Cassette

We saw a ton of cameras at CES, but none that looked like the Casio Tryx. Made for the social set who like to take self-portraits with friends (you know who you are), this camera is easy to hold at just about any angle thanks to its swiveling and twisting body. Coming with a 12MP lens and full 1080p HD recording capabilities, this camera is lightweight and super sleek. Check out the details in the video below, but see it in all its movable glory in a behind-the-scenes video we posted on our Facebook page.

CES is just days away, and tech companies are champing at the bit to reveal their gadget goodies ahead of the huge Las Vegas expo. Samsung was first out of the gate with its new HMX-Q10 camcorder, which is light, ultra-portable, and comes stocked with some great features.

The tiny Q10 can shoot 1080i HD video and has a flip-open 2.7mm touchscreen that holds all of the controls. Best part is, that little touchscreen control panel is always oriented right-side up, so lefties can flip the camcorder upside down and still see what they're doing. Other features include 4.9MP stills, expandable SDHC memory card, and up to 34 hours of filming time, which makes it perfect for travelers, soccer moms, and vloggers alike. Set for a February 2011 release, expect to throw down $300 for this compact camcorder.

Although a pocket-sized camcorder is perfect for seasonal vacations, they can come in handy all year-round which makes them the perfect holiday gift for a budding videographer. This year, I've been especially sweet on the Kodak Playsport HD, but there's been some other players that caught my eye as well — the Samsung E10 for example. It's a sleek looking camcorder, which not only boasts an HDMI out, USB connector, and 1920x1080 full-HD video capture, but a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD screen to boot.

Want to know how these, along with the Sony Bloggie and Flip SlideHD camcorders rank? Check out all the stats, and my take on which one you should add to your wish lists after the break.

I'm loving all of the cassette tape-themed finds this year (like this awesome holiday card), and here are two more fun finds perfect for a cassette-lover's desk.

The Here's My Demo Tape Dispenser ($15) and Dub Duty Keepsake Box ($16) would make cute, inexpensive gifts, too. Both are made from dark stained wood and painted with colorful cassette designs, and both are absolutely adorable.

When I peruse Etsy (which is often), I always end up scoring something awesome. Case in point: this Cassette Tape Sticker Pack ($9). I mean, I didn't know I needed vinyl cassette tape stickers that are "ever so slightly larger" than the real thing, but once I saw them, I had to have them.

But taking a cruise around the rest of Beepart's shop, I found a treasure trove of vinyl goodness that you can adhere to your walls, your laptop, even your Trapper Keeper. I've picked out some of my faves in the retro geek/robot categories below. Check them out, and I dare you to try to not click "Buy."

It seems that pint-sized digital camcorders are all the rage lately, so it's cool to see that some companies are putting their products to good use. Flip Video unveiled a few new moustache designs for its Ultra, Mino, and SlideHD cameras in honor of Movember, a charity that encourages men to grow moustaches in the month of November in order to raise money for men's health and prevention of cancer.

The cameras, which range in price from $149 to $249, come with all the usual specs of a Flip camcorder that you've come to know and love. Oh, and ladies, it's probably easier if you support your favorite man by grabbing one of these, instead of attempting to grow a 'stache of your own. If you try the latter, it may be a cold Movember, indeed.

As a child of the '80s and '90s, I love that the mixtape will not die. The Walkman may be dead but there are plenty of cassette-themed finds to go around . . . these cute cards included!

Spread the retro love this holiday season with these Mix Tape Holiday Cards ($15 for 8 cards). The outside features a cassette tape illustration and on the inside, a reminder to "get into the holiday groove."

Eight fun greeting cards come with bright red festive envelopes for your holiday greeting merriment.

Last week, Sony announced it would be ceasing production of its cassette Walkman after 30 years. The original Walkman, which debuted in 1979, sold over 200 million units in its history.

Since then, the Walkman has given its name to many Sony personal, portable players like this waterproof model perfect for working out and the latest colorful release, currently only available in Japan.

Obviously, the demand for cassette players is gone, much less the demand for a portable cassette player weighing ten times as much as a typical portable digital music player. It's certainly become an icon in gadget history, even inspiring at least one modern MP3 player's design, not to mention its effects on headphone design. Still, it's always a sad day when a beloved gadget goes the way of the 8-track. Perhaps the Walkman will some day make a comeback similar to the record player.

Source: Flickr User edvvc