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What happened in history on this day: April 2?
Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics,
creating several timelines of history.
Here you will find specific events from those databases
for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company,
Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins.
On April 2 in ...
- 1986 - IBM introduces the IBM PC Convertible laptop computer. It features 80C88 processor, 256 kB RAM, LCD screen, and two 3.5-inch 720 kB floppy disk drives. The detachable LCD screen can be replaced by a high-resolution monitor. Weight is 12 pounds; price is US$2000; size is 14 x 12 inches.
- 1986 - IBM announces a new version of the IBM PC AT, with an 8 MHz 80286 processor.
- 1987 - In New York and Miami, IBM introduces the IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) line, with IBM's first 386 PC, and 3.5-inch floppy drives as standard. The Model 30 features 8 MHz 8086 processor, 640 kB RAM, 720 kB 3.5-inch floppy drive, 20 MB hard drive, three expansion slots, PC-DOS 3.3, for US$1695-2295. Model 50 features 10 MHz 80286 processor, 1 kB RAM, 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy drive, 20 MB hard drive, three expansion slots, PC-DOS 3.3, OS/2, for US$3595. Model 60 features 10 MHz 80286 processor, 1 kB RAM, 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy drive, 44 or 70 MB hard drive, seven expansion slots, PC-DOS 3.3, OS/2, for US$5295-6295. Model 80 features 20 MHz 80386 processor, 2 kB RAM, 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy drive, 44/70/115 MB hard drive, seven expansion slots, PC-DOS 3.3, OS/2, for US$6995-10995.
- 1987 - IBM unveils its Video Graphics Array (VGA) in its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line. VGA offers 256 simultaneous colors at a resolution of 320x200, and 16 colors at 640x480. The colors displayed have six bits of depth for each primary color, giving a palette of 262,144 different colors to select from.
- 1987 - IBM unveils its Multicolor Graphics Array (MCGA) on its PS/2 Model 30. The MCGA is limited to 64K of memory, limiting 640x480 resolution to just 2 colors, but still allowing 320x200 in 256 colors.
- 1987 - IBM introduces its Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) on its Model 50 and higher of the PS/2 line.
- 1987 - IBM announces the 8514/A Display Adapter, a high-resolution graphics card for the MCA PS/2 line. The 8514/A adds 1024x768 in 16 colors to the standard VGA, at a cost of US$1290. With the addition of a US$270 Memory Expansion Kit, 640x480 and 1024x768 resolutions can be had in 256 colors.
- 1987 - IBM and Microsoft announce Operating System/2 (OS/2), Standard Edition for the IBM PS/2 computer line.
- 1987 - IBM announces Operating System/2, Extended Edition, Version 1.1.
- 1987 - IBM announces DOS 3.3 for PCs, for US$120. It adds support for 1.44 MB floppy disks, and multiple 32 MB hard drive partitions.
- 1987 - Microsoft announces Microsoft Windows 2.0.
- 1997 - The second JavaOne developers' conference is held. Over 10,000 attend.
- 1997 - Advanced Micro Devices introduces the K6 processor, featuring MMX instructions and dual 32 kB on-chip caches. Speeds and prices in 1000-unit quantities are 166 MHz (US$244), 200 MHz (US$349), 233 MHz (US$469). The processor incorporates 8.8 million transistors in a 0.35 micron process, and is based on the NexGen Nx686.
- 1997 - Prince Walid bin Talal of Saudi Arabia announces he has acquired 5 percent of Apple Computer for US$115 million, becoming the company's largest shareholder.
- 1998 - Intel introduces the Mobile Pentium II processor, in speeds of 233 and 266 MHz. It features 66 MHz memory bus, and a bus to the Level 2 cache at half the processor clock speed. Code-name during development was Mobile Deschutes.
- 2002 - Intel releases the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 processor, with 400 MHz front-side bus. Price is US$562 in 1000-unit quantities.
- 1928 - Universal Pictures releases the 17th Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Sagebrush Sadie to theaters.
- 1930 - Clarabelle Cow is first used in the Mickey Mouse comic strip.
- 1934 - Ward Kimball begins work at the Disney Studios as an apprentice.
- 1940 - Walt Disney Productions first offers shares in the company to the public. 155,000 shares of preferred stock are offered at US$25 per share, and 600,000 of common stock for US$5 per share. US$3.5 million is raised from the stock offering.
- 1943 - The Pluto film Private Pluto is released to theaters. Chip and Dale make their first appearance, though unnamed.
- 1954 - ABC and Disney boards approve the ownership and financing deal for Disneyland.
- 1954 - Disney and ABC hold a joint press conference, announcing their agreement for the Disney TV show.
- 1961 - The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the Zorro episode Auld Acquaintance.
- 1967 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled A Salute to Alaska with Ludwig von Drake.
- 1972 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Michael O'Hara the Fourth: The Deceptive Detective.
