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Hong Kong gadget flea market: a blast from the past
If you've seen our Hong Kong feature from awhile back, then you would've already heard about my favorite gadget hangout Sham Shui Po. By chance, my post-flight stroll in said district yesterday coincided with Apliu Street's Chinese New Year flea market, which featured many vintage items like jade figurines, paintings, jewelry, video tapes, vinyl records, etc. Naturally, what really caught my attention were the old gadgets that were literally piled up along the street, and from just HK$30 (US$3.85), you could easily pick up an old classic such as a Sony Clié, an HP iPaq, a WonderSwan Color, an original GameBoy, a MiniDisc player, or even a proper old school laptop or camera. Hell, some guy even had a couple of Nintendo Micro VS Systems (Donkey Kong Hockey and Boxing)! The catch? Well, there was obviously no warranty for these old timers, plus the broken screens or the lack of compatible batteries for some meant that most were more suitable as collectibles. Regardless, we took a $6 gamble with a Sony Clié PEG-NR70 Palm PDA with docking station and boom! It works! Well, except for the battery that only lasts for an hour, but I'll figure something out. %Gallery-115754%
Children checking out vintage gadgets continues to be an enthralling experience to watch
The video we've embedded after the break has been around for a few weeks, but we simply couldn't resist posting it. As you'll see, it's a video (in French, but with English subtitles) of children contemplating a ton of vintage gear including the Game Boy, a Colecovision cartridge, and several sizes and shapes of computer discs. Their reactions -- especially if you were alive when most or all of these gadgets were the cutting edge -- is pretty incredible. Like we said, the video (with some pretty clunky subtitles) is after the break.
Library of Congress receives 200,000 vintage master recordings from Universal, will stream them online
The US Library of Congress hasn't been shy about embracing the modern age of digital media, though in this case it's having to deal with some decidedly lower-fi data storage. Universal Music Group has announced it's donating over 200,000 master recordings of early 20th century music to the Library, which will be cataloged and digitized -- for future safekeeping and in order to be streamed online starting in the spring. It doesn't seem, however, that the intellectual property rights will be passing with these recordings, as the press release states this agreement continues the Library's "unprecedented authority to stream commercially owned sound recordings online." Either way, it's good to know that the original copies of works by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald will reside in the hands of an organization dedicated to their preservation. Full press release follows after the break.
The Legend of Zelda prototype surfaces, makes itself readily available
Retro gamers, take note -- The Legend of Zelda is back, and this version's more intriguing than ever. From the pits of a mythical, magical unknown lair has arisen an early build of the original FDS version of Zelda, and thanks to the wonders of the internet (along with a few dedicated Earthlings), we're able to break down the differences between the prototype and the retail edition, download the FDS image and pore over the disk scans. From what we've been able to gather thus far, the early version is quite a bit easier to beat than the final build, with fewer enemies, easier money and more gullible partners. Sounds like our kind of place. Hit the links below to nerd out in fantastic fashion.
8mm Vintage Camera app will make your vids look older, more retro, and way, way cooler
You know who you are, hipsters. You're the kind of person who isn't satisfied with merely taking a photo of your Pabst Blue Ribbon with your iPhone 4: you have to make it old timey before you Tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it, print it out and mail a physical copy of it to your best friend from the third grade... oh wait, that last one's just us. Well, you're in luck: you can now pretend like your brand new, high def videos are also from the olden days, just like your faux old timey photos. The new app, called 8mm Vintage Camera will add dust particles, scratches and age for you in seconds via a fun set of 'unique' filters. Sounds like a hoot, right? It's available for $2 in the app store right now for iOS devices. You know you want it. Video demo after the break.
