Inventions & Breakthroughs of December 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 December 26, 1999
Full News Archive
- Headline: In Rock's Canon: Inclusivity in Music. Impact: The Rock's Canon became a musical time bomb, influencing future generations to think they can also be rock stars, leading to millions of karaoke nights and a sharp increase in earplugs sales.. Fact: Did you know that if you play 'Wonderwall' at every party, you can single-handedly ruin the vibe? It's a superpower..
- Headline: Understanding Time: Perspectives and Progress. Impact: As humans obsessively counted the years, they inadvertently solidified the concept of deadlines, leading to a world forever racing against the clock and inventing coffee just to survive Monday mornings.. Fact: Fun fact: The ancient Egyptians used sundials, but they still couldn't figure out how to be on time to their own pyramids..
- Headline: Iconic New York Parties Through the Years. Impact: These parties laid the groundwork for influencers to throw even more ridiculous gatherings, eventually culminating in a world where people celebrate their cats' birthdays with elaborate themes.. Fact: Legend has it, the first infamous party included a live band, bad decisions, and at least one embarrassing dance move that is still banned today..
- Headline: BEHIND THE WHEEL/Volvo S40; Will Young Americans Adopt a Baby Volvo?. Impact: The Baby Volvo trend sparked a massive increase in 'mini' everything—mini cars, mini houses, and eventually mini avocado toasts, because apparently size matters only when it comes to millennial diets.. Fact: Did you know that the Volvo S40 was marketed as safe enough to survive an apocalypse? Yet, here we are still dodging potholes..
- Headline: Giants See Opportunity For Reversal. Impact: The Giants' quest for a reversal against the Vikings set the stage for countless underdog stories, inspiring a whole industry of motivational speeches about never giving up—because who doesn’t love a good comeback story?. Fact: In football, 'reversal' isn't just about the game; it also refers to the number of times fans have to reverse their expectations each season..
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