retro

I live in a neighborhood where vintage style is king. People will spend huge sums of money to populate their Brooklyn apartments with furniture and lamps that are antiques (or new with antique finish), clothing from vintage shops, and appliances in chartreuse, pink, and taupe.

Maybe it's because we've run out of ideas that we have a tendency to recycle styles in everything from fashion to haircuts to housewares, but I think that as humans, we have a tendency to come full circle in our likes and dislikes. Having experienced enough styles to have a wider frame of … Read more

I cannot come up with a practical reason why I'd need these reproduction medieval gauntlets. I just want them. Think of all the people I could be! These are the last pieces I need to complete the following outfits: Destro, Sir Galahad, Drs. Klaw and Doom, and Optimus Prime (after a paint job).

I think, though, that I'd just keep them in my bag at all times. I imagine that next time I get into an argument with a drunk dude-bro at a bar I can get him to back down without violence simply by putting them on. … Read more

There are a lot of toasters out there. For every personal aesthetic, there seems to be a corresponding toaster. Toasters range from the bright and shiny to gimmicky multitaskers made out of plastic. Machines are available for those that prefer design, and there are toasters out there that tout convenience. Combination appliances are great fun, and at times actually do save time and money (consider the toaster oven, for example). But sometimes you just want a toaster that toasts.

That is, toasts and looks cool too. The Bodum Bistro Toaster combines classic and modern design into one impressive design. All … Read more

I've been on the phone with several iPhone application developers this week and the common thread has been that all are excited about the success of the iPhone App Store. But one of the developers wanted to point out that one of his applications that's been around since the beginning, but hadn't seen much exposure yet. After checking it out, I decided to include it in this weeks post.

This week's applications include a free photo-driven social-networking application and a game that plays like a classic stand-up arcade game from the past.

PhotoShare (free) from Big … Read more

Night Stand is a free app that makes the screen on your iPhone or iPod Touch look like a classic, late '70s/early '80s LED clock. If you keep your device plugged in or docked near your bed, this can be a fun and easy way to have a bedside clock that can also play songs from your iTunes playlists (via iPod playback). Night Stand comes with three themes (red, green, and blue), vertical and horizontal mode, and options for displaying seconds and days of the week. Battery consumption is relatively modest, but you'll want to keep your device … Read more

Retro is in. In fact, retro never went away and it never will. I've come to the understanding that once something has happened, it will always happen. It's true in music, it's true in fashion, it seems to be true in any fad. Considering that design is a reflection of our aesthetics, one can count on similar themes being played out over and over again.

Which is all fine and good, but doesn't explain to me why this fridge has talons.

First the basics:

The Scholtes RDL 45A measures just more than 27.5 inches across, … Read more

Damn, I sure miss the cool 1990s arcade machines, especially when playing the three-player Beast Busters and the bloody Mortal Kombat.

Today, those machines are probably antiques or regarded as prized collectables, but if you'd like to relive the good old days, there's the Retro Space. This is a life-size replica of the real deal loaded with 100-plus classic games and emulators including Pac-man, and complete with authentic joysticks and colored buttons.

Powering this retro piece is a high-tech Intel Core 2 Duo computer and a huge 24-inch LCD screen capable of delivering stunning, full HD visuals. Other … Read more

At the grand opening for the San Francisco Ford-Mercury-Lincoln dealership, we got a close look at the new Ford Flex. This big wagon offers retro styling, something that made the new Ford Mustang so popular. But the Flex doesn't share the same kind of heritage, making its success less of a sure thing. The Flex goes on sale this summer.

Click here for photos of the 2009 Ford Flex.

In the year 2008, when every computer and most other gadgets have their own calculators, one might wonder why anyone other than the most severe technophobe would want one of these anachronistic devices--much less create one. But if any company is allowed that indulgence it would have to be Hewlett-Packard.

As one of the companies that brought handheld calculators to the masses nearly 40 years ago, the computing pioneer is reaching back into its past once again with the "HP Quick Calc." There's still no urgent reason to get one, other than to make a statement in … Read more