These are the ten most memorable sound effects in the history of tech

For understandable reasons, most technology coverage tends to focus more on the physical or visual elements of new devices than their audio signature. It’s much easier to show and tell audiences how great a new screen is or how thin a new phone is than to explain the experience they’ll get from its sound effects.

But that doesn’t mean audio can’t be just as memorable, or as important to the companies that design it. Here are ten of the most impactful, unforgettable sounds and effects from the past few decades in tech.

Mac startup chime

Frustrated by the previous tri-tone sound that accompanied the frequent Mac crashes of the 90s, Apple sound designer Jim Reekes took it upon himself to create an iconic chime that remains an indelible part of the Mac experience—although we don’t need to r