Macintosh Portable prototype hits eBay, unusual keyboard configuration intact
If you are looking to grab a piece of Apple history, here is your chance. Spotted on eBay is a prototype Macintosh Portable computer, an early predecessor to the PowerBook. The Macintosh Portable debuted in September 1989 and was a semi-portable, battery-powered version of a desktop Macintosh. The variant available for sale is labeled as a demonstration unit and is in perfect cosmetic condition. Unfortunately, the Portable will not power on, as the lead-acid battery within the device is toast. Though the Macintosh Portable has an input for AC power, the AC power is used to charge the battery, not power the machine. The current owner is selling the laptop precursor with the hope that a collector with some restoration skills may be able to work around this battery issue. This particular Macintosh Portable may look slightly different from the original retail model as it includes a trackball installed on the left side of the keyboard. This unusual configuration suggests the previous owner of this device may have been left-handed, as the trackball can be installed on either side of the keyboard according to the user's preference. Currently, the eBay auction has four days left and is sitting at a cool US$1,750 with zero bids. Even if you are not interested in buying the Macintosh Portable, the auction has some quality pictures of this vintage device and is definitely worth a click-through to check them out. [Via Gizmodo]
60 year-old remote-controlled robot made from scrap parts makes a dramatic, beautiful comeback
This is George. He's a six-foot tall robot handmade from the aluminum scraps of a crashed bomber in 1950. George is remote controlled, and was built by Tony Sale, the same man who recently resurrected the nearly forgotten robotic darling from the storage shed where he's spent the last 45 years or so. Some oil and batteries were all it took to get George up and walking again, and he'll now have a permanent home at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, England. And that's the next museum we'll be visiting, because we cannot get enough of this giant. Tear-inducing video is after the break. [Image Credit: Geoff Robinson, Daily Mail]
Flee for Android puts vintage LCD gaming on your cellphone (video)
No, that's not some long-abused handheld video game you've never heard of -- although it is a video game, and you do hold it in your hand. That's a screengrab from Flee, the game which recreates for Android users (version 1.6 or above) the LCD games of the past. In addition to its rough 'n ready look and straight forward game play, this bad boy features 96 levels, global scorecard, tons of music, and -- this is our favorite part -- when you press down on the screen, it simulates the effect of pressing down on an LCD. Not bad for €1, eh? There is also an ad-supported 'lite' version in case you're not ready to make the steep investment. Video, QR codes after the break.
Onkyo's CS-V645 and CS-445 mini stereos offer iPod dock, a pinch of retro
Onkyo's got a knack for dishing out new kit with a semblance of yesteryear in the design, and we've got to say -- we dig it. The company's latest are designed for minuscule offices, studio apartments and your everyday bedroom, with the CS-V645 DVD / CD mini system leading the way. This guy's got an iPod / iPhone docking station on the top, a USB port on the front, built-in FM radio tuner and support for MP3, WMA, JPEG, and DivX file formats. It'll also upscale content to 1080p over the HDMI output, and in case you were worried about getting up each time to alter the station, a remote is bundled in for good measure. The CD-only CS-445 is practically identical save for its incompatibility with DVD and the removal of its USB socket, but as with its older brother, it boasts a 40-watt amplifier and a pair of two-way loudspeakers. The CS-V645 is expected to crash in early December for $399, while the CS-445 reaches retailers this month for $329. %Gallery-106827%
Flickr Find: Grampa Mac Portable, meet the baby MacBook Air
It's hard to look at Patrick McCarron's snapshot of -- how many generations? Hard to count -- many generations of mobile computing development and 22 years of Macintoshes on the move without being a little bit awed. The Mac Portable, 1989's answer to getting things done on the go, seems simultaneously quaint and grotesque next to the sleek and dramatically faster MacBook Air. A trackball! That keyboard, that screen! And the floppy drive -- while the newest member of the family doesn't even sport a built-in optical drive. I don't even want to think about how many iPads would fit inside that case. You've come a long way, baby. Here's to another 21 years of portable computing, Apple style. Photo by Patrick McCarron, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Hat tip to Michael Gartenberg.
