, each Porsche Design penthouse affords its lucky owner an 11 car garage. Joining your fleet of supercars in the Porsche Design Tower are polished amenities such as a spa, hair salon, private yoga studio and an immersive Gran Turismo simulator station, floor to ceiling views, a movie theatre, an outdoor kitchen, wrap around balconies and a private restaurant amongst a lot more five star features.

The post Step Inside Porsche Design's $840M Luxury Apartment Tower appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Kimi Raikkonen is a simple man. He drives fast. He likes Magnum ice cream. He does not believe in the fundamentals of human interaction nor light banter. He’s the epitome of a cold racing machine who lets his track performance do the talking and then goes home to watch some ice hockey. And that’s why people love him and call him the ‘Iceman’.

The only thing that could melt this steely Fin it seems is a stint behind the wheel of Ferrari’s latest GTC4Lusso T, the prancing horse’s most practical car which is powered by a 3.9-litre turbo V8 engine. It also has four seats but in this particular commercial featuring the flying Fin, he only needs the boot space for his hockey gear.

And proving that it’s not the destination but the journey that counts, Ferrari have managed to stitch up a commercial which promotes both Kimi’s love for driving and ice hockey. The latter of which even causes him to crack a rare smile when the goalie ducks out of the way misses his shot.

The post Kimi Raikkonen Cracks A Smile Piloting Ferrari's GTC4Lusso T appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We appreciate an extravagant purchase as much as the next guy, but even we can admit when superfluous spending goes too far.

Something about the word “splurge” sounds inherently decadent and unbridled. Hear it and you immediately get visions of gold supercars and coats made of unicorn fur dancing through your head.

But a splurge doesn’t have to be reckless. A money-minded man can learn to be mindful about his mindless spending, and indulge in the occasional treat without going into debt. Here’s how to splurge strategically and get the biggest bang from your hard-earned bucks.

Plan Ahead

Ugh, planning. So boring, right? And totally antithetical to splurging in the first place.

Wrong. In may not be the most exciting way to use your money, but it’s undoubtedly one of the smartest. Create a fund specifically for your splurges, whether it’s a separate savings or checking account, or just a wad of cash stuffed under your mattress. Put some aside every month just like you would for a retirement account or an emergency fund.

When you do feel the urge to indulge, you know exactly where the money is coming from and how much you can afford to spend, and you’re not taking it away from important things like rent or the electricity bill.

Know Thyself

How you use your splurge money is up to you, so if you don’t want buyer’s remorse, you have to really understand who that You is. A jeans-and-tees guy would see no value in shelling out for a pricey custom suit, but to a sartorial man that suit could fulfill a life-long dream.

A first class flight might be wasted on a homebody who hates to travel. Or that ticket could be exactly what a homebody needs to minimise the pain of an experience he already considers agony.

You get the picture. Know thyself – get absolutely clear on what kind of spending brings you the most joy, and allocate your cash accordingly. Likewise, notice if an item of discretionary spending that doesn’t bring you sufficient happiness is taking up more than its fair share. Every dollar you spend there is a dollar taken away from something you actually love.

Align With Your Hours

A easy way to organise your spending – even your splurges – is to assess the usefulness of the purchase.

Let’s go back to that sartorial man. He has a wedding coming up and he’s tempted to buy his first tuxedo. He also needs a new suit for the office. Is the tux a worthy purchase? If his financial life is in order and he has no reason to restrict his discretionary spending, he’s free to achieve that milestone of manhood.

If he has to watch his splurging, however, the tux has to stay on his bucket list for a very simple reason: time. Put your money towards the purchases you’ll get the most hours out of. In this case, that’s the work suit. If he worked from home in sweatpants and went to weddings every weekend, the tux could be the winner.

Ask The Hard Questions

The hard thing about adulthood (well, one of them) is that you have to be hard on yourself. There’s no parent or teacher looking over your shoulder to prevent you from making stupid decisions. Your stupidity is yours to own.

