Tag: #retro

Nike Air 180 (2024) review On-Feet Ireland

Most of my followers know I am an avid trainer collector as well as a phone collector and I do not review shoes at all but the Nike Air 180 (2024) deserve to be mentioned here as there is lots of tech involved this shoe as was back in 1991 designed by Tinker Hatfield and Bruce Kilgroe when they first came out. We have Leon Witherow and his team to thank for the all new version.

For me this was the ultimate training shoe back in the day but was re released back in 2018 when I had all colourways and cost me a small fortune not only that I had the ankle boot and basketball boot versions too and rumor has they are set to return again with this release being long awaited by fans worldwide and they sold out in minutes and I was lucky to get a pair on launch day.

The 2024 edition of the Nike Air 180 was retooled and 3D scanned and Nike had to go back to their archives to get the shoe back to their OG glory unlike the retro models that came out there was some differences with them mainly the Air Bubble unit in the heel which was half the size of the OG unit meaning less cushioned one would think but these shoes had a psi number attached to them. There is also an updated upper shape and an updated 180-degree visible Air unit which from the bottom does not resemble the 1991 model from my recollection.

The 2024 version of the shoe is part of their cult classics and as Nike says The Cult Classics Collection is a carefully curated line-up of iconic releases that transcend time and style. Each pair carries a story of cultural significance, whether it’s from the past or in the future.

These are iconic like the Nike Air Max 90 range which today is still a shoe we see time and time again in lots of new designs and colourways.

The Air 180 shoes back then were so comfortable and excellent for running however I did find they are not TTS ( True to Size) so a half size up was a better fit after having many pairs it was the way to go, in fact there is only a handful of Nike shoes that fit the same way for me.

With this release I find them as before they fit well look great and stand out an are really comfortable to wear but the only thing is keeping these clean and over time the yellowing of the Air unit might become an issue but time will tell.

Overall Nike has done a good job keeping it OG but never gave us the little bit and pieces in the box as before but thankfully I still have them at hand. You can see more of my collection on Instagram.

See some of our other Nike review

New 2024 Air max wallet 

Nike Air Max BW

Nike Air 180 2018

Video Review 

Air 180 concord 2024

 

 

 

 

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First look at the all new Nokia 3210

 

The all new Nokia 3210 has dropped in and it is a step back in time but with current looks, lightweight with tactile keys and a removable back cover this is half the thickness of the original model which we still have for comparison to give you an idea of what to expect.

Today we will give you a quick first look and unboxing of the revived mobile phone for its 25th anniversary and if you have any questions as always feel free to ask..

Lars Silberbauer, CMO of Human Mobile Devices (HMD), comments: “The Nokia 3210, a cultural icon,  is back at the pinnacle of global dumbphone boom as consumers look to balance their screen time usage with a digital detox.  The Nokia 3210 has simplicity at its core, allowing consumers to be totally present. Forget dumbphone, this is 2024’s fun phone.”

 

The Nokia 3210 – keeping it simple:

  1. Design: back to 1999 retro design for a ‘nostalgia trip’ user experience
  2. Powerful: a long-lasting 1450 mAh 2  battery keeps going for days with up to nine and a half hours of chat
  3. Retro gaming: comes with snake – hit a new high score
  4. Camera: snap away Y2K style with a 2MP Camera
  5. Trimmings: a flash torch
  6. €79 Get yours now at https://www.hmd.com/en_ie/nokia-3210

Read more here

Unboxing Video

 

Menu UI walkthrough

Tech Review – Instax Mini 12 instant camera

I am a huge fan of Instax cameras and some might see it as a niche thing which is fine and due to how powerful our smartphones are today the sales of cameras have dropped over the years but there is still a market out there for all things camera and including retro cameras like Instax from FUJIFILM.

OK OK I say it every time an Instax camera comes in for a review “do you remember when we used to take photos with disposable cameras and so on or even your DSLRs etc and go get them sent off and you could not wait to get the envelope stuff with photos back?” Well do you? Have you changed or picked up a camera from Instax and actually tried to bring back how things used to be like all the retro tech we now are seeing more of?

The latest offering from the company the Mini 12 instant camera is not what I expected at first glance when it comes to the tech side of things using their app and probably because they launched a new app called the Instax Up app the same day which we will review another day but unlike previous cameras this does not require an app to use it to edit photos etc it is just a simple point and shoot camera, with the Instax app you can scan INSTAX prints and store them digitally in one place, Organize photos by category/list views for easy locating, Easily share stored photos and collections via social media or text, Import photos from other INSTAX apps (INSTAX mini LINK, INSTAX Link WIDE etc.) into the INSTAX Up. There is no app for this camera however we are testing today which I thought initially there was and this might make the case for making things easier if you look at it another way.

On testing this camera I found it is ideal for the selfie fan which myself is not someone who posts the likes on a daily basis and it does well mostly so on outdoors and takes decent images as you will see in the video review below, it is on the bulky side however these cameras always have been and certainly will be a talking point when you take it out to get some photos you can hold in your hand.

