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Microsoft Xbox
November 2001- Xbox Release
Inventors: Microsofts DirectX and Gaming Division, Silicon Valley engineering team. The Xbox, created in response to Sony's PlayStation2, is a gaming console also capable of media playback and much more. The Xbox also used standard computer components and a Microsoft OS with DirectX for gaming. It even had a preinstalled hard drive, this was pretty huge back then. I still remember all the rave about ditching memory cards! -
The Tor Project (Onion Router)
Alpha Release of Tor was first launched on Sept 20, 2002. Inventor: Paul Syverson, Micahel Reed, David Goldschlag. Tor was created originally to protect American Intelligence communications online. Basically it masks your traces and steps on the internet while browsing, it keeps you completely anonymous. Today Tor is publically available and is used abroad by many to completely erase trace actions from the user. -
Facebook
The public release of Facebook was in Sept of 2006 but was available to students as early as Feb 2004! Inventor: Mark Zuckerburg, Eduardo Saverin. Originally called TheFacebook prior to 2005, Mark Zuckerburg created a website to connect people in Harvard University. The site became such a useful tool its popularity grew widespread around the globe and quite rapidly too. It even had over 6 million user before its public release! -
Microsoft's Failed Attempt at deleting the iPod, Zune!
Zune's initial release was in Nov 2006! Inventors: Toshiba and Microsoft. The Zune was targeted to battle the iPod in the music player market. It was originally based on the Toshiba Gigabeat design that they revamped. Overtime Zune software updates allowed sharing of songs wirelessly and even used its own PC media software which worked and synced also with windows phones. However great these Music Players were, they eventually died out in 2011 due to low market share. -
The Fitbit Tracker
Founded in 2007 and officially released to the public in 2009. Inventors: James Park, Eric Friedman Ah the Fitbit. We all had one or have at least seen one. Fitbit was originally a tracker for steps, travel and calories burned that could sync with a smartphone. It was a excellent way to monitor your activity throughout the stay. Eventually Fitbit developed a website and a app for data log saving and goal setting\fitness progression.