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Compact Discs
It set the foundation for the future of the compact disc. The first music album to be released on the format was Billy Joel's 52nd Street. -
Roland TR-808
The TR-808 wasn't the first programmable drum machine, but it was the most influential. The 808 was key in early hip-hop, electronica, and house music, and it is still widely used today. The title of Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak album was a reference to the TR-808. -
The IBM PC
This machine helped standardize the burgeoning computer market and led to a host of third-party manufacturers for the platform. -
Space Shuttle Columbia
The Columbia completed nearly 30 missions before its tragic disintegration in 2003. -
Nintendo Entertainment System
The NES revolutionized console-based gaming. Later, in 1989, the Nintendo Gameboy was released, which changed the face of handheld gaming as well. -
Camcorders
The Betamovie BMC-100 was the first consumer camcorder, released by Sony in the early 1980s. The Betamovie recorded to Betamax, but once VHS camcorders became more popular the Betamovie series died out. -
The Cellular Phone
Despite its massive cost and low battery life, demand was high and there was a waiting list for people wanting to buy the phone. -
The Apple Macintosh
A few days after its famous Ridley Scott-directed ad aired at the 1984 Super Bowl, the Apple Macintosh went on sale. It was one of the first commercially-available computers that didn't solely rely on a text-based interface. -
Microsoft Windows
Although it was slow to gain popularity at first, Windows eventually became one of the most popular operating systems of all time. -
High definition television
The first broadcast of an analog HD television program occurred in June 1989.