That means asking yourself the tough questions when the occasion calls for it. You could try “Do I really need this?” but its power is limited. We’re experts at lying to ourselves.

A better option is “What if I don’t?” As in, “What if I don’t make this purchase? What else could I do with the money?” You may find no ideas that are equally or more appealing, in which case you’re free to splurge to your heart’s content. But you may find instead that you’d rather pay off your student loans, or upgrade your ancient laptop, or take a trip, or donate to a meaningful cause.

The post How To Splurge Strategically And Stretch Your Dollars appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When we want to predict the weather, we turn to science. When we want to predict the best time to book flights, we’re stuck with something less precise.

Some attempt ‘fare-casting’ to find a bargain. Some try to game the system with travel hacking. Most growl in frustration, whip out the credit cards, and hope for the best.

So is there a secret to scoring the best deal on a flight? According to CheapAir.com‘s Annual Airfare Study, travellers have the best chance of snagging affordable tickets by booking 54 days before a domestic flight in the United States. International flights benefitted from longer lead times, like 99 days in advance to Europe.

This year CheapAir.com crunched the data from 921 million airfares. They found that the lowest fare for a given trip changed on average 71 times – that’s about once every 4.5 days – and with each change the lowest price went up or down by an average of US$33. If you’re on a tight budget, that could be the difference between booking and not.

The study also addressed rumours that there’s an optimal day to book tickets. According to this research, there is on average a less than US$2 difference based on day of the week. What matters more is the day you fly – Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheapest, while heading back from a weekend away on a Sunday is the most expensive.

“The most important rule is fairly obvious,” says Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com. “Don’t wait until the last minute, as that rarely works out. But beyond that, you also want to be careful not to buy too early. I always suggest that travellers check fares early and often and get familiar with the market. Then, when you see a good deal pop up, grab it, because it likely won’t last very long.”

Aim to purchase your tickets during the “prime booking window” when the best time to buy for most trips usually falls. For domestic fares in the United States, the prime booking window is between 21 and 105 days in advance.

There are, of course, caveats. The study only looked at flights originating in the US, so there’s no guarantee the same numbers apply elsewhere. The best time to buy fluctuates depending on the season (see the data here). And these numbers are only averages – the actual best time to book flights varies wildly depending on the market, your travel dates, and your personal travel preferences.

The post The Optimal Time To Book Tickets If You Need To Fly Cheap appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Who said arts and crafts aren’t for adults? While most of us haven’t played with paper and scissors since preschool, Rich McCor – better known as Paperboyo – turned his love of those tools into Instagram stardom.

McCor gives recognisable landmarks a new lease on life by transforming them with paper cut-outs. The images often have a tongue-in-cheek playfulness, inviting viewers to see familiar landscapes in ways they haven’t before. Imagine the Arc de Triomphe as the limbs of a Lego man, or Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue as half of a famous scene from Titanic.

The Instagram account began as personal project for McCor, but his creations quickly caught attention and he earned his first commission from Lonely Planet. Since then his fanbase has exploded on Instagram, and his travels have taken him around the world from Europe, to Asia, to South America, to the United States and back again.

McCor told Mashable he was just trying to find different ways of photographing iconic landmarks in his hometown of London when he came up with the idea.

“By combining photography with my paper-cutting skills I came up with the idea of turning Big Ben into a wristwatch,” he explained. “After that I started looking at the landmarks and architecture around me in a different way, and I kept on taking photos.”

Insta-fame and travel opportunities are obvious perks, but McCor insists they aren’t the best parts of the job.

“It’s been great to have people from all over the world say that they like what I do,” he told Mashable. “However, the best reaction is when someone comes up to me (whilst I’m taking a photo) and asks what I’m doing, because when I show them they usually smile (either because they think it’s clever or they think I’m silly).”

Behind every image – clever or silly – is a meticulous study of vantage points, fun facts, pop culture references, and even wind conditions. When they go wrong, they’re relegated to a special digital graveyard.

“It’s fun but it’s not as glamorous as I make it look,” McCor told Vice. “On my desktop I actually have a folder called ‘failed photos’ just full of photos that are awful looking attempts that didn’t work.”