Tivoli Audio fails to deviate with Model 10 clock radio, still celebrates Tin anniversary
So, what's a company to do when turning the big one-oh? The same thing that it always has, of course! Tivoli Audio's classic styling has somehow found its way back around again on the 10th anniversary Model 10 AM/FM clock radio, a highly compact music maker with a 7.8-inch cabinet, a pair of independent alarms (which can be set to music or a tone), inbuilt LCD and a menu screen with an adjustable backlight. As you'd expect, the pizazz is coming mostly in the form of exterior color options, with "furniture grade wood" being offered in walnut, cherry, blue, black and red. For the true historians, a Celebration Collection is available in light and dark aluminum wood finishes, with the Superior Collection adding a high gloss Frost White and Chesnut Brown (along with the 'Lines' pattern shown here). The auxiliary input allows pretty much any source to be connected, with all functions dictated by a single top-mounted rotary control or a bundled remote. As for pricing? They're going for $199.99 to $379.99, or precisely 19.2 times more than you ever expected.
Sony pulls the plug on cassette Walkmans in Japan, makes epic mixtape
A cassette Walkman may now be nothing more than a puzzling artifact to some, but for those of a certain age it was the gadget of the day. Alas, it has long since been surpassed by other, more portable audio players that have replaced the fine art of the mixtape with "playlists," and it looks like even Sony has now accepted the inevitable. The company has reportedly ceased production of all cassette Walkmans and will stop selling them in Japan as soon as the current inventory runs out (expected to happen sometime in April). There will apparently still be Sony-branded Walkmans manufactured in China, however, although it's not clear how widely available they'll be. But let's not worry about that right now -- head on past the break for a brief look back at the Walkman in its heyday.
Microscopic Pac-Man installation makes a play for the smallest part of your heart
"Cute" doesn't even begin to accurately describe it. Kotoro "dotimpact" Tanaka, a Japanese design professor, has been credited with designing what may actually be the world's smallest game of Pac-Man. The microscopic installation was recently showcased at the 30th anniversary Pac-Man exhibition, utilizing original Pac-Man hardware, a projector and a microscope in order to blow up a minuscule game of cat and ghost for human eyes to recognize. We're told that it's able to reflect its image through a mirror in order to produce a 1cm square image at a resolution of 1439 pixels per inch (PPI), and users are highly encouraged to screw with the zoom and focus controls in order to heighten the level of difficulty. So, dotimpact... how's about an on sale date?
New batch of Yamaha stereo receivers flaunt retrotastic looks
If you long for the days of leisure suits and Magnum PI mustaches, or are just in the market for audio gear to match your arcade and TV, then Yamaha's new R-S line of receivers might be just the ticket. The R-S700, R-S500, and R-S300 draw inspiration from the audio equipment of the 70s and 80's and all feature minimal aluminum front panels with André the Giant hand-sized knobs for adjustments. Their throwback looks hide modern day goodies like YBA-10 Bluetooth audio streaming, iPod dock connectivity and a dedicated subwoofer output. Power-wise, the R-S300 provides 50 watts per channel of clean power, while the R-S500 and R--S700 scale the wattage up to 75 and 100 watts per channel, respectively. If you like to keep your power and tuner separate, then the similarly styled A-S500 integrated amp and matching T-S500 tuner can also oblige. Slated to time warp to shelves later this October, pricing starts at $330 for the R-S300 and works its way up to $550 for the top tiered dual-zoned and dual remote-toting R-S700. With all the retro love going around though, just make sure your short shorts stay in the attic -- that history ain't quite ready to be repeated. For full details on the line, have a peek at the press release after the break.
