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Awesome Retro

Killing in the Name of Sonic

Killing in the Name of Sonic

Now you do what Robotnik told ya. Chiptune musician fxsnowy took Rage Against the Machine’s track Killing in the Name and programmed it to play with the 16-bit sounds of the SEGA Genesis game console. It’s time for Sonic and Tails to rise up and take the power back.

Floppy Disk Factory

Floppy Disk Factory

It’s been a long time since we needed floppy disks to store data. But we still enjoyed watching this retro factory video posted by StirlingEngineering, which shows how they used to produce 3.5″ floppies. It’s a satisfying 5-minutes sequence of mechanical ear candy.

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Chicken McNuggets Training Video

Chicken McNuggets Training Video

There was lots to love about the 1980s, like Max Headroom, VHS tape boxes, and this McDonald’s training video, created to familiarize the crew with Chicken McNuggets and their sauces. What we got was a hilariously surreal short film with googly-eyed Big Macs and french fries welcoming their new friends to the menu. Brought to you by Tony Pepperoni.

Mixtape Dice

Mixtape Dice

These unique dice from Aether Objects are made from cassette tapes. Each die has strips of vintage cassette tape preserved forever inside see-through resin. Their embossed numbers are painted with a vibrant yellow inspired by ’80s cassette graphics. Sold in a set of seven dice and packed in a cassette-style storage box.

Bumpboxx Remixx Boombox Speaker

Bumpboxx Remixx Boombox Speaker
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This retro-inspired bluetooth speaker from Bumpboxx looks like a gigantic cassette tape in the shape of a boombox. It has two 5.25″ mid-bass drivers and four 2″ tweeters, and its amplifier outputs up to 175 watts and it comes with a wireless mic for karaoke sessions. It comes in white, red, yellow, neon blue, black, and magenta.

110 Film Cartridge Coffee Table

110 Film Cartridge Coffee Table

If you were around in the 1970s, you might recall those compact cameras that used 110 film cartridges. Maker Wesley Treat shows us how he made a coffee table based on the popular (but grainy) film format. He built the super-size Kodacolor cartridge from wood using kerf bending techniques to make the curved sides. Also, his wooden Gonk Droid is awesome.

eLegend EL1

eLegend EL1

Created by Bavaria’s eLegend, the $890,000 EL1 is an all-wheel drive electric sports car with a design inspired by the 1980s Audi Sport Quattro rally car. Dual motors output 816 hp, launching it from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Its carbon fiber monocoque chassis is designed to minimize aerodynamic drag. Only 30 examples will be made.

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Retro Tech: 8-Track Tape Drum Machine

Retro Tech: 8-Track Tape Drum Machine

Before digital synthesizers and drum machines, instruments like the Mellotron used pre-recorded tape loops to play short sound samples. Musician Hainbach got his hands on a Bandmaster Powerhouse, a 1970s analog drum machine that used custom 8-track tapes to play drum loops. Its now well-worn tape cartridges produce some fantastic lo-fi sounds.

Die Muppet Show

Die Muppet Show

It’s time to play the music. It’s time to light the lights. Did you know that The Muppet Show had a German version of its famous theme song? Nope? Neither did we. Until today, that is. RoadRunnerCoyote2015 compiled this collection of intros from the German version, Die Muppet Show, for our enjoyment. (Thanks, Rusty!)

ESQ Mini Boombox Bluetooth Speaker

ESQ Mini Boombox Bluetooth Speaker

This miniature replica of a 1980s boombox plays music from your phone via Bluetooth. It has two full-range speakers and a 10-watt amplifier, so don’t expect it to sound massive. While it’s made mostly from plastic, it does have shiny zinc alloy accents and a working AM/FM radio. It’s even got a tiny telescoping antenna, just like the real deal.

RayCue Retro USB-C Docks

RayCue Retro USB-C Docks

Most USB-C docks are pretty nondescript. But RayCue’s retro docks borrow their looks from the OG Apple Macintosh. The 128K Dock looks like a 1980s Mac, and packs USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, and headphone jacks. It’s also a Bluetooth speaker, a memory card reader, and a digital photo frame. The simpler Pocket dock looks like a tiny Mac keyboard.

Rare and Unusual Data Storage Media

Rare and Unusual Data Storage Media

Over the years, there have been numerous different ways of storing data on physical media. The 8-Bit Guy went all out, finding more than 100 different information storage media, from early wax cylinders to punch cards and gigantic tapes used for mainframe computers. That 16″ vinyl record is crazy.