- 1984 - Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 10-millionth guest.
- 1985 - Tokyo Disneyland welcomes its 20-millionth guest.
- 1993 - The Aladdin's Royal Caravan parade begins at Disneyland.
- 1993 - Disney releases the Walt Disney Pictures live-action feature film The Adventures of Huck Finn to theaters in the US.
- 1997 - Uganda issues 27 postage stamps depicting scenes from the film Toy Story.
- 1997 - The WB Network premieres the Disney TV show Smart Guy.
- 1997 - The mayor of New York City, the governor of New York state, and Michael Eisner unveil the restored New Amsterdam theater in New York City.
- 2001 - Spectromagic re-starts in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
- 2004 - Disney releases the animated feature film Home on the Range to theaters in the USA.
- 2004 - Disney Interactive releases the Disney's Home on the Range video game for the Game Boy Advance in the US. Price is US$29.95.
- 1970 - The 52nd Annual New York Automobile Show is held. Chevrolet unveils the experimental transverse mid-engined XP-882 Corvette prototype. Ford shows its Pantera, and American Motors shows its AMX/3, both mid-engine prototypes.
- 1978 - In Talladega, Alabama, an IMSA six-hour race is held.
- Finishing 5th in GTX class and 6th overall is the Dale Kreider #1 Corvette driven by Dale Kreider and Bruce Davidson.
- Finishing 6th in GTX class and 8th overall is the Rick Hay #68 Corvette driven by Rick Hay and Phil Currin.
- Finishing 2nd in GTO class and 20th overall is the RJV Enterprises #65 Corvette driven by Richard Valentine and Roger Pierce.
- Placing 14th in GTX class and 35th overall is the Shulnburg Scrap Metal #06 Corvette driven by Michael Keyser and R. V. Shulnberg.
- 1941 - German Africa Corps forces capture Agedabn from retreating British.
- 1941 - Hungarian Prime Minister Count Teleki kills himself, rather than agree to Adolf Hitler's demand to allow passage of German troops to Yugoslavia. However, the Hungarian Chief of General Staff accedes to the demand.
- 1942 - (about 0100 hours) German submarine U-123 repeatedly fires shells on American oil tanker SS Liebre. As it submerges to fire a finishing torpedo, it is scared off by sighting Canadian motor torpedo boat MTB-332.
- 1943 - (evening) British Bombers make a final attack on German submarine bases at St. Nazaire and Lorient.
- 1944 - Adolf Hitler issues Operation Order 7, instructing Army Group A, Army Group South, and Army Group Centre to hold a line against Russian advances.
- 1945 - American forces seize Tawitawi in the Sulu Archipelago, 30 miles off north-east Borneo.
- 1990 - St. Vincent issues eleven postage stamps depicting various events of World War II.
- 1990 - The Grenadines of St. Vincent issues eleven postage stamps depicting battles of World War II.
- 1998 - Sony CEA sells the 10 millionth PlayStation video game system in North America.
- 2005 - In New York City, the Design and Technology department of Parsons School of Design hosts "Retro Redux", a 24-hour competition of participants from five New York design schools to create a game to the same specifications used for the Atari 2600. Nine teams compete. The winning game, Ninja Garden, by Club Awesome, will be included in a future release of Atari's Flashback video game system.
- 2006 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A Swedish Volvo car appears.
- 1990 - The A & W Concentrate Company renews its registered trademark of a bull's eye logo with "A & W ROOT BEER" granted in 1930.
- 1982 - A proclamation refines the description of the 1982 silver $1 coin, specifying the design and words to appear.
- 1982 - The Toronto International Coin Fair is held, over three days. About 3100 people attend.
- 1996 - The Royal Canadian Mint launches the 1996 $200 half-ounce 22-karat gold coin, in Victoria, BC, commemorating the transcontinental railway. The design was created by Suzanne Duranceau. Mintage limit is 25,000; price is $414.95.
- 1999 - A Royal proclamation specifies that the design of a 1999 $2 nickel coin mark the creation of Nunavut, and depict an Inuit person beating a drum.
- 2008 - Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Pat Martin (NDP) introduces a private member's bill in the House of Commons to eliminate the 1-cent coin from circulation.
- 1876 - Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Caps play first National League game, in Philadelphia.
- 1902 - Soccer team MVV '02 forms in Maastricht.
- 1908 - Mills Committee declares baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday.
- 1933 - K S Ranjitsinhji cricketer (989 Test runs, first-class average 56), dies.
- 1939 - 6th Golf Masters Championship: Ralph Guldahl wins, shooting a 279.
- 1947 - Joseph Hardstaff, cricket (311 runs in five Tests for England 1907-08), dies.
- 1955 - Pancho Gonzales retains tennis title by winning a tournament playing under table tennis rules.
- 1955 - US female Figure Skating championship won by Tenley Albright.
- 1955 - US male Figure Skating championship won by Hayes A Jenkins.
