Tag Archives: Retro-inspired designs

Top 10 Retro-Themed Gifts for Father’s Day That Will Take Your Dad Back to the 80s

Posted on by

There is truly something magical about retro-inspired designs, They manage to evoke a deep sense of nostalgia within us, taking us right back to the 80s. And you know who truly loves a good old retro-themed product? Our dads! Maybe because they were actually alive during the 80s, and they feel a sense of wholeness and comfort when they come across such thoughtful designs. With Father’s Day around the corner, you may want to take your dad on a trip down memory lane, by gifting him a cool retro-inspired product. And, we’ve curated a collection of such designs for you to pick from! Though these designs are wonderfully retro-esque, they have been imbibed with modern functionality. Their aesthetics may be from their past, but their utility is embedded in the future. Have a look!

1. NIXOID NEXT

Nixie designed this steampunk-inspired NIXIOD NEXT which incorporates Nixie tubes. The watch features rare Nixie VFD lamps which were discovered around 25 years ago. This unique design beautifully merges a healthy and fascinating mix of futurism and retro, by integrating retro tubes into the form of a modern wristwatch. It’s the perfect Father’s Day present for dads who love a nostalgic touch and want to show off their retro possessions on their wrists.

Why is it noteworthy?

The NIXIOD NEXT merges an accelerometer which lights up the VFD tubes when moved toward the user. The interesting tubes were found in a warehouse from the days of the USSR, making it a historic limited-edition collectible.

What we like

  • Equipped with charging points on the back, making it an easy charge
  • Features a scratch-resistant sapphire case

What we dislike

  • When the watch display changes from hours to minutes, there is a 1.5-second pause

2. Portable CD Cover Player

Called the Portable CD Cover Player, this minimalist CD player is designed to be a unique retro design that merges an exceptional listening experience with the beauty of visual art. You can slip the CD jacket or sleeve inside the specially designed-pocket, enabling you to display and showcase your favorite CD. It’s a great present for your dad, letting him boast his prized CDs from his youthful days, in his home!

Click Here to Buy Now: $199

Why is it noteworthy?

The Portable CD Cover Player is essentially the physical equivalent of showcasing digital album art, with the extra benefit of being able to showcase your physical original CD.

What we like

  • It is a portable product with a 40mm full-range speaker and woofer unit, allowing you to listen to your favorite music wherever you please
  • Features a 1,800mAh battery providing 7-8 hours of exceptional audio

What we dislike

  • It does not support syncing music with any digital medium, only an analog style of music-listening

3. ‘A for Ara’ Speakers

If your dad is a music lover, and someone who loves an occasional trip down memory lane, then you may want to consider gifting him these speakers this Father’s Day. Designed by ‘A for Ara’, and called the FS-1 and Fs-2 speakers, these retro-modern speakers feature an eclectic blend of design styles. They have an appeal to them which seems grand and larger-than-life, while also showcasing a nature-inspired theme.

Why is it noteworthy?

The retro-themed speakers have two visual parts – the basic unit, and the upper phonograph-inspired horn. The base unit holds the audio drivers and acoustic cabinet, while the horn has both visual and functional utility. The speakers literally look like massive morning glory flowers, which amplifies sound.

What we like

  • Merges audiophile-grade engineering and tuning with a mesmerizing avant-garde aesthetic

What we dislike

  • Bulky and space-consuming design, not suitable for homes with space constraints

4. Unfiltered Titanium Whisky Glass

Called the Unfiltered Titanium Whisky Glass, this glass is inspired by the range of metallic hues, and it recreates the fascinating light and color play. The result is a stunning visual experience for you with its 1 /f fluctuating pattern, reminiscent of phenomena like murmuring streams. The pure titanium body is not just a material, its a material that amplifies your drinking experience with its purity. The Whisky Glass is a classic piece, handcrafted by skilled Japanese artisans from Shizuoka, making for a wonderful retro-themed gift for your father, if he likes to enjoy a drink or two.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65.00

Why is it noteworthy?

It uses cutting-edge technology which forms a mesmerizing color play. The glass is highly biocompatible and safe, even more than platinum or gold. It is resistant to odors and stains and facilitates long-term hygiene.

What we like

  • It is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation
  • Utilizes advanced space development technology

What we dislike

  • Given that its a solid glass, we cannot look at the quantity being poured or the quantity in the glass from a distance.

5. The Ballast Pen

Pen gif 1

Promised to be unnecessarily heavy and gloriously over-engineered, this pen is one for the generations. As the name suggests, this pen draws inspiration from the ship’s ballast and is machined from solid brass. The result is a pen that is extremely smooth and heavy, weighing almost 50x more than the disposable alternatives. For father’s who love to collect and cherish heritage pieces, this one is for the ages.

Why is it noteworthy?

Writing with this pen is an exercise, requiring your entire hand. It’s inspiration, the ballad, is the essential yet unseen weight that steadies ships during their age of explorations. The ballast pen embodies this crucial weightiness and history in it’s design.

What we like

  • Machined from 100% solid brass
  • Every component of this pen is machined to within one-thousandth of an inch, delivering maximum smoothness

What we dislike

  • The pen is so outrageously heavy, it is not convenient for long periods of writing.

