ipod radio

notice anything familiar? One is a groundbreaking consumer electronics device released in a range of catchy colours enabling a hugely addictive portable listening experience - the other is the ipod mini. The Regency TR-1 was the first commercially sold portable transistor radio, released in 1954, moving radio away from being a piece of furniture and in to the pockets of youngsters keen to not share their listening experience with their parents. One of the early advertising slogans ran "See it! Hear it! Get it!" - not to be confused with the GWR radio music download service (2005) "Hear it, Buy it, Burn it!" Around 25,000 people viewed this image (before it was deleted by flickr due to an issue over copyright of one of the images), maybe another form of nostalgia now that the ipod nano is on sale....

Credits: silver, blue and green regency TR-1's courtesy Dr Steve Reyer .. Pink TR-1 courtesy Eric Wrobbel . All ipod mini pics my own. Inspiration from a speech given by Rob Freeman at this year's IBC (2005).

Anyone interested in the design and details of the original Regency TR-1 will find that info in the book "The regency TR-1 Family". The image of the pink Regency used here was taken from "American Shirt Pocket Transistor Radios". Both books are sold exclusively by the author here

The original image was picked up by BBC news and various blogs.