Today’s #RetroTech found Abandoned in Charity Shops

3D Blu-Ray. We all knew it, it was doomed from the start. The glasses. The two different technologies.

These 3D Discs are still sealed

Todays #RetroTech Old Tat

Sony Trinicon TV Camera Tube, CT 1021

Used in Sony Studio Cameras, like the DXC 1200, c mid 70s

After bringing self-hosted IRC server to life, I went and built a suite of IRC bots under the MansionNET project.

From real-time trivia and weather, to AI chat and private search, these bots are designed to make IRC a bit more modern (while keeping its charm intact).

Everything’s open source and up on GitHub:

https://github.com/MansionNET

Do take a look — contributions and feedback are more than welcome!

Todays #Telecoms #RetroTech

Look-a-likely Tree, Orange Phone Mast
The first in Sussex, Balcombe
Site WSS0121

Pics taken during construction, probably ’99/‘00 ish

When I left, it was on permanent generator, as power was long way from site

Coverage in the area was desperately needed at the time.

This gave 2G 1800MHz GSM Signal
It also supported HSCSD - High Speed Circuit Switched Data
Each Time Slot offered 14.4 kbps, you could use up to 4 Slots - giving 57.6 kbps

Yes kids -that’s kbps!!

I just love this vintage tech, which still works. One could use the calculator on the mobile phone of course, but this is way more fun (and more beautiful) ...

I found an ancient calculator (a Commodore "Minuteman 6" -- yes, that Commodore) that I used when I was in elementary school. It belonged to my dad. The calculator was first sold in 1974.

The power leads from the battery snapped off from the main board decades ago, but now I have a Hakko desoldering tool, so I was able to clear out the through-hole solder points and reattach the wires from the battery. It has a 7-segment red LED display and minimal operations.

And...it works! Sort of. I seem to have gotten it into a sort of self-test mode that displays a scrolling 0, until I power cycle it, then it displays EEFEEE until I hit the Clear button. And some of the segments don't illuminate. But it hasn't felt electrons surging through it since the 20th century, so I'll cut it some slack.

Welcome to the future, time traveler!

https://calculator-museum.nl/calculators/commodore-minuteman6-body.html

Let me put it this way: it may be understandable that the #musiccassette won over #8Track in the end — especially in out of home use …

Commodore is back! The iconic brand is under new leadership with veterans like Albert Charpentier and Bil Herd. Check out the new Commodore 64 Ultimate machines, blending classic design with modern tech. #Commodore #RetroTech https://news.itsfoss.com/commodore-lives-again/

My spouse commandeered the living room TV to play Death Stranding 2, so I have gotten creative.

This is a Fire Stick connected to an HDMI > Component downscaler which in turn is connected to a Component > Composite downscaler which is finally connected to the Trinitron CRT.

On the Fire Stick, I'm using the Silk web browser with secure DNS configured to use AdGuard for blocking pop-ups and such while I watch anime in a website's video player.

It's now all set up and placed at least temporarily in my networking nook

The LanBoy Air might be over a decade old, but it still delivers - server now has airflow, expandability, and style

Excited to upgrade it further, add more drives + Proxmox down the line.

Thanks for coming on the ride, and what a ride it was!

Today’s #RetroTech Old Tat

Sony M-909 MicroCassette Corder, 1991

Smallest Cassette Tape Recorder - to my knowledge

Uses MicroCassette Dictation Cassette

Voice Activated Recording, Auto Reverse, supports both speeds - 2.4 cm/s & 1.2 cm/s

Another example of just because Sony could, they did

@obsoletemediauk

It works! The phone needs some serious R&R… but it works!!!!

So darn happy!

History of Vending Machines: From Strange to Old https://classichistoria.com/articles/vending-machines-history?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #VendingMachines #History #AutomatedConvenience #Innovation #RetroTech

On today’s installment of “things I forgot I bought on eBay”: the CDU from what I assume was a flight simulator. It has an IEC power connector, serial ports, and cork feet, so it’s clearly not for an aircraft. Possibly could have been used within a sim, or optionally as a table top unit to learn about CDU / FMC operation.
The screen shown in the image was accessed by pressing the diagnostic button, accessible from the inside.
#retroTech #aviation

A collection of antique Edison cylinder records at the Spruce Farmhouse in Bronte Creek Provincial Park.

#BuyIntoArt #ProvincialPark #antique #EdisonRecords #AntiqueCylinders #AudioHistory #RetroTech #VintageCollection #HistoricalArtifacts #OakvilleHeritage

https://jrtphotography.com/featured/antique-edison-cylinders-collection-bw-john-twynam.html