← Back
Theo Lindqvist
Theo covers the software, file formats and everyday gadgets of the era, and does the then-versus-now math on what things cost, how fast they were, and what replaced them. Theo Lindqvist is a pen name; 404 Memory Found publishes no photos or personal details of its writers.
42 posts by Theo Lindqvist
- How Many Payphones Are Left? The FCC Stopped CountingHow many payphones are left? The FCC's last count found under 100,000 in 2016, then it quit counting in 2018. New York held one in five of them.
- Are LaserDiscs Worth Anything? The 2026 Collector MarketMost LaserDiscs are worth under $5, but scarce pressings run into the hundreds. Tokyo Raiders, the last title ever released, has fetched $5,700.
- Are Heelys Still Sold in 2026? Who Owns Them NowHeelys are still sold new in 2026, owned by BBC International, which paid $11 million for the brand in 2021. Peak year: 6.2 million pairs in 2006.
- Does Yahoo Messenger Still Exist? Why It Shut DownYahoo Messenger does not exist: Oath shut it down on July 17, 2018 after 20 years. Its replacement, Yahoo Together, lasted until April 4, 2019.
- Who Owns Sharper Image Now? No Stores Since 2008Sharper Image is owned by ThreeSixty Group, which paid $100 million for the name in December 2016. No stores have existed since the 2008 collapse.
- Can You Still Get Dial-Up Internet? NetZero DoesCan you still get dial-up internet? Yes. NetZero, Juno and Microsoft's MSN all sell it in 2026, a year after AOL shut its dialer for good.
- Is Columbia House Still Around? The 2026 ShutdownColumbia House stops taking new orders after September 15, 2026, closing after 71 years. The club peaked in 1996 with 16 million members.
- Scan Old Photos and Negatives: DIY vs Mail-In CostScan old photos at home or mail them out: a prepaid box of about 1,800 prints runs $145 in 2026, and 400 ppi is the resolution to use.
- Does Chuck E. Cheese Still Have Animatronics?Chuck E. Cheese still has animatronics, but only in five US stores. Every other stage came out by the end of 2024, and the robots went to Kansas.
- How to Run 90s PC Games on Windows 11 in 2026Windows 11 is 64-bit only, so 90s PC games need help: DOSBox Staging, ScummVM or a GOG re-release. Two of the three cost nothing in 2026.
- Why Did Skype Shut Down? What Replaced It in 2025Skype shut down on May 5, 2025 and Microsoft Teams Free replaced it. Skype Credit still works in Teams, but the old chats were deleted in 2026.
- Dial-Up Sound Explained: What Each Screech MeantThe dial-up sound was two modems measuring a phone line: answer tone, capability menus, a 21-tone probe. AOL switched it off on September 30, 2025.
- Betamax vs VHS: Why Sony Lost the First Format WarBetamax vs VHS came down to tape length, price and factories, not picture quality. Sony sold 18 million decks and made tapes until 2016.
- How to Digitize VHS Tapes in 2026: DIY vs LegacyboxHow to digitize VHS tapes in 2026: about $30 to $80 in capture gear at home, or $15 to $30 a tape by mail. Your tapes are past 25 years old.
- Windows 95 Startup Sound: Brian Eno's 3.25 SecondsBrian Eno wrote the Windows 95 startup sound to a 3.25-second brief, made 84 versions, and did it on a Mac. The Library of Congress took it in 2025.
- Is Netscape Still Around? What Happened After AOLIs Netscape still around? The browser died in 2008, netscape.com redirects to AOL, and the trademark is still live under a new owner as of 2026.
- Why Iridium Failed: The $5 Billion Satellite PhoneIridium put 66 satellites in orbit for about $5 billion, opened for business in 1998, and filed for bankruptcy nine months later. It sold for $25 million.
- Is HyperCard Still Around? Apple Killed It in 2004Apple pulled HyperCard from sale in March 2004, but its stacks still boot in a browser at the Internet Archive. Here is where it went and why.
- What Happened to Microsoft Bob, the Friendly Interface That FailedIn 1995, Microsoft tried to replace the desktop with a cartoon house full of talking pets. It sold around 58,000 copies and got pulled from shelves within a year. Here is what really happened.
- What Happened to Eudora, the Email Client That Taught the Internet to WriteEudora dominated email in the 1990s with 18 million users and dominated revenue. Gmail and webmail killed desktop email clients. Here's how the world's most popular email software disappeared.
