October 3rd, 2008 by
Filed under: Gaming
Console collectors know good and well that Sega dished out a few less-than-easily-attainable versions of the Dreamcast back in the day, but only the hardest of hardcore fanatics are apt to have one this bad boy. Just 1,800 of these limited edition bundles were made, which feature an atypical Code: Veronica box, a translucent red version of the Japanese console, a matching controller, a copy of Biohazard Code: Veronica (Japan’s version of Resident Evil Code: Veronica), all the traditional connection cables and a huge dose of bragging rights. Number 280 out of the 1,800 units can be yours right now for the low, low asking price of $800, and believe us, we don’t foresee this one hanging around sans an owner for too much longer.
[Via Gadget Review]
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Posted in auction, limited edition, LimitedEdition, ebay, retro, vintage, console, sega, dreamcast, rare, bio hazard, BioHazard, code veronica, CodeVeronica, resident evil, ResidentEvil | No Comments »
September 29th, 2008 by
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds
Those of us old enough to remember crap games like E.T. and Sssnake have every right to be thrilled by the relative quality of modern gems like Guitar Hero. We’re guessing modder Conner Flynn over at SlipperyBrick feels that way too, melding the old with the new by inserting an Atari 2600 console into the body of a faux-Gibson from Guitar Hero. This meant adding two controllers to the body (an eight-way joystick plus a paddle-style controller for Breakout), wiring up the green button on the neck, and adding a small screen where the strum bar would normally reside. It’s a layout that makes this axe best suited for play Jeff Healey-style, and with a pocketful of AA batteries you can game your Angel Eyes out wherever you like. No, it’s not the most ergonomic portable 2600 we’ve ever seen, or most practical, but is certainly is the most badass.
[Via technabob]
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Posted in hack, diy, atari, atari 2600, Atari2600, mod, retro, vintage | No Comments »
August 20th, 2008 by
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming
Call us biased, but we still prefer Ben Heckendorn’s portable ColecoVision over this one, but that’s not to say we don’t deeply respect the immense amount of work that went into the mini ColecoVision. The seller of the unit stripped a ColecoVision PCB from an original casing and got to modding; when all was said and done, the miniaturized version still operated fine and required a lot less floor space. ‘Tis a shame the bidding just ended — now you’re stuck with Atarimax’s oh-so-similar (but not nearly as satisfying) MulitCart as you embarrassingly attempt to relive the past.
[Via technabob]
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Posted in auction, enclosure, case mod, CaseMod, mod, ebay, retro, vintage, case, chassis, ColecoVision, mini ColecoVision, MiniColecovision | No Comments »
July 19th, 2008 by
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Fair warning: this here post is nerdier than usual, and those who begin to feel nauseous at the mere mention of data-bending may want to refrain from continuing on. For you brave, hardened souls that are following through, feast your eyes on the “first piece of software ever sold by Apple.” The Apple I BASIC cassette wasn’t even included with all of the 200 Apple Is produced eons ago, but a few engineering souls have managed to extract the data and create an MP3 of the wave structure. Not surprisingly, the tone resembles that of a 1200 Baud connection, and if we should say so ourselves, would make for a wicked ringtone. Believe us, it gets even weirder in the read link, but you’ll have to determine whether venturing down is something your brain can handle.
[Via BoingBoing]
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Posted in Apple, software, weird, retro, vintage, code, nerd, cassette, apple I, AppleI, basic, coding | No Comments »
July 7th, 2008 by
Filed under: Gaming
We’re not quite sure how Seth Sternberger, one member of 8 Bit Weapon, was able to pull this off, but he somehow compiled a number of old parts from local shops and eBay in order to transform an NES Power Pad into an instrument of awesomeness. Click on through for a video of Micro Boogie being performed on said Pad, and don’t be shocked to find yourself immediately overcome with the need to get one of these in your own house (only to remember that you can’t dance).
