End of an era: Sony ceases production of cassette recorders

A moment of silence, please, for the plastic box that redefined recorded sound: 

In early 2013, Sony will stop producing its three remaining models of handheld cassette recorders, meaning first the Walkman and now its cousins are on their final march to death.

The models that are soon to be antiquated are the TCM-400, TCM-410 and TCM-450, but lucky for anyone who still uses cassettes and is still into that whole “carry a huge device on my shoulder” thing from the 90s, Sony isn’t putting a stop to boomboxes with cassette decks. Yet.

Really though, anyone who’s still relying on magentic tape (Mom?) could probably use a push into the future where we don’t have to worry about so many moving parts. Though it is sad to think someday you may stumble on a shoebox full of old recorded-off-the-radio mixtapes with nothing around to play them.