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Filed under: Hardware, Cult of Mac, Odds and ends

G4 tower table

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Apr 20th, 2009

The door to my garage doesn't have one of those elf doors or a potted plant or concrete gnome. A couple of years ago I acquired a dead G4 tower, the model affectionately termed "mirrored drive door G4." After gutting it down to the fan and a few cables, I set it outside my door. Why? Sometimes I'm carrying an arm load of items and have to set something down to unlock the door. This tower table is the perfect height to sit a glass of water down while I get my keys. Notice how the mirror finish, even after years of exposure to the elements, is still pristine.

Have you seen any old Macs pulling odd duty? Aside from aquariums, of course.

Tags: diy, g4, hardware, odd, recycle, table, tower

Filed under: iPod Family, iPhone

Renew your old iPhone with Flipswap

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jul 3rd, 2008

Yesterday, we asked iPhone owners who intend to upgrade just what they'll do with their 1st generation iPhones. Thousands of you answered, with Ebay drawing the top score.

Of course, Ebay will be flooded with iPhones soon, so consider alternatives like Flipswap. They offer cash for iPhones (and other model phones) and even pay for shipping. Once they've gotten your phone, they put it back in use.

If you're the environmentally consicous type, you'll appreciate this. Phones that cannot be put back into use are disposed of, piece by piece, in "...the greenest methods available today." Also, in lieu of cash, you can trade in your dead phone for a tree as part of their reLeaf Program. Flipswaps estimates they'll plant up to 25,000 trees this year (they take old iPods, too!).

It's free, easy and definitely worth the consideration.

[Via Lifehacker]

Tags: iphone, ipod, recycle, reuse

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion

TUAW Poll: What are you doing with your original iPhone?

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Jul 2nd, 2008

Going into the trash!After looking over the iPhone 3G information here on TUAW and on the AT&T website yesterday, I started thinking about what my wife and I should do with our "old" original iPhones.

Without a SIM and phone service, the original iPhone essentially becomes an iPod touch. You can still update it to the new software when it arrives, you can use it with Wi-Fi in your home, and you can use it to watch video and listen to tunes.

By keeping the old iPhone as an iPhone touch, I can get rid of some of the old iPods I have scattered around the house. What are you going to do with your iPhone after July 11th?


What are you going to do with your old iPhone?


Tags: iphone, iphone3g, ipod touch, IpodTouch, polls, recycle

Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family

Bird-Electron EZ17-B iPod Recycling Speaker

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jan 23rd, 2008



I like the planet as much as the next guy (unless I'm standing next to the commander of an alien force bent on destroying the Earth, in which case I like the planet much more than the next guy), and since Apple is trying to be more environmentally friendly I figured I might as well give it a go myself. The Bird-Electron EZ17-B iPod Recycling Speaker looks like it might help me achieve two goals: help the planet, and own more gadgets.

The Bird-Electron EZ17-B allows you to both reduce and reuse all at the same time, even while you try to figure out what its name means. That's right, this little $40 wonder magically transforms the package your Shuffle (2nd or 3rd gen) or Nano (1st or 2nd Gen) was contained in into a small speaker. Chances are that this little speaker isn't going to blow your mind in terms of volume or fidelity, but it will make you feel just a tad bit better than your fellow man and when it comes right down to it isn't that why we all use Apple products to begin with?

[via One Digital Life]

Tags: ipod, recycle

Filed under: iPod Family, Deals

Reminder, 10% off new iPods with trade-in

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Jan 17th, 2008

If you're shopping for a new iPod this week, Daniel Jalkut at Red Sweater reminded us that you can get a 10% discount on a new iPod any day at your local Apple Store if you do one simple thing: bring in an old iPod to trade in. The program's been around since 2005, but it's always worth another mention.

There are plenty of other options for recycling an old iPod, including some that will give you credit -- check them out. Rumor has it that some retail outlets are discounting iPods as well...

Tags: discount, ipod, recycle

Filed under: Hardware, How-tos

How to safely dispose of an old Mac

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Oct 15th, 2007

The fun of technology is how quickly improved products are released. The downside is the same. So-called "E-Waste" is a huge problem. Before leaving that old Mac at the dump, consider these alternatives:
  1. Sell it. A couple of years ago, we wrote a very thorough how-to on selling an old Mac. You probably won't make a ton of money, but you will keep it out of the landfill.
  2. Apple's Recycling Program. Purchase a new computer from Apple and they'll accept your old computer, CRT or peripherals (from any manufacturer) into their recycling program. Simply pack up your old stuff (computers and monitors must be packed separately), bring it to a FedEx drop off point and away it goes. This offer applies to individuals and small businesses. Large corporations may participate in Apple Corporate Recycling.
  3. Freecycle. If you're unfamiliar with Freecycle, it's a way to give away items to those who need them (or, find something you'd like yourself). It reduces waste and the depletion of natural resources.
  4. Part it out. Even a "dead" computer has some good parts on it. Better yet, there are many people who just need that obscure part from your beige G3 All In One. Consider the Low End Mac Swap List when parting out a machine.
  5. Donate to a church or school. You might be sick of that Quadra, but kids will love it. Churches and other small organizations could use it for simple bulletins, etc. Heck, my daughter's preschool has an original Macintosh in the office that, according to the school secretary, still gets used.
These are just a few alternatives to adding to the ever-growing pile of E-Waste. We hope you found it useful.

Tags: recycle, vintage-macs

Filed under: iPhone

exPhone: don't throw that old cell phone away

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jul 6th, 2007

Apple has sold many, many iPhones in the past few days, and you know what that means! Lots of phones that were, up until last Friday, perfectly capable have been tossed aside for a new love (a touchable love at that).

This leaves us with one question: what the heck do you do with that old phone? Luckily, exPhone is here to help you out. This site lists all sorts of ways you can recycle your old phone, so as not to get Greenpeace angry (and Earth is the only planet we have... for now). Not only does exPhone lists ways for you to recycle your phone, it also shows you how to donate your phone to charities (as long as it is still in working order, that is).

Tags: exphone, iphone, recycle

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple

Apple recycling program begins

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on May 31st, 2006



We wrote about Apple's recycling program when it was first announced, and now it is in full effect, yo. All you have to do is buy a new Mac and then you can participate in the program. You either get an email (if you purchased your Mac from the online Apple store), or you'll get asked if you want to participate at the store. You'll then get an email with instructions. Pack up your old computer (Mac or PC), take it to a FedEx location (with that email  you got) and that is all!

Tags: environment, fedex, old mac, old pc, OldMac, OldPc, recycle

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