“There were a few people on board cleaning the upper deck, but there was nobody else around” Frackers said of Venus. He also spoke up in the yacht’s defense, after criticism from some quarters as to Jobs’ and Starck’s pared-back aesthetic, arguing that “it’s a very unique design that looks much better up close than in pictures or even in a video.”

Custom-designed for the former Apple CEO, Venus is 260ft long and was constructed by Feadship in the Netherlands at a cost of more than €100m ($133m). €9m of that was French designer Philippe Starck’s fee, an unpaid €3m of which caused authorities to impound the yacht before Christmas.

A swiftly identified security deposit lurking in a bank account saw Venus freed after five contentious days, though exactly what will happen to the craft is unclear. More on Venus’ specifications (and iMac-filled interior) here.

[Thanks Toby!]

The report from Ubik let Rueters know that their client (Starck) had received only a partial payment for the final product, that being the finished yacht. Of the full 9 million Euro the group was supposed to receive, Ubik says Starck received just 6 million so far. It’s not clear at the moment if future payments were scheduled or if the entire affair was payed in cash: the contract, it seems, was extremely vague.

“The project has been going since 2007 and there had been a lot of detailed talk between Jobs and Starck. … These guys trusted each other, so there wasn’t a very detailed contract.” – Ubik lawyer Roelant Klaassen

At the moment there’s been no word from anyone in the Steve Jobs estate, and the superyacht itself is sitting in a port in Amsterdam. The impound was completed on Wedneday this week and the ship will remain locked up for the foreseeable future. Unless Starck’s camp gets what they believe they’re owed, of course.

For everyone that’s not been watching this superyacht unfold from design to execution, you’ll be fabulously amazed to know that the ship cost more than 100 million Euro to build from top to bottom (see the timeline of Steve Jobs yacht posts below for more details). This ship goes by the name Venus and is extremely minimalistic on the outside – while its insides are stacked to the brim with Apple computers and controls from the future. And you’ll never, ever get to take a ride on it.

The private yacht is now apparently complete and has been spied for the first time in the Dutch city of Aalsmeer. The gigantic boat certainly looks like something Steve Jobs would have designed with a minimalist look, lots of glass, and very clean lines. The yacht has reportedly been christened the Venus.

It rather looks like a floating Apple Store with lots of glass and shiny metal. The yacht appears to be quite massive dwarfing the people around it looking more like a cruise ship than a personal yacht. The Jobs family was said to be on hand for the unveiling of the massive ship measuring 80 m long.

Naturally, the command deck of the ship where the controls are housed uses iMac computers to show virtual gauges. There are seven of the 27-inch iMac computers in the wheelhouse. I’ve seen some impressive yachts over the years packed with technology, but the Venus is certainly my favorite.

[via The Verge]

The Ocean Empire has 4,305 square feet of solar panels installed on its frame. There are large areas of the ship that have been labeled “fishing accommodations.” And, a pair of hydroponic farms. The solar panels are capable of capture somewhere near 70 kW of power, while the 861 square-foot skysail is able to grab another 200 kW of power on its own.

However, that’s not all. The designers also included a Motion Damping Regeneration system, which will make sure that the super yacht doesn’t capsize in rough waters. The system is also capable of pulling down another 50 kW of power in its own right. If you find yourself on the Ocean Empire at some point in the future, it looks like you won’t ever have to worry about running out of power, as there’s plenty of different ways the ship will attain it, and then provide it.

[via DVICE]

Pauley calls it the Fly Cruiser, and as you can see from the image above, it’s supposed to be a yacht that has a pretty cool “extra feature.” The point of this yacht isn’t the technology inside, but instead on the outside. Designed to feature a pair of wings that extend from the side of the ship, with just the touch of a button, that have jet engines on them, your trip will suddenly be transformed from a scenic trip on the water, to a speedy hydroplaning adventure.