6. The AirFlow 8-Panel Fire Pit

Called the AirFlow 8-Panel Fire Pit, this modular 8-panel design is a portable sheet metal wonder designed for the outdoors. The unique firepit can be used to create a warm campfire in the winter, or as a high-temperature grilling pit to start up an amazing barbecue for a delicious outdoor meal. If your father enjoys camping or spending time outdoors, this one-of-a-kind firepit allows him to experience the joy of an outdoor fire with ease, so he can spend more time enjoying the campfire rather than fiddling with building it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $325

Why is it noteworthy?

The Fire Pit is the perfect lightweight fire-building gear for dads who love spending time outdoors, letting them swiftly build campfires without any trouble. It has a cinder within, which keeps the fire covered, ensuring no embers fall out.

What we like

  • You can disassemble it into various parts and carry it in a special carrying case
  • It can be easily assembled within a minute

What we dislike

  • The design weighs higher than about 6kgs, making it less portable than some of the designs available in the market.

7. Retroduck Q

Called the Retroduck Q, this little design provides fast wireless charging in the form of an aesthetically unique design, which looks like a retro-style television! It is designed to be a quick wireless charger that looks like an old TV but with a modern touch. The design is reminiscent and feels familiar, while also featuring proven technology. It is a handy little gadget to gift your dad on Father’s Day, ensuring his phone never runs out of juice.

Why is it noteworthy?

The original Retroduck was upgraded to form the RetroduckQ, and it features a retro-style smartphone dock, and an added smart wireless charging function. You cannot really compare it with any other wireless charger, it packs modern functionality with nostalgic design into one form.

What we like

  • A stylish and convenient way to fast charge your smartphone

What we dislike

  • Given it’s fixed size, it maybe difficult to accommodate the bigger phones comfortably.

8. LEGO Radio

For the father’s who enjoy tinkering with their own design and create something, this LEGO Radio gives them the best of both world’s. The set unfortunately cannot play your local radio station, but it can play the pre-recorded tunes it comes with. The dial can be turned, along with Spotify or Apple Music and comes with an extendable antenna and tuner window as well for those old world feels. After all, it’s never too late to play and rekindle your childhood again.

Why is it noteworthy?

The radio is actually functional, with a select tunes and Apple Music/Spotify support and comes with a colour palette that adds to overall nostalgic feel. Standing at 13 inches high, 9 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep, it is a model that you can tinker with as much as you want without any worry of spoiling the equipment.

What we like

  • Comes in vintage-inspired green and beige palette
  • You can plug your smartphone in a concealed compartment on the back panel and play your favourite music

What we dislike

  • We wish there was a transmitter inserted to actually play live radio stations when we want to!

9. The Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad

Called the Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad, this little product is inspired by the retro aesthetic of the tech from the 80s and 90s. It functions as an independent peripheral device that can be teamed up with its companion keyboard, or even used separately as an old-school calculator. It features a red and black seven-segment display which is pure retro-inspired beauty. If your dad works from home, then the Numpad will make for an exceptional addition to his WFH desk accessories!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Numpad is available in four different colors, each inspired by iconic gaming systems – the M edition, the Famicom edition, the C64 model, and the N edition. They are inspired by the design language of classic consoles, adding a pinch of retro charm to a desk setup.

What we like

  • Features a rechargeable 1000mAh Li-on battery that offers a solid 160 hours of use on a single charge

What we dislike

  • It may not match the overall aesthetic of their desk setup, unless we plan on upgrading your keyboard and mouse as well!

10. PENNA

If your father is someone who enjoys retro-inspired designs and works from home, then you may want to consider gifting him PENNA. PENNA is a wireless Bluetooth keyboard inspired by a typewriter. It is far from a normal keyboard – it features diamond or chrome keycaps, as well as a cherry key switch. It has a macro bar to save frequently used keys/words. Best of all, you can dock your tablet or phone in the keyboard for ease of use while typing on the go.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is amped with Bluetooth 4.2 with a low energy requirement which ensures long idle battery time. You can register up to 5 devices with the keyboard using Bluetooth. It supports all OS including Windows, Android, and iOS.

What we like

  • The perfect combination of nostalgic design and modern tech
  • Maintains up to 6 months of idle time with two AA-size batteries

What we dislike

  • The switch labeling on one side of the keyboard looks quite unappealing and isn’t very clear either

The post Top 10 Retro-Themed Gifts for Father’s Day That Will Take Your Dad Back to the 80s first appeared on Yanko Design.

DIY Game Boy arcade blows up classic titles with a giant screen, giant controls

Posted on by

We have seen no shortage of retro designs that try to recreate the glory of old product designs, especially in the gaming world. Many of these try to be as faithful as they can to the original, but some are content to add a few interesting twists like sticking to the spirit of the design and the experience. A Game Boy, for example, was one of the earliest handheld gaming devices to gain international fame, but that doesn’t mean it has to stick to that petite size today. In fact, this DIY retro project goes in the opposite direction and brings the green-tinted monochrome display of the OG Game Boy to an extra large arcade cabinet screen, complete with a joystick and buttons that could feel more satisfying to mash to quickly get through dialogues.

