Apr 07

Atari’s Greatest Hits collection brings 100 classic games to iOS devices

Posted in: ios, ipad, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, Retro, Today's Chili
You still can’t play them with an iCade cabinet just yet — though that’s coming, in June — but Atari has now delivered quite a present to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners. The company has just released its Greatest Hits collection for iOS devices, which includes 18 classic arcade games and 82 Atari 2600 games — those available either in 25 separate packs for $0.99 apiece, or in one massive time sink bundle for $14.99 (Pong comes free with the app itself). As you can see, you’ll also get things like the original box art and arcade cabinets for each game, and some of the titles will even let you play head-to-head with a friend over Bluetooth. Ready to get started? You know where to find it.

Atari’s Greatest Hits collection brings 100 classic games to iOS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 07

Commodore 64 Goes on Sale. Amiga, VIC-20 Coming Soon

Posted in: desktops, Retro, Today's Chili, ubuntu

The C64x is overpriced and underpowered, but still awesome

Just before Christmas, Commodore teased us with an Intel Atom-based Commodore 64 — a regular all-in-one Ubuntu PC in the shape of the classic C64 home computer, which could also boot into a game-playing C64 emulation mode. Now, finally, you can buy one, and you’ll soon be able to get the C64’s little brother, the VIC-20, in the shape of the VIC Pro and VIC Slim.

The C64x can be had in five confusing configurations. The Barebones model is nothing more than the case and keyboard with a card reader and costs $250. The cheapest working version is the C64x Basic at almost $600, and to get luxuries such as Wi-Fi and a DVD drive you’ll need to cough up $700. If you’re in for that much, then you may as well jump all the way and spend $900 on the Ultimate edition, which puts in a 1-TB hard drive, a Blu-ray drive and 4 GB RAM.

If you think that’s expensive, you’re dead right. Add on the price of an expensive dinner for two and you could buy a MacBook Air.

It’s a cute gimmick, to be sure, and one that would surely sell well if it didn’t cost so much. As it is, there must be a very limited set of customers willing to drop big money on a novelty Ubuntu box.

And anyway, the real nerds will be waiting for Commodore’s next big project: The resurrection of the majestic Amiga, albeit in the shape of a DVD player. These machines will use PC hardware but run “Commodore OS,” a mysterious operating system that will either be awesome or awful. I can’t wait.

C64x product page [Commodore USA]

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Apr 06

Thanko Cassette Mate Looks Like a Walkman, Rips Your Tapes to MP3

Posted in: Miscellaneous Tech, MP3, MP3 Digital Audio, Retro, Today's Chili

Thanko Cassette Mate

If you’re like a lot of people who fondly remember the days of mix tapes, you probably still have a lot of old audio cassettes lying around, slowly deteriorating over time, crumbling into dust. If you’re like most people who have memories of those audio cassettes, you’ve always meant to do something about it but never really figured out what. 
Now Thanko, makers of strange and unique USB gadgets, has unveiled the Cassette Mate, which looks a lot like an old cassette player or Walkman, is about the same size, but when connected to your computer will rip the music from your audio cassettes and save it in MP3, WMA, or WAV formats. 
Admittedly, if you’re pulling music from an audio cassette and you’re worried about audio quality, file format may not be the first thing you worry about, but the important thing is usually to get the recording into a digital format and then you can work with it. 
The device does have some features in addition to ripping your audio: it will split tracks for you and allows you to pop in 2 AA batteries if you actually want to listen to those tapes on to go. Otherwise you’ll need to connect it to your computer via USB. The Cassette Mate is currently only available in Japan for the equivalent of about $35 USD. 
[via Wired]
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Apr 06

Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen

Posted in: diy, hack, Hacks, handheld, mod, modding, mods, portable, Retro, Today's Chili, video

This isn’t the smallest portable Nintendo 64 we’ve seen, nor the most elegant, creative or complete — in fact, it’s pretty much a straight clone of Bacteria’s iNto64, but with a spiffier paint job and one critical improvement. Yes, that is an extra controller port you see in the foreground of the image above, and if you click your way below, you will indeed be able to watch its creator engage in some wonderfully retro split-screen Mario Kart 64 and F-Zero X races, not to mention the obligatory GoldenEye death match and a wee bit of Quake 2. Ahhh, memories.