Continue reading Power Pad hacked into musical controller, DDR trembles
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Posted in Nintendo, Music, hack, nes, instrument, mod, musicthing, retro, vintage, music thing, 8 Bit Weapon, 8BitWeapon, nintendo entertainment system, NintendoEntertainmentSystem, Power Pad, PowerPad | No Comments »
June 27th, 2008 by
Filed under: Household
Remember that hundred pack of blank cassettes you bought back in ‘93 when they hit 90-percent off? Man, those were the days. Unfortunately, you only got around to making three or four mix tapes, leaving you with quite a few unused hunks of junk cluttering up the closet. If you’ve managed to hang onto ‘em just knowing a worthwhile use was just around the bend, congratulations. The ingenious cats over at Transparent House have glued an assortment of old tapes together and inserted neon lights within to keep things cool and create a rather impressive source of lighting. Oh, and if you can’t figure this one out sans a how-to guide, maybe DIY work just isn’t your bag.
[Via technabob]
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Posted in diy, retro, vintage, furniture, lighting, lamp, cassette, cassette tape, CassetteTape | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2008 by
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Gaming
We’ve seen folks lay their noggins on some pretty interesting pillows, but these critters just stand out like no other. Featuring Dig Dug himself along with a menacing Pooka, these homegrown cushions were created by manicmaiden for his / her brother’s birthday. We know what you’re thinking, but it doesn’t seem as if this particularly thoughtful individual is accepting applications for adoptions.
[Via CRAFT]
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Posted in diy, pillow, retro, vintage, pillows, cushion, dig dug, DigDug | No Comments »
June 6th, 2008 by
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
It takes some serious game to rise above the legions of mediocre DIYers out there and stand tall as a true legend. Judging by the video posted up after the cut, James Houston can now consider himself one of the elite. Somehow, this cat managed to tackle the nearly impossible task of remixing Radiohead’s Nude without defacing it entirely (read: merging bits and pieces of the tune into a 4/4 arrangement and calling it a day). Instead, he utilized a host of aging hardware (Sinclar ZX Spectrum, Epson LX-81 dot matrix printer, HP Scanjet 3c, etc.) to create a rendition that even Yorke could admire. For fans of In Rainbows and mesmerizing music videos alike, there’s a must-see waiting just below.
[Via Hack-A-Day, thanks Eliot]
Continue reading Antiquated hardware used to masterfully remix Radiohead’s Nude
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Posted in video, Music, diy, nude, retro, vintage, in rainbows, InRainbows, radiohead, remix | No Comments »
June 5th, 2008 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Uh, this is a Minox? It’s not that we can’t read labels, but considering the outfit’s yawn-inducing offerings of late, we’re a little stunned to see something so irresistible come out of its doors. The June-bound Rolleiflex AF 5.0 is a “fully functioning, high precision replica of the world famous Rolleiflex 6×6 camera (scale 1:2),” and just like its inspiration, it produces square photographs and boasts a functioning hand crank. Thanks to modern technology, this edition steps it up with a 5-megapixel sensor, LCD monitor and a miniSD slot. Word on the street puts the black version at €299 ($461), while the entirely more stylish red model will demand €30 ($46) more. Still cheaper than an antique, we’d wager.
[Via LetsGoDigital]
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Posted in retro, vintage, Digicam, minox, Rolleiflex, Rolleiflex AF 5.0, RolleiflexAf5.0 | No Comments »
April 30th, 2008 by
Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment
There are times when form overcomes any missteps in function, and we’d probably say this is one of those times. On the downside, Brionvega’s 19-inch Alpha LCD / DVD combo display tops out at 1,280 x 1,024 and obviously boasts a 4:3 aspect ratio, but it can be equipped with a digital DVB-T tuner. Beyond that, you’ll find a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness, five-millisecond response time, 160-degree viewing angles and a small array of ports. There’s also a pair of three-watt stereo speakers in there, and the integrated DVD player even handles VCD, SVCD and MP3 discs. If you’ve found yourself overran with disposable income, you can grab yours in orange / silver / black for €1,950 ($3,016) and up.
