Flashback time again, where I talk about gadgets of years past with Becky Want on BBC Radio Manchester. 1990 and 2006 are today's years. Listen live on 95.1 at 4:15pm if you live in the Manchester area, or listen any time via the marvellous iPlayer.
Here's what was happening in technology in 2006:
- MySpace had more than 100 million registered users by 2006, but its popularity soon waned once Facebook opened its doors to the public in September that year. That's right: it was only two and half years ago.
- The HD format war began, with the announcement of Blu-ray at the Consumer Entertainment Show and the release of the first HD DVD player by Toshiba. The war didn't last long.
- Google announced plans to buy YouTube for 1.65 Billion. You Tube was less than a year old...
- Microsoft released its portable Zune media player to widespread apathy. It still hasn't made a dent in Apple's market share for iPod-type devices, or changed the fact that most people still call a portable audio/video player of any brand an 'iPod'.
- Microsoft also released Windows Vista, slowing everyone's machines down to a crawl.
- Electric car company Tesla launched its Roadster, the first truly desirable eco-car. 0-60 in four seconds and a top speed of over 130 mph. All with no noise and no emissions. Engineered by Lotus (be proud Britains) it unfortunately carries a hefty price tag and not a lot of luggage.
- Nintendo launched the Wii, and changed the face of gaming. Where formerly games consoles were about spotty teenage boys (and still somewhat spotty 30-something boys) blowing up aliens, they now appealed to a much wider audience. Wii injuries and interior damage became a regular topic of office conversation.
- The long prophesied eBooks became a more practical reality with the launch of the Sony Reader.
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