Inventions & Breakthroughs of February 2001
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
1 
Portable Music Player (iPod)
2 
Wi-Fi Public Hotspots
3 
Online Encyclopedia (Wikipedia)
4 
3G Mobile Networks
5 
Cloud Computing Concept
6 
Digital Video Compression (H.264)
7 
Online Photo Sharing
8 
Instant Messaging Platforms
9 
Tablet Computer Concept
10 
Satellite Broadband Internet
The Sounds of
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON February 9, 2001
Full News Archive
- Headline: Vodafone's Bid for Optus Explained. Impact: If Vodafone's bid for Optus had failed, countless individuals might have been spared the horror of receiving 'Can you hear me now?' ads at least a million times over. Imagine a world where cell service didn't constantly drop during crucial conversations. A paradise lost, really.. Fact: Did you know that transferring a million customers to a new provider is like trying to herd cats? Except these cats are all very opinionated about their data plans..
- Headline: Stern Tackles NBA Image Issues. Impact: David Stern's attempts to address player misconduct might have inadvertently led to the rise of an elite group of players who would later take to social media to defend their questionable life choices. Who knew the NBA would become a reality show?. Fact: Did you know that the attendance at NBA games might have been better if they had simply replaced the players with life-size cardboard cutouts? They would have been less likely to get into trouble..
- Headline: Examining Term Limits in NYC Council. Impact: If term limits had been fully embraced by every political body, we might be living in an alternate universe where politicians actually had to leave their cozy offices and get real jobs. The horror!. Fact: Did you know that calling politicians 'marvels of mercantile efficiency' is a bit like calling a snail a sprinting champion? It's all about perspective..
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 2001, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #3
AAPL
Apple
Price in 2001
$0.22
2025 dataset value
$1,220,264
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 2001, it would be worth $1,220,264 today (1220.3x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
Amazing Spider-Man #36
$200
Ultimate Spider-Man #1
$50
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1
$50
Y: The Last Man #1
$150
American Gods #1
$25
🧸 Top 5 Toys
LEGO BIONICLE
$150.00
Nintendo Game Boy Advance
$540.00
Harry Potter Movie Merchandise (Action Figures)
$120.00
Bratz Dolls
$150.00
Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game
$100.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Halo: Combat Evolved
$100.00
Grand Theft Auto III
$200.00
Super Smash Bros. Melee
$74.00
Final Fantasy X
$200.00
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
$25.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon - 1st Edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon
$10,000
2001 Topps Chrome Traded #T247 Ichiro Suzuki Rookie Card
$471
2001 Upper Deck Tiger Woods #1 Rookie Card
$25,100
2001 Pokémon Neo Revelation 1st Edition Holo Houndoom #8
$1,200
2001 SP Authentic Michael Jordan #MM1 Auto Jersey
$40,000