IN THIS WEEKEND UPGRADE:

• Solos Glasses | iPhone SE 4 | Robots | Peloton Strength+ | Watches | Gravity

• Kona Village: Luxury Meets Ancestral Wisdom on The Big Island

• Restaurants + Dishes | SF Revival | LA's Top 101 | #MatchaTok | Hangover cure

• A Complete Unknown | Best Music & Sci-Fi of 2024 | Luigi’s reading list

• Google Multiverse | Ultracold Atoms | Future of Medicine | Eating microbes

TOP CONSUMER TECH

Smart Glasses — New $299 AI-powered glasses with built-in ChatGPT integration for hands-free AI assistance. Google unveiled its Android XR platform to eventually power Astra AI-smart glasses. It debuts on Samsung's new headset in 2025.

iPhone SE 4 Upgrade — Apple's budget iPhone is getting a significant camera boost with a 48MP sensor and premium OLED display in its next iteration.

2025 Robot Watch — Comprehensive guide reveals the most advanced humanoid robots set to make waves in the coming year.

Peloton Strength+ — A new iOS app feature offers audio-guided strength workouts for gym-goers, expanding beyond Peloton’s bike and treadmill offerings.

Gravity SUV — Lucid’s first luxury EV SUV is in delivery now. The Grand Touring version at $94,900, does 440+ miles per charge with two electric motors at 828 HP.

Black Watches — Panerai Goes Black on Black with the Luminor GMT Power Reserve Ceramica & Breitling announces the all-black Superocean Heritage contemporary diver.

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LUXURY TRAVEL

Kona Village: Luxury Meets Ancestral Wisdom

In this age of constant connectivity, true escape has become a rare luxury. Enter Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – a transformative destination redefining hospitality by offering more than just accommodation. Our team recorded a video after visiting Kona Village to explore this unique experience in Hawaiian culture, sustainability, and personal reconnection.

A Big Island Legacy Reborn

Nestled along 3.7 miles of pristine Big Island coastline, Kona Village is not just a resort, but a living narrative spanning centuries. Originally an ancient fishing village, it has survived volcanic eruptions, underwent a visionary transformation in the 1960s, and emerged resiliently after a devastating 2011 tsunami. Its rebirth under Rosewood Hotels is a meticulous resurrection that honors every inch of its historical landscape.

Unplugged Luxury: A Deliberate Design

In a bold departure from typical luxury resorts, Kona Village intentionally eschews televisions in a purposeful invitation to disconnect from digital noise and reconnect with nature, self, and surroundings. Each standalone hale (bungalow) is designed as a sanctuary, featuring expansive lanais that blur the lines between indoor comfort and outdoor magnificence.

The resort offers unique lodging options, from intimate two-bedroom units to an extravagant four-bedroom home that can accommodate up to 12 guests. For those seeking the ultimate indulgence, the top-tier option includes a private chef, spa treatments, and even a personal outdoor projector – all for $40,000 per night.

Sustainability and Stewardship

What truly sets Kona Village apart is its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. The resort isn't just eco-friendly; it's a model of innovative sustainability. Over 8,000 solar panels generate more energy than the resort consumes. Roofing is crafted from recycled plastic, and 80% of the wood used in construction was recycled. Perhaps most impressively, the resort has avoided fishing or taking from the ocean for over a decade, allowing the local ecosystem to regenerate.

Culinary Journey: A Taste of Hawaiian Heritage

The dining experience at Kona Village is a narrative told through flavor. Chef Robert's farm-to-table approach celebrates local ingredients, with most produce sourced directly from The Big Island. The Kahuwai Cookhouse, inspired by the island's paniolo (cowboy) culture, offers dishes cooked over traditional kiavi wood flames. Meanwhile, the Mai Tai Mile invites guests on a sensory journey through four distinct Mai Tai recipes – each sip a tribute to Hawaiian mixology.

Immersive Natural Experiences

Activities here transcend standard resort offerings. From 9-11 AM, guests can snorkel alongside spinner dolphins or observe them from private lanais. The Asaya spa offers open-air treatments that integrate wellness with the surrounding natural beauty. A unique in-water bar, promises unforgettable moments with seals often lounging nearby during molting season.

