Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech

iameco offers polished wood PC to match your vintage sideboard

Iameco

Computers certainly aren’t as ugly as they were a few years back, but still rarely fit in with a room full of classic or vintage design. Saying that, the iameco Sarah PC makes a valiant effort.

Using a polished dark wood finish (in this case ebony) and some glass for effect, it would sit perfectly on the Merrow Associates desk we featured a while back or indeed, next to your vintage sideboard.

Not only do you get the looks, you also get a decent computer too, with an Intel Core Duo Processor, DVD writer, 400GB hard drive, 2GB of memory, TV card, Windows XP or Vista and – wait for it – a wooden keyboard and mouse. If you want one, the Sarah is available online, priced at around 1,000 Euros.

Find out more at the iameco website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Music

Mixa 2 – the modern-day mix tape gets an update

Mixa2

Remember the Mixa? It had the looks of a traditional cassette, but the functionality of a modern-day USB drive, offering up mix tapes for a modern era. Well, it’s back with a few improvements as the Mixa 2.

The main improvement is the USB connector – it now ‘slides’ in and out, which means when it isn’t in use, it’s hidden away inside, maintaining that old school cassette look. There’s also a choice of coloured Mixas and a new box for your fakey tape.

Aside from that, everything’s the same – including the 1GB of storage for music, photos and videos, complete customisation of the sleeve, some stickers and the price – which is still £19.99.

Find out more at the Mixa website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Microsoft’s limited edition Joy Division Zune media player launches

Zune_jd

We heard rumours of this some weeks ago, but now Microsoft has officially launched the limited edition Joy Division Zune media player.

It’s been designed by Factory Records designer Peter Saville, based on the Joy Division Unknown Pleasures sleeve and pre-loaded with the recent Joy Division documentary. Other things to note are 80GB of storage and a limited edition of just 500.

If you want one, the launch date is June 17th and the price is $399 (around £200).

Find out more at the Zune Originals website

Via Spin

Categories / Design and Interiors, Food and Drink, Gadgets and Tech

Afro Coffee – stylish beverages meet retro design

Afro_coffee


Afro Coffee
doesn’t just offer tea and coffee in stylish packaging, it also creates some very eye-catching retro design.

Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Afro Coffee has developed from a themed coffee house to a design-conscious retailer, with designs based on ‘a Pan African view of contemporary urban Africa’ – highlighting how cool this culture is. And the side effect is some very cool merchandise, including t-shirts, bags, mugs and even a wine carrier that doubles up as a cool retro radio (above).

The items have been limited to the local network so far, but an online shop is due to launch in the next couple of months (with worldwide shipping), as well as a new store in Austria. See the website for more details or check out an interview with the people behind the company at the PingMag website.

Find out more at the Afro Coffee website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Sanyo Xacti CA8 – retro-styled waterproof camcorder

Xacti_waterproof

We have featured Sanyo’s retro Xacti camcorder range before, most recently with the forthcoming Xacti CG9. But before that one hits the shelves, another model has been unveiled – the Sanyo Xacti CA8.

This model is waterproof (up to 1.5m) and features video recording and still shots with the 8 megapixel sensor, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, auto-focus and 5x zoom, a ‘Face Chaser’ function for better people shots, storage on SDHC card, direct uploading to YouTube and of course, those super 8-style looks.

Take your pick from metallic white, blue or orange, all selling for £249 from the end of June.

Find out more at the Sanyo website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Jonas Damon 2B Tube Amp Radio – vintage audio for the modern era

2b_tube

Heading to market very soon is a stylish retro radio that uses vintage technology for its audio output – the  2B Tube Amp Radio by Jonas Damon.

Its outer shell is reason enough to give it a closer look, but the selling point is inside, with the radio using three old school vacuum tubes for sound, which are said to be warm, resonant and free of distortion.

It’s not about the past though – there’s also connectivity for your iPod. The current models are prototypes, but it will be going on sale via Areaware soon – no price confirmed as yet.

Areaware website

Via Cool Hunting