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Back in my day, it wasn’t exactly affordable to give each kid in the family the equivalent of an iPhone (which back then, would probably have been a pager). We had to make do with low-tech electronic toys that mimicked the real thing.
But what am I talking about — we had to make due? Pssht, we were overjoyed with our “high-tech” Yak Baks and beeping Tamagotchis. And don’t even get me started on my first Discman. Pretty sure I nestled that thing into a homemade crib every night before bed, the sounds of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” still wafting from the headphones.
Here’s a tribute to our 16 favorite tech toys from the ’90s, which if you asked us back then, were just about the most advanced gadgets on the planet — or in the Matrix. Whatever.
Article from: http://mashable.com/2012/10/03/90s-high-tech-gadgets/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box7733
Let us know which ones you had!!
But what am I talking about — we had to make due? Pssht, we were overjoyed with our “high-tech” Yak Baks and beeping Tamagotchis. And don’t even get me started on my first Discman. Pretty sure I nestled that thing into a homemade crib every night before bed, the sounds of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” still wafting from the headphones.
Here’s a tribute to our 16 favorite tech toys from the ’90s, which if you asked us back then, were just about the most advanced gadgets on the planet — or in the Matrix. Whatever.
1. Talkboy
First used by Kevin McAllister as a prop in the hit film Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (heard of it?), the Talkboy was later released in 1993 to tween consumers everywhere. Manufactured by TIGER, the Talkboy functioned as a simple handheld cassette player with attached microphone, allowing for instant playback.
One of the coolest features was the fast/slow switch, which sped up or slowed playback, causing pitch distortion. In other words, you either sounded like a demon or a caffeinated chipmunk.
Watch the commercial here.
One of the coolest features was the fast/slow switch, which sped up or slowed playback, causing pitch distortion. In other words, you either sounded like a demon or a caffeinated chipmunk.
Watch the commercial here.
2. Yak Bak
Intended as a more compact, inexpensive version of the Talkboy, Yak Bak was developed by Yes! Gear in the mid-'90s. The name of the handheld device essentially signaled its two functions: Users pressed the "Say" button to record six seconds of voice or sound, then pressed "Play" to repeat the recording.
Hours of fun? More like minutes.
Watch the commercial here.
Hours of fun? More like minutes.
Watch the commercial here.
3. Discman
Although Sony debuted the first portable CD player in 1984 (at a cost of $350), it wasn't until CDs became ultra-mainstream in the '90s that Discman took off.
Although the devices skipped constantly at every bump in the road, we loved them nonetheless.
Watch the commercial here.
Although the devices skipped constantly at every bump in the road, we loved them nonetheless.
Watch the commercial here.
4. TIGER Handheld LCD Games
We've come to the conclusion that TIGER manufactured nearly every electronic toy in our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired childhood bedrooms.
Think about it, man: Furby, Giga Pets and even Lazer Tag.
Remember these dope pop culture-themed handheld games? TIGER licensed with franchises and production companies such as Star Wars, Dinsey, Sega and Universal Pictures to produce dozens of different versions of the device. Even though they were essentially the poor man's Gameboy, these LCD screens entertained us for hours.
Watch the commercial here.
Think about it, man: Furby, Giga Pets and even Lazer Tag.
Remember these dope pop culture-themed handheld games? TIGER licensed with franchises and production companies such as Star Wars, Dinsey, Sega and Universal Pictures to produce dozens of different versions of the device. Even though they were essentially the poor man's Gameboy, these LCD screens entertained us for hours.
Watch the commercial here.
5. Power Wheels Barbie Jeep
Raise your hand if you drove your boyfriend around the cul-de-sac in this sweet ride every day after pre-school. Anyone? Just me?
Power Wheels manufactured these beauties in partnership with Jeep so driver's license-deficient tots everywhere could feel all grown up.
Toys R Us still sells an updated version today, and surprisingly, it doesn't look too different. Why mess with a good thing?
Watch the commercial here.
Power Wheels manufactured these beauties in partnership with Jeep so driver's license-deficient tots everywhere could feel all grown up.
Toys R Us still sells an updated version today, and surprisingly, it doesn't look too different. Why mess with a good thing?
Watch the commercial here.
6. Tamagotchi
Just like the contemporary Android/iPhone rivalry, seventh grade meant making huge digital decisions: Tamagotchi, Giga Pet or Nano Pet.
The original Tamagotchi was manufactured by Bandai in Japan in 1996. The handheld digital pet was an instant sensation — soon, kids worldwide demanded multiple pets (76 million units have been sold since its release).
But junior high teachers reacted by implementing super strict and lame classroom bans on the devices, which caused our pets to die from malnourishment. Talk about teenage angst.
Watch a Giga Pet commercial here.
The original Tamagotchi was manufactured by Bandai in Japan in 1996. The handheld digital pet was an instant sensation — soon, kids worldwide demanded multiple pets (76 million units have been sold since its release).
But junior high teachers reacted by implementing super strict and lame classroom bans on the devices, which caused our pets to die from malnourishment. Talk about teenage angst.
Watch a Giga Pet commercial here.
7. Easy Bake Oven
Originally introduced in 1963 by Kenner, the toy oven didn't truly take off until the early '90s, when Hasbro took over and introduced an updated product. Until 2003, the oven baked pastries with only an incandescent light bulb, which has since been replaced with a heating element.
Fun fact: Did you know Hasbro released a version for boys in 2002? It was called the "Queasy Bake Cookerator" (arguably the worst product name in history) and baked cakes, which boys could top with "dirt," "gravel" and "worms." Oh, and the cakes turned your mouth green. Vomit.
