Linux is released to the world, Compaq unveil their new handheld computer and Microsoft loses its appeal in the EU. All on today’s On This Day from TEST Huddle.
1991 – Linux is released
Not long after he announces his plans for a new operating system, Linus Torvalds publicly releases the first version of the Linux kernel, version 0.01 onto the Internet. While a computer science student at the University of Helsinki, Linus created the Linux operating system, which was originally named Freax. The source code of the kernel is 64KB..
1999 – Compaq Aero 1530
Only three years after Microsoft launch CE (featured recently in On This Day), handheld computers have started to become very popular. On This day in 1999, Compaq Computer unveils the Aero 1530 handheld computer, featuring Windows CE, 16MB RAM, an MP3 audio player, and a PC Card Type Islot. It has fourteen hours of battery life. It sells at a retail price of US$299 with a weight of 5oz.
2007 – Microsoft loses its Appeal in the EU
In Europe, Microsoft loses its appeal against a European Union ruling ordering the company to pay a €497 million fine for antitrust violations. The rulings stem from a long-running investigation into Microsoft role in the software market. The antitrust order requires the company to share communications code with its rivals and to offer a version of Windows without Media Player.
If you would like to add anything to these events, or know of other significant technology events that happened on this day in history, feel free to comment below.
