tape

The retro craze is still going strong, especially with gadgets like a flash drive disguised as a mix tape, and devices that will let you transfer tunes from old cassettes to MP3s. But here's something that kicks it up a notch--an MP3 player inside an actual cassette tape. You have all the benefits of an MP3 player--an SD card slot, music and volume controls, an on/off switch, and a USB charger--but in a decidedly retro cassette tape. And this is the crazy-cool part: This cassette MP3 player can be used like a normal cassette in a regular … Read more

It's been raining '80s nostalgia gadgets around here lately. Between the Lasonic iPod boombox, Plusdeck EX cassette ripper, Speak & Spell speaker mod, and buckets of Transformers tschotkes--we're just waiting for Prince and John Cusack to pull up in front of CNET in a Delorean.

Here's another gadget to throw on the '80s retro-tech heap. The Suck UK Mix Tape USB is a Flash thumb-drive cleverly masquerading as a vintage Hitachi cassette tape. No word on pricing, but the product is poised to launch in the UK in September. But why wait? This looks like a totally … Read more

We're not huge on scanning devices (especially where our bodies are concerned), but mostly because they aren't always as practical or workable as they might first seem. Still, we're intrigued by PrintDreams' "Xyron Design Runner" for its unique approach if nothing else.

Unlike other handheld scanners that require separate storage (cards, sticks, etc.) that's then transferred to a printer, this gadget scans the images and spits them back onto whatever object you want, not just paper. It's kind of like a digital version of those old handheld label makers, but it prints directly … Read more

Maybe it's the holidays, but we've been reminiscing a lot lately here at Crave. And we would like to thank everyone for indulging us--but first, one last trip down memory lane (until the next one).

The latest item to trigger memories of our misspent youth is the "Plus Deck Cassette Converter" offered on Firebox.com, which calls it a "full logic, front-loading cassette deck that can convert, edit and play tapes on your PC" by converting them into MP3 files. But Gearlog said it best, explaining eloquently how this gadget can help you relive your glory days … Read more

With everything getting smaller and smaller these days, it's refreshing to see a company buck the trend and make a big statement.

Intempo Digital's Stereo Tower does just that, in grand style. Despite its sleek modern design, this MP3 stereo is actually a throwback to the days of enormous music systems, with speakers the size of the Sears Tower. Tech Digest even describes it in '70s-era terms, as a "surround-sound Hi-Fi system."

If we didn't know better--and hadn't seen iPod stuck in the middle of it--we might expect quadraphonic speakers to go with this … Read more

The combination of neon colors and its surprising use makes this camera a natural for a recurring role in CSI: Miami.

Aven's iLoupe is a field microscope disguised as a fashion camera that can be used with three interchangeable lenses of 60x, 100x and 150x magnification. The camera itself is a 6-megapixel Canon SD600 with a lens adapter ring and a USB connection that can be used to blow up images on a larger screen. Aven says the iLoupe was made with crime scene investigations specifically in mind, though it can also be used for less glamorous tasks such … Read more