LOST ALONG THE WAY

Do you still own DVDs? 10 tech gadgets that faded into oblivion

Credit: Lorenzo Herrera

In the fast-paced world of technology, few inventions stand the test of time. Once-trendy gadgets and innovations have now become relics of the past, overshadowed by newer and more efficient products.

Let's take a nostalgic journey through 10 modern inventions that have been relegated to the annals of history.

Credit: Miryam León

Since at least 1876, telephone landlines have connected people across long distances, allowing communication on a scale that was never possible before. But the once familiar ring of landline phones is now something of the past. Most modern households have abandoned their landline phones altogether in favor of the convenience and mobility offered by mobile devices.

Credit: Luca Bravo

Before the era of word processors and computers, typewriters were the primary tool for producing written documents. The mechanical sound of keys striking paper was the expected background noise in most offices around the world, and there was at least one typewriter in every household. Today, despite their practical obsolescence, they remain within intelligence agencies and in handling top-secret documentation, or wherever a connection to the internet is more of a liability than an advantage.

Credit: Lcarsdata, CC BY-SA 2.5

The successor to the portable cassette player, the compact disc player vastly improved the experience of listening to music on the go. Sadly, its reign was somewhat short-lived, as the rise of smaller and more versatile MP3 players rendered these clunky devices obsolete.

Credit: Sandstein, CC BY-SA 3.0

In the pre-digital era, fax machines were the only way to transmit scanned documents quickly. A revolutionary device, it quickly became a staple of offices and businesses everywhere. However, the advent of email, cloud storage, and digital signatures made fax machines mostly obsolete.

Credit: Florian Fuchs, CC BY 3.0

Before smartphones, pagers were the ultimate communication gadget. Doctors, emergency personnel, and business executives relied on these pocket-sized devices to stay connected everywhere they went. However, their limited capabilities meant they were quickly replaced by the rise of mobile phones that could support both text messaging and voice calls.

Credit: Brett Jordan

Before CDs, USB drives, and cloud storage, floppy disks were the primary means of portable data storage. Their simplicity of use and small size meant they were adopted in both domestic and commercial settings. However, their limited capacity and susceptibility to damage made them impractical compared to modern storage solutions.

Credit: Nik

While they are still around, having a working film camera today is quite rare and almost synonymous with being a photography student of some sort. But before the ubiquity of smartphones equipped with high-quality cameras, these devices were the primary tool for capturing memories of friends and family. Their grainy quality and the whirring sound of a film advance lever, however, still evokes nostalgia for simpler times in photography.

Credit: Stephen Holdaway

The VHS tape (and player) really revolutionized home entertainment, allowing viewers to watch their favorite movies from the comfort of their living rooms. But with the emergence of DVD and Blu-ray discs, followed by digital streaming services, VHS tapes became obsolete. Even the old saying "Be Kind, Rewind," often affixed to rental tapes, now feels like a relic of a bygone era.

Credit: Xiaowei, CC BY 3.0

The unmistakable (and weirdly cacophonous) sound of a dial-up modem connecting to the internet once signaled a gateway to the digital world. Unfortunately, the glacial pace of dial-up internet became intolerable with the advent of broadband connections. Today, in the era of high-speed internet, the idea of waiting minutes for a web page to load feels like a distant memory.

Credit: Phil Hearing

DVD players were a true jump in quality for home entertainment systems. With their superior video and audio quality compared to VHS tapes, DVDs quickly became a staple in households around the world. Their extended capacity also meant movies came with all sorts of goodies like director’s commentary and various choices for subtitles. However, with the advent of online streaming services like Netflix or Hulu, DVDs fell out of use, and the sight of a DVD collection gathering dust on a shelf became commonplace in many houses.

EXPLORING THE WORLD

Discover 10 Major Cities That Aren't Capitals

Credit: CHUTTERSNAP

In quiz games, it's not uncommon to come across some tricky questions about world capitals. And it's no wonder: plenty of well-known first-rate cities, full of attractive landmarks and must-see sights, could be mistaken for capitals even if they are not. To give them back some of their lost glory, we have chosen 10 metropolises whose cultural, historical, and financial pre-eminence deserve to be spotlighted.

Credit: Aleksandar Pasaric

The fact that Madrid is the capital of Spain is unquestionable. But did you know that Barcelona was the capital for a while? Throughout the history of the Spanish territory, the center of power moved to different cities until 1561, when Philip II decided to establish the court permanently in Madrid.

Today, Barcelona is the second most relevant Spanish city in terms of economic activity; its port is one of the most significant in the Mediterranean, and its proximity to the border with France makes it an important center of connection with the rest of the European Union. It is also a dynamic and creative city that preserves its traditional charm, which makes it a major tourist attraction.

Credit: Edward He

Located on the central coast of China, Shanghai is one of the most populated cities in the country. It is a financial hub and one of the most modern metropolises. However, it is not the capital of the Asian giant. Founded in 1291 at the mouth of the Yangtze River, its impressive skyscrapers dominate the landscape of a city that still retains much of the spirit of traditional China.

Visiting the Bund, the city's famous waterfront promenade, and enjoying the breathtaking views of the skyscrapers is one of the best things to do in Shanghai. Another option is to let yourself be tempted by the street food at the Yuyuan Market or learn about the country’s history by visiting the Shanghai Museum, one of the largest in China. You can explore it during the day or at night: Shanghai, like New York, is a city that never sleeps!