Turning on the engines will set the ship on its way, all the way up to 100 knots, where the yacht will be slicing across the water on a stability board. Once the nominal speed has been reached, the board will rise up back into the yacht, and you’ll be flying along to your next destination. You can watch the concept in action in the video below.

[via GizMag]

Thanks to integrated technologies, the Solemates Superyacht will let you control things like the climate system, the entertainment system in your room (and probably in other locations around the ship, considering there’s probably more than one of them lying around there), as well as adjust lights and even shut the blinds in your cabin when you need them closed. The Solemates Superyacht can be used with your own iPad, and if you can find yourself paying the $600,000 for this yacht, you more than likely have an iPad (or three) — but if you really need one, the Captain will provide you with one.

The interior was designed by Glade Johnson, and it’s noted for blending elements of elegance, along with contemporary sleek lines. There’s a sun lounge that features a dining area, as well as casual and formal dining areas inside the craft as well.

[via MacStories]

Video after the cut

There are a full five en-suite double staterooms, each lavishly equipped with iPad control units and 52-inch Bang & Olufsen TVs. The carbon-fiber foredeck has a jacuzzi and wet bar, while the flybridge and radar mast both retract – as you can see in the animation below – so as not to spoil the aesthetic when they’re not required. You get the feeling the Strand Craft’s designers have spent a little too long in dank, underground nightclubs: there are lashings of red leather on the walls, chrome and brushed aluminum, and you can optionally have the whole interior clad in bullet-proof Samurai leather.

The car itself is a custom creation by Gray Design, though you could easily slot in your own Ferrari or Lamborghini instead. A 40 knot top-speed rounds things out nicely. No word on pricing – let’s just imagine lots of zeros – and no sign of a date as to when we might see the first Strand Design 166 take to the waves; this may well end up another design exercise that never actually gets wet.

[via Autoblog]

Press Release:

Strand Craft 166 by Gray Design

The Strand Craft 166 is an uncompromising superyacht that is as outrageous as it is daring. Designed entirely around an automotive theme, this yacht is ideal for owners who are addicted to that new leather smell. Her low stance, enormous length and curled haunches give this vessel a dynamic aesthetic that is guaranteed to turn heads in the the most well appointed marinas.

Retractable flybridge
Contributing to the sleek profile of the yacht is the retractable flybridge and radar mast that retreat into the skin of the yacht when not in use. Both can be deployed independently of each other and are available only when they are required, ensuring the yacht keeps the cleanest possible lines for making that first impression. Strengthening this philosophy are the twin concealed entrances to the yacht, hiding the stairway to the upper aft deck as well as providing access to the garage, bar and lounge areas.

Hidden jacuzzi deck
Concealed beneath the carbon fibre inlaid fore deck is a sun deck equipped with a large jacuzzi, sporting a built-in bar to ensure that every party is well catered for. Access is through a vertically sliding glass door in the windscreen of the pilot house where there is ample seating for 8 guests. The pilot house itself opens up to the lounge to provide a smooth transition and connection between the driver and the main guest area and at the same time letting in light from the main windscreen to the spaces below.

Supercar tender
Following Strand Craft’s automotive tradition, the SC166 comes equipped with it’s own custom supercar tender. Created in the same design language as it’s carrier, the tender ensures you can roll out at your favorite port in ultimate style. With a V8 engine producing 620 horsepower and a top speed of 305 kph, the tender is an accessory that will certainly put a smile on your face.

Alternatively, you can order your own choice of conveyance to accessorize your superyacht. Be it Koenigsegg, Maybach, Lamborghini, Ferrari, or a waterborne tender, the choice is yours.

Interior and exterior automotive styling
The automotive theme is rich in the SC166, from the cockpit like glasshouse on the upper deck to the red leather covered upholstery that adorns large surfaces of the interior. Chrome highlights sparkle in every part of the cabin and the walls are treated to a highly polished gunmetal automotive lacer. Brushed aluminum trims the windows and bar area and the hallways are bathed in soft LED spotlighting.