Specs

Viewfinder
  • Real image finder, 0.37x, with target spot
  • Parallax correction function for close-up mode
Lens
  • 2 components, 2 elements
  • Focal length – f = 60 mm, 1:12.7
  • Shooting range – 0.3 m and beyond (use close-up mode for 0.3 m to 0.5 m)
Exposure
  • Programmed electronic shutter – 1/2 to 1/250 sec. Slow synchro for low light.
  • Sensitivity – Lv 5.0 to 14.5 (ISO 800)
  • Exposure control – Automatic
Flash
  • Constant firing flash (automatic light adjustment), recycle time: 7 seconds or less (when using new batteries)
  • Effective flash range: 0.3 to 2.2 m
Film
  • Film – Fujifilm Instant Colour Film “instax mini” (separately available)
  • Film Size – 86mm x 54mm Picture Size 62mm x 46mm
  • Film Developing Time – Approximately 90 seconds (Varies depending on the ambient temperature)
    Battery Specs
    • Two AA-size alkaline batteries (LR6), capacity: approx. 10 instax mini film packs of 10 exposures each

BUY

Video Review

Flip phone trend and the rise of feature phones – National Retro Day

Essential feature phones are making a comeback with people craving simplicity and a way to escape digital fatigue by going back to basics. Not only that, Y2K and retro trends are showing no sign of slowing in 2023 with Google searches for “Y2K” up and on the rise since 2021 according to the latest report on Gen Z by GWI. Nokia have 4 iconic feature phones from HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones to obsess over this National Retro Day (27th February).

To celebrate all things retro you can claim a 10% discount across all feature phones online at  https://www.nokia.com/phones using the code RETRO from Monday 27th February until Sunday 5th to March 23:59 GMT 2023.

Adam Ferguson, Head of Product Marketing at HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones says

“Gen Z and Millennials are going back to this style of device for a number of reasons. The clamshell design and retro camera aesthetic are all nostalgic of the 90s and Y2K era that has been so popular of late. Plus, with SMS and calls only, they are great for going back to basics, if you want to reduce screen time and take a digital detox. The iconic Nokia 3310 is still a perennial favourite given its iconic shape and it has that element of fun and feel good about it with classic features such as Snake.”

Nokia 2660 Flip

Starting at €74.99 RRP

Iconic flip design with a big display, big buttons, and zoomed-in interface.

Made of tough polycarbonate with a selection of stylish colours including red, black and blue.

Battery for weeks and tens of thousands of flip cycles endured to ensure superior durability, so you can go about your day with confidence and keep your phone for years.

Listen to FM Radio through earphones or the hands-free speaker and enjoy your favourite sport, music or broadcasts at home or on the move.

 

Nokia 8210

Starting at €74.99 RRP

Fall back in love with the return of an icon – the Nokia 8210 4G is reimagined for a modern-day audience and provides a timeless classic for today’s retro lovers.

The Nokia 8210 4G is inspired by the classic feature phone, but is now equipped with contemporary features including in-built MP3 player, wireless and wired FM radio, and a camera to capture life’s best bits – alongside a slice of retro courtesy of fan-favourite games like ‘Snake’.

A light and compact design seamlessly carries a massive battery which allows for longer conversations and weeks of standby so users can call, text, and go offline with confidence.

Nokia 5710 XpressAudio

Starting at €84.99 RRP

A completely unique device, this innovative feature phone features built-in wireless earbuds housed beneath a sleek and robust slider on the back of the phone saving you space in your pocket and letting you charge on the go.

A unique and stylish design – available in white/red and black/red colour combinations.

Dedicated music buttons make playback easy, the in-built MP3 player stores thousands of your songs, and wireless FM radio keeps you in the loop at home or on the move.

The big 1450 mAh battery  delivers even longer talk time and playback time and lasts for weeks in standby.

Nokia 3310

Starting at €59.99 RRP

  • An iconic phone, re-designed for today with a reimagined rounded form in a selection of classic colours.
  • Remember when you could leave the house without a charger? Well, with the new Nokia 3310, you can. Talk all day or leave on standby for up to 31 days with the long-lasting battery.
  • Beat your high score with the legendary Snake game, updated for the colour screens.

Tech Review – Edifier MP230 bluetooth speaker

The latest speaker from Edifier the M230/MP230 may look old, indeed it is a throwback to 50s and 60s with a wooden finish that looks really cool and not only that the finish is robust and clean and it is in fact made with MDF. At first glance you may also notice the keys are again a throwback with a piano key design which works really well and once more these keys work flawlessly and look cool.

I have a house full of speakers and a surround system but since this little speaker came into the house everyone will not leave it alone, they pick it up ask me about it then I tell them and once the sound is turned on they are amazed at the punch it gives and in short for now has made my more expensive home set-up redundant. Most of my friends and family are not really tech adopters that is until they come into my place and this little speaker has garnered more attention than anything else here that is worth ten times the value so this for me makes an interesting point.

Retro products have been on the comeback for years and there is plenty out there but having said that most is cheap tacky looking stuff made with plastic and stickers whereas this aint it is a superbly built and finished product with all the features you require in a speaker.

On the rear of the speaker is the ports and not only that it can take and SD card too so if you have one with music on it you are laughing, I do but also use my phone to connect via bluetooth and the sound is just the same and when it comes to sound prepare to be amazed. For those who enjoy speakers some will know how a product is finished and the materials it is made from does make a difference.

The keys on the front are a joy to use where you have all your controls simply laid out, you can play/pause skip/reverse tracks here and swap modes and also take your calls on it if you desire to do so.

When it comes to sound it sounds great cutting it short the bass is excellent so for bass fans this is for you, highs lows and mids are there and for all music genres this covers it all and the sound is not confined to one spot like some speakers it circulates a large area and easily fills a large room and is ideal for your back garden or bringing to a picnic for example you will not be disappointed either way on the audio experience

Main Features:

  • Stereo acoustic system composed of two 48mm full-range drivers and integrated large double passive radiator
  • MDF wooden enclosure reduces acoustic resonance
  • 2600mAh large battery capacity supports up to 16 hours of music playback under Bluetooth connection
  • Class-D digital amplifier with 10W+10W RMS power output
  • Bluetooth V5.0 ensures stable connection
  • Multiple inputs: AUX, sound card and TF card
  • Retro design with easy button control

BUY

Video Link