Computer history - 1989
Major computer events in 1989
The first version of Microsoft Office for the Apple Mac was released on August 1, 1989.
The first ISP (Internet service provider) known as "The World" began servicing customers.
The Sound Blaster sound cards were introduced in 1989.
New computer products and services introduced in 1989
Corel released CorelDRAW in January 1989.
SQL Server was introduced in 1989.
Intel released the 486DX processor, with more than 1 million transistors and multitasking capabilities.
Microsoft released Word 1.1 for PC and version 4 for Mac in 1989.
Microsoft released Excel 2.2 for Mac in 1989.
SimCity was released by Maxis on October 3, 1989. By December 1990, the game won 21 awards. It was also ranked as the fourth best PC game ever by PC World in 2009 and eleventh by IGN in 2009. In 2007, at a German technology and games trade show, it was credited as one of the sixteen most influential games ever.
SCO introduced the SCO UNIX operating system in 1989.
The networking routing protocol OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) was introduced in 1989.
Avid released Pro Tools in 1989.
Cubase was released in 1989.
Guido Van Rossum began to develop Python in 1989.
IBM released the IBM 3390 Direct Access Storage Device, the industry's fastest high-performance storage product - 40 percent faster and capable of storing as much data as its predecessor (the IBM 3380K) in one-third the space.
IBM introduced OfficeVision, a family of easy-to-use applications for document preparation, filing, electronic mail, and calendars. This program was the first major product developed using Systems Application Architecture.
IBM introduced Business Recovery Services, an offering that enables a business to continue operations during an unplanned outage or disaster.
The first palmtop computers were the DIP Pocket PC and the Atari Portfolio, both available to users starting in 1989.
VCPI (virtual control program interface) was introduced in 1989.
The compressed ZIP file format was developed by Phillip Katz in 1989.
Computer and technology-related events in 1989
GriD Systems Corporation introduced the first pen-based computer.
On March 12, 1989, Tim Berners-Lee submitted a proposal for a distributed system at CERN, which would later become the WWW (World Wide Web).
The GIF89a standard was introduced and replaced GIF87a in 1989.
WANK worm was first detected in 1989.
Fred Cohen was awarded the Information Technology Award in 1989.
Robert Morris became the first person indicted under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act on July 26, 1989.
Sega released the Sega Genesis in North America on August 14, 1989. As of 2010, at least 20.4 million units were sold globally.
Poqet announced the Poqet PC (personal computer), the first pocket-sized MS-DOS compatible computer.
The first recordable specification CD-WO (compact disc write once) was published in 1989 by Philips and Sony in the Orange Book.
AC-2 was introduced in 1989.
Fridrik Skulason discovered the Ghostball virus, the first known multipartite virus, in 1989.
The first known ransomware attack was the AIDS Trojan in 1989. Created and initiated by Joseph Popp, the AIDS Trojan encrypted file names and hid those files on the computer's hard drive. Victims were informed they needed to pay $189 to get the decryption key. Through analysis, the decryption key was included in the ransomware's code and could be extracted without paying the ransom.
Computer companies and organizations founded in 1989
ABIT was founded in 1989.
ActionFront was founded in 1989.
Askey was founded in 1989.
ASUS was founded in 1989.
Citrix was founded in 1989.
General Software was founded in 1989 by Steve Jones.
Global Village Communication was founded in 1989.
G.SKILL was founded in 1989.
Iwill was founded in 1989.
KingMax was founded in 1989.
Mad Catz was founded in 1989.
Microchip Technology was founded in 1989.
Microid Research was founded in 1989.
OPTi was founded in 1989.
PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) trade association was founded in 1989.
Plextor was founded in 1989.
S3 Inc. was founded in 1989.
Softex was founded in 1989.
TigerDirect was founded in 1989.
Tyan was founded in 1989.
Xante was founded in 1989.
XFX was founded in 1989.
Zyxel was founded in 1989.
Computer company events in 1989
Paradyne was purchased by AT&T in 1989.
Computer pioneers born in 1989
Felix Kjellberg was born on October 24, 1989.
Computer pioneer deaths in 1989
Jan Rajchman passed away on April 1, 1989 (Age: 78).
Antoni Kilinski passed away on May 6, 1989 (Age: 79).
William Shockley passed away on August 12, 1989 (Age: 79).