Atari

Etch A Sketch

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July 12, 1960: Etch A Sketch Debuts

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Etch A Sketch
July 12, 1960: Etch A Sketch Debuts in US

It is the famous drawing tool that became a cult classic. A toy that is as collectable as the LEGO or Star Wars memorabilia. The Etch A Sketch was first brought out on shelves in 1960. Of course, since then it has taken its popularity to many levels. Some people create masterpieces, while others just play with the dials. I have an Etch A Sketch attached to a pencil, but its size is about the same as an iPad or other Tablet.

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Jack Tramiel

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July 6, 1984: Jack Tramiel Fired Atari Staff

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Jack Tramiel
Jack Tramiel

In a very bold move, Jack Tramiel laid off the majority of his staff outside of engineering. This comes in 1984, 3 days after Tramiel buys Atari for $240 million in 10 and 12 year notes.

The employees note that it wasn’t a Hard layoff. One employee stated that no one cared if they looted the building, so they did.

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  • ABC joins Hulu
  • Microsoft’s first corporate president
  • Source code of e-mule was released
Napster

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July 2, 2001: Napster Shut Down

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Napster
July 2, 2001: Napster Shuts Down

Napster, the file sharing service (started by John & Shawn Fanning, and Sean Parker) that was up since 1999, had a series of trials and tribulations until 2001. After lengthy legal battles with artists like Madonna and Metallica, Napster began to realize their business model is not going to work. They shut down the entire network to comply with an injunction.

This case was partially settled on September 24, 2001, where Napster was ordered to pay $26 million in damages and $10 million in future royalties.Eventually, Napster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, right before Napster 3.0 was ready to be deployed. On May 17, 2002, German company Bertelsmann purchased for $85 million, however, it was blocked on September 3.

Ultimately, Roxio  purchased the company and re-branded it. They owned it until 2008 when Best Buy would purchase Napster for $121 million. They owned until December 1, 2011 when Rhapsody purchased the service.

Napster was named after a hairstyle.

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  • Atari is sold
  • Yahoo is redesigned
  • Lori Drew’s verdict was overturned
Dr. Alan Chow

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June 30, 2000: Silicon Microchips beneath Human Retinas

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Dr. Alan Chow
Dr. Alan Chow

2000 – Dr. Alan chow and brother Vincent announced they successfully placed a silicon microchip beneath human retinas. The chip is smaller than the head on a pin and only microns thin. These chips also contain solar cells to help power the chip.

In what is called “Optobionics”, the ASR chip is inserted behind the retina in the “subretinal space”. This is a 2 hour procedure and the chip can last up to 8 years after (depending on care).

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 30

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  • IBM unbundles software from Hardware
  • President Bill Clinton e-signs the first bill into law
  • Global Gaming Factory X announces they will be buying the Pirate Bay
Bill Gates

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June 27, 2008: Bill Gates Steps Down

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Bill Gates
Bill Gates

2008 – Microsoft CEO Bill Gates officially steps down from office. He hands the reigns over to Steve Ballmer, and stays on as Chairman of the Board.

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  • Gillette makes the Erasermate – the first erasable pen
  • Atari is established
Kodachrome Film

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June 22, 2009: The End of Kodachrome Color Film

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Kodachrome Film
Kodachrome Film

2009 – Kodak announced they would ended the production of Kodachrome color film. Once the leftover film is distributed, there will be no more made. That lasted until December, 2010.

Kodak created their iconic Kodachrome film in 1935. This is a non-substansive, color reversal film was used in still photos and cinematography. It used the subtractive color method – which required a complex chemical system to make the negative.

Kodachrome was invented by John Capstaff, who worked for a competitor until Eastman bought the company out.

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  • Dean Fox leaves Atari
  • IBM and NNSA announce Blue Gene/L
  • Kodak ends production of Kodachrome film
TAT-14

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May 10, 2001 Trans Atlantic Cable TAT-14 Begins Service

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TAT-14
May 10, 2001: TAT-14 Begins Service

2001 – TAT-14, the Transatlantic cable begins commercial service. A dual, bi-directional ring configuration using Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplex (DWDM) – Sixteen wavelengths of STM-64 per fiber pair. It carried 640 Gbps, and connectedGermany, the UK, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands with the US.

Even though there have been a couple failures, TAT-14 is still in service.

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  • BFS preview is released
  • Atari and MCA sign a joint venture
Moores Law

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April 13, 1965: Moore’s Law

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Moores Law
Moores Law

1965– You may have heard about Moore’s Law. This states that every 18 months, a processor will double in speed. The law’s name is coined after Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore. He said:

It can’t continue forever. The nature of the exponential is that you push them out and eventually disaster happens.

The law started with the Integrated circuit. It has continued to this day – especially since we switched ideas and, instead of speeding up, we double the amount of processors.

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  • Apple discontinues the Power Mac G4
  • Atari signs agreement with Williams Electronics
  • Metallica sues Napster
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