Bulletproof
The SC 166 comes with the option of having upholstery made from an exclusive Japanese Samurai tread leather. These custom designed leathers are woven from a bullet-proof textile made of Vectran fibres. Optionally all walls can be covered in Samurai leather to make it a bullet proof yacht

Completing the specification list, there are five double en-suite staterooms, each equipped with 52 inch Bang & Olufsen TVs, top of the line sound systems, LED mood lighting and a iPad control and information center from Poets Road to allow you to activate any function from wherever you are on the yacht as well as providing essential information about the running and status of the vessel and it’s massive engines.

Powered by two MTU 20V4000 M93L 2x4300KW (2x5766hp) engines with a Vericor TF50 4177KW (5600hp) booster engine the SC166 is capable of cruising speeds of 30 knots with a top speed of 40 knots.

SC166 Specifications

LOA—————————————50 m
BEAM—————————————9 m
CONSTRUCTION————–High Tech Composites
DRAUGHT (loaded)————————-1.9 m
WEIGHT———————————230 Ton
ENGINES——————-2 x MTU 20V4000 M93L
BOOSTER—————————Vericor TF50
PROPULSION——-Water Jets Rolls-Royce KAMEWA
TOP SPEED—————————~ 40 Knots
FUEL CAPACITY————————–35000 L
FRESHWATER CAPACITY———————5000 L
BOW THRUSTERS——————————TBA
STABILIZERS——————————–TBA
GENERATORS———————————TBA
WATERMAKERS——————————–TBA
GREY / BLACK WATER CAPACITY—————-TBA

SC166 Tender Specifications

ENGINE—————————-4.3 liter V8
TORQUE——————————-347 lb-ft
HP—————————510 hp @ 8500 rpm
0-62 MPH—————————3.7 seconds
TOP SPEED——————————196 mph

The Tang is currently undergoing testing in St. Francis Bay, South Africa, where Tag Yachts has a facility. The yacht-sized effort to create the Tang comes from not only Tag Yachts, but also International Battery and Electric Marine Propulsion. The result? A yacht that features carbon-fiber construction, and two E motion 18-kilowatt permanent-magnet motors, which are powered by a 144-volt lithium-ion battery pack.

The 18-kolwatt propulsion motor gets its power from two different avenues. The first, obviously, are the sails that capture wind energy, which is then converted for use by the engines. The other way, though, are the propellers themselves. When they are turned on, if there isn’t enough wind to power the vessel for example, they become generators to regenerate electricity to the batteries. That’s when the two 22-kilowatt disel generators start generating energy for the lithium-ion battery pack.

As you probably guessed, International Battery supplied the lithium-ion battery, which not only powers the vessel itself, but also plenty of the electronics on board, too. You’ll find a dishwasher on board, a microwave, a 37-inch flat-screen TV, two refrigerator-freezers, LED lighting throughout the yacht, water maker, and even an air conditioner. When February 2011 comes around, the Tang will be officially shown off and paraded around at the Miami International Boat Show.

[via eco-friend]

The Best of R3 Media

Froyo Landing on Motorola Droids in July and August: At the announcement for the Droid X today, it was made perfectly clear that the update to Android 2.2, for the Droid X and the original Droid, was coming by the end of the Summer. And now, thanks to some leaked direct images from an internal Verizon Wireless source, we are starting to get a bit more of a clearer image. The original Droid is apparently getting the update to Froyo a month ahead of the Droid X — it’s expected to launch at the end of July. As for the Droid X? That’s coming at the end of August, apparently. [via Android Community]

Parrot AR.Drone Hands-On: The Parrot AR.Drone is definitely one of the most talked about, and heavily wanted items on the planet right now. And, thanks to our charms here at SlashGear, we were able to get some hands-on time with the new-fangled device. You’ll be able to control the Drone from your iPhone or iPod Touch (that includes the iPad, too), and there’s even an Android application coming some time in the future. There will be interactive games that you’ll be able to “play” on the mobile controller, with more games coming from an open source approach later, after the device launches later this year. Check out the other details, pictures, as well as the video through the link. [via SlashGear]

