Happy birthday T3 magazine! We are 25 years old today

0

[ad_1]

When T3 magazine launched in 1996, I had been out of school a few years ago, but looking back on a quarter of a century of technology reminded me of something a teacher once said. He was asked, if I remember correctly, to grow old and his response was, “You will be amazed at the things that are invented in your lifetime. This clearly marked me, because it was a long time ago and yet I do not remember what I ate yesterday for lunch.

Looking through the first issue of T3, I am struck by several things. Even then, the magazine was enthusiastic about electric cars. GM’s EV1 was the subject, and while this car was never a success, it wasn’t because it wasn’t good. And even then, naysayers wrote letters claiming it was not as clean as gasoline or diesel.

Remembering the technology of the past 25 years has been a journey of memories. DVD was still not widely available and T3’s enthusiasm for the format was palpable. It was another thing that was bang on the money. Readers have asked how it can compete with LaserDisc with only a modest improvement in image quality, and we know how that turned out. The DVD was a huge success and nothing since has matched it. I remember being a college student with my Creative Labs DVD player lovingly crammed into my PC and watching movies in stunning quality – for the time.

T3 at 25 years

(Image credit: Avenir)

One of the most significant technological advances has been in digital photography. In this first issue of T3, we took a look at some of the newest digital cameras coming to the market. Many took tiny 640×480 images, with the exception of a £ 10,000 Fujix which could be 1280×1000. Adjusted for inflation, this camera costs almost £ 20,000. Now your iPhone is handling photos that would make it feel ashamed. There is no judgment here, it’s really amazing how much things have changed.

The other thing that surprises me is that in 1996 we were still 10 years away from the spread of flat screen televisions. It wasn’t until around 2007 that we started to see the first questionable LCD screens appear. I even remember reviewing the first Pioneer Kuro, which was only 720p and wasn’t very impressed. AV nerds, don’t jump by my throat; I ended up loving the 50in, 1080p model that came out next, and that was my pride and joy until I lost it in a divorce.

I have seen a lot of changes since I went through the first issues of T3. I read the magazine throughout my studies and always liked the way it makes technology fun. Twenty-five years ago, I was a student and dreamed of working in the media. If you had told me at 18 that I would one day be the publisher of T3.com, the site of that revered title, I’m not sure I believed you. But here I am, and maybe one day, dear reader, you will also be involved in this industry, because it turns out that anything is possible when it comes to technology.

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Get 3 T3 numbers for just £ 3 today!
Can’t make it to the shops but don’t want to miss the latest issue of the UK’s top selling gadget magazine? So bring T3 to you: Get 3 issues for just £ 3 in our fall sale when you buy by October 17th 10am GMT.

[ad_2]

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.