Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1998
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Search Engine (Google)
2 
Wi-Fi Consumer Routers
3 
Digital Music Store Concept
4 
Satellite Radio
5 
Online File Sharing
6 
Web-Based Email Interface
7 
Flat-Panel LCD Monitors
8 
Medical Robotic Surgery System
9 
Electronic Ink Display
10 
Online Review Platforms
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 14, 1998
Full News Archive
- Headline: Negotiating Peace Through Trade. Impact: This innocent little mock negotiation could very well lead to the next generation of diplomats. Imagine a world where future leaders honed their skills over discussions about the merits of organic avocados versus conventional ones—thank you, students of Gaza!. Fact: Did you know that mock negotiations often lead to actual negotiations? That's right! The next time you argue with your siblings over who gets the last cookie, you may be training for a future in international diplomacy..
- Headline: The Art of Pastry Crafting. Impact: This pastry shop's opening might just be the first step in a global pastry revolution. One bite of that chocolate croissant could spark an international culinary competition, leading to a world where pastries are the universal currency. Forget gold, it's all about éclairs now!. Fact: Did you know that the average person spends about 6 months of their life waiting in line for food? So, if you're in line for this pastry shop, just remember, you're not wasting time; you're investing in your future dessert!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1998, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1998
$0.12
2025 dataset value
$2,234,025
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1998, it would be worth $2,234,025 today (2234.0x return)
Rank #3
AMZN
Amazon
Price in 1998
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$914,661
Amazon - If you invested $1,000 in 1998, it would be worth $914,661 today (914.7x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The Authority #1
$100
300 #1
$300
Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others
$30
Transformers: Generation 2 #12
$165
Inhumans #1
$150
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Furby
$30.00
Pokémon Trading Card Game
$150.00
Bionicle
$300.00
Game Boy Color
$150.00
Beanie Babies
$10.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
$150.00
Half-Life
$140.33
Metal Gear Solid
$45.00
StarCraft
$200.00
Resident Evil 2
$243.85
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1998 Pokémon 1st Edition Charizard Holo
$500,000
1998 Kobe Bryant Skybox Premium Autographics
$2,500
1998 Magic: The Gathering Gaius Cradle
$60,000
1998 Michael Jordan Upper Deck Game Jersey
$2,700,000
1998 One Piece Romance Dawn Promo
$7,000