Designer: Shaun Campbell (didsomebodysayretro)

Compared even to its colorful successor, the original Game Boy felt a bit underwhelming. Despite that, it opened gamers of the past generations to a world of gaming that they can take anywhere with them. In addition to special features that allowed them to link up with other Game Boy devices, the gaming handheld embodied a kind of freedom that was revolutionary in an age of home consoles. It’s almost ironic, then, that the WoodBoy project removes that portable design but exchanges it with another of the Game Boy’s popular traits: pure gaming fun.

In a nutshell, WoodBoy shoves the original Game Boy, not the Game Boy Color, into a handmade wooden arcade cabinet. This gives it a much larger screen than the minuscule 2.5-inch screen of the handheld original, something a bit better for today’s more discerning eyes. In fact, everything about the arcade is an upscaled version of the Game Boy, redefined for, well, arcade play. Instead of a gigantic D-pad, for example, you get a more satisfying joystick for directional control.

Curiously, WoodBoy eschews the traditional 2×2 button arrangement you might find on most arcades for two red buttons at the top and two black buttons on the front edge of the cabinet. This mimics the separation of the A, B, Start, and Select buttons on the Game Boy and minimizes the potential for confusion or erroneous presses. At the same time, however, that might make it harder to hit pause quickly with either of your hands if it has to travel to the front.

What makes WoodBoy different from many DIY retro projects is that it runs actual original Game Boy cartridges rather than using emulation. It utilizes a kit that mods the original Game Boy device into a console, making it compatible with authentic cartridges and games. That, of course, makes it dependent on owning said cartridges, but WoodBoy is definitely a collector’s product anyway.

The post DIY Game Boy arcade blows up classic titles with a giant screen, giant controls first appeared on Yanko Design.

8bitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard turns an old iconic console design into a fun-looking keyboard

Posted on by

When you talk about video games, most people will probably think of game controllers immediately, even if a large chunk of these aren’t played that way. Even disregarding mobile games that only use touch screens, many are actually played with good, “old-fashioned” keyboard and mouse. There are, of course, keyboards made for gaming, with noisy mechanical switches and bright RBG lights, but most of these are designed to match the aesthetics of most computers, which is to say they almost always come in black, a few in off-white. Nothing screams “gaming,” however, more than a keyboard that’s designed to look like a gaming console. Ever the masters of making old things new, 8bitDo is coming out with its very first keyboard, one that pays homage to a gaming classic in an endearing and tasteful way.

Designer: 8bitDo

8bitDo is a brand best known for its multitude of game controllers catering not just to console owners but also to PC gamers. Although many of these look like your typical gamepads, the company has a penchant for applying the design language of past gaming controllers to present products, giving an ode to the rich history of video games. Its portfolio, however, has been growing recently to cover other accessories and gadgets, including a wireless charging pad, a wireless speaker, and a computer mouse. For the first time, it’s dipping its toes into keyboard territory, and what better way to start that venture than with one of the most iconic consoles in history?

Launched in the 80s, the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES, which was called the Family Computer or Famicom in Japan, kickstarted Nintendo’s own journey from making playing cards to the gaming giant it is today. Although it is hardly the first home gaming console to be launched to the masses, it is one of the few to have gained worldwide acclaim to the point of being an icon. The new 8bitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard pays tribute to this landmark gaming device but does more than just get a paint job to match the gray or red themes of the NES and Famicom, respectively.

The retro keyboard is filled to the brim with details that will really give you that old-school vibe, from the fonts used on the keycaps to the analogy dials for volume and for switching between Bluetooth or Wireless modes. There’s even a classic power light that thankfully uses a more modern LED. The package also includes two giant programmable red buttons in the style of the A and B buttons of the original NES controller. You can connect up to four of these pairs via a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a pretty old-school connector by now.

As for the keyboard itself, it’s a tenkeyless keyboard, which means you don’t get a numeric keypad on the side. Like with many mechanical keyboards, you have the option to change not only the keycaps but even the switches to your liking. It can connect via Bluetooth, the included wireless RF receiver, or a USB cable. Unlike most gaming keyboards, however, there is no backlighting at all. The 8bitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard costs $99.99 and will ship starting in September. If you really dig the NES motif, you might be tempted to also grab the brand’s N30 wireless mouse which was also inspired by the classic console.

The post 8bitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard turns an old iconic console design into a fun-looking keyboard first appeared on Yanko Design.

This seemingly real cassette tape is actually a fun power bank in disguise

Posted on by

Power banks or portable batteries are a common part of modern life. While our devices are continually getting more powerful, the batteries inside them haven’t exactly evolved at the same pace. Faster charging and power banks are our stopgap measures until batteries become a lot better without increasing their sizes. Thanks to this situation, the market for portable batteries has grown and thrived, offering people a dizzying number of choices ranging in size, capacity, and features. Of course, there are also different designs as well, but the majority of power banks seem to come in elegant yet drab shades of white, black, and gray. From time to time, however, we do come upon a distinctive-looking design, such as this rather cute power bank that emulates the look of an old-school cassette tape almost perfectly.

