Tag Archives: telephone

This Rotary-Phone-Inspired Label Maker Is A Nostalgic Blast From The Past!

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I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciates the cuteness of small objects, there’s just something special about tiny objects, especially when they mimic bigger stuff. As amusing as the future seems, the retro charm is has a sense of warmth that most of us connect with on some level. Imagine the classic charm of an old-school telephone, but shrunken down and upgraded to handle your modern labeling needs. It’s a journey through time and creativity as one explores the adorable universe of this labeling machine. It’s a small package with a big dose of charm!

Designer: 102 Design Lab

The body of the labeling machine boasts a rounded design, reminiscent of the classic form of retro telephones. However, what truly sets this product apart is the incorporation of the iconic rotary dial as the switch design element. The rotating switch key serves as a metaphorical time tunnel, transporting users back to an era when telephones were more than just communication devices—they were symbols of nostalgia and romance.

As users rotate and slide their fingers across the switch key, a tangible connection to the past is established. The tactile experience evokes a sense of pleasure as if one is traversing through time and reliving the romanticized memories of bygone days. Each turn of the switch key becomes a delightful journey, immersing individuals in the soft embrace of a bygone era.

What adds to the appeal of the Vintage Phone Labeling Machine is its graceful color palette. Available in three distinct colors, the machine is not only a functional tool but also a stylish accessory that effortlessly complements any setting. The attention to detail in the design ensures that the labeling machine becomes a statement piece, blending seamlessly into both modern and vintage environments.

Despite its retro aesthetics, the labeling machine is not just about reliving the past—it also brings a touch of practicality to its users. Although seemingly limited to printing numbers on the telephone, the device excels in its simplicity and functionality. It manages to strike a perfect balance between form and function, offering users a unique and enjoyable experience without compromising on usability.

So if you’re looking for a cozy hug from the past in this contemporary tech world, this vintage phone labeling machine is for you! It’s a nod to the good old days when phones had that classic charm. This labeling machine isn’t just a tool; it’s a trip down memory lane. It lets you feel the nostalgia and romance of the days when phones were more than just devices – they were a whole experience.

 

The post This Rotary-Phone-Inspired Label Maker Is A Nostalgic Blast From The Past! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This LEGO rotary phone is one of the coolest builds I’ve seen. It even has a coiled receiver cable!

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With a dial that actually rotates like the real deal, this rotary phone MOC (My Own Creation) from the LEGO Ideas community is rather impressive. It also comes with brass detailing, a build that’s 1:1 to scale, and a receiver that you can actually pick up and talk into!

Made from 572 bricks, the LEGO Classic Phone comes from the mind of a LEGO master-builder who goes by the name of Brick Dangerous. Inspired by a Paramount Collector Classic Series brand, they decided to create a replica that could decorate any corner of the house, filling the void left behind by the landline phone that used to be a standard of every modern household before Y2K.

Designer: Brick Dangerous

With a stunning amount of detail, the LEGO Classic Telephone has all the bits and bobs you’d expect from its vintage counterpart. It comes with the rotating dial on the front as well as a hand-operated magneto crank on the side, which would alert operators when you were trying to make calls (this hand-crank would generate an alternating current which would cause the telephone bell to ring!)

In the case of this particular build, the bells (two of them) were located under the telephone. Alternating current would cause the striker to vigorously swing left and right, hitting both the bells consecutively to make the unmistakable ringing sound associated with old telephones. Brick Dangerous has done a pretty phenomenal job of replicating all the details, even down to the screws on the back which would allow you to open up the phone for servicing.

The most impressive bit, however, is the phone’s receiver, which can be lifted off its stand thanks to the signature coiled cable, made from LEGO’s ribbed hose bricks. Since everything’s built to scale, you can even hold this right up to your ear and pretend you’re talking to someone. Just don’t hang up too hard! Bakelite landline phones could take it – this one, not so much!!

The post This LEGO rotary phone is one of the coolest builds I’ve seen. It even has a coiled receiver cable! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This week in tech history: The birth of the internet and the first telephone call

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At Engadget, we spend every day looking at how technology will shape the future. But it's also important to look back at how far we've come -- that's what This Week in Tech History will do. Join us every weekend for a recap of historical tech news, a...

These Smart Rotary Phones have Alexa on the other line!

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Imagine it’s sometime in the 1940s. You’re alone at home and it’s snowed heavily. You crave some Frank Sinatra, but instead of going to your record player that’s in the opposite room, you lift up the receiver on your telephone and say “Hey Alexa, play me some Sinatra”. This magical Alexa accepts your command, and somewhere in your house, the radio starts playing some of Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits.

