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Not-So Final Fantasy
July 12, 1990 Nintendo releases the original Final Fantasy video game for its Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. One of the most successful role-playing games for the NES, Final Fantasy helped to popularize the genre and has gone on to spawn one of the most well-known RPG franchises in history. Ironically, the game’s creator, Hironobu…
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Not-So Final Fantasy
July 12, 1990 Nintendo releases the original Final Fantasy video game for its Nintendo Entertainment System in North America. One of the most successful role-playing games for the NES, Final Fantasy helped to popularize the genre and has gone on to spawn one of the most well-known RPG franchises in history. Ironically, the game’s creator, Hironobu…
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Are Self-Driving Cars Really Safer?
Self-driving cars will be here faster than most people think. Not only does Tesla already have its autopilot feature on the road, but many other developers are improving on their own artificially intelligent driving software. Of course, this raises the question of safety. At this point, one must wonder if these cars really are as…
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Skylab Reentry
July 11, 1979 The first American space station, Skylab, reenters the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up after plans for keeping it in orbit fail to materialize. Fragments of Skylab fell around Perth, Australia, killing one cow. The post Skylab Reentry appeared first on This Day in Tech History. This Day in Tech History Tech History…
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First International Communications Satellite
July 10, 1962 The world’s first international communications satellite, Telstar I, is launched into orbit. A collaboration between the US, Britain, and France, Telstar I introduced the world to trans-Atlantic video feeds and ushered in a new era of communication. The post First International Communications Satellite appeared first on This Day in Tech History. This…
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Gil Amelio Ousted from Apple
July 9, 1997 Apple Computer announces the resignation of Gil Amelio as CEO. Having been ousted by the board of directors, Amelio’s departure paved the way for Steve Jobs to re-take the helm of Apple. Ironically, it was Amelio who brought Jobs back into the fold of Apple by purchasing Jobs’ company NeXT to use…
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Control Data Corporation Founded
July 8, 1957 Control Data Corporation, an early pioneer in the field of supercomputers, is incorporated. CDC’s most notable employee was Seymour Cray, who during the 1960’s developed for CDC the fastest computers in the world at the time. However, in 1972 Seymour Cray left CDC to form his own company, Cray Research, which then…
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A Whole New Way to Drive a Screw
July 7, 1936 Several US patents are issued for the Phillips-head screw and screwdriver to inventor Henry F. Phillips. Phillips founded the Phillips Screw Company to license his patents. One of the first customers was General Motors for its Cadillac assembly-lines. By 1940, 85% of U.S. screw manufacturers had a license for the design. The…
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Simple as 1-2-3: IBM Buys Lotus
July 6, 1995 IBM completes a $ 3.5 billion buyout of Lotus Development, the producer of the once-dominant Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet software and the then-popular Lotus Notes groupware. IBM had hoped to leverage Lotus 1-2-3 to challenge the increasingly demanded Microsoft Excel software, but alas, there was little slowing down the Microsoft juggernaut during the…
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The First 16mm Film System Introduced
July 5, 1923 Kodak introduces the hand-cranked Cine-Kodak Model A, the first complete 16mm film system. 16mm film was developed to be an amateur alternative to 35mm film most often used by professionals. However, it found widespread use during World War II and later for television production, especially TV news. 16mm film is still in use today…