[Thanks, Alon T.]

Continue reading Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen

Bacteria’s disciple improves upon technique, crafts N64 handheld capable of GoldenEye split-screen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 06

Cassette Mate Converts Useless Mix Tapes Into Useful MP3s

Posted in: Media Players, MP3, Retro, Today's Chili

Thanko’s Cassette Mate will rip your old tapes to MP3

Got some old cassette tapes lying around? I thought not. But keep reading anyway, as Thanko’s Cassette Mate is quite a curiosity, in a retro-useless kind of way.

Looking like a Walkman that has been left on a beach and polished to a pebble-shape by the merciless attrition of sea and sand, the Cassette Mate is barely bigger than the tapes you will slot into it. Once inside, you can play them back (two AA batteries required) or hook the machine up to a PC via USB and convert those old mix tapes to MP3, WAV or WMA files.

Some clunky-looking Windows software is included, and it will automatically split tracks for you if you like. And as it only costs ¥2,980 ($34), then it might just be worth it for converting your old tapes before it really is too late.

I was given a mix tape a month or two back. I have no idea what’s on it, and never will, as I don’t have a tape player any more. In fact, I suspect my friend gave it to me as a sick joke. Well, Jimmy, the joke’s on you, buddy. I tossed the tape out already, and I’m using the hinged case as an iPod stand. Sucka!

Cassette Mate product page [Thanko via über Gizmo]

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Apr 04

Commodore USA’s all new C64 finds a friend in Tron on the road to availability

Posted in: desktop, Retro, Today's Chili

Been a bit skeptical of Commodore USA’s promise to bring back the venerable Commodore 64 with some up-to-date PC specs? We can’t blame you, but the company is now working to change some minds, and is finally proving that it is in fact the real deal. In addition to revealing some pictures of an early prototype a little while back (pictured after the break), the company has also somehow managed to team up with Disney, and it will be promoting the new C64s with an ad included with every copy of Tron: Legacy (pictured above). Still no word of an actual release date, unfortunately, but Commodore USA will apparently be launching a new website tomorrow to coincide with the DVD and Blu-ray release, so hopefully it will have a few more details to share then. In the meantime, you can check out more prototype shots at the link below.

Continue reading Commodore USA’s all new C64 finds a friend in Tron on the road to availability

Commodore USA’s all new C64 finds a friend in Tron on the road to availability originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 01

Gadget Lab Notes: Surgery Robot Folds Miniscule Paper Airplane

Posted in: 3ds, Apple, Miscellaneous, nintendo, Retro, robot, sales, sony, Today's Chili

The da Vinci robot isn’t just for surgery — It can also make petite paper airplanes

The da Vinci Surgical Robot Makes Paper Planes the Size of a Penny
The da Vinci surgical robot is normally used to perform precise, delicate incisions in the operating room. Dr. James Porter decided it’d be perfect for some other applications as well, namely, making ridiculously tiny paper airplanes. I’m talking paper airplanes smaller than a penny. The robot is also repurposed to paint someone’s nails for St. Patrick’s Day. Not too many people can say they’ve had a mani pedi done by a robot.

Surgery Robot Builds Penny-Sized Paper Airplane [Tested]

ThinkGeek Has a Treat for the Apple Fanboy Family: The Apple Store Playset
If you wish you could spend all your time in The Apple Store, now you can, with ThinkGeek’s April Fools Day Apple Store Playset. It’s just like the real thing, but tiny: tiny Macbooks, tiny iPads, mini Genius Bar… it even includes a miniscule Woz on Segway. For Apple event fun, you can use your actual iPhone 4 as the screen behind Steve Jobs in its Keynote Theater. A “line pack” of people waiting outside the store is extra.

The Apple Store Playset [ThinkGeek]

The Nintendo 3DS UK Launch Was The Company’s Best Ever
The recent launch of the Nintendo 3DS in the UK was even more successful than that of the Wii. 113,000 of the handheld consoles were sold its opening weekend, beating out the 105,000 Nintendo Wiis that were sold when it debuted. The original Nintendo DS sold 87,000 its opening weekend.

