Let's Take a Trip Down Memory Lane: The Rise and Fall of Iconic Gadgets
In reflection, we revisit the era 20 years ago where Apple's iPod dominated the market, and compact televisions carried a high price tag.
Blasting off from the past, the Back Issues series gives us a peek into our digital playground of yore and the magazines we craft today. What's mind-blowing is how oldies from three, four decades back often resemble what we've got now in terms of goods, features, and more — but flip the pages to just 20 years ago, and you'll see how swiftly times change in the world of home entertainment. Ah, who am I kidding? 20 years might as well be a blink of an eye at this point! Let's dive in!
From Space Invaders to the Dark Side of the Moon
The August 2005 issue of our beloved magazine is a perfect illustration of what I'm waffling about. Back then, digital docking stations for the iPod were all the rage, serving as the undisputed cover stars of the magazine!
Flash forward to 2025 (and let's be honest, it's not that far), and you'd be hard-pressed to find a single iPod dock or its ancestor still hogging a spot in our households. That one-time shining star of home entertainment lasted just 21.5 years before fading into oblivion, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable memories and transformed music listening experiences.
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The era we're sailing in now has become progressively more tech-infused, with innovation coming at us in rapid-fire succession. The iPod, though seated in the Home Entertainment Hall of Fame, is now overshadowed by its younger, more dynamic cousin — the Bluetooth speaker! Yep, that's right; the lowly Bluetooth speaker has knocked the once-invincible iPod dock from its pedestal. Look out for our top picks in the Bluetooth speaker game next month!
The record players on the July 2025 edition cover, in stark contrast to the short-lived iPod, seem to be as constant as the moon in our hi-fi firmament. They've waned and waxed in popularity, faced eclipses, but they've managed to stay put. Here's hoping they stick around for a while longer!
Recording Retrospective
Another casualty of time's relentless march was the DVD recorder, which made a relatively brief appearance on the scene two decades ago. The excellent models available in August 2005, like the five-star Sony RDR-HX510, could store broadcast TV programs onto a hard drive. However, as technology continued to advance, DVDs soon fell out of favor, and people shifted to Blu-ray media and eventual streaming.
The Ball Fallen, Fatties Remain
Amid all this shine and shimmer, one constant has remained, namely the television. A sneak peek at the Supertest of the "sexy, slimline" LCDs in August 2005 demonstrates how a few decades of focused engineering can work wonders.
Today, you could stack two or three OLED TV screens together, and the clunky, chunky televisions of the noughties would still protrude like a sore thumb. Moreover, 27 inches? Pah! We're talking 65-inch screens—and beyond!
Fancy prices also raised eyebrows back then: TVs tested ranged from £599 to £1600—a small fortune for such a small device!
Time to Get Groovy
As always, a tranquil haven of 'normality' can be found in the August 2005 issue of the magazine. The traditional hi-fi system—including source, amplifier, and stereo speakers—has always been the backbone of what we do, and that hasn't changed. The Group Test of one-make systems offers manufacturers' suggestions for synergistic products, which, as it turns out, aligns with the magazine's review team's views.
Today, we're no longer limited to manufacturers' recommendations; we've widened our options by pairing the best from across brands to create stunning audio systems. Trust us, researching that many potential products takes a whole lot of time! And who doesn't appreciate having someone else shoulder that load?
MORE:
*The 7 test tracks we've been grooving to this month*
*Neat Iota II speakers review**: a little powerhouse with punch
First Impressions of the *Ruark Audio MR1 Mk3 desktop speakers**
- The Back Issues series offers a glimpse into home entertainment goods from three to four decades ago, resembling what we have now in terms of features but drastically changing by just 20 years.
- In August 2005, the magazine's cover celebrated digital docking stations for the iPod, which then reigned supreme but has since been overshadowed by Bluetooth speakers.
- The record players, highlighted on the July 2025 edition cover, have withstood the test of time compared to the short-lived iPod.
- The short-lived DVD recorder, which gained fame two decades ago, fell out of favor with the shift to streaming and Blu-ray media.
- Despite rapid technological advancements, the television remains a constant, with sizes increasing from the chunky TVs of the noughties to 65-inch screens today.
- The August 2005 issue featured the traditional hi-fi system, complete with source, amplifier, and stereo speakers, which remains the backbone of the magazine's focus.
- Today's hi-fi systems do not rely solely on manufacturers' recommendations, as we have broadened our options by pairing the best from various audio brands to create stunning systems.
- The Neat Iota II speakers and Ruark Audio MR1 Mk3 desktop speakers are examples of products that have been reviewed for their impressive audio performance in the magazine.
