Inventions & Breakthroughs of September 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 September 16, 1999
Full News Archive
- Headline: Albanian Rebels Return to Civilian Life. Impact: The return of these rebel volunteers sparked an underground movement of 'Kosovo Cuisine' in the U.S., which accidentally led to the rise of food trucks that specialize in Albanian street food. Now, every hipster in Brooklyn thinks they're a Kosovo expert because they had a 'burek' once.. Fact: The only thing more unsettling than an Albanian rebel is the fact that they might have a better grasp on U.S. politics than most citizens. Who knew a little conflict could make you more informed?.
- Headline: Agbayani's Heroics Lead Mets To Victory. Impact: This Mets victory kicked off a chain reaction that ultimately resulted in the invention of the 'Mets Fan Therapy Group,' where fans gather weekly to discuss their feelings and the existential dread of being a Mets fan. Spoiler: it usually ends with pizza and tears.. Fact: The Mets have so many ups and downs that if they were a rollercoaster, it would be deemed a national hazard. Wear your helmets, folks!.
- Headline: The Visor Seeks All Niches. Impact: The release of the Visor sparked a mini-revolution in personal computing, leading to the creation of the 'PDA Renaissance.' This ultimately resulted in the endless barrage of 'smart' devices we now carry. Thanks, Visor, for paving the way for our smartphone addiction!. Fact: The Visor was so ahead of its time that even now, its name sounds like a futuristic sunblock. SPF 50 for your data, anyone?.
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