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From TR-1 to iPod mini

Posted by Hemos on from the the-more-things-change dept.

karvind writes "BBC is running an interesting scoop on first transistor radio which has fair resemblance to iPod mini. The Regency TR-1 transistor radio, made in 1954, had a decent claim to be a genuine piece of innovation, however. It was, by popular agreement, the world's first commercially sold transistor pocket radio. Incidently technology watcher John Ousby realised the modern day parallels and matched photos of the transistor with photos of the iPod mini. The similarity between the two has 'created quite a stir' particularly in the Mac community."

3 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Bigger images of the TR-1 by Frankie70 · · Score: 5, Informative

    here & here.

  2. It looks quite unlike the iPod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...in this original advert. The comparison pictures hide how deep (front-to-back) this radio was.

  3. TFA has a fact wrong... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    The device went on sale just in time for hip young gadget freaks to hear Elvis Presley singing That's All Right - recognised by many as the moment at which rock'n'roll was born.

    It is also "recognized by many" that the earth is flat. That doesn't make it so.

    A 1949 song by Little Richard is more commonly and correctly credited with being the first rock song, although it could be argued that John Lee Hooker's 1949 blues song "Shake, Rattle and Run" (later ripped off in tune and most of its lyrics in the late 50s as "Shake, Rattle and Roll") was the first rock and roll song.

    However, the term "Rock and Roll" was coined by Ohio disk jockey Alan Freed in September 1952, a full two years before Prestly's song came out and a full three years after Little Richard's and Mr. Hooker's songs were made.

    One would think a real journalist could do the tiniest bit of research. But I suppose one would be incorrect about that as well.