The post Artist Transforms Famous Landmarks With The Power Of Paper appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

They say that silence is virtue but for those who live life on the beat there’s no going past a decent pair of cans. For your ears.

As the future continues to move towards wireless technology, premium headphones are no different. A simple glaze over this list will showcase not only exemplary sound quality but also the aesthetics, ergonomics and build quality that goes into some of the finest wireless headphones on the market today.

So skip the dodgy sound quality and ailing battery life and cut the cord as we take a look at these six winners that are made for your aural pleasure.

Bose Quietcomfort 35

Bose are renowned for producing some of the world’s finest speakers and when they finally updated their proven QC25 headphones with Bluetooth capability, high quality audio truly became mobile. The latest QC35 comes equipped with world-class Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology which constantly measures and offsets external noises to provide a seamless flow of uninterrupted tunes. Listening time is also pretty impressive at 20 hours which is more than enough to keep you sane on a long haul flight. A 15 minute charge is all the QC35 needs to get you another 2.5 hours of play time. On the construction front the QC35s boast luxury materials like an Alcantara headband, synthetic protein leather ear cushions and an impact-resistant housing made of glass-filled nylon and corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Switching between devices is also a quick and easy affair with the accompanying Bose app. 

BUY $499

Master & Dynamic MW60

Beauty meets pure audio performance in the Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless headphones. Whilst they aren’t cheap, these bad boys more than prove their worth with superb sound quality, bass and general clarity across the frequency range. The high build quality and design is also a winning element in our books with a range of colours to suit any listener and a vintage finish inspired by artist Chuck Close. The headband is wrapped in heavy grain leather, whilst surfaces that touch the skin utilise softer lambskin leather. Battery life for the Master & Dynamic wireless Bluetooth headphone comes in at 16 hours of play time.

BUY 599€

Bowers & Wilkins P7

Much like other on this list, Bowers & Wilkins have also served up a cordless version of their award-winning headphones in the latest P7 Wireless. Don’t let the sedate and minimalist design deter you though as the P7 is a serious piece of personal audio kit. The P7 Wireless is specifically designed to maintain the same level of premium quality sound as its wired counterpart. It has also been re-engineered by the acoustics team who headed Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship 800 Series Diamond loudspeakers. Streaming is handled with high-quality Bluetooth aptX which can connect to any Bluetooth capable device. A battery life of 17 hours is afforded but there’s also the option to go cable if users want to conserve power. Externally the P7 exudes a more traditional look than its competition and it does well to hide the aluminium, sheepskin leather and ultra-soft cushioning which adorns this unit. Again, it’s not cheap but your ears will thank you for it later.

BUY $600

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9

Fill your ears with beautifully crisp audio produced by the capable wireless headphones of Bang & Olufsen. In typical Danish fashion, first impressions of the Beoplay H9 will be understated, but look beyond the skin and it’s an absolute powerhouse in audio engineering. The Beoplay H9 comes with everything a roving music lover needs – audio power and precision across the frequency band, exceptional fit and finish which includes polished aluminium, soft lambskin and genuine cowhide leather and cutting edge noise cancellation which uses two microphones to drown out the external interference. Boasting the latest in Bluetooth technology to provide seamless tunes, the Beoplay H9 can afford up to 14 hours of wireless play time. A traditional cord is also available for times where battery power isn’t necessary.

BUY $799

Sony MDR-1000X

Sony’s entrant into the wireless headphone game was designed to take on the might of Bose’s QC35, so you know it’ll need to pack a serious punch in the sound department just to keep up. And luckily it manages that just fine in the MDR-1000X, an advanced wireless unit which boasts a highly intuitive adaptive noise-cancelling function featuring microphones on the inside and outside to ensure ambient noise is efficiently ironed out.  Battery life is rated at 20 hours which matches the Bose credentials whilst a cord is also supplied for times when wireless listening isn’t required.