BlackBerry 9650 Heading to US Cellular: As CDMA-based devices go, the BlackBerry lineage is a breed that gets passed around a lot. No surprise here, but the device that’s already made an appearance on Verizon Wireless and the Sprint Network is making its way to the sixth largest wireless carrier in the United States, better known as the regional carrier U.S. Cellular. It’s launching some time in early August, but other than that, we’ve got no more information, as US Cellular is being remarkably quiet on the launch. Guess they have to have their surprises, too, right? [via PhoneMag]

The Dredge ‘Net

Zune Music Comes to Xbox 360, No You Can’t Listen to It While You Play Games: Long title, because it deserves one. Not because it’s good news, though. If you’ve got your hands on an Xbox 360, and you’re one that’s used Last.fm before, then you know that music played from Last.fm can’t be played while you’re playing games, or anything else for that matter. That’s right — you’re console can’t multitask that certain application. In any event, Zune is just about ready to make it so you can use your Zune Pass on your 360, but it’ll work just like Last.fm — no music multitasking. But, then again, if you’ve got a Zune Pass, then you probably have a computer and the Zune Software, which means you can just connect your computer to the Xbox 360, thanks to wireless syncing, and play your music that way, right from the media player. So . . . Problem solved? [via Gizmodo]

Nintendo 3DS May Do 3D Video Chat, How Cool is That? Yes, that rhymes. Excuse us, we’re in a curious mood tonight. Anyway! Apparently, Nintendo’s dropped some hints that 3D video chat can, and will be done on the Nintendo 3DS. No idea how, considering that the 3D cameras are on the outside of the device, but hey, Nintendo’s obviously got some ideas. Now, we make it happen. We want 3D video chat! [via Kotaku]

Trinity Euphoria Yacht is Real, Costs A Lot: Yachts are expensive. There’s definitely no denying that. And, the Trinity Euphoria is $39,000,000 worth of 168-feet goodness. It can comfortably hold 10 people in its five state rooms. There’s a pair of 2,250-hp engines, too, and they can send the yacht on 3,000 nautical miles on a tank of fuel. That’s beyond impressive. [via The Awesomer]

As you’d expect, when the yacht is, a yacht, you can lounge out on the huge deck, get some rays, and relax while the ocean carries you around. The inside of the huge boat is pretty ornate, as anyone would imagine, and it would need to be, considering you’ll be under water for awhile. That’s just our personal belief, anyway. After all, if you’ve got a boat that can turn into a submarine, wouldn’t you be underwater a lot?

When the yacht turns into that submarine, it switches from diesel power to electric. You’ll still be picked up by other submarines, like military ones, but at least you won’t be polluting anything, right? We’ve got admit that this thing looks awesome, especially with that little mini-sub that’s trailing behind. We want one.

[via BornRich]

The beast is 38 meters long and the interior of the ship can be customized. It has four large staterooms along with various heads, staterooms, reception areas, and salon areas. Each of the rooms has its own 52-inch HDTV and Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The coolest feature of the yacht isn’t the rooms though. The cool feature is the garage behind the ship that stores an awesome handmade supercar called the Tender with an 880hp twin turbocharged V12 engine promising to hit 375kmh. The ship itself has 14,000 horsepower and can hit speeds of 50 knots.

This yacht is owned by the Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko and measures 394-feet long. That length is hard to put in perspective, it’s as long as a football field and a basketball court set end to end. Yeah, it’s big.

Inside the yacht is lots of mirrors and gaudy appointments proving rich doesn’t mean you have taste. The ship is festooned with electronics and gadgets that are hidden and only come out when activated by a remote. The ship even has a hidden “nookie room” which is just what Tiger needed to keep himself out of trouble.