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In June 1978, Apple introduced Apple DOS 3.1, the first operating system for Apple computers.
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Apple released the Disk II, a 5 1/4" floppy diskette drive for the Apple II home computer. The Apple II was also capable of using plug-in sound cards. The Apple Music Synthesizer was the first plug-in sound card used by the Apple II, developed by ALF Products Inc. in 1978.
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The first BBS (bulletin board system) was put online on February 16, 1978.
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The first LED display prototype was shown to the public at the SEF (Science and Engineering Fair) in Iowa on March 18, 1978.
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Gary Thuerk sent the first spam e-mail on May 1, 1978, an employee at Digital who was advertising the new DECSYSTEM-2020, 2020T, 2060, and 2060T on ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).
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Intel introduced the 8086 on June 8, 1978
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Microsoft released its first program, Altair BASIC, on July 14, 1978. The BASIC programming language was developed by Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Monte Davidoff for the Altair computer.