BUY $699

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0

Refinement, style and pure sound performance is promised in this neat German package called the Momentum 2.0. The design itself is so minimalist it could be mistaken for dad’s headphones from the 70s, but make no mistake these units boast Sennheiser’s hybrid active NoiseGard which alleviates ambient noise whilst the high definition aptX codec built in helps to carve out every aural nuance in its finest detail. There’s even a VoiceMax microphone built in so that conversations can flow seamlessly with your tunes. The Momentum 2.0 affords 22 hours of play time whilst on the outside it receives genuine leather ear cups and stainless steel which still manages to be light to wear.

The post Wireless Headphones That Sound As Good As They Look appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

This story was originally published on Gizmodo

Ooft, this is harsh. A new study shows people tend to unconsciously imitate the lazy attitudes of those around them. So, um, blame your friends for your lack of drive, I suppose?

Researchers Jean Daunizeau and Marie Devaine, from INSERM in Paris, combined mathematical modelling and cognitive psychology to explore the laws that govern this “attitude alignment”. Thet asked 56 participants to make a series of decisions involving effort, both before and after having observed the decisions of fictitious participants (in fact: artificial intelligence algorithms) whose lazy attitudes were sensibly calibrated.

The study results show that participants are bound to a “false-consensus” bias. That is, they believe without evidence that the attitudes of others resemble their own. It also shows that people exhibit a “social influence” bias. Their attitude tends to become more similar to those of people around them.

Intriguingly, the social influence bias is partially determined by the false-consensus bias. It first increases with false-consensus (for small false-consensus biases), but then decreases with false-consensus (for large false-consensus biases). The researchers noted that participants seem to be mostly completely unaware of these biases.

Most damning is mathematical simulations demonstrate that both biases, and the surprising interaction between them, are hallmarks of a unique mechanism that is ideally suited to learning both about and from others’ covert attitudes. This is completely at odds with the conventional view that attitude alignment is an automatism that is triggered by the need to experience (partly deluded) feelings of social conformity.

“Our work is in line with an ongoing effort tending toward a computational understanding of human and animal cognition. In particular, we showed that formal information and decision theories provide invaluable insights regarding the nature and relationship of puzzling biases of social cognition,” say the researchers.

The researchers are currently applying this work to assess whether this form of attitude alignment may differ in people suffering from neuropsychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

Gizmodo explores the smart design, breakthrough science and awe-inspiring tech shaping your future.

Follow Gizmodo on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Researchers Discover That Laziness Is Actually Contagious appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Step aside, Denmark. After three years at number one, another Scandinavian country has ended Denmark’s reign at the top of the annual World Happiness Report.

The 2017 report named Norway the world’s happiest country. “Norway is a rich economy that prosperously invested their abundant natural resources in long-term, sustainable growth as opposed to short-term gain,” said a video accompanying the announcement. Other nations in the top 10 of this year’s world’s happiest countries list include Finland, Canada, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

The first World Happiness Report was published in April 2012, in support of the High Level Meeting at the United Nations on happiness and well-being, chaired by the Prime Minister of Bhutan. The report aims to show that social and economic success is ultimately rooted in citizens’ happiness, which is ranked based on six key indicators: freedom, health, generosity, social support, income, and trustworthy governance.

“The World Happiness Report continues to draw global attention around the need to create sound policy for what matters most to people – their well-being,” said Jeffrey Sachs, the report’s co-editor and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, in a statement.

“As demonstrated by many countries, this report gives evidence that happiness is a result of creating strong social foundations. It’s time to build social trust and healthy lives, not guns or walls. Let’s hold our leaders to this fact.”

This year’s report also looked at happiness in the workplace. Research showed that happiness differs considerably across employment status, job type, and industry sectors – and that though people in well-paid roles are happier, money is only a piece of the happiness puzzle. Work-life balance, job variety, and their level of autonomy also played significant roles.

The post These Are The World's Happiest Countries In 2017 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Put on your loosest pants and prepare your tastebuds. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy has dropped this year’s list of the finest dining establishments on the planet, and for only the second time in its 15-year history, a restaurant outside of Europe has claimed the top spot.