Watch the commercial here.
Fun fact: Did you know Hasbro released a version for boys in 2002? It was called the "Queasy Bake Cookerator" (arguably the worst product name in history) and baked cakes, which boys could top with "dirt," "gravel" and "worms." Oh, and the cakes turned your mouth green. Vomit.
Watch the commercial here.
8. Dream Phone Board Game
Milton Bradley released the Electronic Dream Phone board game 1991, around the same time people began taking mobile phones seriously.
The object of the game was to find out which boy had a crush on you by dialing "phone numbers" and receiving clues from his friends. Using process of elimination, you'd be able to discover which hunk had the hots for you. Tee hee hee!
Watch the commercial here.
The object of the game was to find out which boy had a crush on you by dialing "phone numbers" and receiving clues from his friends. Using process of elimination, you'd be able to discover which hunk had the hots for you. Tee hee hee!
Watch the commercial here.
9. Pocket Locker
The Pocket Locker is one of the more obscure items on our list. It seems teen girls weren't eager to exercise their electronic thumbs with this address book organizer, released in 1995 by Sharp.
It wasn't until PalmPilots and PDAs that people took a widespread interest in personal/portable electronic organization.
It wasn't until PalmPilots and PDAs that people took a widespread interest in personal/portable electronic organization.
10. Sound Bites Lollipop
I begged my mom to buy me a Sound Bite one fifth grade evening as we browsed for a VHS at Blockbuster. Soon after, my mind was blown.
The battery-operated device sent vibrations through the lollipop stick, so when you bit down on the candy, you could hear music inside your head. It was like a transcendental, private rock concert.
Be sure to catch the commercial here (featuring child actor Danny Tamberelli, Summer Sanders and a young John Elway).
The battery-operated device sent vibrations through the lollipop stick, so when you bit down on the candy, you could hear music inside your head. It was like a transcendental, private rock concert.
Be sure to catch the commercial here (featuring child actor Danny Tamberelli, Summer Sanders and a young John Elway).
11. Girltech Password Journal
First released in the '90s, the Password Journal is still popular today. The toy essentially locked your journal and tiny keepsakes in a box, which could only be accessed via a voice recognition password. Boys, keep out!
Watch the commercial here.
Watch the commercial here.
12. VideoNow
Released by TIGER, the first VideoNow device used 4-inch (108mm) PVD discs, which it played in black and white. The small discs only played 30 minutes-worth of content, about the same length as most children's shows.
But according to reports, the device featured limited skip protection and a small screen, which may be why it never enjoyed blockbuster success.
Watch the commercial here.
But according to reports, the device featured limited skip protection and a small screen, which may be why it never enjoyed blockbuster success.
Watch the commercial here.
13. HitClips
Similar to the solid-state memory cards used in digital cameras, HitClips ($3.99) played one-minute clips of popular songs on tiny devices manufactured by TIGER (about $20). The company grossed $80 million on the product.
McDonald's first introduced HitClips as a promotional initiative. And who were the first artists to jump on board? Why, Britney Spears and 'N Sync, the kings and queen of Millennial pop culture.
Soon school kids were collecting and trading HitClips — much like the Pokemon cards of the same timeframe.
Watch the commercial here.
McDonald's first introduced HitClips as a promotional initiative. And who were the first artists to jump on board? Why, Britney Spears and 'N Sync, the kings and queen of Millennial pop culture.
Soon school kids were collecting and trading HitClips — much like the Pokemon cards of the same timeframe.
Watch the commercial here.
14. Clueless Hands-Free Phone
Is that a pink calculator? As if! It's the Clueless Hands-Free Phone.
Manufactured by TIGER (of course), you could use the phone as either a handset or a hands-free version by detaching the earpiece. Plus, it featured a five-position voice morphing effect, so you could prank call the cutest boys in your class.
Watch a review (which we hope is a parody) here.
Manufactured by TIGER (of course), you could use the phone as either a handset or a hands-free version by detaching the earpiece. Plus, it featured a five-position voice morphing effect, so you could prank call the cutest boys in your class.
Watch a review (which we hope is a parody) here.
15. Poo-Chi
After Furby's success, TIGER introduced Poo-Chi, a robotic dog that responded to external sensors. It walked, sat up and laid down, and displayed emotions with changing LED eyes. The dog barked and sang six pre-recorded songs.
Soon, the line extended to Meow-Chi (cats), Chirpy-Chi (birds) and Dino-Chi (we'll let you guess that one). However, all Chis were discontinued in 2002.
Watch the commercial here.
Soon, the line extended to Meow-Chi (cats), Chirpy-Chi (birds) and Dino-Chi (we'll let you guess that one). However, all Chis were discontinued in 2002.
Watch the commercial here.
16. Skip It
You may not have realized, but the original Skip-It debuted in the 1980s. However, once TIGER added a mechanical counter that recorded the number of rotations, Skip-It's sales doubled in the '90s.
Either kids are less active nowadays, or the younger generation doesn't know how to have fun, because Skip-Its were discontinued in 2009.
Watch the commercial here.
Either kids are less active nowadays, or the younger generation doesn't know how to have fun, because Skip-Its were discontinued in 2009.
Watch the commercial here.
Article from: http://mashable.com/2012/10/03/90s-high-tech-gadgets/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box7733
Let us know which ones you had!!
Love my Discman! was pumped when my parents got me one lol. I had yak bak, tiger LCD game and a tamagochi lol