This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 5, 2021 - July 11, 2021
It is no secret that nostalgic elements have been making a comeback over the past few years — from Nineties hit sitcom Friends making a reunion episode to the members of the Backstreet Boys reliving their music on TikTok. But it does not stop there. Even gadgets have been making a comeback, countering the notion that digitalisation is the only way forward. Here are some retro gadgets that still have a significance in today’s highly digital world.
1 Tamagotchi
Most of us know of Tamagotchi, a virtual pet made out of pixels on a screen that requires a lot of care and attention to survive. Popular in the 1990s, this virtual pet took the world by storm as people tried to nurture and keep the pet alive to the highest age possible before it “died”.
In mid-April this year, Bandai — the creator of Tamagotchi — released Tamagotchi Pix, the newest version of this Nineties classic. It features a coloured screen, camera and touch buttons. The company also introduced a social element to the device, where pet owners can take photos with their Tamagotchi and share them on a social feed within the device.
To learn more about Tamagotchi Pix, visit tamagotchi.com/product/tamagotchi-pix.
2 Flip and slide phones
Think of Lizzie McGuire, Mean Girls and Nickelodeon sitcoms like iCarly, and flip and slide phones immediately come to mind. In the early 2000s, companies like LG and Motorola pioneered this space but in recent years, these mobile devices have been recreated by popular phone brands such as Samsung (with the Samsung Z Flip) and Nokia.
Even more interesting is the fact that some still prefer to use the original phones from the early 2000s, just to relive the authentic feel of it! Goes to show that a good phone never goes out of style.
3 Vinyl
In the 1970s and earlier, vinyl was a popular way to listen to music. In the 1980s, cassette tapes — and later CDs — took over and, in later decades, DVDs, digital music files and streaming services were all the rage. But over the last five years or so, vinyl has been making a comeback with music connoisseurs around the world saying that a piece of music sounds raw, crisp and authentic when it has not been equalised on a CD or MP3. This has brought about the revitalisation of vinyl, as seen in the increase in sales of what used to be known as records, proving that sometimes, digital is not the only way to go.
4 Polaroid and film cameras
Developed in the 1950s, Polaroid cameras started making a comeback in the early 2010s. Camera companies such as Leica and Fujifilm realised the significance of this nostalgic form of preserving memories and created a new generation of these devices, balancing the uniqueness of the film with new and improved technology.
What exactly is the appeal? Gen X and baby boomers look at it as a walk down memory lane, taking them back to their childhood. As for millennials and the Gen Z, it is thought of as a cool, old-school fad. Some artists and creators use film and Polaroids for journaling and other forms of expression, which then add to the appeal of these photographic memories.
5 Nintendo’s RetroN Sq: HD Gaming Console
The Gameboy — and subsequently the Gameboy Colour — was a popular must-have handheld gaming console in the 1990s and 2000s that popularised games such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong and Pokemon. The game cartridges for these games could only be used on the device they were made for — that is, until now, with the release of RetroN Sq.
This console is not only compatible with the Gameboy, Gameboy Colour and Gameboy Advanced cartridges, it also allows players to experience these retro games on a high-definition television.
For more information on the console, visit hyperkinlab.com.
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