Key Moments In Consumer Electronics

KEY MOMENTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A TIMELINE 1977 1972 Pong becomes the first com Apple Il is introduced becoming the first highly successful personal mercially successful arcade video game, sparking massive growth in the video game industry. The two dimensional tennis-like game manufactured by Atari becomes available for home use at the end of 1975. computer. It is mass- produced and widely distributed in schools throughout the US, making Apple a house- hold name. The home version receives the brilliant title of "Home Pong 1979 The portable audiocassette player is patented in Brazil but doesn't gain popularity until Sony releases The Walkman in 1979. 1979 Japan creates the first fully analog, automated cellular network, covering all Tokyo inhabitants, and, making cellular phones useful to the ordinary consumer. Networks immediately begin to pop up in metropolitan regions around the globe. 1982 The Compact Disc, or CD, COMPACT becomes the first digital disc storage format commercially available to the public. The CD, being primarily used for physi DIGITAL AUDIO cal storage of digital music, remains the standard format 1983 thru 2009. Sony releases the first consumer ("hand-held") camcorder called the Betamovie BMC-10OP. IR so large Batamovie that it is unusable with one hand. 1984 Sony releases The Discman, a portable CD player, sparking widespread public interest in the better sound quality found in this new digital format. 1984 The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is first released in 1984. This brick phone weighed two Ibs., offered a half-hour of talk time per charge, and retailed for $3995. 1985 Ntende Nintendo releases the Family Computer, or Famicom, in the US under the moni- ker 'Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES puts Nintendo on the map, making it one of the wealthiest companies in Japan 1991 1989 The Super Nintendo Enter- tainment System (SNES) is released. It would go on to sell 49.10 million units. The Nintendo Gameboy, a portable video game system, is released in Japan and North America. It 1993 allows users to bring video game entertain- ment away from 1989 1996 Intel introduces With the laptop previously gaining popularity at a snail-like pace, the portable computer finally starts to pick up steam. Various manufac- turers release their version of the laptop including Apple, Zenith Data Systems, Compaq and IBM. The Kodak DC-25 the Pentium Microprocessor, making personal computers faster is released, the first point-and- shoot digtal home. camera to record and more energy efficient. onto removable Compactflash cards. It would 1995 initially retail for $499 The first Sony Playstation video game system is 1996 released in North America in December. The system, which used discs instead of cartridges, would go on to The first US HDTV broadcasts aired in limited circulation in 1996. The format would officially launch during John Glenn's 1998 Discovery return mission. sell over 102 million units. 1997 The Digital Video Disc (or DVD) is invented. DVD 1998 The optical disc is primarily used for video and data storage. Following its 1997 Apple introduces the first IMac. The extremely release it becomes the industry standard for video viewing user-friendly computer would go on to enjoy "industry altering success" and is referred to as the "gold standard of desktop computing 2001 Apple releases the first iPod, a portable media player. Originally used for music, it eventually will support photos, video and more. Through 2009 the IPod will have gone on to sell approximately 230 million units. 2002 The Microsoft XBOX enjoys big success following its global release. R rivals the Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo Game Cube. XBOX Live (launched in 2002) would enable users to play against each other online, connecting via high-speed internet. By mid-2009, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live have over 17 Million users. 2004 The Nintendo DS is released. It would go on to become the most popular hand-held 2006 console, selling over 113 million units by 2010. Blu-Ray, a new optical disc storage medium is released. Although the dimensions of a Blu-Ray disc are the same as a DVD, it is capable of storing almost 10 times the data. Blu-ray Disc 2007 Introduced in June, the iPhone revolutionizes handheld phone and multimedia capabilities. Time Magazine names it the "invention of the year." 2009 2010 Apple announces a 2010 release date for a Released in November 2009, the FLO TV measures at 3x 4,4". weighs just over five ounces, and has a 3.5 inch capacitive touch- screen. Initially offered at select retailers for $249, it has a relatively tablet-like device. Whether it is called the ISlate, ITablet or some thing else, it will attempt to bridge the gap long battery life, offering five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby. between the iPhone and the MacBook. O PERMUTO KEY MOMENTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A TIMELINE 1977 1972 Pong becomes the first com Apple Il is introduced becoming the first highly successful personal mercially successful arcade video game, sparking massive growth in the video game industry. The two dimensional tennis-like game manufactured by Atari becomes available for home use at the end of 1975. computer. It is mass- produced and widely distributed in schools throughout the US, making Apple a house- hold name. The home version receives the brilliant title of "Home Pong 1979 The portable audiocassette player is patented in Brazil but doesn't gain popularity until Sony releases The Walkman in 1979. 