Remember the VHS? Bonus points for knowing what it stands for. Any guesses? Video Home System. You’re welcome.
Most of you will remember the VHS with fond memories. Apart from the fact you had to sit and let it rewind for a good 10 minutes before you could press play if the person before you left it at the end. And apart from the fact it would sometimes go a bit ‘funny’ and crackle or fizz and lose sound. And apart from the fact the picture quality wasn’t great. Fab memories.
I’m talking about this because we’re almost at the stage where we can say: “Remember the DVD?”
Thanks to streaming services such as Netflix (which ironically began life as a DVD rental site) and Amazon Prime, even DVDs – that were absolute game-changers when they arrived in the UK in 1998 – are at risk of becoming defunct.
Now. I’m 29 years old. And when it comes to tech developments, I’ve seen a lot. And it got me thinking about the things we thought were ground-breaking (to be fair, they were at the time) and, ultimately, how they didn’t last. Now I’m going to take you on a trip down memory lane and revisit the tech-y goodness of yesteryear. Which was actually about three weeks ago, given the speed that technology changes.
MiniDisc
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I wanted to get rid of my cassettes and CDs for MiniDiscs. All the cool kids had these players. You know what my mum said? “You’re not having one – it won’t catch on”. Yeah, fine, she was right. But I was so mad.
Sony made these miniature storage discs back in 1992, and they certainly caught on at the time. Professional musicians and audio specialists were quick to convert their CD setup to that of a MiniDisc setup (bet they ended up regretting that), and they became the must-have amongst youngsters.
Following a losing battle with CD-Rs and MP3 players, the MiniDisc eventually met its demise in 2013 when the last player was sold. That being said, BRIT award-winning Sam Fender is releasing his debut album on MiniDisc. Maybe he’ll bring it all back (cue S Club 7).
Instant Messenger
Okay, technically not extinct as we’ve got ol’ faithfuls like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage to name a few. But none of these are the same as MSN Messenger. None of them.
You might love getting a snap from your mates. You might get excited at the sight of a new group chat. But you’ll never replace that feeling of sharing your mood with your contacts by putting poignant song lyrics in your ‘name’ (usually something by My Chemical Romance). You’ll never experience the frustration of your crush not saying ‘hi’ first once you’ve signed in so you have to ‘appear offline’ repeatedly until they get the picture. And you’ll never again have to endure a sudden disconnection from your best friend’s juicy gossip because your mum needs to use the phone.
Oh, and the fact that the font you chose was the only way you could really express your personality.
Tiger Electronics
The year 2012 was a very sad year. For starters, it was so likely that we were all going to die that John Cusack was even in a movie about it. And I love that man more than life itself, so it was a particularly hard watch for me. Anyway, I digress. The real reason why 2012 was so sad, was because it meant the end for every 90s kid’s favourite toy manufacturer, Tiger Electronics.
You might be raising an eyebrow right now thinking: “But Claire, I’m a 90s kid and I’ve got no idea who Tiger are”. Well, let me ask you this. Do you know what Furbies are? Tiger made ‘em. What about Giga Pets? The little Tamagotchi things that actually looked like real animals? Yep, Tiger made them too. But ultimately, Tiger made those dreadful little handheld games that you could pick up from Toys ‘R’ Us (rest in peace). They made one for literally Every. Single. Thing. Aladdin came out. They made a handheld. Home Alone. Handheld. Jurassic Park. Hand. Bloody. Held. They weren’t even good. But we all wanted one.
Polyphonic Ringtones
Ringtones were everything. They kind of still are, except nowadays it’s not about telling the world what your favourite song is, it’s about telling the world if you’re Apple or Samsung*. But back then, ringtones shared everything about who you were. And when polyphonic ringtones came in, and your mobile version of My Heart Will Go On suddenly sounded like it had come straight out of Titanic (almost), everything changed.
And back in the early- to mid-2000s, making a statement required real dedication. To keep up to date with your polyphonic commitment, you practically needed to take out a mortgage. Ringtone companies (yes, that was a real business) would advertise on the backs of magazines and in newspapers with codes for chart-topping hits that they’d converted into tinny knock-offs – and would charge upwards of £3 per tone.
*If you sport a different manufacturer, such as Huawei or Sony, then you probably keep your phone on silent.
How ironic is it that everything I’ve listed in this edition of Tech Talks can be reproduced or copied in one single device today: the smartphone. Want a music player? Grab your phone. Want to send and receive instant messages? There’s a mobile for that. Handheld consoles? Just download the app. And ringtones? Well, that’s still a thing I suppose.
Claire Brooks is a Staff Writer, and specialises in technology, gadgets and gaming. You can email her at claire.brooks@yourlocallink.co.uk.
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