Tech

Top 5 Gadgets that time forgot!

Published

4 years ago

November 22, 2021

With our lives so dependant on technology sometimes it’s fun to consider where it all began

Have you got any of our top 5 gadgets laying about your house collecting dust, or maybe still being used? Either way there is no denying the impact these bits and bobs had on our day to day – yesterday! Presented by Top Shelf International

#5 CASSETTE TAPES

We all remember the humble cassette tape.

These compact cassettes were a stand out for their time. A revolutionary way to listen to your music on the go either in your pocket or in the car.

Before these came along, reel-to-reel audio tech was generally reserved for professionals who worked in radio stations.

Who doesn’t remember rewinding these tapes manually using a pencil.

#4 THE FLOPPY DISC

Floppy Disks continue to play a part in many pieces of software as the save icon!

These colourful little squares accompanied computer users for decades as the main portable storage method. Playing host too many of the original computer games and other utility programs.

IBM brought us the first floppy discs which became available in 1971 to the market. These read-only 8-inch disks stored 80 kB of data which ain’t much by today’s standards with tiny cards holding terabytes of files.

Floppy discs also became the mcguffin device for a host of popular cartoons of the 90s. Apparently holding nuclear launch codes or government secrets.

#3 CRT TELEVISIONS

If you ever dropped one of these on your toe you would certainly know about it.

Cathode ray tube televisions were the standard for decades and these bulky boxes of glass and technology have come a long way since. Interestingly enough there is a large community of collectors and enthusiasts who celebrate the quality these screens produce.

Almost all computer monitors and televisions were CRT units, until LCD and plasma screens started being used. The cathode ray tube was originally used as an oscilloscope which is a machine used to show waves and later showed us …shows!

#2 NOKIA’S 3310 MOBILE PHONE

The Nokia 3310 celebrates its 21st birthday this year. And remains almost impossible to destroy.

This little communication powerhouse was released in 1 September 2000 and managed to sell 126 million units.

Many were lucky enough to enjoy the convenience of a mobile with this model being their first. The instant messaging of the 3310 allowed for messages much larger than the size of a standard SMS to be sent.

The joy of looking up how to produce your own ringtones was also a lot of fun with the video game SNAKE getting us through many public transport trips.

#1 THE APPLE IPOD

A familiar sight for fans of Apple with the first Generation Ipod.

This gadget truly changed the way we download, share and listen to music.

The iPod 1G is the only iPod ever to have a physically-movable scroll wheel rather than the touch models we later got – which were later removed all together.

With 5GB of usable space users could enjoy up to 1000 CD-quality songs.

Many brands were quick to produce their own MP3 players and music devices that would replace the beloved music CD, even Microsoft later competed with their Zune breed of music player.

Tech

TSMC posts record profits on AI chip boom

TSMC posts record Q4 profit, driven by strong chip demand, exceeding predictions and signaling market dominance.

Published

5 days ago

January 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

TSMC posts record Q4 profit, driven by strong chip demand, exceeding predictions and signaling market dominance.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has posted a record net profit for the fourth quarter, driven by strong demand for advanced chips.

Net profit surged 35% year-on-year, exceeding analyst expectations and signalling a dominant position in the semiconductor market.

Quarterly revenue also rose 20.5% compared to last year, supported by robust sales in AI and high-performance computing segments. The company’s success reflects the growing global appetite for cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

Looking ahead, TSMC plans to ramp up capital expenditure, projecting investments of up to $56 billion in 2026. The positive results have sparked an upbeat reaction across global markets, highlighting TSMC’s influence in the tech sector.

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#TSMC #Semiconductors #AIChips #TechNews #HighPerformanceComputing #StockMarket #QuarterlyEarnings #TechInvesting

Tech

X restricts Grok AI as global backlash grows

X restricts Grok AI from creating sexualized images amid global backlash and regulatory concerns, aligning with UK guidelines.

Published

6 days ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

X restricts Grok AI from creating sexualized images amid global backlash and regulatory concerns, aligning with UK guidelines.

X has announced new restrictions on its Grok AI chatbot, preventing it from generating sexualized images of women amid mounting criticism and regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

The move comes after concerns over non-consensual image manipulation sparked widespread backlash from users, advocacy groups, and authorities.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the platform’s latest changes align with British law, as Ofcom launches a formal investigation to determine whether X has violated the Online Safety Act.

Regulators are closely monitoring the situation, highlighting growing global concerns about the ethical use of AI in image generation. Critics have argued that X’s initial measures were insufficient and did not adequately address the risks associated with sexualized AI content.

The controversy has also prompted action in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Grok entirely, citing the platform’s potential to generate inappropriate content.

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#GrokAI #XPlatform #AIRegulation #OnlineSafety #KeirStarmer #AIControversy #TechNews #DigitalEthics

Tech

AI drives memory prices higher as SK hynix and TSMC expand

Explore the rising global memory market driven by AI demand and hear insights from Brad Gastwirth on industry trends.

Published

7 days ago

January 14, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Explore the rising global memory market driven by AI demand and hear insights from Brad Gastwirth on industry trends.

The global memory market is on the rise, with prices climbing steadily thanks to booming AI infrastructure demand.

Companies like SK hynix and TSMC are investing heavily in advanced packaging and new facilities to meet this unprecedented growth.

We speak with Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies about the forces behind this upward momentum. From the difference between AI-driven and consumer-driven demand to the increasing memory requirements per AI system, Brad breaks down the trends shaping the industry.

We also explore the implications of lean DRAM and NAND inventories, disciplined supply growth, and the challenges of expanding packaging capacity versus wafer fabrication. Tune in to understand why incremental demand surprises can have a huge impact on memory pricing.

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#AIMemory #SKHynix #TSMC #TechInvesting #MemoryMarket #AIInfrastructure #Semiconductors #TickerNews