1979 Japan creates the first fully analog, automated cellular network, covering all Tokyo inhabitants, and, making cellular phones useful to the ordinary consumer. Networks immediately begin to pop up in metropolitan regions around the globe. 1982 The Compact Disc, or CD, COMPACT becomes the first digital disc storage format commercially available to the public. The CD, being primarily used for physi DIGITAL AUDIO cal storage of digital music, remains the standard format 1983 thru 2009. Sony releases the first consumer ("hand-held") camcorder called the Betamovie BMC-10OP. IR so large Batamovie that it is unusable with one hand. 1984 Sony releases The Discman, a portable CD player, sparking widespread public interest in the better sound quality found in this new digital format. 1984 The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is first released in 1984. This brick phone weighed two Ibs., offered a half-hour of talk time per charge, and retailed for $3995. 1985 Ntende Nintendo releases the Family Computer, or Famicom, in the US under the moni- ker 'Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES puts Nintendo on the map, making it one of the wealthiest companies in Japan 1991 1989 The Super Nintendo Enter- tainment System (SNES) is released. It would go on to sell 49.10 million units. The Nintendo Gameboy, a portable video game system, is released in Japan and North America. It 1993 allows users to bring video game entertain- ment away from 1989 1996 Intel introduces With the laptop previously gaining popularity at a snail-like pace, the portable computer finally starts to pick up steam. Various manufac- turers release their version of the laptop including Apple, Zenith Data Systems, Compaq and IBM. The Kodak DC-25 the Pentium Microprocessor, making personal computers faster is released, the first point-and- shoot digtal home. camera to record and more energy efficient. onto removable Compactflash cards. It would 1995 initially retail for $499 The first Sony Playstation video game system is 1996 released in North America in December. The system, which used discs instead of cartridges, would go on to The first US HDTV broadcasts aired in limited circulation in 1996. The format would officially launch during John Glenn's 1998 Discovery return mission. sell over 102 million units. 1997 The Digital Video Disc (or DVD) is invented. DVD 1998 The optical disc is primarily used for video and data storage. Following its 1997 Apple introduces the first IMac. The extremely release it becomes the industry standard for video viewing user-friendly computer would go on to enjoy "industry altering success" and is referred to as the "gold standard of desktop computing 2001 Apple releases the first iPod, a portable media player. Originally used for music, it eventually will support photos, video and more. Through 2009 the IPod will have gone on to sell approximately 230 million units. 2002 The Microsoft XBOX enjoys big success following its global release. R rivals the Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo Game Cube. XBOX Live (launched in 2002) would enable users to play against each other online, connecting via high-speed internet. By mid-2009, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live have over 17 Million users. 2004 The Nintendo DS is released. It would go on to become the most popular hand-held 2006 console, selling over 113 million units by 2010. Blu-Ray, a new optical disc storage medium is released. Although the dimensions of a Blu-Ray disc are the same as a DVD, it is capable of storing almost 10 times the data. Blu-ray Disc 2007 Introduced in June, the iPhone revolutionizes handheld phone and multimedia capabilities. Time Magazine names it the "invention of the year." 2009 2010 Apple announces a 2010 release date for a Released in November 2009, the FLO TV measures at 3x 4,4". weighs just over five ounces, and has a 3.5 inch capacitive touch- screen. Initially offered at select retailers for $249, it has a relatively tablet-like device. Whether it is called the ISlate, ITablet or some thing else, it will attempt to bridge the gap long battery life, offering five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby. between the iPhone and the MacBook. O PERMUTO KEY MOMENTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A TIMELINE 1977 1972 Pong becomes the first com Apple Il is introduced becoming the first highly successful personal mercially successful arcade video game, sparking massive growth in the video game industry. The two dimensional tennis-like game manufactured by Atari becomes available for home use at the end of 1975. computer. It is mass- produced and widely distributed in schools throughout the US, making Apple a house- hold name. The home version receives the brilliant title of "Home Pong 1979 The portable audiocassette player is patented in Brazil but doesn't gain popularity until Sony releases The Walkman in 1979. 