We’ve seen this all before, a new fad (if it is just a fad) comes along and gets super popular. Suddenly dozens of companies come out with their own version of that new exciting thing and sometimes it leads to a few very good devices changing the way we live… Or it over saturates the market and kills it, I’m looking at you Guitar Hero. It seems health is on everyone’s mind the past few years. With Wii Fit bringing a virtual trainer into your room, we have seen an explosion of new and innovative athletic devices geared toward helping you live better and healthier. From Kinect, to wrist bands to chest straps, lets go over what was, is, and will be around soon!
Feb 13
Feb 11
Windows Surface Pro went on sale last week and no one was sure how the public would react to the new device. The Windows RT didn’t sell wonderfully, but it also wasn’t terrible. Knowing that, some people expected doom and gloom with the Surface Pro’s release. Were people still excited? Maybe they were just waiting for the Pro instead of purchases a truncated version of Windows 8 in tablet form. That seems to be the case, at least with its immediate release. Several businesses has announced that their stock of the 128GB version of the Surface has sold out, leaving the 64GB version still scattered about at some locations.
Nov 23
Black Friday is upon us shortly and with the knowledge and experience of staying up all night in lines and malls, I have a few tips for the newbies among us. Even if you’re used to staying on lines or staying up all night, some folks get irked when they are being towed around by a slow shopper. Don’t worry, TheBlueDot is here for you in your time of need. No, we don’t have some time machine or magical device that will just deliver all the items you need for the holidays. But we do have a few tips and tricks for those not used to the stress of late night shopping and slow tow shoppers.
Jul 07
As time goes on, we grow nostalgic for the “simplicities” of yesteryear. What was once a hulking radio-transmitter fitted with a tape deck holding 12 songs has now become a pencil-thin computer with the ability to categorize and sort every song you’ve ever heard.
Refurbished technology has come to be important for many reasons–amongst which are ecological and economic concerns–but many have considered the possibilities of utilizing this process for the sake of art. Artists and innovators have taken the old 1980′s technology and gadgets and turned them into something eye-catching and perhaps inspiring. Here are some brief examples of modern spins on outdated technology:
Let’s start off with the example I’ve already provided: the Sony Walkman.
This revolutionary piece of technology, popularized in 1980, gave birth to the idea of “the mix tape.” Music lovers could fashion their blank tape to hold their favorite tracks, or artists that inspire some kind of mood worth sharing. Then, with the rise of cheap CDs and MP3′s, the era of the mix tape had come to a bitter and tragic end.
Next comes the Commodore 64. Initially sold with a 64kb memory, many argued that this was the largest amount of hardware memory anyone would ever need. It was a popular product in 1982, especially because it could be easily plugged directly into any home television set. What was once used to play simplistic games like Asteroids and Paper Boy can now–through the miracle of refurbishment–play such modern games as Guitar Hero.
In 1985, we were introduced to the latest in home entertainment: The VHS Player. The video cassette player was meant to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it wasn’t too long before hints of its early extinction began to arise. The Laser Disc was gaining some attention, but not nearly enough to pose a significant threat. But when CDs replaced cassette tapes, the dark future of the VHS player began to come into focus. Obviously, you’re never going to get rid of all those old VHS tapes lying around your house. The future is currently in the semi-capable hands of Sony and their Blu-Ray discs–but here’s something to pass the time anyway…
It should be no secret where Nintendo has taken us over the past 20+ years. Their products have captured the imaginations of so many and pulled through several major trial and error periods. The NES system of 1986 has such high staying-power that refurbished and re-built versions of it are still being sold as “new” quality almost everywhere on the internet today, despite the breakthrough of the Nintendo Wii and buzz around Nintendo‘s next generation system.
Typically, when one thinks of “refurbished” technology, they think “used” or “of lesser quality than new.” The truth is that most refurbished technology turns out to be better or more reliable than the new products themselves. People who professionally refurbish gadgets and hardware learn to weed out the bugs, restore run-down elements, and build it back up to last. This goes for everything from an old 1986 Nintendo Entertainment System to a 3G Apple iPhone.
–Alex Gross
