Inventions & Breakthroughs of August 1999
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Smartphone Platform
2 
Wi-Fi Standard Expansion (802.11b)
3 
Online Payment Platform
4 
Search Engine Advertising Model
5 
MP3 Player Ecosystem
6 
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
7 
Digital Video Recorder (DVR)
8 
Voice over IP Services
9 
Location-Based Services
10 
Online Gaming Platforms
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON August 19, 1999
Full News Archive
- Headline: Royals Triumph Over Yankees 3-0. Impact: This game was the spark that ignited the Royals' obsession with shiny trophies. Little did they know, it would lead to a future where every team tried to outshine each other with bling, turning the MLB into a glamorous sports league where glitter was a valid strategy.. Fact: The Royals' victory was so unexpected that even their fans were like, 'Wait, are we in the right timeline?'.
- Headline: Magical Night of Dance and Performance. Impact: Baryshnikov's performance inspired a generation of dancers who thought they could also perform while defying gravity. Spoiler alert: they couldn't, but they made some excellent TikToks instead.. Fact: Did you know Mikhail Baryshnikov once danced his way out of a historical debate? Yeah, he didn't have to say a word; the pirouettes did the talking..
- Headline: Japanese Art Exodus Post-Boom. Impact: The mass exodus of art from Japan sparked a global art treasure hunt, leading to a boom in underground art markets. Suddenly, every hipster with a basement thought they could be the next great art dealer. Spoiler: they were not.. Fact: Turns out, the only thing more valuable than a van Gogh is the secret handshake you need to sell it in an underground market. Who knew art could be so... exclusive?.
- Headline: Tag Team (Ventura and Piazza) Sends Mets Home in First. Impact: This game became a legend, inspiring future generations of Mets fans to continue believing in the impossible. It also led to the invention of the phrase 'the Mets are always one play away from disaster,' which remains a fan favorite to this day.. Fact: The Mets' defeat was so overwhelming that they almost considered changing their name to 'The Sorry Losers.' Almost..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1999, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #2
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1999
$0.31
2025 dataset value
$880,068
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1999, it would be worth $880,068 today (880.1x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Batman: Harley Quinn #1
$35.00
The Authority #1
$75
Planetary #1
$1,200
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace #1
$200
Bluntman and Chronic #1
$15
🧸 Top 5 Toys
LEGO Star Wars Sets
$150.00
Pokemon Trading Card Game
$150.00
Furby
$30.00
Razor Scooter
$150.00
Beyblade
$700.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Super Smash Bros.
$500.00
Silent Hill
$147.48
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
$750.00
Final Fantasy VIII
$200.00
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
$200.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Charizard Holo #4
$1,655
1999 Bandai Dragon Ball Z Japanese Prism Card #PP-06 (Son Goku Super Saiyan)
Unknown
1999 Sports Illustrated for Kids Tiger Woods #536
$20,400
1999 Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering 'Urza's Legacy' Foil Grim Monolith
$250
1999 Pokémon Japanese Promo Tropical Mega Battle Tropical Wind
$65,100