[Via RetroToGo]
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Posted in europe, uk, on sale, OnSale, retro, vintage, alpha, order, Brionvega | No Comments »
March 18th, 2008 by
Filed under: Household
digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/design/ASCII_Curtains_redefine_interior_design’; There’s absolutely no shortage of ways to geek up the inside of your domicile, but few creations posses the perfect balance of class and geekiness like the ASCII Curtains. Reportedly hand-crafted by designer / artist / undiscovered genius Nieke Sybrandy, these nerdalicious curtains feature a light gray tree motif that is compiled entirely from code. Breathtaking, no? Hit the read link for one more look — and don’t even bother phoning up Bed Bath & Beyond, we already tried.
[Via gearcrave, thanks William]
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Posted in diy, retro, vintage, furniture, ASCII, curtains | No Comments »
February 15th, 2008 by
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
Okay, so the totally nifty Pocket IR Modem actually works with a few devices other than the antiquated Palm III, but it’s clear these two were made for each other. Put simply, this device connects with any Pocket PC / Palm OS unit via IrDA and enables it to hop on the intarwebs in blazing fashion, but truthfully, it was designed to allow folks in the field to upload data more so than check your favorite gadget blog. Reportedly, ENR Technologies is hoping to loose these for $80 apiece if purchased in bulk, but it’ll take $149 to snag one for personal use. All of a sudden, EDGE doesn’t seem so bad, now does it?
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Posted in modem, internet, retro, vintage, 56k, ENR Technologies, EnrTechnologies, pocket ir modem, PocketIrModem | No Comments »
November 30th, 2007 by
Filed under: GPS, Transportation
If you’ve balked at the prices automakers are charging for integrated navigation systems, you should really take a look at what ¥300,000 ($2,746) would buy you in 1981. That atrocity you see above was an actual option in Honda’s Accord during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, and while it didn’t sync up with any satellites, it did help to guide you along in some form or another. The Electro Gyrocator, as it was so eloquently named, accepted transparencies of maps and utilized a gas gyroscope that allowed the map to move with the motion of the car and plot your progress. Once a certain map ran out of road, you just popped the next one in and kept on cruisin’. And here we are kvetching about whether our portable navigator has 10 or 11 million POIs…
[Via Autoblog]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in navi, navigation, nav, retro, vintage, sat nav, SatNav, honda, accord | No Comments »
November 29th, 2007 by
Filed under: Cellphones
Yeah, we did a double take upon seeing the above image too, but believe it or not, that car phone is actually a new Bluetooth handsfree system. Developed by Cartel Mobile Solutions, this in-car setup can reportedly be installed into nearly any whip and will connect up with most every BT-enabled handset. From there, it mysteriously warps you back to the 1990s where you can dial on near-Chiclet sized buttons; once the haze clears, it ushers you back to modern day by enabling motorists to chat without holding anything up to their yapper. Users can opt to wire it to their vehicle’s sound system or plug in an external speaker, and yes, that display you see does indeed handle Caller ID duties. Unfortunately, no price was readily apparent, but you can can bring that 1979 Buick of yours a few years closer to the 21st century by hitting Cartel up for purchasing details.
