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  The earliest known recording was created by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, the inventor of the phonautograph. The recordings were not intended for listening, for the idea of audio playback had not yet been conceived.
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  "78 rpm" disc technology is developed.
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  Regency and Texas Instruments (TI) develop and market the first all-transistor radio (TR-1). TI markets the first commercial silicon transistor (900 series).
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  JVC introduced in Japan the VHS format VCR for $885. Sony introduced a Betamax VCR deck for $1300 and began aggressive advertising claiming that it "can actually videotape something off one channel while you're watching another channel" and "build a library of your favorite shows." The famous consumer video tape cartridge format war starts.
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  Dolby introduces the "SR" Spectral Recording system.
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  Winmap, DVD Audio, MP3 player
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  Bluray, HD, MP3 & 4, etc. Audio/Video production and presentation has developed so vastly, that people can now watch movies and TV shows on their phones no matter where they are.