Cultural Reverence Beyond The Aesthetic

Every aspect of Kona Village has been crafted under the guidance of cultural advisors. This isn't performative tourism, but a genuine commitment to honoring Hawaiian traditions. The on-site cultural center and Keiki Club offer immersive experiences like hula dance classes, ukulele lessons, and lava field tours.

Recognition and Accolades

The resort's excellence hasn't gone unnoticed. In 2024 alone, Kona Village has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including:

• Conde Nast Traveler's #3 Resort in Hawaii

• Travel + Leisure's #1 Resort Hotel in Hawai'i

• MICHELIN Guide's Three MICHELIN Keys

• Robb Report's "Best Beach Resort"

An Invitation to Transformation

Kona Village represents more than a destination; it's a philosophy. In a world that constantly demands our attention, this resort offers a rare opportunity to pause, breathe, and reconnect. It's a place where luxury is not defined by thread counts or amenities, but by the richness of experience and depth of connection.

For the discerning traveler seeking more than a vacation – for those yearning for a genuine reset – Kona Village awaits. Here, every moment is an invitation to rediscover yourself amidst the breathtaking backdrop of Hawaiian nature and culture.

Watch our TechBuzz video of Kona Village here

Rates start at $1,300 per night. Reservations recommended well in advance.

Check Out Kona Village Here

FOOD AND DRINK

Best NYC Restaurants 2024 — Critics highlight top newcomers ranging from refined French dining to casual shawarma spots that defined the city's culinary scene.

Best NYC Dishes 2024 — From an indulgent patty melt to a perfect chocolate cake, these 24+ standout dishes captured NYC's diverse flavors this year.

SF Downtown Revival — Post-pandemic downtown San Francisco sees new life with fresh art venues, dining spots, and bars making it a vibrant destination again.

LA's Top 101 — Essential guide to Los Angeles dining featuring the city's best restaurants, Hall of Fame venues, and notable drinking spots.

How TikTok Caused a Matcha Shortage — The hashtag #MatchaTok has more than 40k posts with users sharing their morning matcha routines, home setups, and latte recipes.

Hangover Sandwich — A doctor has developed a scientifically-formulated sandwich claimed to provide instant hangover relief by combining the nutrients you need to replace what you’ve lost - like salt, sugar and protein.

ARTS & CULTURE

A Complete Unknown review — The Bob Dylan biopic is an electric revelation, with Timothée Chalamet brilliantly embodying his shapeshifting allure.

Luigi is Currently Reading — Lit Hub dove into Luigi Mangione’s Goodreads, to see what we can learn about the UHC CEO killing suspect based on his reading list.

Engadget Wrapped — The music the Engadget team listened to most in 2024 (and how they feel about those picks).

Arthur C. Clarke Predicts AI — Watch the legendary Sci-Fi writer predict the rise of Artificial Intelligence & speculate on the future of humanity in 1978.

“Information From The Edge” — New book 'The Nvidia Way' explores Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's management hacks and leadership culture that set him apart.

The Best Sci-Fi of 2024 — The NYT collection includes Kelly Link's fantasy novel and new alien epics. | The New Scientist list includes George R. R. Martin and a Three-Body Problem graphic novel.

FUTURISM

Google's New Quantum Chip — Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven says its new “Willow” quantum chip is so mind-boggling fast that it indicates that multiple universes exist and that the chip is borrowing computing power from them.

Ultracold Atoms — Extremely cold atoms have beat a quantum precision limit for measuring gravity by 20 per cent.

Future of Medicine and Technology — Student Ana-Maria Melkadze explores AI-driven healthcare future at TEDxIBEuropeanSchool, discussing home diagnostics, and the balance between technology and human care in medicine.

Eating dried microbes? — LanzaTech is hoping that bacteria grown in massive bioreactors could soon be on the dinner menu.

Caltech — Study: Microrobots target tumors with precision drug delivery.