That obviously wouldn’t be possible in the 40s, but it is now. Grain Design’s vintage telephones aren’t, in fact, telephones, but are actually repurposed Echo devices. Lift off the receiver and you’ve got Alexa on the other line. Ask her about the weather, tell her to play music, or order in some food or groceries. Alexa listens and obeys. Put the receiver down and click, the command line is over and Alexa’s disconnected.

That’s the beauty of Grain Design’s telephones. Repurposed from actual vintage phone-pieces, the people at Grain Design very cleverly integrate Alexa into the device, so when you lift the receiver, you’re literally speaking to your virtual AI as if she’s on the other end of the line. When you do eventually hang up, the phone’s microphone gets fully disconnected, making sure that Alexa doesn’t listen in on you. This prevents accidental communications with your Amazon assistant by ensuring that, whenever the receiver is on its hook, your conversations are completely private. Each telephone (Grain Design has modified certain models) is bespoke, and rewired with its new hardware by hand. They’re also incredibly limited in numbers and cost quite a bit!

Designer: Grain Design

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Make your smartphone a conferencing wizard

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I guess times were just simpler when we had the landline telephone. Sure, they weren’t portable, but you wouldn’t have network problems, or battery problems, and they used to be such a dream to use! Now we have smartphones that are portable, and come with a rather advanced caller ID, but need to be periodically charged, have network issues, cost a fortune, and let’s not forget all those radio waves that pass through your head.

The NVX 200 is perfect for retaining the good qualities of the telephone, but allows you to use your existing smartphone just the same. Designed for offices that don’t want to rely on additional desk-phones, the NVX 200 is a state-of-the-art telephone hub that allows you to have a professional phone set-up in your office using your existing smartphone (or even a tablet). Resplendent in its receiver-and-twirly-cord glory, the NVX 200 works like a charm! Just connect your smartphone to it via Bluetooth as soon as you unbox it and you’re set for life. After that all you do is dock your phone in its slot and you have a brilliant landline phone that provides seamless service and crystal audio clarity for not just telephone calls, but even VOIP calls as well as video conferencing from third party apps like Skype, etc. The NVX 200 also works without docking the phone, as long as the phone is within 15 feet of the dock.

Perfect for every office-goer, the NVX turns your smartphone into the ideal desk-phone/conferencing-device with no hassle! Plus, doesn’t it feel better to have that mobile-phone away from your face??

Designer: Invoxia

BUY IT HERE: $187.99 $249.00

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Jolly Roger Telephone Co. Anti-telemarketer Robot: Fight Spam with Spam

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We’re all fed up with telemarketers and robocallers. For Roger Anderson, the last straw was when his young son was harassed by a telemarketer. This motivated him to create the Jolly Roger Telephone Company, software that wastes the caller’s time by responding to them with recorded dialogue.

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Initially, Roger screened the numbers that frequently called his phone and routed them to a disconnect message the next time they called. But he realized that the best way to get them to stop calling is to give them a taste of their own medicine, so he created the Jolly Roger Telephone Co.

Here’s one of the thousands of calls that Roger’s ‘bot intercepted:

You can listen to more demos on Roger’s YouTube account if that’s how you want to spend your time. Roger has been hosting the service for free, but it’s become so popular that he can’t keep up with the costs anymore. He’s set up a Kickstarter fundraiser to launch the Jolly Roger Telephone Co. as a subscription service. A pledge of at least $14 (USD) gets you a (mostly) telemarketer-free month.

[via Boing Boing]

Life-size Classic LEGO Gadgets: The Brix System

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Boutique PC maker Love Hultén is known for building computers inspired by 20th century furniture. But his latest masterpieces are based on toys, LEGO to be specific. Love’s The Brix System are wonderful 6:1 scale functioning replicas of LEGO gadgets from the ’70s and ’80s Space sets.

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The Brix System consists of two computers, a gamepad, a telephone, a mic, a speaker, a synthesizer/keyboard and an effects machine.

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The gadgets can be wired to each other and used as one unit e.g. the computer, the keyboard and the gamepad or the speaker and the keyboard. It sounds like a simple feature, but my younger self would have instantly turned into the world’s most behaved kid if it meant I could stack and wire and fiddle with these wooden machines. And I’d be the Pope by now. Pope LEGO I.

What a talented artist. Head to Love Hultén’s website for more on The Brix System.

[via Gizmodo]