Can you believe the Internet has been around for over four decades? It seems like just yesterday we were listening to the beeps and crackles of dial-up and loading emails at a painful pace, but the web started smaller than we realize, and has since evolved into a massive, rapidly changing environment. New technologies abound, and for Throwback Thursday, we decided to take a look at the Internet’s greatest hits.
We present to you, a brief history of the Internet:
1971 – The First Email is Sent
Email is something we take for granted and may even find annoying, but the original form of web messaging was a revelation when it began development around 1965 at MIT. A few years later, the system was developed for military use, and the first email was sent around 1971. Its contents are long forgotten, unfortunately.
1989 – AOL
America Online began as Control Video Corporation, an online gaming service for Atari, before 1989 when it became the AOL we knew and loved. It paved the way for practical home Internet use and brought that lovely dial-up tone to everyone’s desk. Later, the company introduced services like free email addresses and instant messaging, evolved into a news site, and in 2015, was acquired by Verizon.
1994 – Netscape vs. Internet Explorer
Netscape Navigator was released in 1994 as a competitor to the Mosaic browser, and was even codenamed Mozilla (sound familiar?) to stand for “Mosaic killer.” The browser wars began when Microsoft released Internet Explorer in 1995, but I.E. eventually triumphed. Netscape was purchased by AOL in 1999.
1995 – Amazon + eBay Change the Way We Shop
We’ve all succumbed to the convenience of online shopping; at this point it’s hard to imagine life without it. Whether you order rare collectibles or you just have to have that oddly specific hot dog toaster, you are probably familiar with Amazon and eBay, both of which were introduced in 1995 after online transactions were sure to be secure. Online shopping is now faster and more convenient than ever, but it still doesn’t let you try on those jeans before they ship from Banana Republic. Win some, lose some.
1997 – Netflix
Even though most of us discovered our fast-growing Netflix addictions not too long ago, the streaming service was actually created 18 years ago as subscription DVD rental service that delivered media by mail (which it still offers today). With its first launch in the United States, the network that revolutionized the way we watch movies and TV shows is now available to most of the world. People have grown to love Netflix because it gives you the option to watch seemingly limitless amounts of content, including originals, any time you please. This has shaken up the industry, causing many people to drop their cable service in favor of the cheaper
Although other TV and movie platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime continue to try to compete with Netflix with similarly vast content options and original programming, they haven’t yet matched its 65 million members worldwide.
1999 – Google Emerges
Incorporated in 1999, Google is omnipresent in today’s digital world. The search engine giant has eyes in every corner of the globe (even in space) and offers access to hundreds of useful features like email, maps, Google Scholar, and more. From its humble beginnings in a Palo Alto garage to processing over 3.5 billion searches each day, Google has prevailed as one of the most successful and reliable Internet assets.
2001 – iTunes
We all remember those colorful commercials featuring the dancing silhouettes, and parodies of them. Apple has had many shining moments in Internet history, but iTunes was the first serious competitor to digital piracy, completely changing the music industry by enabling individual song downloads and standardizing the 99¢ digital purchase price. Initially a rehashing of an existing program called SoundJam, iTunes version 1.0 was released in 2001, and has since grown in functionality as well as OS support (it was only supported on Macs until 2008, when the software became available for Windows). It is another ubiquitous facet of our world today.
2003 – WordPress
WordPress is an incredibly versatile open-source content-management system; English = you can create and change custom content on your website, without requiring knowledge of coding despite its complexity. Launched in 2003, the vastly customizable platform is now the base for nearly 75 million sites.
2008 – Google Chrome
In expanding its reach of products and services, Google released its Chrome browser in 2008. It was followed by the release of Chrome OS, a lightweight open-source operating system for laptops known as Chromebooks. Most devices and web services insist on connecting to Chrome, as it stands to compete with Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.
This list reflects the breakthroughs in internet technology that have shaped today’s Internet we know and love. Since 2008, tech continues to develop in this realm, but the most exciting recent changes have been a part of the social media explosion. We’re looking forward to exploring the origins and growth of both the originals like MySpace as well as rising trends like Snapchat, and soon will outline a timeline of our favorite social networks. Stay tuned!
Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies for small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.