Designer: Remax

OK, it isn’t a completely faithful rendition of the well-known medium. It’s rather thick, closer to a Video 8 than a cassette tape, but the markings are all in the right places. Naturally, there are no reels to turn, which would have required a more complex internal design that would make it more inefficient as a portable battery. Accurate imitation shouldn’t get in the way of functionality, especially for a critical accessory such as this.

Regardless of those minor drawbacks, the Remax Powerbank Tape still packs quite a punch when it comes to visual appeal and “wow” factor. Whether it’s the yellow original, the Apple Lightning-equipped red variant, or the new green and yellow update, the cassette tape battery is sure to catch people’s attention, especially once you take it out and plug it into your phone. It even has a transparent case just to complete the illusion of an old-school product.

The Remax Powerbank Tape isn’t lacking in features either, at least on paper. The original model supports both the old micro USB connector and USB-C for input, while only the red has support for Apple Lightning to charge the power bank itself. The newer 2023 model sets itself apart by including two pull-out USB-C cables for output. There’s an assortment of other ports, though, including full-sized USB-A, and in some cases, a small LED flashlight. The location of the ports also depends on which model you buy, and there can be different options, depending on where you’re looking.

That said, you might have second thoughts about investing in this rather adorable blast from the past. Availability is a hit or miss, and you can’t exactly be assured of the quality when it comes to online retailers. There are also some inconsistencies with the specs, like the actual rated capacity of the battery versus its advertised capacity. Given its low average selling price, though, it still makes for an interesting gift, like those short-lived power banks some people give away at events.

The post This seemingly real cassette tape is actually a fun power bank in disguise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Retro-inspired nixie display with custom features lets you see the time, weather, stock prices, or your TikTok followers

Posted on by

Designed for people who simultaneously love living in the 80s and the 2020s…

Culture is cyclical. It’s 2023 but retro music is trending again, vintage designs and themes are making a re-emergence (just look at the new Burberry logo)… and even though our tech is futuristic, it has a significant retro flavor with companies looking to harness the power of nostalgia in their new products. Minimalism is dead, retro is cool, and the Nextube is totally riding that wave. Designed as a vintage-inspired tabletop display, the Nextube comes with 6 nixie tube-like screens docked within a wooden base. It wears its steampunk aesthetic on its sleeve but comes with modern tech under its hood. The six mini displays look like Nixie tubes, but are, in fact, LED screens that can be customized to showcase anything from the time to the weather, music visualizations, crypto prices, or even a subscriber count for your YouTube or TikTok page.

Designer: James Wong of Rotrics

Click Here to Buy Now: $148 $188 (21% OFF) Hurry! Limited time offer

The 1970s and 1980s were far from minimalist. The music was loud, the fashion was bright, cyber-synthwave was popular, and one could argue that it was in this very era that technology first flourished. Nixie tubes were somewhat the predominant display type of this era, turning them from tech components into symbols of pop culture. Sadly, nixie tubes fell out of favor in the 90s as technology advanced (along with the fact that a bulk of nixie tubes were made in the USSR, which fell into disarray around the time). Designed, however, as a cultural throwback, the Nextube celebrates its ancestor in a wonderfully whimsical way. A portmanteau of ‘Next’ and ‘Nixie Tube’, the Nextube uses a set of mini LED displays encased in vacuum glass tubes. Complete with a neat walnut wood base and brass trims, the Nextube looks like a steampunk gizmo from an 80s laboratory on your desk. It comes with the signature Nixie tube-inspired font too, although it offers a few other retro-style fonts and themes to choose from, giving you custom control over your tabletop display.

The Nextube’s bank of fonts and styles lets it be the display you want it to be

The six individual displays create a unique constraint that’s fun to work with. You can view the time, date, weather, and a wide variety of data-points on the Nextube in a way that’s charmingly vintage. Each tube does a remarkable job of looking rather close to actual Nixie tubes (with a matching glowing typeface too), while consuming a mere 5V of electricity as opposed to the 12V that regular Nixie tubes consume. The LED displays are rated to last for 100,000 hours too, compared to the 5,000 hours that most Nixie tubes last.

View weather details at a glance

Track your YouTube subscriber count

Or view your online shop’s PayPal balance in real-time

Or even let the Nextube be your reliable time manager

The Nextube’s open-source firmware means you can customize it to display anything from inspirational quotes to calendar alerts, email notifications, or even miniature images from your camera roll. Three small buttons (sitting flush against the wooden body) let you toggle between the Nextube’s various functions, while the device itself can be connected to your laptop/desktop to fine-tune how your Nextube device behaves and what metrics it displays.

The Nextube’s six display units are also accompanied by RGB LEDs located on their rear, which create an ambient backlight that can be customized to suit your needs. Each Nextube also comes with a built-in spectral analyzer that responds to music, turning your retro display into a Winamp-style visualizer that responds to music in real-time!

