The 2000s were a unique time when the world bridged the analog and digital worlds. Millennials who came of age during the early 2000s often find themselves remembering the simpler times when the world was slower than it is today. It may be that coffee shop downtown or your flip phones, there’s something magical about the 2000s spirit. We’re taking a trip down memory lane to bring you the 8 nostalgic things you miss.
8. MSN Messenger
Many millennials bonded over MSN Messenger, which was first released on July 22, 1999. By 2009, it had already attracted over 330 million active users according to a report from Microsoft. You’ll probably remember the display names that were an art form of your personality! There are also emoticons and the nudge feature that would shake your friend’s chat window and display the song you’re currently listening to.
7. DVD Menus
Before streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, there used to be the DVD. One of their cool features is the menus with interactive innovation. For instance, there’s the 2001 movie Shrek that stood out for its original approach, with a row of characters on the menu and Donkey calling out “pick me, pick me” in the background. In the early and mid-2000s, studios began adding behind-the-scenes footage for fans with bonus features of deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and documentaries to see how the film was made.
6. Limewire and Burning CDs
Before Apple Music, we used to build our music collection by downloading songs and burning them on a custom CD. LimeWire was free to use to share files with your friends. We also used the slow dial-up internet, where users would download their favorite songs from LimeWire and pick the ones with the right lyrics to insert them on a blank CD. There’s always the thrill of getting a perfect mix with tracks listed with Sharpie. That’s how we used to create playlists!
5. Waiting for Photos to Develop
Remember how we used to take pictures with our family and friends to store in our bedrooms? You remembered the practice like it was yesterday! You’d drop off your camera at the drugstore and wait for a week or pay extra for an hour to develop those photos. Admittedly, those photos felt more precious than quick selfies on our phones.
4. iPod
There’s something personal about listening to music from an iPod. They’re these colorful handheld devices with music you can blast to with your headphones. You’d spend hours curating the perfect playlist and syncing songs from iTunes to add to your collection. The biggest concern back then was which albums you’ll spend your money on.
3. MySpace
Before Facebook became a thing, we had MySpace, which was our digital page for self-expression. MySpace allowed users to show their individuality through personalized profiles, custom backgrounds, and layouts to add music playlists. The site even allowed us to add our custom HTML and CSS code to our profiles. Let’s not forget about the Top 8 feature, where we rank our closest friends for everyone to view.
2. Blockbuster Friday Nights
You know it’s Friday night when you’re at Blockbuster. During its peak in 2002, they were worth $5 billion and had over 9,000 stores. We used to scan rows of VHS tapes or DVDs lined on the walls while a movie trailer was playing in the background. You’re having a hard time picking the perfect film to rent out for a few days.
1. Flip Phones and T9 Texting
The flip phones actually started a new era that led to the invention of the smartphone. The Motorola Razr V3 was released in 2004 and became one of the most popular cellphones in the United States for years. It features a slim look with a metallic finish and futuristic design. There’s also the satisfaction of T9 texting, where pressing “4-3-5-5-6” perfectly spelled “hello”?