1979 Japan creates the first fully analog, automated cellular network, covering all Tokyo inhabitants, and, making cellular phones useful to the ordinary consumer. Networks immediately begin to pop up in metropolitan regions around the globe. 1982 The Compact Disc, or CD, COMPACT becomes the first digital disc storage format commercially available to the public. The CD, being primarily used for physi DIGITAL AUDIO cal storage of digital music, remains the standard format 1983 thru 2009. Sony releases the first consumer ("hand-held") camcorder called the Betamovie BMC-10OP. IR so large Batamovie that it is unusable with one hand. 1984 Sony releases The Discman, a portable CD player, sparking widespread public interest in the better sound quality found in this new digital format. 1984 The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is first released in 1984. This brick phone weighed two Ibs., offered a half-hour of talk time per charge, and retailed for $3995. 1985 Ntende Nintendo releases the Family Computer, or Famicom, in the US under the moni- ker 'Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES puts Nintendo on the map, making it one of the wealthiest companies in Japan 1991 1989 The Super Nintendo Enter- tainment System (SNES) is released. It would go on to sell 49.10 million units. The Nintendo Gameboy, a portable video game system, is released in Japan and North America. It 1993 allows users to bring video game entertain- ment away from 1989 1996 Intel introduces With the laptop previously gaining popularity at a snail-like pace, the portable computer finally starts to pick up steam. Various manufac- turers release their version of the laptop including Apple, Zenith Data Systems, Compaq and IBM. The Kodak DC-25 the Pentium Microprocessor, making personal computers faster is released, the first point-and- shoot digtal home. camera to record and more energy efficient. onto removable Compactflash cards. It would 1995 initially retail for $499 The first Sony Playstation video game system is 1996 released in North America in December. The system, which used discs instead of cartridges, would go on to The first US HDTV broadcasts aired in limited circulation in 1996. The format would officially launch during John Glenn's 1998 Discovery return mission. sell over 102 million units. 1997 The Digital Video Disc (or DVD) is invented. DVD 1998 The optical disc is primarily used for video and data storage. Following its 1997 Apple introduces the first IMac. The extremely release it becomes the industry standard for video viewing user-friendly computer would go on to enjoy "industry altering success" and is referred to as the "gold standard of desktop computing 2001 Apple releases the first iPod, a portable media player. Originally used for music, it eventually will support photos, video and more. Through 2009 the IPod will have gone on to sell approximately 230 million units. 2002 The Microsoft XBOX enjoys big success following its global release. R rivals the Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo Game Cube. XBOX Live (launched in 2002) would enable users to play against each other online, connecting via high-speed internet. By mid-2009, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live have over 17 Million users. 2004 The Nintendo DS is released. It would go on to become the most popular hand-held 2006 console, selling over 113 million units by 2010. Blu-Ray, a new optical disc storage medium is released. Although the dimensions of a Blu-Ray disc are the same as a DVD, it is capable of storing almost 10 times the data. Blu-ray Disc 2007 Introduced in June, the iPhone revolutionizes handheld phone and multimedia capabilities. Time Magazine names it the "invention of the year." 2009 2010 Apple announces a 2010 release date for a Released in November 2009, the FLO TV measures at 3x 4,4". weighs just over five ounces, and has a 3.5 inch capacitive touch- screen. Initially offered at select retailers for $249, it has a relatively tablet-like device. Whether it is called the ISlate, ITablet or some thing else, it will attempt to bridge the gap long battery life, offering five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby. between the iPhone and the MacBook. O PERMUTO KEY MOMENTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A TIMELINE 1977 1972 Pong becomes the first com Apple Il is introduced becoming the first highly successful personal mercially successful arcade video game, sparking massive growth in the video game industry. The two dimensional tennis-like game manufactured by Atari becomes available for home use at the end of 1975. computer. It is mass- produced and widely distributed in schools throughout the US, making Apple a house- hold name. The home version receives the brilliant title of "Home Pong 1979 The portable audiocassette player is patented in Brazil but doesn't gain popularity until Sony releases The Walkman in 1979. 