[Thanks, Mickel]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in bluetooth, in-car, retro, vintage, safety, handsfree, car phone, CarPhone, cartel, old school, OldSchool | No Comments »
November 28th, 2007 by
Filed under: Gaming
Dream Arcades has been on a rampage of late, and just over a month after we caught wind of its Dreamcade 2.0 arcade cabinet, the outfit is looking to take over our basement with the Dreamcade Vision 120. This multigame unit packs over 145 classic titles such as Centipede, Dig Dug and Ms. Pacman, and comes with a built-in DLP projector that features 2,000 lumens, a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and a 1,024 x 768 native resolution. Additionally, you’ll get a 120-inch portable projection screen, programmable Ultimarc interface card, an authentic arcade control system and HDMI / component inputs that enable users to hook up their console of choice to play on the big screen. Sure, this masterpiece may set you back four grand, but just think how many quarters you’ll save in the long run.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in Wii, arcade, Dream Arcades, DreamArcades, dreamcade, retro, vintage, Dreamcade Vision 120, DreamcadeVision120, MultiGame | No Comments »
November 20th, 2007 by
Filed under: Gaming, Household
Hot on the heels of Gamerator’s stupendous MAME cabinet and AOTS “world’s largest arcade machine” comes a DIY project that gives both of the aforementioned products a run for their money. The aptly-titled IKEA MAME Dinner Table cleverly crams a MAME machine into a standard dinner table, which we’re absolutely sure any warm-blooded mother (and / or gamer) could appreciate. The table can slide open to reveal a 15-inch LCD, Happ Controls and an Ultimarc I-PAC, and while a myriad games can be played, the creator’s personal favorite is the famed Ms. Pacman. Click on for a couple more looks, and then head on to the read link for a slew of pics from the underside.
[Via MAKE]
Continue reading DIY’er stuffs MAME machine into dinner table
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in hack, diy, arcade, retro, vintage, mame, dinner table, DinnerTable, ikea, pac man, PacMan, table | No Comments »
November 2nd, 2007 by
Filed under: Portable Audio, Storage
Looking to scratch that retro itch? If so, you’ll likely find oodles of satisfaction in the MIXA USB tape, which not only weds the modernness of a USB flash drive with the old school flavor of a cassette, but also bows down to your funky fresh customization skills. You heard right — those interested can select a black or white 1GB tape, add on any design they choose and cough up £19.99 ($41) to have it shipped anywhere in the world. Finally, the perfect compliment to your shoulder-mounted USB boombox.
[Thanks, Earl]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in flash drive, FlashDrive, retro, vintage, usb drive, usb key, UsbDrive, UsbKey, Thumb Drive, ThumbDrive, compilation, mix tape, mixa, MixTape, tape, usb tape, UsbTape | No Comments »
October 16th, 2007 by
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Don’t look now, but Jack and Meg are at it again. Yep, the White Stripes are once more reaching out to the retro lovin’, geeked-out crowd by offering up a set of “all-plastic,” limited edition Lomography cameras. The JACK Holga and MEG Diana+ seem to only differ from their standard counterparts externally, but fans of the band are sure to appreciate the Rob Jones-designed motifs. Notably, the JACK Holga Starter Kit includes “an additional Fisheye lens, three filter set and a custom Peppermint lens filter,” while MEG’s version comes with the “Nobody Knows How To Talk To Children” ringflash and a custom Peppermint Film Mask filter. Both kits are available as we speak for $180 apiece, but you better make haste, as only 3,000 of each camera were constructed. Check out a few more looks after the break.
[Thanks, Favian]
Continue reading White Stripes get their own Lomography cameras
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in Music, limited edition, LimitedEdition, retro, vintage, special edition, SpecialEdition, artist, band, diana, holga, jack, lomo, lomographic, lomography, meg, white stripes, WhiteStripes | No Comments »
October 9th, 2007 by
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Those wild ‘n crazy kids over at Dream Arcades are at it again, and just when you thought you had your holiday budget ironed out, along comes the four-player cocktail Dreamcade 2.0 to put you back in the red. This arcade cabinet features an “integrated trackball, lighted buttons, a Windows-based DreamPC and a collection of more than 145 licensed games including classic titles from Midway, Digital Leisure, Atari, Namco and Capcom.” The 2.0 version of the Dreamcade boasts a 21-inch “real arcade monitor,” tinted safety glass and the ability to connect your own console. Sure, it’ll cost you $1,899, but that’s a small price to pay for all this retro.
[Via I4U News]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Posted in arcade, Cocktail Dreamcade 2.0, CocktailDreamcade2.0, Dream Arcades, DreamArcades, dreamcade, DreamPC, retro, vintage | No Comments »