Category: Gadgets and Tech

Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech

Space age Music Sofa

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Music_sofa_2

A while back, we featured the Sonic Chair, a modern-day take on Eero Aarnio’s Ball Chair with built-in speakers. And now, along similar lines, comes the Music Sofa.

Designed by Giongkun Wuqiongkun, it’s actually a chair more than a sofa, but has a superb space age design that would fit effortlessly into your 70s-style pad. But this is no ordinary chair – it has a built-in CD player and built-in speakers for your tunes. And it’s got a wireless connection, so you can stream music from around the house.

Clever stuff, but still a prototype right now, with production likely later this year.

Find out more at the Yanko Design website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Robot Calculator – just like a vintage robot

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Robot_calculator
We’ve featured plenty of robots in the past – and any number of everyday items that look like robots (like the robot toilet roll holder). Well, here’s another – the Robot Calculator.

Manufactured by Hog Wild, it has all the regular calculating buttons you would need, an easy-to-read LCD and a sleep mode that shuts down if not in use. But unlike other calculators, this one looks like a 1950s robot, even standing up on your desk for added effect.

An absolute bargain too – just $8.99 (around £4.50).

Find out more at the Kleargear website

Via Urban Retro Lifestyle

Categories / Design and Interiors, eBay watch, Gadgets and Tech

eBay Watch: Welltron 2002 AM/FM radio

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Welltron_radio
More great futuristic design for sale on eBay – this time the Welltron 2002 AM/FM radio.

Just by looking at it, you’ll know it dates from around 1970, with a design inspired by a bowling ball (size, weight and carrying holes). Except this particular ball plays music – AM and FM radio through two built-in speakers, with sockets for extension speakers, a record deck, headphones and an FM antenna.

It’s currently at a tempting £16 – but with eight days to go as I write. it could get much, much higher.

See more images and the full details at the eBay website

Categories / Design and Interiors, eBay watch, Gadgets and Tech

eBay Watch: Philips Patrice Dupont space age record player

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Dupont
If you want to know what’s what in the world of 60s and 70s space age design, you need a copy of the L’Utopie Du Tout Plastique catalogue (we’ll have to feature that one day). If you have a copy, turn to page 123 and check out this Philips space age record player, designed by Patrice Dupont in 1969.

There’s one available on eBay right now, currently at a criminally cheap price. It’s a smart piece of design, incredibly eye-catching and perfect for 60s-styled home. The round record player is the size of an LP, can also play 45s and even has a battery compartment the size of a 45. There’s also a retractable handle and volume control wheel.

Seems to be on good condition and currently selling for a very cheap £31. If you’re after a stylish record player, seriously consider this one.

See the full listing on the eBay website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

An arcade Asteroids machine for your home

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Arcade_asteroids
Ever wonder what happened to all those vintage arcade machines you remember from your childhood? Well, I imagine most were scrapped for newer games, but some were saved and maintained – and now got for a hefty price. Rather like this Atari Asteroids arcade machine.

It’s just as you remember it, with the boldly-coloured casing, 19-inch screen and three-button control, with the option of a one or two player game. Granted you can play a version of Asteroids on just about every console and home PC ever made, but you can’t re-create that original arcade feel without the arcade machine.

But it comes at a price – £2895. Or if you fancy another arcade classic, there’s a range of other machines available, including Space Invaders, Galaxians and Pacman.

Find out more at the Wotever website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Music

7-inch single iPod cases – made from your own 45 record

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Record_ipod_1
A while back, we featured the 7-inch single iPod cases – as the name suggests, these were iPod cases made from old 7-inch records. There was a drawback though – the choice of records was a bit poor. But now things are different – you can use your own records.

Granted you’re not likely to send in that rare soul 45 that cost you £200, but if you see a scratched copy of something cool on eBay for a couple of quid, you can convert it to an iPod case.

As we said previously, the records are custom-fitted to an iPod, with the centre hold used around the click wheel. The cases retail for $45, with a custom case from your own record costing $7 more – plus the cost if your record.

Find out more from 45 iPod cases