Out with the old, in with the older: Modernizing the vintage

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Rob ⚡️

We seem to be in an age where nostalgia is king - it seems as though every industry is leaning into the success of past products and franchises, therefore, tapping into people’s fond memories to garner an emotional response.

Remasters of games like Tony Hawks Pro Skater ½ have been wild successes, and we see long-dead franchises like Top Gun and Ghostbusters making their way into cinemas again.

I personally love all those examples you shared, tech with nostalgia works on me every time!

This does seem like the perfect opportunity for Nothing to release transparent products, it’s an aesthetic that has largely disappeared from consumer tech, but one that should pull at the heartstrings of those that grew up with a clear device in their home/pocket.

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Rob ⚡️

I believe that nostalgia has always been a part of the human condition, but nowadays it is easier to look back, and especially to use it as a marketing tool.

Beyond designed products, the list goes wide when we enter the worlds of videogames (as you mention), movies, books, music, or arts in general. That would make a different interesting topic of discussion.

Transparency is a risky bet, but a smart one at the same time, since there are not many competitors in the same color segment. After seeing transparent handbags and masks, I guess we are ready to go all in with transparent tech.

Louis ☕️

This is going to take a detour of the topic but, related to the prices, I would love to ask you: Do you prefer to spend some extra money in a product that you know will work way longer than similar products without failing, or to spend less knowing it will be completely unusable in one or two years?

There are a series of videos with kids reacting to retro, like this one. Probably in three generations our technology will seem like living in caves, more or less. 😅

When someone invents a transparent material that can resist high temperatures, kitchen/home gadgets are going to be something interesting to see happening indeed!

Louis ☕️

I absolutely love some (most) of the products and examples companies are coming out with, such as some of the examples you give in your post, especially cameras. I really like the SMEG line up of products (but hate the price tag).

It will be interesting in another 10-20 years to see what the term ‘vintage’ refers to in terms of tech we have now. Especially the new children being born into this world, who will have no idea of what a keypad is on a phone, perhaps what wired earphones looked like, what a VHS player is etc.

I would quite like to see more tech companies release a transparent version of their product. I’m not just limiting this to smartphones, but all tech so think about your kitchen gadgets (toaster, coffee machine, toastie maker) like how cool would it be to see all the parts working and seeing the changes happen right in front of you!

Louis ☕️

Archive bot

That’s a good question and I will answer it in two ways, as It depends on what it is we are talking about. For example, smartphones and wearable tech change fairly rapidly in terms of product innovation and advancements, so in this area, I wouldn’t mind spending less knowing in about two years I will most likely upgrade (although saying this, I still have the same headphones/phone for the past 2 years). Other things, like a coffee machine I would happily spend more money on for something that is going to last a lot longer and hopefully, less failure.

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Louis ☕️

Thank you for your answer, very interesting points. As a person using a laptop from 2011 and a 2 years old smartphone, that I’m not considering changing anytime soon, I partially agree with you.

Tech changes, indeed, but I think that not as quick as the companies make us believe. If you compare a smartphone with its previous model, in terms of daily usability, traditionally there is not that much of a jump. Probably not even with two years of difference. Of course it depends on the brands, the specific innovations, the needs you have as a user, etc.

It is also a matter of preference, in the sense of truly experiencing the changes of innovation. Those who renew their gadgets once a year may lose the perspective of evolution, like it happens with ourselves and our closest relatives: we rarely notice the changes unless we see images from the past.

Cheetosdust

Lovely idea for a thread, @[deleted]. Thank you for taking the time to write it - beautiful touch with the banner too.

About the matter at hand, I think it’s a case of combining form and function. There are some revitalizations that just want to capitalize on the nostalgia factor. Companies know the power an imprinted image can have, especially the ones we tirelessly fabulate about - it’s called the “rosy retrospection”.

But some of them are bliss or pure fun. Nokia understood this - more or less - with their “banana phone” and even the New Nokia 3310. They are not perfect, but we can identify the form-factor that so many still cherish while putting in the market a device that can be used and enjoyed by people who can’t or don’t want to spend a lot of money.