- 1967 - Susie Maxwell wins LPGA Louise Suggs Golf Invitational.
- 1969 - Milwaukee Bucks sign Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor).
- 1972 - Gil Hodges, manager (New York Mets), dies of heart attack at age 57.
- 1974 - Tony Greig takes 8-86 versus West Indies Port-of-Spain (later 5-70 in second inning).
- 1976 - Oakland Athletics trade prospective free agents Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman to Baltimore Orioles for Don Baylor, Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell.
- 1977 - Montreal Canadiens set NHL record of 34 straight home games without a loss.
- 1978 - 7th Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Sandra Post.
- 1978 - Basil Williams scores 100 on Test Cricket debut, versus Australia Georgetown.
- 1979 - Carroll D Rosenbloom, Los Angeles Rams' president, dies at age 72.
- 1979 - Ivan Barrow, cricketer (11 Tests for West Indies 1930-39), dies.
- 1980 - Dick Howorth, cricketer (England slow lefty all-rounder late 1940s), dies.
- 1980 - Wayne Gretzky becomes first teenager to score 50 goals in a season.
- 1982 - In exhibition game Oakland Athletics' pitcher Steve McCatty comes to bat using a 15-inch toy bat (under Billy Martin's orders), protesting disallowing of designated hitter.
- 1984 - 46th NCAA Mens Basketball Championship: Georgetown beats Houston 84-75.
- 1986 - NCAA adopts 3-point basketball rule (19 feet 9 inch distance).
- 1988 - Simply Majestic sets horse racing's 1-1/8 mile record at 1:45.
- 1988 - Test Cricket debut of Curtly Ambrose, West Indies versus Pakistan, Georgetown.
- 1989 - 18th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Juli Inkster.
- 1989 - 8th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Auburn 76-60.
- 1989 - New York Yankees beat New York Mets 4-0, sweeping 1989 mayor's trophy series in two games.
- 1990 - 52nd NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Nevada-Las Vegas beats Duke 103-73.
- 1993 - Klaas Schenk, Dutch speed skater/coach/father of Ard, dies at age 86.
- 1994 - First exhibition game played at Jacobs Field, Pittsburgh Pirates beat Cleveland Indians, 6-4.
- 1995 - 14th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: University of Connecticut Huskies beats Tennessee 70-64.
- 1995 - 7th Seniors Golf Tradition: Jack Nicklaus.
- 1995 - Harvey Penick, premier golf instructor/author, dies at age 90 (born 1904).
- 1995 - Major League Baseball owners accept baseball players' return-to-work proposal, agree to delay start of season until April 26.
- 1996 - Sri Lanka 9-349 in 50 overs beat Pakistan 315 all out, Singapore; Jayasuriya hits ton in 48 balls, world ODI record at Singapore.
- 1996 - Detroit Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder steals first base in 1,097th career game.
- 1997 - Chicago White Sox agree to pay Albert Belle US$10 million for the season.
- 1998 - World Mens Figure Skating Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Russian Alexei Yagudin wins.
- 2003 - Todd Zeile becomes the only major league player to hit a home run for ten different teams: New York Yankees, Detroit Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Colorado Rockies.
- 2006 - Chicago, Illinois hosts WrestleMania 22.
- 2008 - Liam Tancock of Exeter, England, sets new world record 50m backstroke of 24.47 seconds, at Pond's Forge, Sheffield, England.
- 1958 - American National Advisory Council on Aeronautics renamed NASA.
- 1963 - Explorer 17 attains Earth orbit (254/914 km).
- 1963 - USSR launches Luna 4; misses Moon by 8,500 km.
- 1964 - USSR launches Zond 1 to Venus; no data returned.
- 1966 - Soviet Union's Luna 10 becomes first spacecraft to orbit Moon.
- 1984 - Soyuz T-11 carries three cosmonauts (one Indian-Rakesh Sharma) to Salyut 7.
- 1992 - Space Shuttle STS-45 (Atlantis 11) lands.
- 1762 - In Bangladesh, a very destructive earthquake occurs. Sixty square miles are said to have been permanently submerged.
- 1868 - In Ka'u District, Island of Hawaii, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. This earthquake caused 77 deaths (tsunami, 46; landslide, 31).
- 1958 - Wind speed reaches 450 kph in tornado in Wichita Falls, Texas, USA (record).
- 2007 - The Solomon Islands is shaken by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, and hit by a subsequent tsunami.
Other history:
- 1982 - Several thousand Argentine troops seize disputed Falkland (Malvinas) Islands.
- 2005 - Pope John Paul II dies; over four million people travel to the Vatican to mourn him.
You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history.
Bookmark this URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/today/ and revisit each day.
(this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events)
Or, visit my Timelines of History page.
Other web pages of interest:
Chronology of World History
What's Notable About this Year?
Ken P's Coin/Stamp/Bill Novelties
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