technology history

Microsoft Logo

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June 25, 1981: Microsoft Incorporates, Plans to Buy 86-DOS

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Microsoft Logo
Microsoft

1981 – Microsoft goes through a restructure to incorporate in Washington. Bill Gates would become president, Paul Allen was Executive Vice President. Steve Ballmer would come on full-time with a $50,000 year salary.

The reason why they incorporated? On this same day, Paul Allen sends a proposal to Rod Black of Seattle Computer Products for Microsoft to purchase all rights to 86-DOS for $30,000.  At that point, they had only a non-exclusive license (since September 22, 1980). This was a strategic move because Microsoft had a relationship with IBM, and wanted to re-license for the IBM PC.

After a month of negotiations, Seattle Computer agreed to the purchase for $50,000. However, that was not the end of it, as they found out of the IBM deal. They finally settled years later for $1 million.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 25

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  • Michael Jackson brings Social Media Down
  • Geocities was hacked
  • AOL hits 30 million users
Symbian

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June 24, 2008: Nokia Acquires Symbian, Makes it Open Source

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Symbian
Symbian

2008 – Nokia announced they have purchased Symbian outright. They originally owned 46% of the company, and bought out the remaining 54% for $410 million. But then the company turned around and created the Symbian Foundation – a group that would house and give away the software code.

The group and software would remain functioning until 2010. Symbian Foundation then closed, citing that it would change to a legal entity, responsible for licencing software and intellectual property.  The transition completed in 2011.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 24

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  • Symantec acquires Ghost software
  • Florida Judge grants Apple permission to continue lawsuit against Psystar
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit releases
DNS

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June 23, 1983: First successful test of the Domain Name System (DNS)

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DNS
DNS

1983 – Paul Mockapetris and Jon Postel run the first successful test of the distributed Domain Name System (DNS). This automated process was to take over failing Arpanet and CSnet protocols because those relied on address books.

DNS uses a hierarchical distributed naming system for the Internet or any private network. It associates the domain names with numerical IP addresses.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 23

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  • Nintendo 64 is launched
  • The Typewriter is patented
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.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 22

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  • Dean Fox leaves Atari
  • IBM and NNSA announce Blue Gene/L
  • Kodak ends production of Kodachrome film
Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM)

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June 21, 1948: Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine Runs First Program

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Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM)
Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM)

1948 – What was first expected to be a practical use computer, the SSEM, or Small-Scale Experimental Machine became the first stored-program computer. Basically, it stores program instructions into it’s electronic memory. This 32-bit word length, cathode-ray tube computer was designed to only run subtraction and negation through hardware. Other functions could be run, but only through software.

The first program was run on this day. It was written by Professor Tom Kilbum. The seventeen-instruction stored-program took 52 minutes to run. The program was tasked to find the highest proper factor of 218 (262,144).

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 21

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  • Start of the Summer Solstice
  • Congress Robot Caucus
  • SSEM runs first program
  • Final Cut Pro 10 was released to very negative reviews
  • Google and Nest Acquire Dropcam
Microsoft Logo

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June 20, 2014: Smartphone Kill Switch

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Microsoft Logo
Microsoft

2014 – Microsoft and Google agree to the Kill switch technology. In a California bill SB-967, Smartphones built after July 1, 2015 will consist of a hardware or software option to “kill” the phone. Further, a $500 to $2,500 fine will be issued to anyone selling a stolen phone.

Once switched, the device will not be able to turn on, even during a hard reset.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 20

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  • 1926 – First wireless phone is demonstrated
  • 1989 – Lotus 1-2-3 version 3.0 is released
  • 2000 – IBM 1GB Microdrive
  • 2003 – Wikimedia Foundation is founded
  • 2009 – Nokia purchases Nortel
X Window System

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June 19, 1984: X Window System

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X Window System
X Window System

1984 – Jim Gettys and Bob Scheifler announced collaboration of a new operating system in the X Window System. This gives the basic framework for a GUI. Currently, it is refered to as X11, R7.7.

I’ve spent the last couple weeks writing a window
system for the VS100. I stole a fair amount of code
from W, surrounded it with an asynchronous rather
than a synchronous interface, and called it X. Overall
performance appears to be about twice that of W. The
code seems fairly solid at this point, although there are
still some deficiencies to be fixed up.

We at LCS have stopped using W, and are now
actively building applications on X. Anyone else using
W should seriously consider switching. This is not the
ultimate window system, but I believe it is a good
starting point for experimentation. Right at the moment
there is a CLU (and an Argus) interface to X; a C
interface is in the works. The three existing
applications are a text editor (TED), an Argus I/O
interface, and a primitive window manager. There is
no documentation yet; anyone crazy enough to
volunteer? I may get around to it eventually.

Anyone interested in seeing a demo can drop by
NE43-531, although you may want to call 3-1945
first. Anyone who wants the code can come by with a
tape. Anyone interested in hacking deficiencies, feel
free to get in touch.

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 19

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  • AOL Software glitch
  • Apple iPhone 3G S is released
  • X Window System is released
Terry Semel

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June 18, 2007: Terry Semel of Yahoo Step Down

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Terry Semel
Terry Semel

2007 – Terry Semel was under pressure  by the board because of dissatisfaction of his compensation. Terry was brought in to create a partnership with Hollywood, which really didn’t happen. He handed the reigns over to Jerry Yang, who started promising revitalized talks with Microsoft. There are a few that even speculate that was when the buyout of Yahoo began. Jerry Yang stepped down in 200

Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for June 18

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  • 1999 – Palm announces the m100
  • 2009 – Jammie Thomas-Rasset was found guilty of copyright infringement and ordered to pay 1.92 million to the RIAA.
  • Microsoft announced the Surface Tablet
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