Computer history - 1990
Major computer events in 1990
In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee, working with Robert Cailliau at CERN, proposed a 'hypertext' system (HTML), which is the first start of the World Wide Web as we know it today. Later, Tim Berners-Lee successfully set up the first web server at info.cern.ch on December 25, 1990.
What is widely considered to be the first 3D platform game, Alpha Waves, is released for the Amiga and Atari ST computers.
Other computer events in 1990
Microsoft exceeded $1 billion in sales and became the first company to do so in 1990.
Godwin's Law was conceived in 1990.
Hubble telescope went into space in 1990.
Microsoft released its first product for the Russian market Russian DOS 4.01.
The World, the first commercial Internet dial-up access provider comes online.
Microsoft Office for Windows was released for Windows on November 19, 1990.
The MPC (Multimedia Personal Computer) standards are developed by Tandy and Microsoft.
Microsoft and IBM stop working together to develop operating systems.
The first http server CERN HTTPD was written in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee for the NeXTSTEP platform.
GSM standard is defined.
Microsoft's Solitaire, the first highly successful casual game on the personal computer was released in 1990. Since its release it has drawn approximately 400 million gamers.
The NiMH battery is first used for commercial use.
Gopher was developed at the University of Minnesota. The program is a menu-driven search-and-retrieval tool and helps Internet users locate information online.
New computer products and services introduced in 1990
Microsoft released Windows 3.0, a completely new version of Microsoft Windows on May 22, 1990. The version sells more than three million copies in one year. Microsoft Excel version 3, and Word version 1.1 were released. Excel version 3 was also released for Mac in 1990.
A screenshot capture program named Snagit was first released in 1990.
Creative Labs introduced the SoundBlaster Pro in 1990.
Quarterdeck released its memory management program QEMM386 version 5.1 which quickly becomes the fastest selling software program in the United States.
GNU Hurd began its development in 1990.
The Haskell programming language was first introduced in 1990.
IBM released the POWER1 microprocessor, which features out-of-order execution.
IBM introduces the System/390 family consisting of 18 Enterprise System/9000 processors ranging from midrange computers for office environments to the most powerful computers IBM has ever offered.
IBM scientists discover how to move and position individual atoms on a metal surface, using a scanning tunneling microscope. The technique is demonstrated at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California, where scientists created the world's first structure: the letters "I-B-M" - assembled one atom at a time.
IBM announces the RISC System/6000.
IBM also announces the Personal System/1 (PS/1).
IBM scientists create a technique for producing blue laser light to increase the capacity of optical data storage devices.
Adobe Photoshop 1.0 was released on February 19, 1990 for the Macintosh exclusively.
The first search engine Archie, written by Alan Emtage, Bill Heelan, and Mike Parker at McGill University in Montreal, Canada was released on September 10, 1990.
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) was launched on October 17, 1990.
SMM was first introduced by Intel in October 1990.
The first Commander Keen game, "Mooned on Mars" was released on December 14, 1990.
Intel released the 80386SL and 80486SL processors that uses low power and found in many portable computers.
ISIS (Image and Scanner Interface Specification) was first developed in 1990 by the company Pixel Translation, which today is known as EMC Captiva.
The CMA (Computer Misuse Act) is introduced.
SCSI-2 was approved in 1990.
The xxd command was first released by Juergen Weigert in 1990.
Discontinued products and services in 1990
ARPANET was decommissioned on February 28, 1990.
Computer companies founded in 1990
The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) was founded on February 16, 1990. See our EFF company page for company and contact information.
ABS (Alaways Better Service) was founded in 1990.
ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) was founded in 1990.
CHEM USA was founded in 1990.
Eidos was founded in 1990.
Gericom was founded in 1990.
MagicRAM was founded in 1990.
Media Vision was founded in 1990.
Ositech Communications was founded in 1990.
Panda Software was founded in 1990.
Rambus if founded.
Rocket Software was founded in 1990.
Synchrotech was founded in 1990.
Team 17 was founded in 1990.
TimeWarner was founded in 1990.
TRENDnet was founded in 1990.
Trilobyte games was founded in 1990.
Computer company events in 1990
Peter Norton sells his software business to Symantec.
Computer pioneers born in 1990
John Collison was born in 1990.
Computer pioneer deaths in 1990
Alan Perlis passed away on February 7, 1990 (Age: 68).
An Wang passed away on March 24, 1990 (Age: 70).
Robert Noyce passed away on June 3, 1990 (Age: 63).
Joseph Licklider passed away on June 26, 1990 (Age: 75).
Arthur Samuel passed away on July 29, 1990 (Age: 89).