The Nextube allows you to access a whole slew of built-in functions, or even tinker with its companion software Nextube Studio to create your own custom styles and preview them on the device, or even share them with the Nextube community.

Occupying 7 inches in width and standing just under 2.4 inches in height, the Nextube makes for a perfect compact accessory to any worktable. It comes with a walnut wood base, brass trimmings, and 6 LED displays that sit under their own individual glass tubes. The Nextube doesn’t have a battery of its own but comes with a USB-C port that lets you plug it into your power strip or directly into a port on your laptop/desktop/multiport hub. It works offline, providing basic functions like the clock, timer, or music visualizer, and can even connect to 2.4GHz WiFi networks to access metrics like the weather, your camera roll, or even stock prices and follower counts from various social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.

A perfect tabletop accessory for any tech enthusiast, the Nextube starts at $148 with global shipping and a 1-year warranty.

Click Here to Buy Now: $148 $188 (21% OFF) Hurry! Limited time offer

The post Retro-inspired nixie display with custom features lets you see the time, weather, stock prices, or your TikTok followers first appeared on Yanko Design.

These retro-inspired modern speakers are perfect for the vinyl-loving audiophile

Posted on by

Founded by Etsy co-founder Robert Kalin and NASA engineer William Cowan, audio brand ‘A for Ara’ hopes to be the very antithesis of the modern-day hi-tech smart speaker. While smart speakers are designed ultimately for music, they take the joy and the ritualistic nature out of music listening and appreciation, which is where A for Ara comes in. The audio company hopes to takes us back to simpler times with their retro-modern speakers that use an eclectic blend of design styles as well as old and modern fabrication techniques. The word ‘Ara’ stands for Altar in Latin, giving the speaker the reverence it deserves. For now, A for Ara has two speakers under its product umbrella – the FS-1 and FS-2. Both speakers have a larger-than-life appeal to them, and have a nature-inspired whimsical design. The speakers can broadly be split into their two visual parts, the base unit, which houses the audio drivers and the acoustic cabinet, and the upper phonograph-inspired horn which serves both visual and functional purposes. Visually, it resembles a large morning glory flower, while acoustically it helps amplify sounds and channel them in a particular direction.

Designer: A for Ara

“We have lost our rituals of listening, and we need them back,” say Robert and William, who run their studio and workshop on 100 acres of farmland up in the Catskills. The speakers they produce are an audiovisual treat, combining audiophile-grade engineering and tuning, and a design that just delights with its avant-garde appeal. What’s really beautiful about the FS-1 and FS-2 speakers is that they have a sort of timeless beauty about them. They aren’t too cutting edge, there aren’t any LEDs anywhere and you can’t see any metallic details on the product. However, they aren’t boring and vintage either. They fill you with joy the same way seeing an orchard of flowers does, and the audio that plays through them is pleasantly surprising too.

Both the FS-1 and FS2 stand at a staggering 54″ in height and have a presence that feels visually commanding enough to become the center of attention in any room. While the FS-1 features a more slender horn connected to a geometric base, the FS-2 has much more of a visual flair, with a boxier base cabinet that sports an abstract leaf-inspired pattern. The former features a horn-loaded coaxial driver, passively crossed to a front-firing, long-throw 13” woofer, while the latter has the same horn-loaded coaxial driver crossed to a trio of front-firing, long-throw 12” woofers in an H-frame.

The post These retro-inspired modern speakers are perfect for the vinyl-loving audiophile first appeared on Yanko Design.

This funky retro-futuristic computer is actually a laptop in disguise

Posted on by

You can actually use this rather fancy computer that looks like a TV prop, but whether it’s usable is a different question entirely.

We’ve seen a lot of makers, tinkerers, engineers, and even designers take a stab at making their own personal computers, with an emphasis on “personal.” Thanks to the availability of off-the-shelf parts for computers and the ubiquity of 3D printing, it has become easier but still not trivial to bring some of those dream designs and visions to life. Many of the DIY computer projects we’ve seen, while admirable, often fall short of looking ready for use or having enough power to actually be useful. That is what sets this “Mainboard Terminal” apart from the crowd for not only looking quite striking but also for having the literal guts of a modern laptop.

Designer: Penk Chen

The majority of projects we see that involve crafting your own computer often involve the Raspberry Pi or one of its cousins. These are small, low-power single-board computers or SBCs that are very easy on the pocket, making them a crowd favorite. The catch is that they don’t exactly have enough muscle to run most computing tasks, let alone something as heavy as Windows, not unless you’re an experienced Linux user that can get by with very minimal computing resources.

The RPi, as it is lovingly nicknamed, isn’t the only game in town, of course, and there are other SBCs out there that take things up a notch in terms of performance and software support, but the newest addition to that roster really changes the game. Although it’s primarily meant to repair or upgrade the world’s most modular and most repairable laptop, the Framework Mainboard can also be used as a standalone computer if you have the right parts to make it work. The catch? Prices start at $399 versus a Raspberry Pi’s humble $35.

Needless to say, hacker and modder extraordinaire Penk Chen took advantage of that openness to craft another out of this world computer. The same engineer introduced the world to his Penkesu pocket computer, ala a cyberdeck, and is now taking inspiration from a different genre. The off-white colorway, the chunky keycaps, and the curved silhouette will make it look at home on a retropunk TV set.

