So my broad comment is, yes, your iPhone will replace all of these things, with some compromises. Its just like the things I see with with UI/UX design in my day job - I can make an app that does three unrelated things, but you lose something for each functionality you're adding in.
* All weather personal stereo, $11.88. I now use my iPhone with an Otter Box
Sort of, but not exactly, yes it does all of the things my portable radio does, but not as well - mostly audio fidelity.
* AM/FM clock radio, $13.88. iPhone.
Again, sort of, but not exactly, yes it does all of the things my clock radio does, but not as well - mostly audio fidelity.
* In-Ear Stereo Phones, $7.88. Came with iPhone.
This is a place with notable improvements from then.
* Microthin calculator, $4.88. Swipe up on iPhone.
This is a place with notable improvements from then.
* Tandy 1000 TL/3, $1599. I actually owned a Tandy 1000, and I used it for games and word processing. I now do most of both of those things on my phone.
If this was an iPad I would agree, but it's the same thing as the others - sort of but not exactly. It can do those things, but not as well.
* VHS Camcorder, $799. iPhone.
Again, yes if I squint at it - but it's the same thing as the others - sort of but not exactly. It can do those things, but not always as well without additional accessories.
* Mobile Cellular Telephone, $199. Obvs.
This is a place of clear improvement, todays cell phones are a world better in both audio quality and coverage.
* Mobile CB, $49.95. Ad says “You’ll never drive ‘alone’ again!” iPhone.
Yes, iPhone can do these things, but not as well as a dedicated device (no PTT button for a start)
* 20-Memory Speed-Dial phone, $29.95.
Yes, a clear win for replacement.
* Deluxe Portable CD Player, $159.95. 80 minutes of music, or 80 hours of music? iPhone.
Yes, a clear win for replacement.
* 10-Channel Desktop Scanner, $99.55. I still have a scanner, but I have a scanner app, too. iPhone.
Not much of an improvement over a dedicated device.
* Easiest-to-Use Phone Answerer, $49.95. iPhone voicemail.
Voicemail (which you could get in 1991), is a clear winner over an answering machine.
* Handheld Cassette Tape Recorder, $29.95. I use the Voice Memo app almost daily.
Also a clear improvement.
* BONUS REPLACEMENT: It’s not an item for sale, but at the bottom of the ad, you’re instructed to ‘check your phone book for the Radio Shack Store nearest you.’ Do you even know how to use a phone book?
The internet replaced the phonebook before ubiquitous mobile data, I do miss phonebooks however.
A phone playing music from its speaker doesn't sound amazing but neither did handheld AM/FM radios or clock radios. Especially since the station you wanted to listen to always seemed to be just slightly too far away and you'd get a little bit of static.
I have 4 clock radios at home, and 2 tabletop radios that are clearly derived from a clock radio - they sound decent, and have reasonably good audio quality.
I've been an avid FM radio listener most of my adult life (NPR mostly), while I can really no longer stand most of NPR programming, when I wanted to do whole house music, I did so with an small sound mixer fed into FM Modulator which in turn fed into coax and an small antenna.
> * 20-Memory Speed-Dial phone, $29.95.
> Yes, a clear win for replacement.
Not that clear unless augmented with wireless earbuds: I would much rather spend an hour talking on a traditionally-shaped phone handset (not quite the one in the picture) than on a mobile phone (even a pre-iPhone candybar one, though holding a glass slab to your cheek for prolonged periods of time is particularly unpleasant). Of course, hour-long personal telephone calls are not really a thing anymore for most people, but I don’t know in which direction the causation points there.
I presumed both included a speakerphone tbh.
1 hour phone calls for me are about as common as they always have been
About the personal stereo, Tidal gives me FLAC quality, and my wired Steelseries headphones provide much better audio quality than any stereo I had own last century.
However, I don't own an iPhone, I have a Xiaomi with an audio socket.