There are still hidden historical gems out there that were considered gadgets of their time. Perhaps some will remind you of your childhood, your parents or grandparents or maybe this will be the first time you lay eyes on these magnificent pieces of vintage gadgets. Today, we have certainly advanced from the listed gadgets below but it is always interesting to know how they evolved and for the collectors of gadget history, it sure is nice to know where you can purchase them. …

I remember back in, like, grade 3, sitting on the old black and white Mac, playing text adventures at recess when I should have been outside making friends… ironically, I never really understood them (the adventures, not the friends), and mostly tried to input obscene commands. As far as I recall, many of them actually worked. I dunno what that says about the writers of these games as people. Anyway, point is, interactive fiction is the tits, and fellow Torontonian Jonathan Guberman has decided to take it to the next (previous?) level with The Automatypewriter. Cleverly-named until you realize…

Sony has announced that the cassette Walkman will be discontinued in Japan, having ended manufacturing in April. As we speak, the final stock is being sold out (and probably will continue to be for years). But don’t fret just yet! North America is in no danger of going Walkman-less, and the 31-year-old portable music player will continue to be manufactured in China for the overseas market. Rest easy, buttercup, knowing that your ability to rock out shall continue unaffected. But seriously, though, is this a thing? Did anyone here even know that the Walkman (in its cassette incarnation) was even…

Perfect for people in business or the absent-minded blogger, these USB post-its are a godsend. The design is so simple; I am not sure how anyone could not have thought of it before. We have all had those moments while sitting at our computers when we have needed to make a few quick notes, and with no paper in sight had to running looking around the house or office for some scrap. But with these babies on the market now, our prayers are answered. It is a USB memory stick with a notepad attached to the back of it, and to keep the paper ready for scribbles and protecting it from wrinkles – there is a plastic slider…

Absolutely the coolest thing I’ve seen in weeks, the iRetrofone is exactly what it appears to be – an old skool phone that uses your iPhone rather than your phone line. That’s right, 1955 called, it wants its phone back. With this add-on you’ll be perfectly suited to take that call. The iRetrofone is hand made, lovingly cast one at a time in resin. It also allows you to connect via USB to your computer for syncing and charging. Available in black, pink and clear, the iRetrofone will set you back $195, a hefty sum over and above the ha’penny price tag one might expect for such an item. Oh well – no one ever said…

You’re loooking at Air Raid – a cartridge for the Atari 2600 that until now was thought by most to not exist – those that do believe generally agree that there are maybe 12 or 13 copies in existence. Texas native Tanner Sandlin is now selling his copy on eBay. Yeah, this is one of those stories. Now, 

I’ve heard of Air Raid before, and I can personally confirm the mystery surrounding it is nothing if not head-scratching. With no label on the cartridge, a bizarre shape (think one of those cartoon explosion-handle-box-doodads) and absolutely no record of the manufacturer – not to mention no…