Retro is Back! Here’s How to Get the Latest Off-the-Grid Gadgets

In case you haven’t noticed, a new trend is emerging where people are actually rejecting the super-connected, hyperfast tech world we’re currently living in. So much so that people are reverting back to analogue and retro systems, whether it be vinyl record players, old iPods, or even VHS and DVD players. Of course, it’s not always so easy to find these things, but a few new tech products on the market are actually channelling that simpler, retro appeal, and making going back to physical media a whole lot easier. So, while it might sound like a contradiction, getting some of the latest gadgets can help you ‘disconnect’ from the always-online, often fatiguing world of technology.

Snowsky Echo Nano ($50) – Get it via Postbox Courier

Inspired by 2000s USB MP3 players, the Snowsky Echo Nano is a simple and straightforward music player that cuts out the noise. There are intentionally no apps (so no iTunes or Spotify), and instead it plays music via Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC. This enables playing high-resolution audio, with native DSD decoding alongside support for WAV, FLAC, APE, MP3, M4A and OGG formats. It also has a 3.5mm single-ended headphone jack for old-school headphone listeners (Bluetooth can be a pain), and can take Micro SD cards up to 256 GBs.

You might ask “why?”. Well, many people are finding that listening to music on their phones is not always the most conducive way to do it. Amongst getting distracted, algorithm-based streaming sites also put you in a cycle of playlists and one-off songs, and the art of listening to albums from start to finish seems to be a thing of the past. Or, it was, at least. On top of that, at times, you also just want to be disconnected from a potential phone call or distraction that your phone always provides. They’re pretty cheap in the US, and you can order one and get it delivered to SA using Postbox Courier.

Oh, and if you’re wondering how you get music these days, you either rip from your existing CDs or use Bandcamp or Amazon Music to purchase albums. You’ll then get access to the MP3 files, which you drag onto your Echo Nano’s storage.

Retro game consoles

A recent video I saw warmed my heart. A young boy who, for months, had saved up all his pocket money, went into a retro gaming store and bought a Nintendo NES console. Here’s a boy who wasn’t even born in that gaming era, using his cash to buy a 1980s video game console. Priceless.

 

He’s not alone, though, as many people are looking to consoles of yesteryear to reignite their love for gaming, especially in an era where consumers are being told that they don’t own any of their games on their modern consoles, and are simply “licensing” them. Owning and treasuring video games seems to be a thing of the past, but thankfully, you can still find older gaming machines, like the Playstation 2, NES, Sega Megadrive, or GameCube, on the likes of eBay and retro gaming resellers around the world. And using Postbox Courier, you can get them to SA with ease.

Dumb Phones

Social media has changed our world, but even the most ardent supporter will admit that it can be addictive. Now, using social media to connect with friends, catch up on some news, and watch a video or two is fine, but there’s no doubt that we’re all spending way too much time on our phones.

Due to this, the use of minimalist phones has begun to boom, with many opting for simplified and streamlined devices for their daily use, removing themselves from the endless doomscrolling and casino-like distractions that many smartphone brands and app companies incorporate. Of course, you still need some sort of connectivity, so we previously rounded up 3 smart-yet-simple phone options to give you a break from the frantic and distracting world of modern phones.

Getting minimalist or retro tech in South Africa?

While we do get a lot of great tech in South Africa, the reality is that many of these innovative brands only ship in the US and key regions. But, we’ve got you covered: you can use Postbox Courier to get anything from the US to South Africa, irrespective of shipping constraints.

Create a free account

All you need to do is sign-up with Postbox Courier and you’ll get your own personal address allocated to you in the US, UK, or other regional depots, then allowing you to use that address when purchasing from US, UK, or other international stores. If they only ship locally in the UK or US, well, you now have a local address — winning! Postbox Courier will then forward the parcel(s) from your remote depot to your doorstep in South Africa.

You’ll also be able to save money, and this is because parcel forwarding companies like Postbox Courier often have local and international courier partners, allowing for the best rates for express shipping, something individual shops won’t be able to offer you.

Pssst, parcel consolidation saves you money

On top of getting items you wouldn’t usually have access to, Postbox Courier also offers parcel consolidation. This is extremely beneficial for people who shop with multiple retailers or want to bundle a number of international orders into one larger package, in order to save costs by doing multiple shipments.

Postbox Courier offers free package consolidation, which is even better and then just leaves you with the singular shipping cost alone.

So, if you have your heart set on something you can’t buy without a US shipping address, then check out Postbox Courier, sign-up for free, and get your dedicated address in New York, London, or in many other key spots around the world. Then, you can shop, ship your goods there, and pay based on your orders to get the items back to South Africa.