Retro Thing

Hacking The NES

Raph has compiled a great page of hacks for the venerable old NES. Some of them – like a remote reset button, stereo sound output and blue power LED – are fairly straightforward. Others, such as his programmable cartridge mod, are pure Ninja.

The most impressive hack of all is the modified NES that runs the arcade version of Super Mario Bros. This one required a bit of palette remapping and some hardware tweaking. It works because the old Unisystem VS arcade motherboard is basically the equivalent of two NES home machines on a single board, with the game stored in on-board ROM.

Raph's NES Stuff Page

Exidy Sorcerer: The 8-Track Computer

The Zilog Z-80 powered Sorcerer was built by arcade game maker Exidy. It was short-lived and fairly unremarkable, except for one thing -- it was the first home computer with a ROM cartridge port for instant program access (most home users still struggled with error-prone cassette tape storage in the late 1970s).

The designers cleverly repurposed 8-track tape shells to house the cartridge circuit board and EPROM chips ( to reduce development costs, no doubt) and a Microsoft BASIC cartridge was included with every unit.

The Sorcerer retailed for $895 with 8K RAM and an expansion chassis was available to allow the use of S-100 expansion boards. The machine ran the CP/M operating system, which was popular with hardcore hobbyists and business users. It generated a 64 x 30 character monochrome display, with a fairly impressive 512×240 graphic mode.

Exidy walked away from the home computer market in 1980, unable to compete with machines like the Apple ][, which offered color graphics and built-in expansion (including a remarkably affordable floppy drive designed by Steve Wozniak).

The Sorcerer and other classics are featured in Maximum PC's Dawn of the Personal Computer: From Altair to the IBM PC

Vintage 1969 Zodiac Posters

Leslie Simboli writes, "In 1969, Poster Prints commissioned my parents (a couple who work together as a graphic design team) to create a line of very graphically strong and colorful zodiac posters, which were sold worldwide. They are very cool, have great appeal and pop in any room.

A few years ago, Paul Smith Ltd., a leading fashion designer based in the UK, found the posters on a website in California. They were used for a line of casual clothing and were featured on the Neiman Marcus website."

Leslie is in the process of designing a website for these posters and the other designs her parents have created over the decades. In the meantime, you can buy eleven signs of the zodiac on Etsy (Gemini is in short supply). Her father Joe also created several posters protesting the Vietnam war that are as relevant today as they were back in the seventies.

Retro Zodiac Posters on Etsy

BigTrak Whirrs Back From The Grave

BigTrak is back. After inspiring a generation of impressionable kids to create a series of unmanned exploration vehicles for use on Mars, the BigTrak family has returned to its simple roots.

Junior is the first in a new generation of programmable six-wheeled vehicles. For those who skipped the 80s, the little tank has a built-in memory that allows you to program a series of up to 32 moves moves -- forward, left, bleep loudly, more forward, even more forward, followed by crashing loudly down the stairs.

BigTrak Jr will retail for around $40 when it's introduced early this summer. A rocket launcher and digital camera attachment will follow later.

BigTrak Makes A Comeback [Pocket-lint]

Retro Thing Mystery Countdown

What's this? Those Retro Thing rapscallions ravaging their readers with a rip-roaring macro-focus riddle? What could it be? Have they finally perfected their time machine? Has James figured out a way to get finally get classic retro cars to run on pure salad oil? Or perhaps Bohus has computed the exact formula for a controlled matter implosion so that he can finally fit all that retro stuff in his storage locker?

We're just a few days from the unveiling of the latest from Retro Thing's smoke-filled labs... Stay tuned, Retro readers!

Retro Nirvana: Owl City's Firefly Video

Paul C dropped us a note a couple of days ago, "I'm a faithful reader of your site and thought you'd enjoy this video of Owl City's Firefly. It's chock full of retro robots, toys and gadgets."

Yup, the video is definitely fun. Wish I could say the same about the Melodyne pitch mangling that's slathered all over every single vocal utterance. Ugh.

Exploring The Soviet Arcade Games Museum

Robin Lee writes, "It’s almost 8:15 in the evening when we arrive at an anonymous building on the corner of Parkovaya Street. A small plaque on the wall confirms this is the right place – Moscow State Technical University.

Two uniformed security guards look up as we enter. My interpreter, Elena, tells them we are here to see the museum. One of them trots off down the stairs, and returns moments later with our host. He’s a young guy, wearing a striped shirt and with the kind of hair one stereotypically associates with a real boffin. His name is Maxim Pinigin, and he leads us down a dark stairwell into the basement, and swings open a heavy metal door.

I step into the room beyond, and find myself surrounded by history. This is the Soviet Arcade Games Museum, where a small group of dedicated amateurs has collected a number of arcade machines dating from the late seventies..."

Read the rest of Inside The Soviet Arcade Games Museum at Edge.