- The Night Windows 95 Launched and Changed EverythingOn August 24, 1995, people lined up at midnight to buy an operating system. Microsoft spent $300 million to make sure they did.
- Is WordPerfect Still Around in 2026? Corel Sells ItWordPerfect is still sold in 2026 by Corel, owned by Vector Capital since May 2026, but the last new version shipped in 2021.
- Is Lotus 1-2-3 Still Around? IBM Killed It in 2013Lotus 1-2-3 is discontinued: IBM stopped selling it on June 11, 2013 and ended support in 2014. It once held 70% of the spreadsheet market.
- Why Google Reader Died and What Replaced It in 2026Google Reader shut down on July 1, 2013 so Google could push Google+. Feedly and Inoreader took over, and 100,000 petition signatures changed nothing.
- Who Owns LimeWire Now? BabyDoge Bought It in 2026LimeWire's file sharing died by court order in October 2010. The brand survived: BabyDoge bought it in September 2026, 8 million users and all.
- Is ICQ Still Around? VK Shut It Down in June 2024ICQ shut down on June 26, 2024 after 28 years, and VK still owns the name. Free NINA servers now run ICQ 2000 through ICQ 8 clients.
- Does Ask Jeeves Still Exist? Ask.com Closed in 2026Ask Jeeves became Ask.com, lost the butler in 2006, quit building its own search engine in 2010, and closed for good on May 1, 2026.
- Is TiVo Still Around in 2026? Yes, but Not the DVRTiVo still exists in 2026 as smart TV software owned by Xperi, but it stopped selling DVR hardware on October 1, 2025, after 26 years.
- Is BlackBerry Still in Business? Yes, but No PhonesBlackBerry still exists, but it has not made a phone since 2016. It earned $549.1 million in fiscal 2026 from car software and secure messaging.
- Is Digg Still Around in 2026? Yes, as an AI SiteDigg still exists in 2026, but as an AI news aggregator run by Kevin Rose, not a Reddit rival. The relaunched app shut down on March 14, 2026.
- Is Second Life Still Around in 2026? Yes, 23 Years LaterSecond Life is still running in 2026, 23 years after launch, with daily concurrency in the mid-30,000s and an economy near $650 million a year.
- Is Encarta Still Available? Why Microsoft Killed ItMicrosoft Encarta is gone: disc sales ended in June 2009 and MSN Encarta closed October 31, 2009. What replaced it, and how to run it now.
- Is RealPlayer Still Around? Yes, Free From Real.comRealPlayer still exists: RealNetworks shipped version 25 in 2026 and still gives it away free, with Plus at $39.99. It sells computer vision now.
- Is Adobe Flash Still Around? Flash Player in 2026Adobe Flash Player died on December 31, 2020, but Flash is not fully gone: China still ships version 34 and over 200,000 games survive.
- Is Winamp Still Around in 2026? Yes, and It WorksWinamp still exists in 2026: Winamp Group owns it, and the free 5.9.2 player runs on Windows 11. A Deezer-powered version lands in 2027.
- Who Owns MapQuest Now? System1 and the 2026 SurgeMapQuest is still around in 2026, owned by ad tech firm System1 since 2019. Google Maps only passed it in January 2009, by 700,000 users.
- Is MSN Messenger Still Around? Yes, on EscargotMSN Messenger died in 2013 and Skype, the thing that replaced it, died in 2025. A free fan server called Escargot still runs it in 2026.
- Is AIM Still Around? AOL Instant Messenger in 2026Is AIM still around? No. AOL Instant Messenger shut down on December 15, 2017, and hobby servers are now the only way to sign on.
- Why Netscape Navigator Lost to Internet ExplorerNetscape Navigator lost to Internet Explorer because Microsoft gave IE away free and wired it into Windows. Navigator led 51% to 40% in 1997, then fell.
- Windows XP Bliss Wallpaper: Where the Hill Is NowThe Windows XP Bliss wallpaper hill is real, on private land off Fremont Drive in Sonoma County, and it turned green again on 18 February 2026.
- What Is $1,000 From 1999 Worth in 2026 Dollars?$1,000 from 1999 is worth about $2,000 in 2026. That is two weeks of a family health premium now, and it no longer buys the average PC.
- 90s Tech Prices in 2026 Dollars: Full 40-Item TableA PlayStation cost $299 in 1995, or $655 in 2026 dollars. Forty sourced launch prices for 90s and early-2000s tech, adjusted with CPI-U.