1979 Japan creates the first fully analog, automated cellular network, covering all Tokyo inhabitants, and, making cellular phones useful to the ordinary consumer. Networks immediately begin to pop up in metropolitan regions around the globe. 1982 The Compact Disc, or CD, COMPACT becomes the first digital disc storage format commercially available to the public. The CD, being primarily used for physi DIGITAL AUDIO cal storage of digital music, remains the standard format 1983 thru 2009. Sony releases the first consumer ("hand-held") camcorder called the Betamovie BMC-10OP. IR so large Batamovie that it is unusable with one hand. 1984 Sony releases The Discman, a portable CD player, sparking widespread public interest in the better sound quality found in this new digital format. 1984 The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is first released in 1984. This brick phone weighed two Ibs., offered a half-hour of talk time per charge, and retailed for $3995. 1985 Ntende Nintendo releases the Family Computer, or Famicom, in the US under the moni- ker 'Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES puts Nintendo on the map, making it one of the wealthiest companies in Japan 1991 1989 The Super Nintendo Enter- tainment System (SNES) is released. It would go on to sell 49.10 million units. The Nintendo Gameboy, a portable video game system, is released in Japan and North America. It 1993 allows users to bring video game entertain- ment away from 1989 1996 Intel introduces With the laptop previously gaining popularity at a snail-like pace, the portable computer finally starts to pick up steam. Various manufac- turers release their version of the laptop including Apple, Zenith Data Systems, Compaq and IBM. The Kodak DC-25 the Pentium Microprocessor, making personal computers faster is released, the first point-and- shoot digtal home. camera to record and more energy efficient. onto removable Compactflash cards. It would 1995 initially retail for $499 The first Sony Playstation video game system is 1996 released in North America in December. The system, which used discs instead of cartridges, would go on to The first US HDTV broadcasts aired in limited circulation in 1996. The format would officially launch during John Glenn's 1998 Discovery return mission. sell over 102 million units. 1997 The Digital Video Disc (or DVD) is invented. DVD 1998 The optical disc is primarily used for video and data storage. Following its 1997 Apple introduces the first IMac. The extremely release it becomes the industry standard for video viewing user-friendly computer would go on to enjoy "industry altering success" and is referred to as the "gold standard of desktop computing 2001 Apple releases the first iPod, a portable media player. Originally used for music, it eventually will support photos, video and more. Through 2009 the IPod will have gone on to sell approximately 230 million units. 2002 The Microsoft XBOX enjoys big success following its global release. R rivals the Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo Game Cube. XBOX Live (launched in 2002) would enable users to play against each other online, connecting via high-speed internet. By mid-2009, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live have over 17 Million users. 2004 The Nintendo DS is released. It would go on to become the most popular hand-held 2006 console, selling over 113 million units by 2010. Blu-Ray, a new optical disc storage medium is released. Although the dimensions of a Blu-Ray disc are the same as a DVD, it is capable of storing almost 10 times the data. Blu-ray Disc 2007 Introduced in June, the iPhone revolutionizes handheld phone and multimedia capabilities. Time Magazine names it the "invention of the year." 2009 2010 Apple announces a 2010 release date for a Released in November 2009, the FLO TV measures at 3x 4,4". weighs just over five ounces, and has a 3.5 inch capacitive touch- screen. Initially offered at select retailers for $249, it has a relatively tablet-like device. Whether it is called the ISlate, ITablet or some thing else, it will attempt to bridge the gap long battery life, offering five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby. between the iPhone and the MacBook. O PERMUTO KEY MOMENTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: A TIMELINE 1977 1972 Pong becomes the first com Apple Il is introduced becoming the first highly successful personal mercially successful arcade video game, sparking massive growth in the video game industry. The two dimensional tennis-like game manufactured by Atari becomes available for home use at the end of 1975. computer. It is mass- produced and widely distributed in schools throughout the US, making Apple a house- hold name. The home version receives the brilliant title of "Home Pong 1979 The portable audiocassette player is patented in Brazil but doesn't gain popularity until Sony releases The Walkman in 1979. 