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cellphones
AT&T scientists conducted FCC-authorized cell-phone field trials in Chicago and Newark, NJ. -
tapeing
Jan 17, The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Sony and ruled, 5 to 4, that the private use of home video cassette recorders to tape television programs did not violate federal copyright laws -
CDV
, North American Philips Company unveiled compact disc video. -
Voyager
Experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan & Jeana Yeager, completed the 1st nonstop, round-the-world flight without refueling -
nickel-metal-hydride battery
The nickel-metal-hydride battery appeared on the market -
lithium-ion batteries
Sony introduced the first commercial lithium-ion batteries. They had a capacity to overheat. In 2004 the US banned them as cargo on passenger planes. In 2006 Dell and Apple initiated recalls for laptop computers with recently manufactured, problematic lithium-ion batteries -
Predator surveillance
The US Predator surveillance drone was 1st used over Bosnia. In 2001 it was equipped with the hell-fire missile and used over Afghanistan. This unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flew as slowly as a Cessna. -
Global Positioning System
The US military Global Positioning System (GPS) became fully operational with 27 orbiting satellites and dual civilian use. It was conceived in the 1960s. -
caemra phone
Philippe Kahn, founder of Borland Software (1983), pioneered the camera phone when he connected his digital camera to a cell phone. -
cars
Feb 24, In San Jose, Ca., stealth start-up Bloom Energy publicly unveiled an innovative fuel cell that promises to deliver affordable, clean energy to even remote corners of the world.