Celebrity Life

Silicon Valley is now turning its attention to whiskey aged in barrels, with a start-up promising to mature spirits on a large scale in days instead of years — with the same taste, colour and aroma.

Bespoken Spirits, created by two partners in Menlo Park, California, says it has raised US$2.6 million (HK$20.2 million) in seed funding to launch its accelerated spirits aging process. The company claims that its patent-pending system could save the spirits industry more than $20 billion a year.

"Our sustainable approach helps customers go from concept to bottle in just days," said co-founder Stu Aaron. "We tailor the customer's spirit to meet their specifications, using materials science and data analytics to save them years of time and as much as 70 percent of their costs.

"This is accelerated maturation 2.0."

According to a Bespoken statement, there are more than 9.1 million barrels of bourbon and other spirits aging just in the state of Kentucky. Each year, nearly 20 million gallons of spirits are lost "to evaporation due to the wasteful, time-consuming and antiquated barrel aging process."

The company says that its proprietary technology "extracts the key elements of the barrel that enhance aroma, color and taste (ACT), managing the critical chemical reactions... enabling billions of bespoken recipes within days, not years."

Skipping a laborious process

Whiskey usually takes at least three years to age, and the bulk of its flavour comes from the oak barrels used during the maturation process.

"The traditional spirits production process is outdated, imprecise, unpredictable, unsustainable and inefficient," said co-founder Martin Janousek. "We've reimagined the process with modern science and sustainable technology, using the same all natural elements of wood, toast, and char."

Bespoken whiskeys and bourbons are already sold in stores and have even won competitions, the company says.

But how does it taste?

The reviewer at WhiskeyWash.com gave it middling scores. "My first impression was of the smell of rust and antiseptic - not the most inviting of notes right out of the gate," reviewer John Dover wrote after tasting Bespoken whiskey distilled with bourbon mash.

"It tastes of plastic with a hint of banana bread, like biting into your afternoon snack but forgetting to unwrap the cellophane first," he added.

He was a bit kinder when reviewing Bespoken's rye whiskey flavoured with charred American Oak staves. "Drinking this was similar to sitting down to a cooled bowl of oatmeal with raisins," he wrote. "There was an oakiness to the rye with a sharp cinnamon note on the front of the tongue."

Investors include T.J Rodgers, owner of Clos de la Tech wine, and ex-pro baseball player Derek Jeter.

The post This California Start-Up Claims it Can Achieve Quality Barrel-Aged Whiskey in Days appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Our hunch was right: Apple has revealed its first 5G iPhones.

Apple announced Wednesday morning it was releasing new iPhones using 5G, making it the latest smartphone maker to adapt to the new-generation, high-speed wireless networks.

"We are going to introduce 5G across our entire lineup of iPhone models," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at a streamed launch event from the company's headquarters in California on October 13. "Today is the beginning of a new era for iPhone."

The new models include the redesigned iPhone 12 — successor to the top-selling iPhone 11 launched last year — which will start at HK$6,799. A smaller iPhone 12 Mini with a 5.4 inch display will start at HK$5,999. There are also a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (from HK$8,499) and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max (from HK$9,399) with the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone.

These will be available for pre-order in Hong Kong from October 16 at 8PM for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and from November 6 at 9PM for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Click here for more details.

[caption id="attachment_211239" align="aligncenter" width="777"] The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max feature the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The new lineup of iPhones was expected to ignite a surge in interest in smartphone upgrades to take advantage of the faster networks.

Apple joins other handset makers including Samsung and Huawei in introducing smartphones taking advantage of the growing 5G footprint around the world, which could open up new markets and technologies.

5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly.

[caption id="attachment_211240" align="aligncenter" width="712"] The new Apple HomePod Mini. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The growth of 5G could also be a catalyst to revive a sluggish smartphone market. Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Apple also introduced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker standing just eight centimetres (3.3 inches tall). The HomePod mini, which responds to voice commands and plays music, will start at HK$749. Pre-orders can be placed here from November 6 onwards.

(All images: Apple)

The post Apple Introduces its New 5G iPhones, Including Four iPhone 12 Models appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Our hunch was right: Apple has revealed its first 5G iPhones.

Apple announced Wednesday morning it was releasing new iPhones using 5G, making it the latest smartphone maker to adapt to the new-generation, high-speed wireless networks.

"We are going to introduce 5G across our entire lineup of iPhone models," Apple chief executive Tim Cook said at a streamed launch event from the company's headquarters in California on October 13. "Today is the beginning of a new era for iPhone."

The new models include the redesigned iPhone 12 — successor to the top-selling iPhone 11 launched last year — which will start at HK$6,799. A smaller iPhone 12 Mini with a 5.4 inch display will start at HK$5,999. There are also a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro (from HK$8,499) and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max (from HK$9,399) with the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone.