Atari Flashback 2+ Available For Pre-Order

Atari's updated Flashback 2+ is available for pre-order on the Atari site with a free t-shirt. For those new to the party, the Flashback 2+ is a single-chip recreation of the original 2600 hardware that runs almost like the original. The controllers are modern versions of the old spasm-inducing 2600 joysticks, too. You can even attach vintage Atari paddles and other accessories.

The miniature console includes an updated collection of 42 classic 2600 games. Activision's Pitfall and River Raid, Atari Climber and Caverns of Mars were removed for licensing reasons. That left room for a new Sports Arena menu including Double Dunk, RS Boxing, RS Soccer, Super Baseball and Super Football. Several games have been updated (Lunar Lander and Yars' Return) and there's a European PAL version of the design waiting in the wings if Atari thinks the demand is there.

The truly awesome part?; The Flashback 2+ kinda supports old (and new) Atari 2600 cartridges. You'll notice that it doesn't have a cartridge slot, but if you open the case (voiding your warranty, of course) you'll discover the appropriate circuity already on the circuit board. All you have to do is cut a couple of solder traces, wire in a suitable cartridge header, and add a switch to let you select between internal games or the cart.  Here's Curt Vendel's online how-to guide for the cartridge hack.

Atari Flashback 2+ Preorder Page [thanks to Jason and everyone else for emailing the news...]

Canada's National Film Board Collection Goes HD

The National Film Board of Canada is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their online screening room by going HD, with 17 stunning High Definition films.

Matthew Forsythe says, "What an amazing year it has been for the NFB. It’s been exactly one year since we launched the NFB Screening Room – we wanted to make the NFB more accessible to Canadians and the world and the response has been overwhelming and exceeded our expectations in every way."

Their online library now includes almost 1,500 titles. The site has served 3.7 million online film views since launch, with 41% coming from outside Canada. All in all, a fantastic way to share a brilliant Canadian film collection with the world.

One year after putting NFB films online – Here are the stats

The World's Most Important 6 Second Drum Loop

It's not new, but Nate Harrision's six-year-old look at one of the most sampled drum beats in the world is still worth a listen.

mobius32 explains, "This fascinating, brilliant 20-minute video narrates the history of the 'Amen Break,' a six-second drum sample from the b-side of a chart-topping single from 1969. This sample was used extensively in early hip hop and sample-based music, and became the basis for drum-and-bass and jungle music -- a six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures. Nate Harrison's 2004 video is a meditation on the ownership of culture, the nature of art and creativity, and the history of a remarkable music clip."

Video explains the world's most important 6-sec drum loop [YouTube]

Bloc-Alarm - Heighten Security With Coppery Doorstop Alarm

Here's an entirely hypothetical situation. Imagine a couple who never understood why "privacy" might be important to their offspring. When their son reached high school age in the 80's, he would undoubtedly be up to no good, right? This rapscallion had a pretty nefarious track record too.  Editor of the school paper, advanced placement classes, president of Doctor Who club... you know the type. Trouble.

As all good parents know, the most responsible course of action is snap inspections. Countless times bursting into his room would catch the young blaggard curled up with an issue of Model Railroader, or possibly doing his homework. Undoubtedly one day these parents would catch their son at something, and he would be forever grateful for their intrusion and mistrust, right?  After all you can't spell "healthy suspicion" without the word "healthy".

His retaliation was, sadly, quite effective. It didn't demand raised voices or violence. Just two double A batteries. No one knew where he found a 1960's-looking Bloc-Alarm. Then again, he was always a troublesome retro boy finding these forgotten gadgets at garage sales and thrift stores. Likely covered in germs...

This was a doorstop with a difference. Pulling up the metallic copper plate cocked the mechanism. Once placed gently under the door, it was ever vigilant, ever ready (like "Eveready" batteries!  Get it?). Opening the door at whatever speed trips the mechanism, settling off a shrill alarm while also preventing the door from opening. So the Bloc-Alarm both prevents entry, and sounds a frightening alert that makes even determined parents cower before it.

Though it went against the established logic of these parents, the young man vastly preferred the terrifying squeal of 1960's technology to the beneficial shrieking of accusations and a review of how he constantly fell short of everyone's expectations. The noisy doorstop remained a constant companion throughout the boy's high school and even college years. He keeps it close by still as a reminder of how strange and unpleasant things used to be. Hypothetically.

related:
80's fake car alarm
Keep your treasures in your own retro safe
"Beware Of Dog" security sound effects record

Tom Baker Celebrates A Birthday, Cybermen Forget To Send Flowers

Thomas Stewart Baker turns 76 today, which is somewhat odd because he should be well over 900 by now. He's best known for playing the title role in the BBC series Doctor Who from 1974 until 1981 -- the longest regeneration yet. I'm still somewhat sad that BT dropped his voice from their talking text message service, because millions of us (well, hundreds) spent countless hours making his robotic counterpart say juvenile things that he just couldn't say on TV.

