Category: Gadgets and Tech

The portable 'suitcase' record player has grown up, with the Ion iPTUSB portable vinyl-archiving turntable offering both the looks and the option to convert your vinyl to MP3 easily.

It's an update, but still packs in the retro looks and of course, is primed for your old school vinyl. But it's also a modern piece of kit, powered by mains or battery, you can take the turntable anywhere, using the USB connector to hook up to a PC or Mac to transfer that vinyl to MP3 and/or your digital player. Or simply use it to play your vinyl, either through larger speakers or via the small built-in speaker.

See over the page for the turntable in 'suitcase' mode and if you like what you see, the Ion iPTUSB is available at Urban Outfitters for £90, complete with cartridge and stylus, 45RPM adapter, cables, slipmat and software for converting your files.

Find out more at the Urban Outfitters website

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This site loves its retro looking robots but there are good robots and there are evil robots. The Robo bank is a good robot, doubling up as an alarm clock and money bank. Its appealing chunky plastic body contains a panel displaying the date, time and day, while the arms wave and eyes flash when you approach it. To make saving a little bit more appealing it also counts your money for you and you can even set a target saving amount. 

So, a very good robot indeed. However, if you try and withdraw money from it too many times, a more evil side comes out and it may try and stop you!

It costs £25 from the Science Museum Shop

Ok, it's no iPhone, but you can be sure that the London Calling mobile phone will catch as many eyes when you take a call.

Yes, shaped like a classic (and now rarely-seen) K6 red telephone box, the London Calling phone has novelty appeal and covers all the phone basics too – with a TFT screen, SMS and MMS messaging, polyphonic ringtones and GPRS connectivity. Plenty to remind you of Britain too, including '15 iconic images' of the country and the likes of Rule Britannia and God Save The Queen amongst the pre-loaded ringtones.

Sold with travel charger, battery and start-up guide, it sells for £85.95.  More than your average PAYG phone, but this is no average handset – for better or worse.

Find out more at the Red Telephone Box website

Want to do something retro with your distinctly modern Apple iPhone? You could change it into a vintage scientific calculator, courtesy of this HP app.

For the calculator obsessives out there, you can change the touchscreen of your iphone into a HP 12c, HP 12c platinum or HP 15c scientific calculator, each one a replica in terms of both layout and functionality, so perfect for boffins wanting some old school cool. Also if you turn it around, you get the same calculator with a difference layout (vertical to horizontal), although that also means you can't type rude words by flipping it upside down.

Depending on your choice of calculator, prices range from $14.99 to $29.99.

HP website (via Design Boom)

Okay, the polaroid camera does still live on in various guises. But the original model continues to be commemorated in various ways, not least this ceramic called the Ghost Camera.