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Retro Tech: Mighty Tiny Record Player

Retro Tech: Mighty Tiny Record Player

Toy companies have always liked making kids’ versions of adult products. After showing off the 2000s Hit Clips music player, Techmoan got his hands on the Mighty Tiny, a 1960s attempt to make a miniature record player. It required a bit of repair work, but he eventually got it to play some tiny vinyl discs. Ohio Art – of Etch-a-Sketch fame – created the gadget.

Q Timex Celestial Watch

Q Timex Celestial Watch
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Timex time traveled back to the 1970s for inspiration when designing its Celestial watch. The 36mm stainless steel watch features a retro-fabulous style with a gold-on-blue night sky face with sparkly crystal stars and a stretchy expanding metal band. It comes in a flashy goldtone or a subdued blue model.

Living with 1980s Tech for a Week

Living with 1980s Tech for a Week

Technology advances quickly, so the difference between today’s gadgets and those you could buy in the 1980s is dramatic. That said, the decade did give us early cell phones, portable tape players, VCRs, and personal computers. Twenty-something YouTuber Liam Thompson wanted to see what it would be like to live using only tech from the ’80s for a week.

Bardcore ’80s

Bardcore ’80s

The 1980s and the 1380s were pretty different times. The era of big hair and Rubik’s produced some great synthpop and arena rock, and those tunes sound surprisingly good when played on medieval instruments. This 90-minute medley features bardcore versions of 22 classic ’80s tracks, including Don’t Stop Believin’, Smooth Criminal, Eye of the Tiger, and more.

Atari 2600+

Atari 2600+
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The Atari 2600 is back and better than ever. The Atari 2600+ plays both 2600 and 7800 game cartridges and has an HDMI output for modern displays. It’s got a widescreen mode, an less finicky cartridge socket, and a light-up Atari logo. It comes with a CX40+ joystick and a 10-in-1 game cartridge w/ classics like Adventure, Missile Command, and Yars’ Revenge.

Blackwell Mid-Century Modern Wood Clocks

Blackwell Mid-Century Modern Wood Clocks
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Artist Eric Blackwell makes unique home decorations, mostly using upcycled scraps from a guitar factory. His collection includes these cool wooden clocks that incorporate mid-century modern aesthetics, including starbursts, satellites, and abstract shapes inspired by Googie architecture. In his Etsy Shop, you’ll find a mix of tabletop, mantel, and wall clocks.

Casio Vintage A1100 LCD Watch

Casio Vintage A1100 LCD Watch
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Casio presents a new digital watch inspired by the vintage 1970s 52QS-14B. The A1100 series features a stainless steel case, a metal link band, a retro-style LCD screen, and four front-mounted buttons for setting, changing modes, and turning on its light. It’s available in stainless, goldtone, and a black finish with a green LCD.

Mix Tape Sponges

Mix Tape Sponges
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Get your groove on in the kitchen while you scrub pots and pans with Fred’s playful cassette tape dish sponges. The set includes four 3″ x 4.5″ sponges packaged in a cardboard boombox. Crank up your favorite retro playlist while doing your dishes with these.

8bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboards

8bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboards
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Game controller makers 8bitdo are now making keyboards in the style of 8-bit game consoles. Their 87-key mechanical keyboards are inspired by the NES and its Japanese counterpart, the Famicom, and come with a programmable dual “Super Button.” Compatible with Windows and Android devices via Bluetooth, 2.4G wireless, or wired connections.

2024 Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Edition

2024 Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Edition

The Ford Bronco Sport goes retro with its 1970s-inspired Free Wheeling special edition. Like those classic Free Wheeling trucks, vans, and Broncos, the compact SUV is decorated with red, orange, and yellow body stripes. It’s also got unique 17″ black and red rims, a silver painted grille, and its interior has colorful seat inserts with ombre stitching and red trim accents.

AVI-8 x Capcom 1942 Watch

AVI-8 x Capcom 1942 Watch

Watchmaker AVI-8 teamed up with Capcom to create a limited-edition wristwatch based on the top-down shooter, 1942. The aviation-themed watch features pixelated planes from the game, skeletonized hands, a bitmapped date indicator, and a “12” marker in the game’s logo font. Each watch includes custom prints by artist Nache Ramos. Drops 7.28.2023.

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