Incredibly, 28 years after he left the role, Baker returned to the Who universe in 2009 to record a series of five BBC audiobooks entitled Hornet's Nest. I guess a radio play is the next best thing to owning a time machine in the entertainment business. Happy birthday, Tom!

Tom Baker: The Official Website

British Motorcycle Safety - 1960s Style

Tom, the calm and competent hero of this classic 1960s motorcycle safety film, owns the coolest riding jacket I've ever seen. Sadly, Tom's friend isn't nearly so well dressed. [via Cycle Canada]

Moog's New Taurus Bass Synth

Bob Moog's original Taurus Bass synth was a favorite of Rush, The Police, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Phil Collins, Asia, Weezer and many others. The Taurus has been out of production since 1981, but Moog announced at NAMM 2010 that a new version of  "the fattest synth ever" is slated to hit stores early this year.

The New Taurus Bass Pedals carry a list price of $1995, and less than 1000 will be manufactured. The unit features 13 velocity sensitive bass pedals, a dual oscillator 100% analog synthesis engine, MIDI (standard and bi-directional USB), 4 factory presets and 48 user-programmable patches.

How does it sound? Moog's Cyril Lance reports, "I was skeptical about how many people really wanted a Taurus but I'm used to being wrong about these things! The response was overwhelming and the excitement the announcement generated was incredible.

I began an exhaustive study into every aspect of the Taurus 1 sound engine: measuring, listening, analyzing, and most importantly, trying to get inside what I consider the soul of the instrument. At the same time, we began the process of determining what a new Taurus 3 should be. As most of you know, at Moog we continually strive to create something new and unique while capturing the essence of what Bob started over 50 years ago.

Last week, I sat in the control room of the beautiful Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville with my partners Steve Dunnington and Amos Gaynes and Taurus aficionado Michael Caloroso. We listened critically to Michael's Taurus 1 and our Taurus 3, making sure the T3 shared every detail and nuance of the original.

The results are stunning. The Taurus 3 not only captures the original sounds of the Taurus 1 in full, but instantly expands upon its capabilities and offers many new dimensions to its sonic palette including LFOs, external CVs, and transposable arpeggiators."

It's a niche product, but the New Taurus is a beautiful combination of classic design and modern engineering that should find a home in many musician's rigs. That said, those musicians have far more foot coordination than I.

Learn more about the Taurus Bass Pedals at Moog Music

Sony Universal Remote Inspired By Star Trek?

I still have my 32" CRT Sony television that I bought in the early 90's - one of my first "grown up" purchases. It's a great TV set that still pumps out a great picture (contrast looks great since Sony tinted the glass used in some of their picture tubes to darken their natural neutral grey color) even after nearly 20 years of daily use. I got it at a great price since it was the last one (you know I love a bargain), but the remote was missing. I didn't care much, but the clerk enthused about the "Star Trek clicker".

Sony wanted $50+ for the remote but I cajoled them into sending it gratis. I asked about this Star Trek reference, and the lady on the phone said "yeah, I guess so", but wouldn't say anything more. I had to wait until the RM-Y119 arrived. It was my first universal remote (which I could never get to talk to other devices, as usual), and it did have an unmistakable resemblance to the communicator from the classic Star Trek series. In its closed state, you've got a few large buttons for channel and volume control. Hit the button on the side, and the spring loaded flap swings open to reveal everything else you need to operate the TV. Trek fans often cite flip-open cell phones as being inspired by the communicators from the TV show. Maybe so, but this universal remote would also make Scotty proud.

At the time, remotes were getting more and more complex as the televisions (irritatingly) had fewer and fewer physical controls onboard. This led to larger and more awkward remotes (wait till you see the nightmare that runs my laserdisc player!), but a few companies figured out that the viewer typically only uses a few buttons day to day. The solution I'd seen back then was bundling two separate remotes with each device. One large remote bristling with every kind of knob, and then a much smaller one with a reduced set of controls.

With the trouble that most people have keeping track of a single remote, doubling that number wasn't a popular solution. Not only does Sony's RM-Y119 look slick, but it's an elegant solution to the problem. It's unfortunate that this didn't become the norm. I have a coffee table full of remotes engineered by sadists who only begrudgingly acknowledge potential human interaction. I doubly curse those credit-card sized remotes with the little plastic dimples you pucker top operate (these easy to lose remotes usually accompany appliances rendered useless without their teeny tiny remotes).

The remote control is how we relate with our electronics every day, but it's rare to encounter one that gives any thoughts to ergonomics or aesthetics. This Sony remote solves a number of these problems neatly, and has endured a lot of use in our relationship. Sony has had their share of misses to in the usability department in years before and since, but every once in a while they get it exactly right.

If you'd like to get a Star Trek remote of your own, there was a universal remote in the mid 90's modeled after the phaser gun from "The Next Generation". They turn up on Amazon and Ebay from time to time.

Star Trek remote on Amazon
Star Trek remote on Ebay

related:
Too many buttons on your remote?
Ominous looking Radio Shack remote control extender
Calculator watch + universal remote