Sealed Original iPhone Gets Auctioned For Over US$63000

Phones are getting more and more expensive as the years go by, and among the brands most guilty of this include Apple and its iPhones. There’s a very fair chance that you’ll be right in thinking that the iPhone 15 series coming out at the end of the year will be more expensive than ever. But whatever that price may be, it will still be dwarfed by the price that the first ever iPhone just went for in a recent auction.

The still factory-sealed first-generation iPhone was put up for auction with LCG Auctions earlier in the month, with the auction itself having ended over the weekend. It had a starting price of US$2500 (~RM11080), which is already a ridiculous price to pay for any phone, never mind one that’s 16 years old. But by the end of the auction, it went for US$63356.40 (~RM280796), including a “buyer’s premium”.

There’s also an interesting story to go with this relic from the earlier days of the second millennium. This still sealed first iPhone was owned by one Karen Green, who got the iPhone as a gift, according to a linked Business Insider article. As for why the phone remained sealed, this was because it wasn’t something that Green could use anyway. iPhones of the time were only compatible with the telco AT&T in the US, while Green already had three phone lines with another telco, Verizon.

An old relic of the past like the original iPhone selling for such a huge sum of money is pretty incredible on its own. But what makes it more so is the fact that it’s not the only one in recent times. Just last October, another sealed iPhone was auctioned off to the tune of US$40000 (~RM177280). Indeed, Green intended to hold on to hers for awhile longer to let its value bloat up even further, but decided to sell it to fund a business she’s running.

Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar Outlets To Receive More Robot Waiters Later This Month

In a move to reduce physical contact during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, popular local franchise Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar has introduced robot waiters to help serve its customers. According to the restaurant’s owner and managing director Burhan Mohamed, the robots have been deployed at its SS2 and Citta Mall outlets, with more expected in the near future.

The robot waiter originally debuted at Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar’s Citta Mall restaurant earlier in March, he added. Due to positive reception from customers, the franchise had decided to order four more units – each costing around RM 43,000 per unit – from Secure Robotics which are expected to arrive in the middle of April this year. Burhan noted that the machines will not be used during peak hours as they could get in the way of customers and human waiters.

Based on the video uploaded on its official Facebook page, the franchise is utilising the popular PuduBot indoor delivery robot by Shenzhen-based Pudu Robotics, which is locally distributed by Secure Robotics. It is equipped with various advanced tech such as LIDAR and 3D vision sensors to help with positioning and obstacle avoidance. “PuduBot is a clever humanoid robot designed for restaurants, saving labor and increasing your efficiency,” wrote Secure Robotics on their official Facebook page.

On top of being programmable for table-to-table deliveries, the machine comes with a middle compartment for transporting large items and can also be customised to feature multiple levels of serving trays. The top portion of the robot is equipped with an LCD screen that displays different facial expressions, granting it a friendly personality.

If the Pudubot looks familiar, it is because the same model has been deployed by different restaurants in Malaysia as well. These include the KyoChon outlet at The Gardens Mall, JBorn Cafe & Bistro in Johor Bahru, Ah Kor Kopitiam in Melaka, and many others.

For your reference, the first ever Malaysian eatery to feature robot waiters belongs to CH Premier Restaurant in Kuching, Sarawak. Along with its initial opening back in October 2016, the premise debuted four robot waiters imported from Kunshan, China. These consisted of three Goddess models and one smaller robot known as Lolita, which are still in service to this day.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Pay Homage To Original 80s Cartoon; Coming To PC And Consoles

Tribute Games Inc., the studio comprising of members who gave the world Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game and Streets of Rage 4, has officially announced its latest project, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

The game pays homage to both the original 1980s TMNT TV animation, as well as the 1991 arcade video game hit, TMNT: Turtles in Time, which was also based on the same animation. However, much like the original arcade game, Shredder’s Revenge is also a side-scrolling “beat ’em up”, complete with the same 4-player co-op system, allowing up to four players to take on the roles of Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo, and Donatello. As they take on their long-time nemesis, Shredder, and his minions Bebop and Rocksteady.

As per the official Steam page, Shredder’s Revenge starts off with our heroes heading over to the Channel 6 building, where an assault by the Foot Clan is fully underway. Beyond that, the page is lacking a whole lot of information about the game’s synopsis. Judging from the video, however, the feel and look of the game definitely sends waves of 16-bit nostalgia to this writer. That said, Tribute does promise that the game will feature “super-fresh mechanics” that should provide a more interactive and robust gameplay overall.

As for the when the game will be available, Tribute Games falls short of providing an actual release date, and the Steam page simply has the words “Planned Release Date: Coming Soon” written on the availability section. On that note, Shredder’s Revenge is expected to be available on both PC and consoles, which we’re guessing includes the Nintendo Switch.