Elon Musk is one of the world’s most recognisable and famous entrepreneurs. He was one of the co-founders of Tesla Motors, before moving to aerospace manufacturing when he started SpaceX in 2002. Musk has had a turbulent career to date, drawing praise and criticism from fellow business leaders and politicians.

Where it all started

Musk was born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. At age 10, he developed a keen interest in computers, which continued throughout his adolescence. Believing that the United States was the only place where he could achieve his dreams, he relocated from South Africa shortly before his 18^th birthday, against this father’s wishes.

Education

Musk couldn’t emigrate directly to the United States, so he remained in Canada while awaiting visa approval. He entered Queen’s University in 1989, before finally moving to the University of Pennsylvania in 1992, where he studied economics and physics. He graduated in 1997.

Early work

Musk had a couple of internships with Silicon Valley companies, including Rocket Science Games. In 1995, he founded Zip2 with his brother, Kimbal, while turning down a PhD program with Stamford University. Zip2 was a raging success, generating $307 million when it was acquired by Compaq in 1999. Musk’s 7% share generated $22 million.

SpaceX and Tesla

In the early 2000s, Musk was instrumental in the creation of SpaceX and Tesla. SpaceX was critical in reviving public interest in space exploration and is now the largest private manufacturer of rocket engines in the world.

Musk has also been critical to the success of Tesla, a company that specialises in the design and manufacturing of electric vehicles. Despite some ups and downs with Tesla, the company reached a market capitalisation of $206 billion, making them the globe’s most valuable automaker. Between July 2019 and July 2020, Tesla also registered its first four consecutive periods of growth.

Only a select few products or inventions go on to have great success on the market. Despite their perceived utility and quality, some products never take off, for whatever reason. Others are just impractical or expensive, making them unviable for many customers. Here are some of the wackiest inventions to have hit the shelves in recent years, only to fade into obscurity.

The radio newspaper

In 1939, excitement grew when news arose that households could have their newspapers transmitted to them. The premise was simple – the radio device would receive the information from a central transmitter, which could then be printed onto a 9-foot piece of paper. Each page took 15 minutes to print and then had to be cut and folded. Those days, 15 minutes was considered rapid; however, the premise never gained traction. The device, however, was instrumental in the development of an office gem – the fax machine.

Wink glasses

Masunaga, a Japanese tech manufacturer, developed a “revolutionary” pair of glasses that monitor how often your eyes blink. With people spending hours staring at screens (whether it be for work or recreation), eye health has become a significant concern for health professionals. The glasses would fog if you weren’t blinking enough, encouraging the wearer to blink at a quicker rate. Why didn’t it work? Well, the price was insane, and users complained of the device being impractical and annoying.

Boiled egg squarer

Who would have thought that this would exist? If boiling your eggs normally isn’t quite up to your speed, then check out the boiled egg squarer. Who doesn’t love a cube-shaped egg for breakfast? It’s easier to cut, won’t roll around on your plate and you can even line up the egg slices against the corners of your toast We still can’t fathom the value of this.

The market for smart televisions has grown astronomically over the last decade. Because of the ridiculous level of competitions, customers have ultimately benefited. There’s now more to choose from at lower prices from reputable brands. If you’re in the market for a new television, here are the best smart televisions available.

#1 Samsung Q95T

The Samsung Q95T is the motherload of all televisions. It comes in three sizes; 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch. It is currently Samsung’s flagship smart TV, and it’s easy to see why, with its superb quality, impressive HDR performance and comprehensive functionality. The one drawback? Well, all good things come at a price, and the Samsung Q95T is no exception. You can expect to pay somewhere between $3000 to $4000 for this one.

#2 Sony Bravia A8G OLED

Sony has been manufacturing excellent smart TVs for years now, and their Bravia range continues to deliver. Their latest Bravia addition is one of the best Sony has released. One thing that Sony has always done well is their motion processing, and the Bravia A8G continues this trend, with some of the best motion processing in the industry. Users will also benefit from some ultra-customisation functions; however, there has been some criticism of mediocre sound quality. Nonetheless, it’s still one of the best smart televisions going around.

#3 LG B9 OLED Series

The LG B9 is a great, affordable smart television. It is one of the cheapest smart TVs available in Australia but can still deliver 95% of premium smart TV functionality. While you’re not getting the same experience as the more premium devices, if you’re on a strict budget, the B9 should be at the top of your list.

#4 Samsung Q70R QLED

This is one of Samsung’s mid-range televisions and proves that Samsung is a force to be reckoned with in the industry. It boasts exceptional contrast and an excellent internal system.