Retro Tech
Follow tech guru Marques Brownlee as he uncovers how iconic technology of the past came to life and shaped history. In each episode, Marques meets with fellow YouTube creators, experts, and celebrity guests, to explore the impact each piece of vintage tech has had on our culture and why these pieces remain so revolutionary.
Genre: Documentary
Actor: Marques Brownlee
Creator: Marques Brownlee
Country: United States of America
Type: tv
Season: 1
Episode: 1
Duration: 20m
Release:
Rating: 9.0
Season 1 - Retro Tech
2019-12-02
"The JVC GR-C1 Camcorder was the first all-in-one handheld video camera. Marques traces the history of homemade videos back to the release of this iconic piece of tech and shows how its popularity led to the videos we watch on YouTube today. Fellow YouTube creator Casey Neistat shows him how to film and edit videos on this piece of retro tech. Spoiler alert: It\u2019s not easy."
2019-12-02
"Everyone knows the 1984 Macintosh computer was a game changer for the tech industry. But why was this particular computer so iconic? Marques learns how Steve Jobs and his team took on computer giants IBM, changing personal computing forever. Living legend Bill Nye the Science Guy joins him to play Asteroids on an original Macintosh. And fellow YouTube creator and Apple expert iJustine explains why the 1984 Macintosh was able to beat its competitors."
2019-12-02
"In 1988, Sega took Nintendo by storm and released the Sega Genesis. The conflict between the two companies created a video game console war for the ages. Marques learns about the cultural impact the Genesis had from comedian Hannibal Burress and play Mortal Combat for the first time against Mari Takahashi from Smosh Games. Fellow YouTube creator Jake Baldino from Gameranx teams up with him to test some questionable Sega Genesis gaming accessories."
2019-12-02
"When the Sony Walkman hit the market in the 1970s, it was the first time we were able to take our music with us on-the-go. Marques explores this iconic piece of tech\u2014from the inspiration behind its compact design to how it changed portable audio forever. He also enlist the help of fellow YouTube creator Judner A.K.A. Uravgconsumer to fix a busted Walkman. The Gregory Brothers join me to test out whether a vintage Walkman is durable enough to survive a game of ultimate frisbee."
2019-12-02
"Way before cell phone cameras, we took selfies with Polaroids. Marques explores how the first Polaroid camera, the Polaroid SX-70, turned us all into amateur photographers and paved the way for our social media-obsessed culture. Fellow YouTube creator and model Karlie Kloss teams up with him to make photo filters the retro way \u2014 with bleach. And Peter McKinnon stops by to play \u201cDope or Nope.\u201d"
2019-12-02
"The first ever cellular phone was the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x. It cost $10,295 in today\u2019s dollars and had to charge for 10 hours just to make a 30 minute call. Without the DynaTAC, would we all have cellphones today? Marques dives into the history and impact of this piece of iconic tech and explores how its release led to our current cell phone obsessed culture. YouTube creators Austin Evans and Sara Dietschy join him to test out some other pieces of retro tech, like a pager and a lipstick cellphone."
Season 2 - Retro Tech
2021-04-13
"No matter what year, the idea of flying vehicles helps cement our sense of when the future begins. I\u2019m taking a look at everything flying \u2013 from cars to skateboards \u2013 and seeing where the tech currently stands. I also look at some classic old toys with comedian Michael Ian Black."
2021-04-14
"For decades people have dreamed of a technology that would allow them to instantly be somewhere else. I\u2019m taking a deep dive into teleportation tech and the next best thing \u2013 virtual reality with Jake Baldino and Neil DeGrasse Tyson."
2021-04-15
"I'm taking a look at the tech predictions of the past that we thought would be our future \u2013 and in particular robots. I cast an eye back to the toy robots of the 60s, 70s, and 80s and some of the movies that spawned them. And along the way I talk to UrAvgConsumer and Chris Gethard."
2021-04-16
"How did we all get so hyperconnected? I\u2019m taking a look at where it all started \u2013 the simple phone \u2013 and how things developed. How we went from answering machines to AOL messenger to Facetime. But I\u2019m also taking a look at where it\u2019s all going; and I\u2019m looking at tech that will one day allow us to communicate telepathically."
2021-04-17
"In this episode I\u2019m looking at smart home technology. From remote controls to the Clapper, we\u2019ll find out where it began and where it\u2019s headed. I\u2019m also joined by none other than Bill Gates about how climate change and optimizing energy usage play a part in revolutionizing our homes."