I don't remember the exact day the tape slid into our VCR, but I know the precise moment my brother Matthew and I realized it was perfect. For a lot of critics in August of 1986, The Transformers: The Movie was a jarring shock to the system. They complained about the lack of setup. They wanted exposition; they wanted an explanation. But Matthew and I? We didn't need any of that. We loved that it dropped us headfirst into the smoke and gears of a brewing cosmic war without holding our hands. With...

In just a few short weeks, Halo: Combat Evolved undergoes a personal transformation for me. It officially becomes Halo: Campaign Evolved. Looking back, Halo wasn't just a video game; it was one of those rare, definitive franchises that completely anchored my 20s. But my obsession with it actually started years before the first Xbox even hit store shelves. I’ll never forget watching the 1999 Macworld keynote when Steve Jobs proudly unveiled Halo to the world as a premier Mac and PC title. The sci...

I have a hazy, potentially false memory of a computer hiding in my dad’s closet before our family workstation arrived. In my mind's eye, I can still picture playing a game featuring a little cursor turtle, though I’ve never been able to find any hard evidence to prove that mystery machine actually existed. What I do know for certain is that sometime right after my fifth birthday in 1984, both the revolutionary new Apple Macintosh and the sleek Apple IIc were sitting side-by-side on the showroom ...

For my brother, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City wasn't just a game; it was a time capsule of a world he loved. It's hard to believe it was released just one year after Grand Theft Auto III. Even though life took him away from gaming, the hype for Grand Theft Auto VI brought back that spark. He didn't make it to see the official cover reveal, but I feel his excitement reflected in every piece of it. Going back to those neon streets is going to be bittersweet. A piece of him will always belong to that...

If you grew up in North Jersey in the 1980s, Route 17 in Paramus wasn't just a road—it was a retail battleground. And right in the thick of it, attached to the Garden State Plaza, stood a neon-lit temple of electronics: The Wiz). The Wiz was the destination for audio gear, packed to the gills with massive receivers, wood-paneled speakers, and dual-cassette decks. While my sister and my dad were evaluating home stereos, I wandered off toward the center of the showroom floor. And that’s when I saw...

On Dec. 20, 1996, Apple announced that it had purchased NeXT Computer: When Apple CEO Gil Amelio hosted a press conference in Cupertino's Garden Room to announce the $429 million cash-and-stock acquisition of NeXT, I was right in the middle of my senior year of high school. At the time, my digital world was entirely defined by Windows 95, split between a generic home desktop and a basic laptop. In fact, I hadn't actually touched an Apple product since using an Apple IIc back in the mid-1980s. Ye...

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 17, 2011 — The Final Medical Leave March 2, 2011 — iPad 2 Introduction (San Francisco)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 27, 2010 — The iPad Introduction (San Francisco) April 8, 2010 — iPhone OS 4 Sneak Peek (Cupertino)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 6, 2009 — The Final Macworld San Francisco January 14, 2009 — Leave of Absence Announced

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 15, 2008 — Macworld San Francisco 2008 March 6, 2008 — iPhone Software Roadmap (Cupertino)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 9, 2007 — Macworld San Francisco 2007 May 30, 2007 — D: All Things Digital Conference (D5)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 10, 2006 — Macworld San Francisco 2006 February 28, 2006 — Apple Digital Event (Cupertino)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 11, 2005 — Macworld San Francisco 2005 May 22, 2005 — D: All Things Digital Conference (D3)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 6, 2004 — Macworld San Francisco 2004 June 1, 2004 — D: All Things Digital Conference (D2)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 7, 2003 — Macworld San Francisco 2003 April 28, 2003 — Apple Music Special Event (Cupertino)

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 7, 2002 — Macworld San Francisco 2002 March 20, 2002 — The 10GB iPod & Widescreen Cinema HD Display

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 9, 2001 — Macworld San Francisco 2001 February 21, 2001 — Macworld Tokyo 2001

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 5, 2000 — Macworld San Francisco 2000 February 15–16, 2000 — The Pismo PowerBook & Graphite iBook

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 5, 1999 — Macworld San Francisco 1999 February 21, 1999 — Macworld Tokyo 1999

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 6, 1998 — Macworld San Francisco 1998 February 27, 1998 — The Death of the Newton

Below is a chronological timeline of the year's defining moments, featuring key quotes from Steve Jobs, followed by my own personal thoughts and reflections on experiencing this historic era firsthand. January 7, 1997 — Macworld San Francisco 1997 February 7, 1997 — NeXT Acquisition Finalized

— from Book XII of The Prelude by the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth When I started this blog on June 1st, 2026, I only planned to recount my thoughts regarding the era known as 'The Second Coming of Steve Jobs,' as it shaped a great deal of who I am and what I love. I wanted to share my memories of those moments and how Steve's actions and words shaped me. Now, let's see what comes NeXT. Photo by Samantha Moore (March 2001)