retro

As many carmakers try to outdo each other with cutting-edge technologies, we may be seeing a the beginnings of a trend to take accessories back in time, at least where design is concerned.

That makes sense, especially for those of us who appreciate vintage cars but can't stand the jarring appearance of a new digital radio ruining the aesthetics of a '57 Chevy's dashboard. Companies such as RetroBelt have figure this out with products like its "Retro Sound" sound system, and now Becker has done them one better by adding GPS features to a retro stereo … Read more

If you're looking for a fun and retro way to kill a few minutes this weekend, The Tetris Game offers up a simple freeware version of the classic game. There's no frills here, but anybody who's got a craving for that four-block goodness will probably find this rendition instantly satisfying.

The controls are mapped to your keyboard's arrow keys. Up rotates the piece, left and right shift it in one direction or another, and down accelerates the rate of descent. Pieces come in red, green, gray, yellow, and blue. You can save your high scores or … Read more

Whether it's an acknowledgement of mortality or a desire to relive a misspent youth, many of us have acquired a greater appreciation of classic cars, or at least parts of them. And a few are even lucky enough to celebrate their midlife crises by purchasing one. But that's where a problem often arises: What do you do about those ancient radios?

On one hand, it seems disrespectful to replace the original equipment with a new stereo that looks completely inappropriate; on the other, an AM radio just doesn't do justice to a long drive in the countryside. … Read more

It's one thing for Sony to reminisce about the good old days when they ruled the music world, but at some point it's time to let go. That was our immediate thought, anyway, upon seeing this dual cassette tape recorder. That's right--tapes.

Akihabara News says many people still use them, though we'll have to take their word for it because we haven't known any since about 1989. It also has a CD player in case they want to experiment with some of that cutting-edge stuff, as well as an AM/FM radio. We're still … Read more

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It's not mentioned in its product description, but there's an obvious point to make about the design of the new "Parrot Party" portable speaker: It looks like an old-fashioned telephone receiver.

So even if you have the newest, hottest music phone on the market, you'll immediately be transported back to the bad old Ma Bell days if you pull out this "Black Edition" of the 6-watt, 9-inch-long speaker to go with it. Pocket-lint says it's compatible with other U.K. devices too, … Read more

An ejector seat might be a fine way to get rid of the boss, but let's be serious--it isn't exactly something you'd find showcased in Architectural Digest. Aston Martin's "DB6 Couch" might not be either, but at least it doesn't threaten to send you flying out a window.

This limited-edition piece, from Aston Martin Heritage Designs, is an exact replica of a DB6 model's rear end with and is available in custom colors. Also true to the real thing is the price: $7,300, according to OhGizmo, and that doesn't even … Read more

The design of turntables long ago was elevated to an art form, an appropriate station for a piece of equipment that's often viewed as the domain of eccentrics as much as audiophiles. We continue to see variations upon variations, whether they be made with 24-karat gold, brushed steel, or even stone. And the more esoteric they are, the higher prices seem to go--as much as $150,000 in some cases.

So it was refreshing to see a model headed in the opposite direction, taking a minimalist approach. Cambridge Audio's zen-like TT50 has no MP3 technologies or USB connections--&… Read more

This is one of those products that would probably appeal to the same crowd who waxes nostalgic for old brick cell phones. The handset attached to this Buffalo keyboard looks to be around the same vintage, albeit an updated version that uses Skype.

It's beyond us why people would insist on a corded handset like this, when there are so many other alternatives available out there--including phone-mouse combos. It also appears Lilliputian in size, as Dvice points out. Then again, it's destined for Japan, where there aren't too many Shaq wannabes wandering around.

There's apparently something about Webcams that makes companies want to design them to look like cameras from the silent movies. First we saw the "Vije Deluxe," for example, which was reminiscent of an old arcade Mutoscope. And now we have the "RetroCam" to make your silent YouTube vids. All you need is a way to make the lights flicker without waking your roomies.

There's even a period-inspired tripod to enhances its Victorian appearance, according to Red Ferret. But should you want to venture into the 21st century--or even the early 20th, for that matter--the … Read more