Think of this as the culinary equivalent of the Oscars. The 2017 ceremony took place on April 5, bringing the world’s foremost chefs, restauranteurs, and other industry big-wigs to Melbourne for the occasion.

You’ll find the top 10 winners below, but fair warning – a wine-paired dinner for two at the number one restaurant will set you back over US$1,000.

#10 Steirereck | Vienna, Austria

Amur Karpfen mit Kochsalat, Haferwurzel & Dill #steirereck #stadtpark #latergram

A post shared by Sonja Planeta (@sonjaplaneta) on Apr 5, 2017 at 4:55am PDT

The Academy Says: It may, on paper, sound fairly traditional – family owned for generations, with a bias towards Austria’s rural Styrian region – but under the guidance of chef Heinz Reitbauer, Steirereck has become a byword for cutting-edge cooking rooted in the Austrian landscape. Reitbauer’s signature says everything you need to know about his outlook, being equal parts culinary theatre, precise technique and obvious reverence of local ingredients.

#9 Mugaritz | San Sebastian, Spain

“Limón ostra” When #creativity, #technique and #simplicity combine perfectly

A post shared by Bright Experiences (@brightexperiences) on Dec 12, 2016 at 11:33pm PST

The Academy Says: Andoni Luis Aduriz, simply known as Andoni, is considered by many observers to be the natural heir to the title of Spain’s most pioneering chef after Ferran Adrià. A meal takes place over 20 courses – several of them, if the weather is clement, served in the gorgeously appointed gardens around the restaurant. Basque cuisine often combines elements of the mountains and the sea, and so it is at Mugaritz where the menu might roam from oyster and young garlic omelette and pig tails and squid, via a crunchy “sandwich” of local cheese presented in a book, to a loin of lamb smoked over eucalyptus and served with “its cultivated wool”.

#8 Maido | Lima, Peru

AT SEA LIFE IS TASTIER – Nikkei Experience tasting menu with a touch of the Amazon jungle at #Maido ranked #13 in the world. The last dish was served in a giant rock made of sugar but they said we shouldn’t eat it all #Top50Restaurants #Lima #Peru

A post shared by Garry Chien (@garry_ch) on Apr 2, 2017 at 9:33am PDT

The Academy Says: Maido, meaning ‘welcome’ in Japanese, is the flagship restaurant of chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura, serving an inventive tasting menu of Peruvian-Japanese bites alongside à la carte options and a classic sushi counter. In a stylish room decorated with coloured ropes in the formation of the Japanese flag, it’s a popular setting for business dinners and special occasions, as well as for destination diners looking to sample Lima’s best offerings.

#7 Gaggan | Bangkok, Thailand

….. Butterfly effect in gaggan by @sol_r_ and @rydoanton89 #asia50best #world50best #eatingwithhands #suhringtwins #meatlicious

A post shared by Gaggan (@gaggan_anand) on Mar 11, 2017 at 6:05am PST

The Academy Says: There’s a reason why Gaggan has been named No.1 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for three consecutive years and it’s all about reinvention and creativity. Chef Gaggan Anand has consistently transformed his tasting menu, developing conversation-starting dishes like the spherified Yoghurt Explosion and creating a dining experience that reflects the warmth of Thai hospitality in Bangkok.

#6 Asador Etxebarri | Axpe, Spain

Unami bomb at Extebarri sea urchin & pumpkin

A post shared by Dan Keeling (@noblerotmag) on Mar 29, 2017 at 5:13am PDT

The Academy Says: A combination of skillful barbecuing techniques, the chef himself, the exquisite rural setting, the deeply unpretentious atmosphere of the restaurant and, of course, the food. Oh, the food… Flavourful in the extreme. Dishes are relatively simple, relying on the quality of the super-fresh ingredients and the masterful grill cooking of chef-owner Victor Arguinzoniz. The simplest plates – home-made chorizo, salted anchovy on toast, giant Palamos prawns, the legendary beef chop – are also the most outstanding.

