WIN: Tee’s Retro Gadget Picks
6:28pm / 09.06.2009
Haven’t you heard? What’s old is new! Geek is chic! Or is it just that in tough times we long for what’s comforting. Whatever, the case, these retro gadgets are hot!
Tee showcases some technological developments that owe much to their retro predecessors. Think mixtapes, calculator watches and polaroids…
Click here to catch Tee live on TV One’s Breakfast this morning with Paul Henry.
Retro Throwback: The Walkman and Mixtape
1: Makeamixa.com Digital Mixtape
Remember the mixtape? Who could forget hours spent planning, designing and dubbing your favourite songs for a boyfriend/girlfriend or a long roadtrip? Makeamixa takes all that’s good about the mixtape tradition (the blank cassette exterior, the cool custom designed sleeve) and throws in some technology with a USB stick (much more time efficient). Super easy to create, just choose the colour of the cassette shell, design your ’sleeve’ (or pick one of their templates), purchase, wait for it arrive then fill it up with tunes and pictures via the USB.
From: www.makeamixa.com
RRP: £19.99/approx $NZ50.00 (+ shipping)
2: Sony MP3 Wearable Walkman
A great musical tradition – the Sony Walkman, the device that brought music into the personal sphere – turns 30 this year. While I fondly remember the pink brick sized box of old and sturdy foam headphones (check out the show to see Tee’s original walkman), Sony have just released their new wearable walkmans so you can “listen to music without wires”. Other features include a drag and drop functionality to easily transfer your music files onto the player and a great 3 minute quick charge function giving you 90 minutes of playback - a feature I definitely love because it’s always just as I’m running out the door for the day when I realise I’m running low. Plus, it looks super cute all connected up like a pink loveheart - there I said it.
From: Sony
RRP: $159.95
Retro Throwback: The Calculator Watch
3: Casio Calculator Watch.
What more is there to say really. Multi tasking at its best! Casio have captured the essence of the retro trend with the release of their Calculator Watches. Features include: Water Resistant, 8 Digit Calculator, 1/100 sec Stopwatch (24hr), Alarm, Full Auto Calendar, Dual Time, Soft Keys, Resin Strap. The latest release comes in pink or black tones, but you can also pick up an original knockoff in silver. Tres geek chic! Only downside, I’m sure my eight year old fingers had a more accurate hit rate on the calculator keys.
From: Casio
RRP: $129.95
Retro Throwback: The Polaroid
4: Polaroid Pogo Printer
With news that the original Polaroid film is on the endangered species list, Polaroid are keeping the instantaneous photo tradition alive, with their first generation Pogo printer. The Pogo (short for Polaroid on the Go) is portable, pocket sized printer, complete with a rechargeable battery that receives images via bluetooth from your phone or camera, then prints the images inklessly on sticky back paper! When the Pogo arrived in the office, we couldn’t help but reminisce about the I-Zone Pocket Instant Camera that printed those cute mini stickers from a few years ago.
From: Polaroid. For stockist info, call 0800 99 7646 or email info@endurance.net.nz
RRP: $329.00
5: Poladroid
If it’s just the look of the Polaroid you’re after, rather than the instant photo factor, you can turn all of those stark digital photos lying about your computer into something with a bit more character without any intricate knowledge of photo editing software – thanks to the magic of Poladroid! Simply download onto your desktop, drag a photo into the Poladroid application and watch as it develops into a (high res) Polaroid in front of your eyes! You can even “shake it like a Polaroid picture” to help speed up the process.
From: Poladroid
RRP: FREE
So you want to win? Well who wouldn’t?
Tee’s giving away a super Casio Calculator watch AND a Polaroid Pogo printer - that’s nearly $500 of retro gadgetry goodness. All you have to do is share your favourite retro gadget memory with us in the comments box below…
My favourite retro gadget would have to be the Sega Mega Drive playing Alex Kidd till my fingers cramped up……i am sure i could have learnt 3 different languages in the time wasted playing that console…..oh well kids will be kids :O)
TOTALLY have to be the olden day record players, where you spin the little pin on top of the record and it spins they were so cool! i can just picture my nana dancing around while a sweet olden day record plays. way to cool!