It’s not all looks, of course, because it has the beating heart of a typical laptop. It can run any operating system in theory, though its creator went with the free (as in speech) and open source Ubuntu Linux distribution for simplicity. As with his other projects, Chen provides the list of parts used as well as the files for 3D printing that oddly-shaped chassis. Most of these parts can be bought from online retailers, but, as usual, you’ll need access to a 3D printer one way or another.

The biggest strike against this otherwise usable computer is the 5-inch 1080×1080 round LCD screen. In addition to being smaller than your smartphone’s display, the square aspect ratio doesn’t work well with content and software that were designed with a rectangular screen in mind. Plus, the circular display means that parts of the screen will be cut off all the time. It’s a case of form over function, but since it’s a “normal” computer, it’s probably possible to design an external port that will connect to a second, more “normal” monitor as well.

The post This funky retro-futuristic computer is actually a laptop in disguise first appeared on Yanko Design.

Retro-inspired home gadgets designed with modern functionality to take you on a trip down memory lane!

Posted on by

There’s something about all things retro that I simply cannot resist! I love products that evoke a deep sense of nostalgia within us and take us right back to the 80s. As innovative and futuristic gadgets are today, sometimes you just feel like escaping from all the modernism and immersing yourself in the simplicity of the past. To help you experience this, we’ve curated a collection of retro-inspired gadgets that promise to take you on a trip down memory lane, and they’re designed especially for your home! From a Nixie tube tabletop clock to a retro-inspired minimal radio – this collection of gadgets are the perfect little retro additions to your living space! Though these gadgets are wonderfully retro-esque, they have been imbibed with modern functionality. Their aesthetics may be from their past, but their utility is embedded in the future. Enjoy!

The Nextube is a product of that cultural throwback but relies on today’s tech. It mimics the raw, retro appeal of nixie tubes, but given how rare these tubes are (since they stopped production in the 90s), the Nextube uses a clever set of mini LED displays encased in vacuum glass tubes. Complete with a neat walnut wood base and brass trims, the Nextube looks like something from an 80s laboratory on your desk. The steampunk gadget comes with 6 individual displays that tell the time as well as the weather, in that gloriously vintage nixie-inspired glowing font. Its primary function is that of a tabletop clock and alarm, however, the 6 mini displays can be programmed to display practically anything, from the weather to your YouTube subscriber count, the price of your favorite cryptocurrency, or even a countdown clock for a pre-set date/time.

Meet RMV – a turntable designed to blend the retro and modern vibe, hence the initials! By combining the past turntable and modern technology, RMV brings the past and the present together in a naturally harmonious manner. This design allows people to feel both analog and digital sensibilities unique to the turntable. It lets you enjoy listening to music using mobile phones, headsets, and speakers via Bluetooth. RMV is not heavier than traditional turntable in form and each CMF detail has been carefully picked to make sure it suits pretty much every interior setup. Its aesthetic pursues spatiality and morphological sophistication with minimal design.

Dadaism J’s desk heater wears a glossy, retro finish and takes a vertical, cylindrical shape to easily fit onto any desk in any office. Dadaism J’s portable Desk Heater is a wired appliance that works in a similar fashion to traditional space heaters, by simply plugging the Desk Heater’s cord into the wall, the appliance disperses warm air into the room. Embedded inside Desk Heater’s main compartment, heat coils convert the electrical energy into heat, sending it through the heater’s diagonal plastic grating. Throughout Desk Heater’s build, minimalist accents like the grating give the appliance a finished look. Desk Heater echoes the design language of retro ‘50s home appliances through its slick, glossy finish, but packs the heat with an intuitive control panel fit for today.

Riding on the retro-wave is Retio, an all-in-one retro radio, Bluetooth speaker, and clock that comes with a simple, sophisticated, steampunk-inspired design. Handcrafted in California, the Retio comes with a Walnut wood body surrounded by a brass accent, a fabric frontal clad, beautifully knurled brass knobs, and the Retio’s pièce de résistance, a display crafted from four genuine vintage Nixie tubes! A portmanteau of the words Retro and Radio, Retio focuses on the sheer beauty of artifacts from the decades gone by. It harks back to a simpler time but showcases the incredibly complex 70-year old nixie-tube technology that remains equally captivating even today. The tubes are genuine vintages, having been built more than 30 years ago but preserved in mint condition.

The new JBL SA750 takes me back to my childhood home’s downstairs audio system, coated in aluminum with teak wood veneer side paneling and stainless steel, sheathed control knobs for sensitive tuning. JBL’s SA750 offers a mellowed upgrade from the audio giant’s amplifiers of the 60s and 70s. With most of the front panel on the SA750 maintaining the original interface of dials and knobs from the late 20th century 600 and 660 SA models, some key differences were made, however, in order to accommodate modern-day technology. Doubling the SA600’s single audio jack for two, one for headphones and one for an aux cord, the new JBL SA750 offers options for both solo and group listening. The new hi-fi amp is also geared for Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, or UPnP connectivity and can transition between MC and MM to generate the signal for users hoping to plug in their pre-amp.

