Portable music has been around for decades, and one company is taking us back to where it all started with a Walkman-inspired tape deck.
The It’s OK Cassette Player by Hong Kong’s NINM Lab is a refreshingly simple device with just five buttons: “Play,” “Stop,” “Record,” “Fast-Forward,” and “Rewind.”
There’s a rear-mounted clip to carry it on your belt, a 3.5mm jack for headphones, and a microphone for dictation. No touch screen, no internal hard drive, no WiFi connectivity—just insert two AA batteries, throw in a tape and jam.
The only “modern” piece of technology is a 5.0 Bluetooth radio that can be used to connect wireless headphones or speakers, which technically makes this the world’s first Bluetooth-enabled cassette player.
Nearly 1,000 people combined have already pledged over $80,000 on Kickstarter to get the retro gadget off the ground and into production before the first models are shipped in December.
If vinyl can make a comeback, why can’t tapes?
Available in “Sakura” pink, “Cloud” white, and “Evening” navy blue, the It’s OK Cassette Player is available to preorder for $87.72 (HK$688) here.