Credit: Lucas Campoi

If we talk about Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is the first city that comes to mind. The classic image of Christ the Redeemer with open arms on the Corcovado mountain overlooking the beautiful beaches below is unbeatable. Once upon a time, Rio was the capital of colonial Brazil and remained so until 1960, when the seat of government was moved to modern Brasilia.

Despite having lost its title of "capital", the Cidade Maravilhosa is the second most populated and second-largest economy after São Paulo. In addition, thanks to its rich cultural history and vibrant festivals, Rio has left an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of millions of people. In fact, its famous carnival is one of the most iconic events in the world, considered by many to be "the greatest party on the planet".

Credit: Henrique Ferreira

Many foreigners are surprised that the city of Bern is the capital of Switzerland. They would more logically guess that this title is held by Zurich, the country's economic center, or Geneva, which houses the European headquarters of the United Nations and many international organizations. But it was precisely to avoid excessive concentration of power that Bern was chosen as the "federal city" in 1848.

The truth is that Zurich doesn't need to be the capital of Switzerland; it can brag about many other things. Among them, being the most populous city in the country and one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. Zurich combines urban life and breathtaking natural scenery with charm. Visitors will find a city that still retains traces of its 2,000 years of history, as well as a large number of world-class cultural gems distributed throughout vibrant neighborhoods full of art, design, and innovative cuisine.

Credit: Thomas Bennie

Despite being one of the few big cities in the world that is neither on the coast nor has a major river connecting it to the sea, Johannesburg is the largest city and financial center of South Africa, as well as one of the continent's major economic powers.

Mistakenly, it is considered the capital of South Africa. Actually, the Rainbow Nation has three official capitals, but none of them is Johannesburg —Pretoria is the seat of executive power, Cape Town is home to the National Parliament, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital—.

Nicknamed the "City of Gold" for its past as a mining mecca, today Johannesburg is the epitome of a modern, cosmopolitan African city, where green prairies converge with different cultures and traditions from the continent and the world.

Credit: Leandro Loureiro

Cartagena, a historic fortified city, is a fun and fascinating place to explore. In 1984, the city center and its fortifications were awarded the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. From its founding in the 16th century and throughout the Spanish viceroyalty, Cartagena was one of the most important ports in South America. In fact, most of its artistic and cultural heritage comes from this period.

While Cartagena may not be the capital, its mix of informal appeal, beachside charm, and urban vibrancy make it Colombia's most touristic city and the one that receives the most foreign visitors.

Credit: Laura Cros

Sydney is Australia's largest and most populous city. In addition, this metropolis is home to lush parks, soft sandy beaches, some of the world's most famous monuments, and iconic architectural landmarks such as the Opera House. However, it is not the country’s capital, as many people think. The capital is located in Canberra, about 185 miles from Sydney, and was specially designed in 1913 to house the parliament and government house.

Nowadays Sydney is Australia's main city for trade and finance, and connects the English-speaking world with Asia. Built on one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Sydney is one of the cities with the best reputation on the planet for being the most cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic city in Australia, for its great weather, and its cultural scene.

Credit: Raj Rana

Mumbai has a lot to boast about. It is not only the most populous city and financial center of India but also the cultural capital of the country, home to Bollywood and other culturally relevant institutions such as the National Centre for Performing Arts and the Prithvi Theater.

Despite not being the political capital, Mumbai has many points of interest. One of the most visited tourist attractions is the famous Gateway of India, an 85-foot high arch-monument, a symbol of the British colonial era. It is also not a bad idea to stroll along Marine Drive —a beautiful promenade overlooking the Arabian Sea— or feel like a true local getting lost in the markets of Colaba and Crawford.

Credit: Sandro Schuh

It may not be the capital, but if we are asked to name one Canadian city, Toronto is probably the first one that comes to mind. And it is not by chance: Toronto is the most famous, thriving, modern, and attractive city in Canada, a metropolis of over six million people that offers an open and friendly face to the world.

In addition to being the economic and financial center of the country, Toronto is the quintessential multicultural city. Its cosmopolitan nature and lively urban and cultural life are among its main features. Within a few miles, we can go from the Greek Quarter to the Portuguese Quarter, passing through Chinatown, Little Italy, or Koreatown. Toronto is a small world in itself that offers great cultural, linguistic, and gastronomic richness, all in one city.

Credit: Anna Berdnik

The city of Istanbul is so significant —both currently and historically— that many people believe it to be the capital of Turkey. They are not that wrong, since Istanbul was the capital from 1453 until 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was established and the territorial center was moved to Ankara. This change did not sit well with Istanbul at first, but from the 1950s onwards, it was modernized and continued to grow. Today, it is the most important city in the country and the most populous in Europe.

Istanbul is known for being one of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the world. Its grounds were home to the ancient cities of Byzantium and Constantinople, making it rich in culture and history. Split between the continents of Asia and Europe, Istambul is surrounded by palaces, museums, and mosques, such as the iconic Hagia Sophia, an ancient Christian basilica famous for its enormous dome that is said to have "changed the history of architecture".