Gadgets and Tech Archives - Page 117 of 159

Nava Columbia 1980s calculator

Posted on 14th July 2008 | Leave a comment

It might look like a prop from a low-budget sci-fi movie, but this the Nava Columbia calculator is actually a piece of high-end design from the 1980s – and one you can still buy today.

The work of Sottsass Associati (the company of previously-featured Italian designer Ettore Sottsass), it does everything you would expect of your average calculator, but just looks so much more stylish – whether you go for the black or silver finish.

Originally designed in 1989, it’s available today complete with case for a little more than its price ‘in the day’ – just £31.

Find out more at the Panik Design website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Bic mobile phone – looks just like the disposable razor

Posted on 11th July 2008 | Leave a comment

You could argue that the Bic disposable razor is a design classic – introduced in 1974, that orange and white razor is still in production today. And just out in France is a mobile phone using the same design – the Bic phone.

Keeping that 1970s colour scheme, the actual phone is designed for the convenience market, offering a fully-charged phone (made by Alcatel), 10 minutes of calls on the Orange network (with an option to register for more), text messaging and an FM radio.

So pretty basic, but pretty cool looking in its own way. The phone will initially be launched in France, where you can pick it up for 49 Euros (which is around £38).

Bic website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Fatman iTube Red-i – vintage-style playback for your iPod

Posted on 9th July 2008 | Leave a comment

The latest Fatman vintage-style iPod dock is heading to the shelves in September – the Fatman iTube Red-i.

Like all valve amps, this is claimed to offer a much ‘warmer’ sound than your average amp, as well as 25w per channel output via the ‘sonically matched’ pair of stereo speakers, connectivity for the iPod and other devices and a fully-featured remote control.

The Fatman iTube Red-i with speakers will be sold exclusively via Henley Designs for around £399.

Henley Designs website

Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech

Viteo Zemi outdoor speaker – shaped like a 1970s light fitting

Posted on 7th July 2008 | Leave a comment

Our favourite speakers of all time are the Grundig Audiorama speakers, but we might have revise that opinion after discovering the Viteo Zemi speaker.

This hand-finished Frolet/Pellisariot design is not just any speaker, this is an outdoor-friendly speaker, watertight thanks to its glazed ceramic finish. But you can use it indoors too – and with looks like a 70s light fitting, it should certainly look the part.

And it is high-end audio, offering an ‘incomparable’ audio experience apparently, although that does come at a price – around £945.

Find out more at the Made In Design website

Categories / Cars and Bikes, Gadgets and Tech

Vintage Mini USB drives – with working headlights

Posted on 3rd July 2008 | Leave a comment

Looking for an excuse to keep a toy car on your desk? Well, if you pick up a vintage Mini USB drive, you can use it for saving your computer files.

And there’s not just one drive either, but a range, including the new Mini and plenty of variations of the old Mini, headed up by a rally version and a vintage police Mini. Obviously, they connect to your PC, but they also pack a couple of tricks. Firstly, the USB connector retracts inside the boot when you don’t need it and secondly, when it’s connected to your PC, the headlights light up.

The cars go on sale in August from Vavolo – no news of a price as yet.

Vavolo website

Via Technabob

Categories / Design and Interiors, Film and TV, Gadgets and Tech, Homeware, Kids