The Baseus Personal Refridgerator concept by Jiujiu Hu certainly falls in the aesthetic category but that doesn’t stop us from loving it any lesser! With a form factor that merges an almost android design with that of a retro TV, this portable personal refrigerator is here to serve us, literally. The heat of summer is upon us, anything that is cold or chilled is in demand. This cute robot-like design with its shiny reflective surface (truly it only needs big eyes to make us fall in love even more) and its leather strap is a way cooler alternative to the old-school icebox or coolers we lug around everywhere (can you imagine how much cooler Netflix and chill would be with this by your side?).

There is this thing about vinyl, only someone who owns a collection – big or small – would know. Yes, the glorious sound is one of them and you would agree to that, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. It is actually the overall experience with these fragile records that you just cannot have enough of. If you know what we mean, you would be anything but lured by the fine lines and details of this luxurious gramophone. You’d be yearning for one to play your collection! Designed by Moiless, a studio that believes designing is like writing a novel – it’s about telling a story and expressing feelings. The atelier thrives on designing and manufacturing emotional items and their record player does just that for fanatics who cherish the conventional way to replay the sound of music. Featuring a seamless design it comes integrated into a wooden rack, which houses a speaker system right under the player, and has an opening to stack your vinyl collection below.

The Split Drum washing machine has three separate sections, so you can wash all your supposedly “un-mixable” clothes in one load. The boards are also removable for additional flexibility. After all, not everyone has an equal ratio of dark, light, and white clothing in their closet. In addition to solving an issue that has inconvenienced young adults for years, the Split Drum is very pleasing to look at. The white color and the gold accents give the machine a bright yet retro-inspired feel that I think fits the personality of many young professionals. The Split Drum is not an appliance that will be hidden away in a basement – because what young 20-something can afford a two-floor apartment?

Featuring an adorable square shape, the R1 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio carries a very retro-esque charm, however, its functionality is deeply rooted in the present. Equipped with the latest OLED display, the display showcases the song you’re listening to, the time, and any alarm details you may have set. No matter which angle you may view it from, the display is always legible, retaining its readability from every position. The brightness can be adjusted according to your needs. What makes the stereo even more interesting is its RotoDial controller! Radios usually tend to be accompanied by a bunch of dials and knobs, however, Ruark Audio’s trademark RotoDial eliminates the need for multiple buttons, allowing easy access and control of the radio.

Designer Jieun Jeong hit the nail on the head with the YouTube Radio concept. I’m interested in the categories and the channels, and the randomness of the picks that YT intuitively plays out for me. And this is one of the key functionalities of this concept. Envisioned as an analog radio, the YouTube Radio provides an interface that delivers content through sound. Taking inspiration from the YT icon as well as the TV and radio sets from the 70s and 80s, we have a device that features a radio, dial, pen, buttons, and a holder.

Retro-inspired product designs with modern functionality to take you on a trip down memory lane!

Posted on by

There’s something about all things retro that I simply cannot resist! I love product designs that evoke a deep sense of nostalgia within us and take us right back to the 80s. As innovative and futuristic products are today, sometimes you just feel like escaping from all the modernism and immersing yourself in the simplicity of the past. To help you experience this, we’ve curated a collection of retro-inspired products that promise to take you on a trip down memory lane. Though these products are wonderfully retro-esque, they have been imbibed with modern functionality. Their aesthetics may be from their past, but their utility is embedded in the future. Enjoy!

Riding on the retro-wave is Retio, an all-in-one retro radio, Bluetooth speaker, and clock that comes with a simple, sophisticated, steampunk-inspired design. Handcrafted in California, the Retio comes with a Walnut wood body surrounded by a brass accent, a fabric frontal clad, beautifully knurled brass knobs, and the Retio’s pièce de résistance, a display crafted from four genuine vintage Nixie tubes! A portmanteau of the words Retro and Radio, Retio focuses on the sheer beauty of artifacts from the decades gone by. It harks back to a simpler time but showcases the incredibly complex 70-year old nixie-tube technology that remains equally captivating even today. The tubes are genuine vintages, having been built more than 30 years ago but preserved in mint condition.

Rafael Rubio’s wood-e is a gaming console created from, well, wood! It’s an emulation system based on Raspberry (though other electronics and systems can be fitted in), which basically means its software has been programmed to operate and behave like the hardware of an older video game system. Inspired by the Nintendo tabletop arcade machines of the ’80s, Rubio wanted to bring back the style of some of the older video games. However, he wanted to create a design that would withstand the passage of time and could be easily maintained and repaired. Machine CNC-milled wood was his choice of material. Boasting a strong wooden structure, the console features bright red arcade-style buttons and a traditional joystick that evokes nostalgia! However, the red buttons are neutralized by the matte black and warm wood elements, creating a design that could double up as a decorative piece in your home.