About your second question: a typewriter. It’s as retro as retro can be, but imagine a Royal or a Corona with a revitalized look, perhaps a display with basic information and a feature that allows you to type directly to a word processor (doubling as a keyboard) or into a sheet of paper.

For example, picture a Brother Deluxe 1522 with a front panel where the faux wood is. Is it more useful than a traditional keyboard? No, not at all. But it can be the inspiration to kickstart the creation of something beautiful. Also: baby blue. 😎

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Cheetosdust

Thanks for mentioning the “rosy retrospection”, I didn’t know about it. Very interesting philosophical topic to wander about.

I will always remember my adoration for the Nokia 3310. It was meant to be my first phone, but for some reason I ended up buying another one. Those clicky buttons, the design, the unbreakable exterior, the almost forever-lasting battery and, most importantly: snake. Rosy retrospection, where? 😛

Every single time I see a typewriter, the dream of having one increases, but in this case, an original one the way they were before, without any modernization. Though I am absolutely sure that I would crave those ideas you mention.

What about a non-portable MacBook form factor with a typewriter-like keyboard? After the butterfly system debacle, what could possibly go wrong? 🤓

Rob ⚡️

Cheetosdust

Well, my mind immediately jumped back to seeing this video:

Does that bring you any retro joy?

Cheetosdust

Archive bot Thank you for sharing the article.

It took me a little bit to reply, but I’ve read it. There’s a quote from Shu Suzuki that tells me a lot about how this product was conceptualized. “I personally use a Nikon FM that was handed down to me from my grandfather,” he mentioned.

The inspiration was loved and cherished before the redux was born.

I don’t own a Nikon Z fc nor a Nikon FM2, but it really feels like it’s so much more than a quick and easy cash grab. Genuinely enjoyed reading it. I hope that Nikon has solved the initial problems with stock.

I would love to see Braun bringing back what Dieter Rams designed. I believe we talked about this in another thread.

If Nothing decides to make a smart speaker, for example, I wouldn’t mind if it is inspired by the T41. That design with a touch screen? Yes, teenage engineering, “y” to the “s”, pretty please with a cherry on top. 😁

PS: Using “The glass is greener” as a title for a section in the article was inspired. 🤓

Rudi

Wow, guys. I really enjoyed reading this topic. So nostalgic and interesting to rethink design based on favourites from the past. I’m indulged in the keyboard shown above - what a quirky product.

I also own a SNES Classic Edition and that little thing not only gives me great memories but also feels modern. Mostly because it has lots of games installed, it’s tiny, and it connects to the TV via HDMI. Some stuff should just be reinvented, really.

cristian

Hi guys, finally got my buds. So… Bauhaus, Braun, Apple. This is the right path, that won’t end to inspire. The compromise between talking art and not-end-in-itself design, the word that not exhaust and reflects the ego of times from which came out. This is the design that will light up in dark times.

PRAY FOR PEACE

Sib64

I’ve found this. FOCAL is a French brand, world leader in the manufacture of high-fidelity solutions

I invited you to read this article about FOCAL powered by Naim

Pyrodox

The modern age record player.

cristian

Pyrodox I’m sure the Braun one inspired design guys in making the case of the buds. It would be a great quote

adbo

Pyrodox How about this modified one? 😄

cristian

adbo Cool! So flashy but cool!

Louis ☕️

adbo This is RIDICULOUS and I’m all for it! 👏 🎵

adbo

cristian Louis ☕️ Isn’t it! I was very tempted to do something similar myself but apparently the card printer alone is $400. I suppose I could do the poor man’s version of printing stickers onto regular NFC cards 😄 but then I’d have the issue of deciding which playlists to use!

Sib64

Hello everyone,

This object is not a real vintage. It’s a fake copy made by a Youtuber.

I let you read this article published in The Verge

The internet’s infamous fake portable GameCube has finally been brought to life

Louis ☕️

Sib64 I’d be down for owning one of these 100%!