Categories / Design and Interiors, Gadgets and Tech

Sonic Chair – the Ball Chair with built-in speakers

Sonic_chair

Eero Aarnio’s Ball Chair has been turning heads since 1962 – a design so forward-looking that it’s been pointless trying to update it. Until now – with the introduction of the Sonic Chair.

The Sonic Chair is the Ball Chair with sound. It has input jacks so you can wire up your portable (or fixed) player of choice, playing music through the satellite speakers placed all over the inside of the structure (even in the seat and backrest). And once you’re inside listening to your music, the structure acts as acoustic insulation, protecting you from outside sounds and background noise.

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Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Toys and Games

Nintendo NES Controller Wallet

Nintendo_wallet
One for the gaming geeks and in particular retro gaming geeks – the Nintendo NES Controller Wallet.

A description isn’t really necessary – this is a canvas wallet with a replica image of an original Nintendo controller sewn on the front, there’s not much else to say.

However, I will mention that it’s officially licensed, it has pockets for credit cards and photo ID and costs just $10 (just over £5). And if you bought the Nintendo NES Power Mints, the Nintendo NES alarm clock or the Nintendo Mushroom Scarf, this is definitely for you.

Find out more at the 80s Tees website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech, Music

AMI H 200 – reconditioned 1957 vinyl jukebox

Vintage_jukebox
For many of us vinyl collectors, the idea of a vinyl jukebox in the corner of a room seems very appealing. You can buy them online – but at a price.

The 1957 AMI H 200 is fully restored to its original glory. Top of the range, it plays 200 selections (100x 45rpm singles) and just as importantly, it oozes style. The downside? The £9,900 price tag.

If that’s a bit rich, The Games Room Company has a range of reconditioned jukeboxes available, with prices starting from around £750.

Find out more at  The Games Room Company website

Categories / eBay watch, Gadgets and Tech

eBay Watch: Bang and Olufsen Beolit 707 radio

Beolit707
For those of that can’t afford the latest Bang and Olufsen appliances, it’s good to know there’s such a vibrant secondhand market, particularly on eBay. In fact, some of the older products have more character than the modern minimalist designs, including the Bang and Olufsen Beolit 707 radio.

Designed by Jacob Jensen and in production between 1975 and 1981, it’s a really sharp-looking slimline radio. And better still from a design point, it came in a range of bold colours. It’s mains or battery powered, has three bands (FM, long and medium) and bass, treble and volume control.

And being B&O, it has the build and sound quality (especially if serviced), looking and sounding as good as the day they first hit the shelves. The model here is up for around £80, which is roughly the price these are currently selling for.

See the full details of this Bang and Olufsen Beolit 707 radio

Categories / Bags, Gadgets and Tech

Lifepod Rocksteady retro iPod speaker bag

Rocksteady_bags

Old school looks meets new-style technology with the Lifepod Rocksteady retro iPod speaker bag.

It’s very much the vintage holdall, in a range of colour schemes – and has all the space you’d expect from a medium-sized bag. But this bag has one big difference from other retro holdalls – it houses a speaker system. Just plug in your iPod or MP3 player using the supplied cables and play your tunes through the 3w sound system.

You can buy the bags online, priced at $130 (around £70).

Find out more at the Lifepod website

Categories / Gadgets and Tech

Fred-O-Vision retro TV alarm clock

Fredovision
Pure novelty, but not without appeal is the Fred-O-Vision retro TV alarm clock.

It’s based on an old portable TV, showing the time through an old test screen display, with all the settings controlled by TV-style buttons. It’s also an alarm clock, playing old game show jingles (US ones I imagine) and a mood light.

And of course, it has a TV-style remote to control everything. Sized around 4 inches x 3 inches, you can pick it up for $24.99 (around £13).

Find out more at the Perpetual Kid website