Designed specifically for racing, the Helvezzia Tipo-6 seats just one person with a pretty advanced-looking dashboard featuring a steering wheel with gauges and switches, and a secondary set of gauges behind the steering. The car comes with a nice, tubular body, an open cockpit, and wheels that pop out of the bodywork, with hubcaps covering the rims entirely. There’s even a step knee located to the left of the driver, headlamps with their own covers too, and by far my favorite detail, that ridiculously beautiful chrome grille on the front, added purely for vanity purposes because an EV wouldn’t really need a radiator. Finally, the Helvezzia Tipo-6 caps off with a chrome rear, giving the entire car quite a unique retro-meets-modern vibe from front to back!

Nixon’s Dork Too Smart Ass Watch is as its name suggests a dorky watch with an eccentric smart ass personality! Inspired by the 1980’s answering machine, the watch yells out the time, as your answering machine once recited out your messages to you. The 34mm perforated stainless steel case comes with a center button, press it and have the time yelled out to you! Retro and modernity meet in this geek-chic watch, with a custom digital LCD that displays the time, date, and any alarm you may have set. An EL backlight helps light your way whenever you’re fumbling in the dark. Simply plug the Dork Too into a USB to charge it efficiently, whenever its battery runs low.

There is this thing about vinyl, only someone who owns a collection – big or small – would know. Yes, the glorious sound is one of them and you would agree to that, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. It is actually the overall experience with these fragile records that you just cannot have enough of. If you know what we mean, you would be anything but lured by the fine lines and details of this luxurious gramophone. You’d be yearning for one to play your collection! Designed by Moiless, a studio that believes designing is like writing a novel – it’s about telling a story and expressing feelings. The atelier thrives on designing and manufacturing emotional items and their record player does just that for fanatics who cherish the conventional way to replay the sound of music. Featuring a seamless design it comes integrated into a wooden rack, which houses a speaker system right under the player, and has an opening to stack your vinyl collection below.

The Mutrics GB-30 is a pretty great combination of fashion and function… and that’s always what you want with consumer electronics. Take the AirPods for instance. They’re a style statement, and people who use them would argue they’re some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. Following that design mantra is the Mutrics GB-30, a pair of retro-chic glasses with bone-conduction earphones built into them, inspired heavily (and even named after) the GameBoy – a design theme chosen specifically for the GB-30’s core demographic. Gamers. Outwardly, the Mutrics GB-30 is a pair of really cool, chunky, vintage-gaming-inspired glasses. On the inside, however, the sleek glasses are fitted with open-ear audio drivers or bone-conducting earphones that provide a private audio-listening experience, especially for gamers, without the need for a cumbersome pair of gaming headphones.

The Baseus Personal Refridgerator concept by Jiujiu Hu certainly falls in the aesthetic category but that doesn’t stop us from loving it any lesser! With a form factor that merges an almost android design with that of a retro TV, this portable personal refrigerator is here to serve us, literally. The heat of summer is upon us, anything that is cold or chilled is in demand. This cute robot-like design with its shiny reflective surface (truly it only needs big eyes to make us fall in love even more) and its leather strap is a way cooler alternative to the old-school icebox or coolers we lug around everywhere (can you imagine how much cooler Netflix and chill would be with this by your side?).

The Split Drum washing machine has three separate sections, so you can wash all your supposedly “un-mixable” clothes in one load. The boards are also removable for additional flexibility. After all, not everyone has an equal ratio of dark, light, and white clothing in their closet. In addition to solving an issue that has inconvenienced young adults for years, the Split Drum is very pleasing to look at. The white color and the gold accents give the machine a bright yet retro-inspired feel that I think fits the personality of many young professionals. The Split Drum is not an appliance that will be hidden away in a basement – because what young 20-something can afford a two-floor apartment?

At a glance, the Instax Mini 40 doesn’t look like the kind of camera you’d see in 2021. Although, given how we’re in an era of retro throwbacks, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 might have just nailed the retro-wave trend! With its black, boxy avatar, metallic accents, and that faux-leather texture that’s practically emblematic of vintage cameras, the Instax Mini 40 really takes us back to simpler times. At its heart, the Instax Mini 40 is a pretty simple gadget. Unlike most cameras that come inundated with features, controls, and abilities to post stuff on social media, the Instax Mini 40 focuses more on having a very simplified UX… so all you need to really do is compose your shot, hit the button, and watch as your photo develops. The camera takes care of the rest, triggering the flash, auto-exposing the shot, and printing out your image with slightly soft details and high contrast – just as you would expect with any Polaroid shot.

In an era of modern innovations and upgrades, BrandNewNoise has come up with a wooden voice recorder that looks like it’s straight out of the 70s! Loopy Lou is a retro voice recorder that has been handcrafted from sustainable wood in Brooklyn, New York. The eccentric recorder can record only 30 seconds of audio, owing to its built-in microphone. With two little turntables for eyes, a round silver knob for pitch control, a loop switch, and a 1/8th output, it’s a completely analog experience of recording and warping audio. The red record button on the left allows you to record audio, whereas toggling the switch lets you play back and continuously play your recording. The pitch control knob allows you to play around and warp the audio, creating quirky noises you would only expect aliens to make! The black button lets you stop and hear your recording.