Yes, I know that to many, technological nostalgia when talking about the 21st century will sound like the recent past… but not so full of discoveries. In Spain, these years bring memories of nYou spent watching the Operación Triunfo on TV, the ringtones that sounded everywhere and the first steps on social networks like Fotolog or Tuenti. Technology that had made great strides in the previous decade entered our lives with unprecedented speed and impact.

It was a time of transitions. The Internet has ceased to be a novelty and has become a necessary resourcemobile phones have evolved into much more than just devices for making calls, and music, photos and video games have been digitized and democratized. For the first time, people started connecting anytime, anywhere, opening the door to a new era of connectivity.

Today we look back to the year 2000 to remember the beginnings of many technologies that we take for granted. This tour of the decade’s most iconic technological milestones is an invitation to relive a time when every new advancement, even one that is left behind today, felt like a small cube of the new and technological present.

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The mobile revolution: from SMS to smartphones

The year 2000 marked an unprecedented transformation in mobile telephony. We went from using mobile phones to send short text messages full of abbreviations to using the first smart phones with internet access. Models like the Nokia 3310 became icons of durability and functionality, while camera phones like the Nokia 7650 allowed us to capture moments in a revolutionary way… not to mention how long their batteries took to fully charge!

Progress did not stop there. Mobile phones with QWERTY keyboards like BlackBerrys opened the door to a new level of productivity, and the arrival of the iPhone in 2007 completely redefined the concept of a mobile phone and ushered in the smartphone era. From polyphonic tones and personalized polytones to the first apps, the decade was a veritable laboratory of mobile experimentation that changed the way we communicate and stay connected.

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Without cables and without waiting: Internet at home… and on your mobile

The arrival of ADSL in Spanish households was like going from walking to running. Goodbye to slow and noisy 56k modems and hello to speeds that allowed you to download music, pictures and even videos without waiting all night. The dream of being “always connected” first began to take shape, especially with the arrival of the first home WiFi networks, which freed computers from the tyranny of cables.

But the real revolution came with internet connection in mobile phones. Although limited and expensive at first, it opened the door to a world where we could check email or browse from anywhere. The combination of ADSL, WiFi and mobile connectivity marked a before and after, making the internet no longer a luxury and an essential part of everyday life.

The age of gadgets: everything in your hands

After 2000, there was a rise in devices that brought technology into the palm of your hand. MP3 players, led by the iconic iPod, revolutionized the way we listened to music, making it possible to stream thousands of songs on a single device. Compact digital cameras forced us to say goodbye to film and offered the opportunity to take hundreds of photos in unprecedented quality.

The innovation didn’t stop there. PDAs, or electronic diaries, debuted as basic personal assistants, combining calendars, contacts, and apps in a single, compact device. Portable GPS devices like TomTom have changed the way we travel forever, guiding us to our destinations without the need for paper maps. And if that wasn’t enough, Bluetooth has allowed us to connect devices wirelessly, adding convenience to our daily lives. In the 2000s, gadgets weren’t just tools; They were a statement of style and a glimpse into a projected future… that many of them ended up not being a part of.

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Internet, now with friends

In 2000, the Internet ceased to be a place for searching for information and became a space for social connection. Blogs, forums, platforms like Fotolog, services like Habbo Hotel and emerging social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Orkut and others have become virtual meeting places where you can share your life in photos, texts or comments. It was a whole new way to express yourself and connect with others.

In our country, Tuenti marked an era by becoming the social network par excellence for young people. Meanwhile, personal blogs, from the thoughtful to the humorous, have flooded the web with an authenticity many crave today. The arrival of Facebook and later Twitter cemented this transformation and online sharing became a novelty and a necessary part of our lives.

Two screens, a thousand possibilities

The Nintendo DS, whose digital store was closed a few months ago, arrived in 2004 to literally change the rules of the game. With its dual-screen design, one of which was touchscreen, it offered an experience unlike anything seen before on a portable console. At a time when video games were already an important part of popular culture, the DS combined innovation and accessibility, attracting both casual and dedicated gamers.

Titles like Brain Training, Nintendogs or Pokémon episodes have become real phenomena. Users could draw, write, play music and even care for a virtual pet on their devices, expanding what it meant to “play”. DS didn’t just mark the before and after in laptops; It also proved that video games can be as diverse and creative as the players themselves.

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From the office to the backpack: the laptop boom

At the beginning of the 21st century, laptops ceased to be exclusive tools for managers and companies and began to be necessary in homes. Gradually, laptops have become more affordable, more compact and lighter, thanks to which technology can accompany us anywhere without complications.

It became common to see students in libraries with their laptops full of stickers or personalization, making them more than just a work tool: they were an extension of personality. The arrival of WiFi in laptops brought unprecedented freedom, eliminating the dependence on cables and turning any corner into a makeshift office. Laptops defined technological mobility in the first half of the decade and continue to be an essential tool for millions of users today.

The end of floppy disks: everything on USB

The year 2000 brought with it the definitive decline of floppy disks. Essential in the 1980s and 1990s, these flimsy, limited-capacity drives gave way to a small device that changed everything: USB drives. These small devices, initially 8 or 16 MB, offered revolutionary storage capacity for their time and, most importantly, a quick and easy way to move files from one place to another.

USB flash drives have become an essential item for students and professionals alike. You could carry work, photos, music and more on a key chain, which was unthinkable just a few years ago. The end of floppy disks was inevitable, but USB didn’t just replace them: it improved them until it became a standard that still exists today, proving that sometimes the best ideas are also the most practical.

Your world, your rules

The year 2000 gave life to one of the most representative phenomena of video games and simulations: The Sims. The title allowed players to become virtual reality architects where they could build houses, design cities, and control every aspect of their characters’ lives. It was much more than just a game; It was a form of creativity without limits.

The Sims and its endless expansions such as Pets, Vacation or Potagia Magic filled the video game shelves and the afternoons of players. Each expansion expanded the possibilities, from taking care of animals to starting your own business. The Sims conquered not only video game fans, but also attracted a wider audience and established itself as a cultural reference of the decade.

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Lights, camera, YouTube

2005 was the year a platform was born that forever changed the way we consume and share videos: YouTube. For the first time, anyone could upload and view content from anywhere in the world. From home videos to tutorials to clips from TV shows, YouTube has democratized access to audiovisuals.

It quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Who doesn’t remember searching for music videos, funny compilations or even the first attempts of content creators to make a name for themselves on the scene. YouTube, with its motto “Broadcast Yourself”, not only gave voice to millions of users, but also became the seed of what we know today as the world of influencers and digital creators.

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Napster, eMule and the art of sharing

The year 2000 brought us a loud and massive revolution in the way we consume content: P2P file sharing. With Napster as a pioneer and the rise of platforms like eMule or Ares, millions of people started downloading music, movies and TV shows almost instantly. It was a form of access that democratized culture, but also sparked intense debates about copyright and intellectual property.

Phenomenon peer to peer It was huge all over the world. Entire collections of music were passed from computer to computer, while forums and online communities shared lists of “best servers” or most wanted files. Although many of these platforms have disappeared over time, they have left an indelible mark on how we access and evaluate digital content today.

Cover image: Nokia 7110 by Wapster