IN THIS WEEKEND UPGRADE:

• Meta Ray Bans | iPhone | Mobile Starlink | 8K Projector | 2025 Lucid Air Pure

• The "Galapagos of Africa": A Tech Billionaire's Island Utopia

• Cocktail Gift Box | Blackbird Beer Club | Whole Foods Holiday | Sake + Whiskey

• Silo | Dylan’s NYC Townhouse | Jon Batiste's Beethoven Blues | Steph Curry Biz

• NY-London Tunnel | AGIROS Robots | Hypersonic drone | US Fusion Plant

TOP CONSUMER TECH

Meta Ray Bans — The latest Smart Glasses update adds live AI assistance, real-time language translations, and Shazam integration for hands-free music recognition.

iPhone Refresh — Apple plans major updates including a thinner budget iPhone, a larger foldable phone, and a 19-inch foldable laptop, all packed with AI features.

T-Mobile Starlink Beta — Free satellite text messaging service launching early 2025 for T-Mobile postpaid customers, powered by SpaceX's 300+ direct-to-cell satellites.

Samsung 8K Projector — The Premiere 8K Laser TV is the first projector to receive 8K Association certification, with full details and pricing to be revealed at CES 2025.

Blackmagic Vision Pro — The $30K URSA Cine Immersive camera shoots 90fps 3D video at 8K+ per eye, ships early 2025 supporting full Apple Immersive workflow.

2025 Lucid Air Pure — The $70k luxury Model S rival has 420 miles range, a 430hp rear motor, 15-minute fast charging for 200 miles and Tesla network compatibility.

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LUXURY TRAVEL

The "Galapagos of Africa": A Tech Billionaire's Island Utopia 

Imagine a place where cutting-edge technology meets unspoiled natural beauty, and where conservation is not just a concept but a way of life. Welcome to Príncipe, a volcanic island off the western equatorial coast of Africa, also known as the "Galapagos of Africa." Príncipe is also home to a radical living experiment in sustainable ecotourism, spearheaded by tech billionaire Mark Shuttleworth, the CEO of Canonical, the company behind the Linux-based operating system Ubuntu1.

From Stressed CEO to Island Visionary

In search of a place to "be a vegetable," Shuttleworth stumbled on Príncipe via Google Maps. The island’s lush jungles meet the pearlescent beaches, dotted with Jurassic-looking palms, and the seas teem with rare creatures endemic to the Gulf of Guinea. He describes the island as a place where time seems to have stood still, creating a sense of being transported back 500 million years.

Fifteen years later, what started as a personal getaway has transformed into a passion project aimed at preserving the island's unique ecosystem. Shuttleworth has invested about $50 million in developing a collection of four hotels, with plans to morph each into a five-star eco-resort. His initial property was a dilapidated, abandoned resort built in the 1980s by an eccentric fisherman. First among these is Bom Bom, a resort that reopened in September with 18 new beach bungalows.

A Radical Approach to Conservation

Shuttleworth’s vision goes beyond luxurious accommodations; he is pioneering a radical approach to conservation. He recognizes that traditional conservation methods— buying land and setting it aside as reserves — are not feasible on a small island and would deprive the local population of their resources and agency. Instead, he is piloting the Natural Dividend, a quarterly payment to all Príncipeans, directly tied to how carefully they maintain the island’s ecological value. The amount of this dividend will fluctuate based on how well the ecosystem is maintained.

This system, launching in 2025, is designed to ensure every local is invested in and benefits from the island’s conservation. It’s akin to a universal basic income or pay incentives for ecosystem-supporting businesses. As Shuttleworth puts it, "everybody should have a stake in the ecosystems, whether they’re an employee of mine or not". He aims to make protecting the environment as lucrative as traditional resource exploitation, saying "imagine that the trees and the birds and the bees and the butterflies would pay you rent".

Tech-Driven Conservation: Real-Time Monitoring

Shuttleworth is also leveraging technology to make this ambitious plan work. The island is being surveyed using drones, providing high-resolution images that are updated weekly. This real-time census allows for accurate measurement of the ecosystem’s health. The data directly influences the Natural Dividend payments, ensuring a direct link between conservation efforts and financial benefits.

Why Príncipe?

Príncipe offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cutting-edge conservation efforts to preserve it for years to come. The island itself is a marvel, with lush rainforests contrasting with pristine beaches. The underwater world is just as captivating, boasting vibrant coral reefs and a plethora of unique marine life. The Island is also close to Europe, and travel there results in no jet lag or time difference.

Bom Bom Eco-Resort 

The luxury eco-resort Bom Bom is being transformed into a five-star experience offering a tranquil escape where "soulful beach resort living meets the ocean". The resort features 18 bungalows nestled within tropical gardens, constructed with local materials and high, thatch roofs. Accommodation options include Pool View Bungalows, Garden and Sea View Bungalows and those 18 new Beach Front Bungalows just steps from the pristine sand of the resort’s own private beach.

All rooms have large, comfortable beds, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. The resort provides a swimming pool, and an on-site restaurant serving local cuisine. Bom Bom is described as the “quintessential luxury Robinson Crusoe experience.” Above all it is a perfect place to relax, disconnect, and experience the island's natural beauty with a focus on sustainability and comfort.

Check out Bom Bom here

FOOD AND DRINK

Cocktail Gift Box — A newly launched line of ready-to-serve cocktails, launched its latest limited-edition gift box packed with a range of mixers expertly crafted with premium ingredients, including artisanal dried lemon slices and a sleek cocktail stirrer.

Blackbird Beer Club — NYC's new $25/m beer membership unlocks free pours at top craft breweries like Test, Threes, and ABC Beer Co, plus exclusive events & perks.

Whole Foods Holiday Catering — Premium holiday feast options including prime rib, rack of lamb, and lobster tails are now available for pre-order.

Space-Brewed Sake — An experimental Japanese space-brewed sake could command up to $500,000 per glass, a highly coveted and expensive collector’s item.

Whiskey Downturn — The market for rare and fine whisky is facing a "downturn of painful proportions," according to an annual industry report from Scottish financial advisory firm Noble & Co.

ARTS & CULTURE

Silo Renewed — Apple TV+ has renewed the hit dystopian science-fiction series for two more seasons to complete its Hugh Howey novel adaptation.

Historic Manhattan Townhouse — Bob Dylan, Mary Tyler Moore, and Mike Nichols' former residence is listed for $7.25M, only its fourth sale in decades.

Millionaires Only — A new report shows homebuyers need $1M+ in annual income to afford properties in these towns, the five most expensive in the USA.

Jon Batiste's Beethoven Project — The NYT chats with Jon Batiste about his new Beethoven Blues album reinterpreting the classics with jazz and funk elements.

Steph Curry's Business Empire — Bloomberg profiles the NBA star's expanding business ventures across entertainment, investments, and sports.

FUTURISM

NY-London Tunnel Project — A Proposed $20T hyperloop tunnel could connect New York to London in under an hour, utilizing vacuum tube tech for 3Kmph speeds.

AGIROS Robotics — The Chinese AI robotics company has already begun mass production and integration of robots into everyday applications.

China's Hypersonic Innovation — A new military drone combines hypersonic capabilities with deceleration of speed for horizontal landing.

Fusion Plant — Commonwealth selects Richmond, VA for its first US commercial fusion power plant, aiming to connect to the grid by 2030.