These will be available for pre-order in Hong Kong from October 16 at 8PM for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and from November 6 at 9PM for the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Click here for more details.

[caption id="attachment_211239" align="aligncenter" width="777"] The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max feature the largest Super Retina XDR displays ever on iPhone. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The new lineup of iPhones was expected to ignite a surge in interest in smartphone upgrades to take advantage of the faster networks.

Apple joins other handset makers including Samsung and Huawei in introducing smartphones taking advantage of the growing 5G footprint around the world, which could open up new markets and technologies.

5G networks are touted as promising an exponential leap in the amount and speed of wireless data, enabling advances in self-driving vehicles, virtual reality, connected health and more as sensors and servers communicate instantly.

[caption id="attachment_211240" align="aligncenter" width="712"] The new Apple HomePod Mini. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

The growth of 5G could also be a catalyst to revive a sluggish smartphone market. Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

Apple also introduced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker standing just eight centimetres (3.3 inches tall). The HomePod mini, which responds to voice commands and plays music, will start at HK$749. Pre-orders can be placed here from November 6 onwards.

(All images: Apple)

The post Apple Introduces its New 5G iPhones, Including Four iPhone 12 Models appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Leica has teamed up with Billingham ‘Hadley’ Collection to create a new “Explorer” Kit that promises more impactful travel, wildlife, and sports photography.

The Leica V-Lux 5 universal compact camera for travel, wildlife, and sports photography, is now on sale in a set that includes additional accessories, namely a special Billingham carrying case and COOPH carrying strap to create a new “Explorer” kit.

The Hadley Digital bag comes in Imperial Blue Canvas and Tan Leather that is distinguished by its style and functionality. With its cleverly designed features and waterproof materials, it offers optimum protection and ample space for the safe storage of the camera kit.

The camera itself impresses with an extensive range of features, versatile functions, and an intuitive handling concept. Whether for travel, sporting events or outdoor adventures, the Leica V-Lux 5 is the perfect camera for capturing photographic memories with perfect picture quality. With an enormous range of focal lengths from 25 to 400 mm, its zoom lens is ideal for all photographic situations – from wide-angle, standard, and telephoto photography to macro close-ups down to a distance of only 3 centimetres.

Its fast autofocus reliably captures every subject and a continuous shooting function with up to 12 frames per second at full resolution, making it a great choice for sport and wildlife photography. The camera’s performance profile is complemented by a high-definition, 4K-resolution, digital video recording function that captures true-to-life memories in moving pictures.

This story first appeared on Prestige Indonesia.

(All images: Leica)

The post Leica’s Latest Explorer Kit Promises Enhanced Travel, Sports and Wildlife Photography appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The first 5G iPhone is almost here.

Apple has scheduled a media event for October 13 amid expectations it would unveil one or more new iPhones which use ultrafast 5G wireless technology.

The event comes a month after Apple disappointed some fans with a September event which unveiled new service bundles but no new smartphone.

Apple, which has habitually unveiled new iPhones ahead of the holiday season, has said supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic have delayed its plans for product launches by several weeks.

[caption id="attachment_211006" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The key visual for Apple's invitation to its October 13 event, where it's expected to unveil a 5G iPhone. (Image: Apple)[/caption]

A notice posted on Apple's website offer no specific clues but included the message, "Hi, Speed," in an apparent reference to the faster wireless networks being introduced in many parts of the world.

"Across the board we are seeing an uptick around production and pent up demand for the slate of iPhone 12 models (expecting four new models) set to be unveiled next week in this launch event," said Daniel Ives at Wedbush Securities.

Ives said he is expects strong demand for the new handsets with consumers looking to upgrade older models. "Importantly, with our estimation that 350 million of 950 million iPhones worldwide are currently in the window of an upgrade opportunity, we believe this will translate into an unprecedented upgrade cycle," he said in a note to clients.

[caption id="attachment_211001" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Apple, which has habitually unveiled new iPhones ahead of the holiday season, has said supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic have delayed its plans for product launches by several weeks. (Image: Josh Edelson/ AFP)[/caption]

The news comes after Google unveiled two new smartphones with 5G wireless capability under its Pixel brand, which showcases the Android mobile system but has limited market share. Google's Pixel handsets have won positive reviews for their powerful cameras and integrated artificial intelligence, but have failed to crack the top ranks of the smartphone market dominated by the likes of South Korea's Samsung, Apple and China's Huawei.

Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC, whose survey showed Huawei leading the market ahead of Samsung, Apple and Chinese firms Xiaomi and Oppo.

The post Apple’s 5G iPhone Expected to Launch October 13 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

A perfume based on astronauts’ accounts of the scent of outer space exceeds Kickstarter goals.

The post This is what space smells like appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

A perfume based on astronauts’ accounts of the scent of outer space exceeds Kickstarter goals.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.