Nintendo 3DS UK Launch Most Successful Ever for the Gaming Company [Slashgear]

Apple 3-D Camera Patent Describes a Hardware Based System
Handheld Apple gadgets could support 3-D photography in the future, if a recently unearthed patent is any indicator. The patent describes a method that uses dual rear-facing cameras on a mobile device like the iPhone and specific hardware to perform a “deterministic calculation for stereo disparity compensation.” The patent claims that when software is used to perform that job a lot of guesswork is involved. Apple’s system would use multiple imaging systems, including separate luma, chroma, and depth and distance sensors to transform an image from 2-D to 3-D, and it would also allow for 3-D video recording.

Apple Exploring Multi Camera Systems for 3-D Picture Taking [Apple Insider]

Europeans Can Get a Retro Looking Sony DAB Radio
The Sony XDR-S16DBP looks like it would make a great addition to any midcentury styled office space. Its two .8 W stereo speakers can play DAB, DAB+, and FM broadcasts and a 16 x 2 character LCD displays program and channel information. It’s available now in Europe for 79 quid (about $127).

XDR-S16DBP [Sony via Crunchgear]


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Mar 29

Crapgadget: ‘blurring the line between comical and offensive’ edition

Posted in: Retro, Today's Chili, usb

Just because the flow of Crapgadgets has apparently slowed from an outpouring to a mere flood doesn’t mean we haven’t been dutifully collecting the worst of the bad over the past few months. Without further ado, we present to you the latest edition, complete with a handful of this quarter’s most atrocious / splendiferous gadgets. Frankly, it’s a chore just deciding where to start — should we extol the portable speaker kit with an utterly unnecessary Core i5 label on the outside, or give priority to Thanko’s heated mousepad / hand-engulfing cat face? On second thought, maybe it’s the real wood stick-on that enables every smartphone owner to literally knock on wood whenever the mood strikes. Unfortunately for us, there’s also an iPhone 4 steering wheel to consider, not to mention a stick figure speaker with a questionable audio jack and a retrofied telephone with an integrated reading light. Have a peek at each below, and let us know in the poll below which is most abhorrent. And remember, honesty really is the best policy.

Read – Portable speaker kit, Core i5-powered!
Read – Audiobot, who could use a zippered fly
Read – Thanko’s cat face / mousepad / warmer
Read – Knock On Wood iPhone stick-on
Read – iPhone 4 steering wheel (with speakers!)
Read – USB retro telephone (with alarm clock!)

View Poll

Crapgadget: ‘blurring the line between comical and offensive’ edition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 29

Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video)

Posted in: diy, game, Games, gaming, mod, Retro, Today's Chili, video

Sure it’s just sliding sticks and bouncing balls, but anyone who grew up playing Atari can tell you that Pong rules. Unfortunately, its earliest incarnation only supported enough 2D fun for two, which is why our eyes just about popped out of our heads when we saw this. The folks over at Instructables are showing off another awesome retro gaming project that makes everyone’s favorite game a party pleaser — it’s also a pretty good fix for an old coffee table. The Super Pong Table allows for up to four players and fives balls per game, and enlists 900 LEDs and four Atari paddle controllers to make the thing work. Each player controls his or her own stick and gains or loses a point depending on whether they hit or miss a ball — the first player to reach 20 points gets their very own “YOU WIN” light up display. Looks like we just found something to do with our weekend. You can check out a video of the table in action after the break or follow the source link for instructions on making your own.

Continue reading Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video)

Super Pong Table serves up four-way retro play, whole lot of awesome (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 29

Fujifilm resumes production on X100 cameras, new-age vintage is rolling again

Posted in: Japan, Retro, Today's Chili
Fujifilm resumes production on X100 cameras, new-age vintage is rolling again

Fujifilm has a hit on its hands with the retrotastic X100 camera, selling for a whopping $1,200 but still flying off shelves. That popularity resulted in some shortages, and a stoppage of production due to the disaster in Japan made that situation worse. Now the company is announcing a resumption of production, so the 12.3 megapixel compact with a 23mm fixed lens should be hitting store shelves again in the next week or so. Place your orders now, if you haven’t already, and get that sepia filter warmed up so that your pictures can look as vintage as what you’re shooting them with.

Fujifilm resumes production on X100 cameras, new-age vintage is rolling again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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