<div><p>If you were around 40 years ago then you've witnessed how far audio technology has come. These days almost everything is digital and wireless with touchscreen capabilities. </p><p>But do you ever wonder about all the past inventions that made it possible for this generation's advanced devices? </p><p>Back when times were much simpler, people listened to music through radios, record players and stereos. By the late 1970s, the compact cassette was released by Philips and people could take their music wherever they wanted. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>If you grew up in that era then you'll surely remember another device that preceded the popular cassette tape and paved the way for portable audio.</p><p></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/05-8-track-Retired-Technologies1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/05-8-track-Retired-Technologies1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>happyireland.com</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Does the object in the above image look familiar? </p><p>Yup, it's an 8-track tape! The now obsolete device was popular in the United States from the mid-60s to the late 70s and changed how people listened to audio.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/retro-70s-panasonic-rs803us-8track-cassette-stereo-tape-deck-player-1stopretroshop-n622404-2.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>8-track player</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Also known as Stereo 8, these hard-shell portable tapes were each able to hold an entire album and played in an endless loop format. The 8-track technology had a mass appeal because people able to play the tapes at home and in their cars.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Unfortunately, the 8-track technology lost its hype with the introduction of the compact cassette and the walkman. Towards the end of the 80s, record companies stopped offering new releases on 8-track and the format ceased to exist. </p><p>You can still find some 8-track players and tapes on websites like ebay as collectables. </p><p>Do you remember listening to music with 8-track? Let us know! </p><p></p></div>