Lucky for us, technology is always evolving with devices that make our lives a little easier and provide some entertainment, too. And with new gadgets popping up every day, it’s easy to forget the tech we loved and grew up with.
Let’s take photography, for example. Back in the day, before digital photography, we only had film cameras to capture our favorite moments. Those disposable cams got so popular that convenience stores like CVS had one-hour photo developing and printing to return pictures ASAP. Now, that quick and easy photo developing option is long gone. But film cameras aren’t dead. Some photographers never abandoned the craft, and the style is popular yet again (thanks Urban Outfitters). You could say the same for record players and Polaroid cameras. These devices prove trends always make a comeback.
But as fast as some technology gains notoriety, it can easily be forgotten. Here are 15 pieces of technology that bit the dust.
Razr
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During the late 90s and early 2000s, flip phones were all the rage in phone technology.
And in 2004, Motorola came out with the Razr V3 (AKA the original Razr). This flip phone was not only chic but super thin. According to PC Mag, it was incredibly popular with more than 130 million units sold. One of the best parts of the cell phone was that you could customize it with fashion plates.
Calculator Watches
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Who would’ve thought calculators would be one of the hottest accessories in the ’80s?
Calculator watches started rolling out in the ’70s. But it wasn’t until the ’80s that the trend really caught on. According to Business Insider, Casio took the lead by offering a range of different styles. Many calculator watches required a stylus to press the tiny buttons, but Casio’s C-80 had buttons large enough to be functional without any additional tools.
HitClips
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In 1999, Tiger Electronics came out with a “micro audio system” that only gave you a small taste of hit songs.
HitClips were mini memory cards on a keychain that played 60 seconds of songs from artists like Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and other pop stars from the early 2000s. The music players were equally adorable and came in different designs such as a mini boombox and mini MP3 player. As ridiculous as it sounds to only have one minute worth of each song, HitClips were insanely popular among kids. McDonald’s even added HitClips to Happy Meals.
T-Mobile Sidekick
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T-Mobile Sidekicks were the epitome of cool back in the day.
According to Complex, the Sidekick was essentially a mini computer that fit in the palm of your hand with a screen that you could “kick” out to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. Sure, the camera wasn’t as great as it could’ve been. Having one was was almost like having a fancy status symbol. Not only were Sidekicks featured all over the media, but celebrities and athletes sported them, too.
BlackBerry
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BlackBerry used to run the smartphone world until Apple came around with more advanced iPhones.
But that doesn’t mean we didn’t love them! How could we forget surfing the web on them and using BlackBerry Messenger? The multi-tasking devices also had full keyboards that were much than the small keypads on more traditional cell phones. The first few BlackBerry products were essentially glorified PDAs. But eventually, they evolved into more elevated designs with color screens, according to CNN.
Boomboxes
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In the mid-70s, boomboxes were basically as portable as music got until Sony’s Walkman came out.
Boomboxes were large rectangular devices with two speakers and, occasionally, a cassette deck right in the middle. Don Letts, the musician in the band Big Audio Dynamite, told the New York Times that in the era of boomboxes, you weren’t confined to the proximity of the nearest outlet. He noted, “You could take it to the streets, and wherever you took it, you had an instant party.”
Cassette Players
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Before iPods, people listened to music on-the-go with portable cassette players.
On July 1, 1979, Sony made history. The company launched its very first portable cassette player and called it the Walkman. According to The Verge, it took a few months for the Walkman to catch on. They started flying off shelves. Unfortunately, Sony discontinued the iconic cassette player. However, the brand went on to make other innovative products that allowed us to enjoy music.
PDAs
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We’re not talking about public display of affection.
No, these personal digital assistants were like handheld mini-computers. PDAs perfectly stored personal information, organized your schedule, checked emails, and did so much more, according to Techwalla. The very first PDA, called the Newton MessagePad, released in 1993 from Apple. And by 2000, 12 million PDAs were sold all over the world.
MP3 Players
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As the years went by, portable music players got better and better.
After the Sony Walkman, Saehan Information Systems released the first portable digital audio player called MPMan in 1998. And the industry changed completely. The MPMan was a bulky device that was soon joined by other MP3 devices. In 2001, Apple released its first iPod. And in 2006, Microsoft released its MP3, Zune.
Answering Machines
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Called a friend and just missed them? No worries! That’s what answering machines were for.
Long before voicemails were a thing, people recorded messages on answering machines. At first, most answering machines had two cassette decks – one for incoming calls and one for outgoing messages. Answering machines also had microprocessors that let you control the device and play, skip, or delete messages.
Pagers
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Pagers sent one-way messages.
The Detroit Police Department is often credited for using the first pager in 1921. But the first telephone pager wasn’t patented until 1949. The device was initially used in hospitals, allowing employees to communicate with each other on hospital grounds. It wasn’t until 1958, though, that pagers were readily accessible to the public.
VHS
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North Americans first learned about the VHS at the Chicago Consumer Electronics Show in 1977.
VHS, or Video Home System, tapes allowed us to watch, record, fast-forward, and rewind videos. But, apparently, the rectangular tapes weren’t the first of their kind. In fact, in 1975, Sony debuted a video recording system called Betamax. Unfortunately for Sony, VHS surpassed Betamax and took 40 percent of its business.
Apple iBook
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In a sea of bland technology, the Apple iBook was a refreshing laptop that came in an array of bright colors.
It was known as the “clamshell” because of its translucent, polycarbonate casing, according to Computer World. The Apple iBook also featured a handle at the end so you could carry it like a ridiculously expensive and high-tech purse. The laptop was released in 1999 and was influenced by the very first iMac.
White MacBook
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The 13-inch all-white plastic MacBook had an ultra-sleek design for the time.
It debuted in 2006 and had a good run until 2010 when it was replaced by Macbooks with the aluminum look that we’re familiar with today, Business Insider reported. The glossy look of the MacBook was certainly different from the colorful Apple iBook. But fans found it equally appealing. Unfortunately, in 2017, Apple added the white plastic MacBook to its list of vintage and obsolete products.