#5 Central | Lima, Peru

Octopus and Squid #ecosistemas

A post shared by Central (@centralrest) on Dec 13, 2016 at 2:00pm PST

The Academy Says: An exploration of its country’s biodiversity, Central takes diners on a journey through every altitude, from 20 metres below sea level to 4,100 metres above it, in 17+ courses. The tasting menu is a reflection of Martínez and his sister’s research into ingredients in the Andes, the Amazon and the sea. In its three years as The Best Restaurant in Latin America, Central has been, well, central to Lima’s transformation into one of the globe’s must-visit dining destinations, while chef Virgilio Martínez has led a new generation of Peruvian cooks.

#4 Mirazur | Menton, France

Premières images du fabuleux dîner orchestré ce soir au #Mirazur par le grand Chef @emmanuel.renaut pour la célébration des 10 ans du restaurant de son ami @maurocolagreco #10ansMirazur @sanpellegrino_official @champagne_billecart_salmon @nespresso #LaSpiaggettaDeiBalziRossi Ph #matteocarassale

A post shared by Restaurant Mirazur (@restaurantmirazur) on Oct 4, 2016 at 6:43pm PDT

The Academy Says: In a stunning location on the French side of the Riviera, just moments from the Italian border, Mirazur is an idyllic spot to enjoy the food of the skilled chef Mauro Colagreco, which takes inspiration from his Argentine-Italian heritage as well as the local French region. Colagreco’s signature of oyster with tapioca, shallot cream and pear is a modern classic in the making.

#3 El Celler de Can Roca | Girona, Spain

Marinated #redmullet with figs and prickly pear foam. #Salmonete marinado con higos y espuma de higo chumbo. #Roger marinat amb figues i escuma de figa de moro. #nofilters #pricklyPear #magenta #sinfiltros #higochumbo #magenta #sensefiltres #figademoro #magenta #ElCellerDeCanRoca #RocaBrothers

A post shared by El Celler De Can Roca (@cellercanroca) on Feb 17, 2016 at 6:17am PST

The Academy Says: The three brothers who own and run the restaurant are each global leaders in their respective fields – Joan as a chef, Josep as a sommelier and Jordi as a pâtissier – so their combined creativity is a force to behold. Their food is complex, incorporating cutting-edge techniques and multiple ingredients to create highly stylised plates, but dishes are also designed to evoke memories, emotions and the landscape of the region.

#2 Osteria Francescana | Modena, Italy

#osteriafrancescana #bottura #italy #Modena #50bestrestaurantsintheworld #50bestrestaurants #2

A post shared by Marco Bolzoni (@bolmarco) on Apr 6, 2017 at 4:49am PDT

The Academy Says: Nestled down a cobbled street in peaceful Modena, Osteria Francescana is the gem of Italian gastronomy that rose to the top of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants last year in the hands of talented chef Massimo Bottura. But it could have been very different – in its early days, the restaurant almost closed after conservative locals were resistant to Bottura’s daring approach to cooking. A poet, storyteller and artist as much as a cook, Bottura weaves narratives through his dishes, playing with traditions and experimenting with ingredients from the Emilia-Romagna region from whence he hails.

#1 Eleven Madison Park | New York City, New York, USA

Lovely dessert at @elevenmadisonpark @kristinabrunse #foodisart #gourmet #greatexperience #newyork #foodie #foodtrip #slapafdeterlækkert #michelinstar #theworlds50bestrestaurants #no.1 #2017 #kommersnartigen

A post shared by Anders Olsen (@anderspihlolsen) on Apr 6, 2017 at 8:50am PDT

The Academy Says: It’s the perfect partnership of outstanding hospitality and exquisite food in an iconic setting in New York City that makes Eleven Madison Park the No.1 in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Co-owners Will Guidara and Daniel Humm have put their lives into breaking down the walls between dining room and kitchen, making sure the customer experience is harmonious from start to finish.

The post The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2017 Have Been Named appeared first on DMARGE Australia.