March 19

This list was created with hours upon hours of research and dedication. Thank you.

1973
Konami Company, Ltd is established., a leading developer and publisher of many popular anime series, slot machines, tokusatsu, toys, trading cards, and video games, Frogger, Scramble, and Super Cobra.

1981
Two workers die of asphyxiation and three others are injured during a nitrogen purge admist preparations for a ground test of the Space Shuttle Columbia.

1985
IBM announces that it will discontinue the PCjr, as the computer has failed to meet sales expectations. In the sixteen months that the PCjr has been on the market, only 240,000 units have been sold, largely due to competition from Apple Computer Apple IIc. Read more about the battle between the AppleIIc and the PCjr.

1990
Apple Computer releases the Macintosh IIfx, featuring a 40MHz Motorola 68030, 4MB (expandable to 128MB) RAM, and the System 6.0.5 operating system. Price: US$9,000 – US$12,000

1997
Toshiba released the first consumer DVD player in the U.S. The Toshiba SD-2006 ($599) and SD-3006 ($699, known as the SD-3000 in Japan) were available. [1]

Apple Computer formally unveils the 20th Anniversary Macintosh computer, featuring a flat-panel metal and leather design, FM radio and television tuners, a special sound system with a subwoofer, a 12.1 inch active-matrix display, and a CD-ROM drive. Production will be limited to twelve thousand units, in five countries: France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States. Visit the official website of Apple Computer. Price: US$7,500

Time Warner files a suit against Compuserve seeking US$3.5 million for removing Time Magazine’s online content in the middle of a two-year contract initiated on March 9, 1996. Visit the official Compuserve website.

The website of Cyberpromotion is hacked by BOFH.

1998
Sega president Shoichiro Irimajiri is quoted in a press conference as saying, We believed that although we were losing money selling hardware, we thought we could recover by selling games. It worked in Japan, but not in the U.S. Visit the official Sega website.

The US Coast Guard personnel database is wiped out by disgruntled employee. Former Coast Guard employee, Shakunla Devi Singla, entered a personnel database she had helped design. DeviSingla then used her experience and a former co-worker’s password and other identification to delete data. Her action required 115 employees and 1800 hours to recover the deleted information

1999
SNK releases the NeoGeo Pocket Color handheld video game system in Japan.


2001
Intel releases the 750MHz Mobile Celeron, featuring a Level-2 cache and a 100MHz Front Side Bus.

Palm unveils the Palm m500 introduces computer, featuring a 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ, a 160×160 resolution monochrome screen, 8MB RAM, the Palm OS 4.0, and a lithium-polymer battery. Price: US$399

Palm introduces the Palm m505 handheld computer, featuring a 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ, a 160×160 resolution 16-bit color screen, 8MB RAM, a Secure Digital slot, the Palm OS 4.0, and a lithium-polymer battery. Price: US$449

2002
Version 6.2.2 of Netscape internet suite is released. Visit the official Netscape 6 website.

2003
Dr. Bryan Raudenbush of the Wheeling Jesuit University releases a study entitled Effects of Video Game Play on Pain Threshold and Tolerance, indicating that video games can be an effective method of distracting patients from pain, if not actually relieving it. The study examines the psychological effect of games on pain sufferers. In it, Raudenbush states that, These gaming distractions may be most helpful in children and young adults undergoing painful procedures or suffering from chronic pain, as these individuals comprise the largest gamer demographics.

Version 0.2 releases the Desktop Light Linux (DeLi Linux) operating system. Visit the official DeLi website.

Yahoo!announces the completion of its acquisition of Inktomi, a leading provider of software for internet service providers. Read the original press release at Yahoo’s archives.

2004
Version 1.0 of the QiLinux operating system. Visit the official QiLinux website.

Version Beta 4 of the SkyOS operating system is released. Visit the official SkyOS website.

2007
Google acquires Adscape, an in-game advertising company for $23 million.

Justin.tv – the live video blogging site – goes live

2008
Sun begins distributing ubuntu Linux with their servers

After the appeal process, Google loses the Gmail trademark appeal in Europe. The Gmail trademark is owned by a German businessman and Google couldn’t already use Gmail in Germany.

2009
Microsoft launches IE 8

YouTube gets permission to stream NCAA games. ESPN, AOL, Yahoo and Sports Illustrated also have deals to stream the first round of the mens Division I games.

Google makes half a million books available online for Sony E-Readers

Google Street View launches in U.K. and Netherlands

Cisco acquires Pure Digital, creator of the Flip Video camera for $590 million

Carol Bartz retires – from the Intel elects board.

TomTom countersues Microsoft also for patent violations

2013
Apple released iOS 6.1.3 After a bug was found getting around Apple’s lock screen

Microsoft was being probed by federal regulators on bribery allegations for foreign software contracts.