Porsche stuffs modern NAV into retro radio, tips hat to loyal 911 owners
Porsche knows better than anyone that it'll take a miracle for owners of many older 911s to upgrade, so rather than crying over it, it's figuring out a new way to milk stale customers. The head unit you see above is described as the "Classic Radio Navigation System," and apparently, it's designed to fit within the dashes of 911 motorcars built between 1963 and 1977. In short, it offers a modern-day navigation experience within a radio that still fits the motif of those gorgeous pieces of iron, and at €595 ($776), it shouldn't be a tough sell to any true collector. Word on the street has it that it'll hit Porsche dealers next month, ensuring that you'll finally be able to make that Thanksgiving jaunt to grandmother's house without getting turned around. Now, if only we knew what kind of mapping software it'll ship with...
SiMo BoomCase vintage suitcase speaker rocks your androgynous hair style
Lube up the fixie and adjust your oversized glasses kids, the perfect hipster accessory for your journey of ironic self destruction has arrived. Created by the San Francisco-based Mr. SiMo, BoomCase is a series of portable speakers with batteries and headphone jacks pieced together from vintage suitcases. The one-of-a-kind case above features two main speakers and a top-side tweeter bunged into an old Samsonsite. The 8-pound case pushes a total of 30 Watts for up to 10 hours off an internal rechargeable battery when fed audio from your portable device's headphone jack. $295, that's how much. And for $20 more, Mr. SiMo will integrate a USB charger. Check the gallery for other variations although only the case above is currently for sale.%Gallery-102973%
Canon 5D Mark II goes back in time with circa-1908 lens
Old camera lenses being re-purposed on modern DSLRs is hardly anything new, but Canon 5D Mark II user Timor Civan's latest bit of kit is anything but common. He came into the possession of a circa 1908 Wollensak 35mm F5.0 Cine-Velostigmat lens (for a hand-cranked film camera) by way of a Russian lens technician described as a "mad scientist," who also managed to fit the lens to the 5D after about six hours of work. Needless to say, the results speak for themselves. Hit up the source link below for a collection of samples, and a closer look at the lens itself.
Crosley goes way back, way forward with battery-powered USB turntable
Still wondering what to get the guy that just so happens to have everything, including (but not limited to) a 1920's style Bluetooth headset? Found. Crosley Radio has just introduced what's possibly the most awesome nugget of retro goodness in the year 2010 AD, the Revolution CR6002. Believe it or not, the object you're gawking at there on the right is actually a battery-powered, USB-enabled turntable. It's quite obviously designed for travel, but it's purportedly capable of spinning the 33 1/3 and 45 RPM records that your pop is so fond of. Furthermore, it's capable of tuning into your fav FM radio station, and the USB interface enables analog-to-digital transfers for keeping those vinyls in a much safer place. Hit the source link if you're ready to wave goodbye to $149.95, or hit that Vimeo vid if you still need convincing.
iFixit goes beige with RCA Studio II teardown
The RCA Studio II is already a pretty rare sight as is, but rarer still is a detailed look inside what's been described as one of the worst game consoles of all time. Thankfully, the folks at iFixit have now come through once again, and followed up their dissection of the Magnavox Odyssey 100 with a teardown of the circa-1977 "Home TV Programmer." In addition to an abundance of beige, the team also discovered a considerable amount of solder that's characteristic of 70s electronics, and even a few surprises like some white chip packages that are rarely (if ever) used these days. Hit up the link below for the complete blow-by-blow, and keep en eye out for even more vintage gadget teardowns during the rest of the week.
iFixit tears apart a Magnavox Odyssey 100, doesn't find a disco ball inside
The fine people at iFixit have taken the extremely awesome step of tearing down some very retro gear this week, and up first, they've got the Magnavox Odyssey 100 which dates from 1975. The gaming console, which boasted two (count them ) games -- Tennis and Hockey -- was built around four Texas Instruments chips and powered by six C batteries. It was also the first home gaming console, so we were pretty interested in seeing its insides. What struck us in looking at the photos was the most obvious thing: how much emptier it is than modern gadgets. It was also completely dismantled in just seven steps. Hit the source for more photos and keep your eye out for more vintage disassemblies as the week progresses.