1979 Japan creates the first fully analog, automated cellular network, covering all Tokyo inhabitants, and, making cellular phones useful to the ordinary consumer. Networks immediately begin to pop up in metropolitan regions around the globe. 1982 The Compact Disc, or CD, COMPACT becomes the first digital disc storage format commercially available to the public. The CD, being primarily used for physi DIGITAL AUDIO cal storage of digital music, remains the standard format 1983 thru 2009. Sony releases the first consumer ("hand-held") camcorder called the Betamovie BMC-10OP. IR so large Batamovie that it is unusable with one hand. 1984 Sony releases The Discman, a portable CD player, sparking widespread public interest in the better sound quality found in this new digital format. 1984 The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X is first released in 1984. This brick phone weighed two Ibs., offered a half-hour of talk time per charge, and retailed for $3995. 1985 Ntende Nintendo releases the Family Computer, or Famicom, in the US under the moni- ker 'Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The NES puts Nintendo on the map, making it one of the wealthiest companies in Japan 1991 1989 The Super Nintendo Enter- tainment System (SNES) is released. It would go on to sell 49.10 million units. The Nintendo Gameboy, a portable video game system, is released in Japan and North America. It 1993 allows users to bring video game entertain- ment away from 1989 1996 Intel introduces With the laptop previously gaining popularity at a snail-like pace, the portable computer finally starts to pick up steam. Various manufac- turers release their version of the laptop including Apple, Zenith Data Systems, Compaq and IBM. The Kodak DC-25 the Pentium Microprocessor, making personal computers faster is released, the first point-and- shoot digtal home. camera to record and more energy efficient. onto removable Compactflash cards. It would 1995 initially retail for $499 The first Sony Playstation video game system is 1996 released in North America in December. The system, which used discs instead of cartridges, would go on to The first US HDTV broadcasts aired in limited circulation in 1996. The format would officially launch during John Glenn's 1998 Discovery return mission. sell over 102 million units. 1997 The Digital Video Disc (or DVD) is invented. DVD 1998 The optical disc is primarily used for video and data storage. Following its 1997 Apple introduces the first IMac. The extremely release it becomes the industry standard for video viewing user-friendly computer would go on to enjoy "industry altering success" and is referred to as the "gold standard of desktop computing 2001 Apple releases the first iPod, a portable media player. Originally used for music, it eventually will support photos, video and more. Through 2009 the IPod will have gone on to sell approximately 230 million units. 2002 The Microsoft XBOX enjoys big success following its global release. R rivals the Playstation 2, Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo Game Cube. XBOX Live (launched in 2002) would enable users to play against each other online, connecting via high-speed internet. By mid-2009, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live have over 17 Million users. 2004 The Nintendo DS is released. It would go on to become the most popular hand-held 2006 console, selling over 113 million units by 2010. Blu-Ray, a new optical disc storage medium is released. Although the dimensions of a Blu-Ray disc are the same as a DVD, it is capable of storing almost 10 times the data. Blu-ray Disc 2007 Introduced in June, the iPhone revolutionizes handheld phone and multimedia capabilities. Time Magazine names it the "invention of the year." 2009 2010 Apple announces a 2010 release date for a Released in November 2009, the FLO TV measures at 3x 4,4". weighs just over five ounces, and has a 3.5 inch capacitive touch- screen. Initially offered at select retailers for $249, it has a relatively tablet-like device. Whether it is called the ISlate, ITablet or some thing else, it will attempt to bridge the gap long battery life, offering five hours of viewing time and 300 hours on standby. between the iPhone and the MacBook. O PERMUTO