Happy National Pi Day – The celebration of 3.14 1988 – It’s the song that found it’s rebirth and the term “Rick Rolled” became a urban saying. Of course, we are talking about Rick Astley and the song: Never Gonna Give You Up. It hit #1 on the charts. Of course, it’s internet fame has turned this into a whole new beast. Wikazine – Full show notes for March 14 Microsoft releases XBox in Europe NEC announces they will be getting into the computer market Apple releases the Power Macintosh computer Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
During non-leap years, this Day in Tech History episode will be for the 28th and 29th. 1966 (Feb 28) – With all these ways to listen in on a conversation, the FCC has to make a ruling to protect the rights of US citizens. They create the Right to Privacy act which bands evesdropping or direct and indirect use of radio – controlled devices. Wikazine – Full show notes for February 28 M*A*S*H* broadcasts the final episode PeopleSoft reorganizes Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
1996 – Corel not only gets WordPerfect form Novell, but also Quattro Pro for $180 million in stock and cash. Michael Cowpland (Founder of Corel) called WordPerfect the “Pepsi to Microsoft’s Coke”. I guess that was not the case as OpenOffice (RC maybe?) surpassed WordPerfect users.WordPerfect and Corel have been in flux since 2006, when Vector Capital purchased 72% of the company. Just this last year, they bought up the remaining stock and became privately held once again. Wikazine – Full show notes for January 31 Related articles Mistrial in WordPerfect antitrust case against Microsoft (seattletimes.nwsource.com) January 15: Ralph Baer Patents First Video Game (dayintechhistory.com) Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
RemoteAccess BBS is a DOS Bulletin Board System. It’s software was written by Andrew Milner. RemoteAccess was released as shareware and did a crude version of Multitasking. The final version of RA was released in 1996 (with a Y2K fix in 2000). At that time BBS were being switched to Internet protocol systems like online forums. Wikazine – Full show notes for January 24 IBM Selective Sequence Electronic Calculator (SSEC) a.k.a “the Poppa” is dedicated Microwave Oven is patented Gary McKinnon won right to judicial review Apple introduces a floppy drive for the Lisa computer Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
1882 – Thomas Edison created more tech history when he was granted a patent for the carbon microphone for the telephone. The carbon was in between two cups and attached to the mouthpiece. The diaphragm would change pressure, causing the carbon to be pushed upon. That would send electric current to the other end – which would transpose it back to audio.Wikazine – Full show notes for January 17 Other Historical Events in Technology The infamous “Apple Ad” shows up in movie theatres IBM charged with the Sherman Antitrust Act Apple reaches an “out of court” settlement with NeXT Co-Founder Jerry Yang Steps down from Yahoo! In protest to SOPA, many websites blacked out their web pages. Podcast: Play in new ...
1914 – Although the Model T has been around since 1908, the first Ford Model T that was made on an assembly line was completed. This, of course, brought a new wave to the Auto and manufacturing industries. Ford has since been a leader in cars in the US.Interesting side-note: Henry Ford was on the cover of Time Magazine on Jan 14, 1935. Wikazine – Full show notes for January 14 Intel 2.4 GHz processor IBM Data 360 Nortel files Chapter 11 Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Back in 1886, Gottlieb Daimler gets into his new invention. It looks like a horse-drawn buggy, but it has a one cylinder 1.1 HP engine mounted in the back seat. The first car got up to 16 km/h Seventeen years later, in 1903, Ford Motor company sells it’s first car. A Model A to Dr. Ernst Pfenning of Chicago. It was a twin cylindar combustion engine. Full Day in Tech History podcast show notes for July 23 IBM goes Open-Source Palm launches the Tungston T2 Commodore unveils the Amiga 1000 Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
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