[Off-topic] MikeChannon:
Yes it is gone now. here is a copy of what was in it but many of the links no longer work:

XDA Changelog

XDA has gone through a lot of change over the years. We’ve added new features, changed our policies, and have made updates to the way you interact with the site. This is the XDA Changelog, where you can see all of the changes we’ve made in the past, and keep updated with new stuff we do in the future. It’s not 100% complete, but it covers the most important changes.

This page will be updated monthly, so be sure to check back to see what’s new!

2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013| 2014

2002​

View attachment 5968885​

Dec 20 A simple phpBB webisite is created by NAH6 Crypto Products BV that looked like this xda-developers.com

2003

Jan 10 XDAManipulator IMEI changing tool launched Wiki Ref

Feb 10 First major XDA ROM manipulation Tool developed, XDA-Arit along with XDA Unlock Tool

July 26 The first XDA ROM Kitchen is announced (custom ROM kitchen for the Wallaby)

Aug 20 Site Administrator Peter Poelman announces XDATools

2004

Oct 29 xda-developers subdivides forums by phone model for the first time

Oct 29 xda database records lost in major site revamp

Dec 05 Total Membership reaches 3000

2005

View attachment 5968887​

Feb 23 User Avatars disabled due to a security problem

Apr 24 XDA’s FTP Servers for ROMs and Tools require log in for the first time due to malicious trashing of files

Jun 20 Addition of the XDA-Wiki

Dec 18 FreeBSD that sits underneath xda-developers.com is updated and eAccelerator installed to overcome major site slowness. Not a long term fix however.

2006

Oct xda-developers moves to vBulletin

2007

View attachment 5968889​

Jan 31 An average of 110 new threads and 800 posts per day

Jan 31 New Registrations average 700 per day

Feb 15 Microsoft orders the removal of ROMs hosted on XDA’s FTP. Ref1 Ref2

Feb 20 Members launch a petition to be sent to Microsoft

Jul 31 New User Registrations per day breaks 1000 for the first time

2008

Jan 31 New Registrations average 1600 per day

Jan 31 An average of 250 new threads and 3000 posts per day

Apr 08 XDA founder, Peter Poelman Announces the XDA Store “an online shop for HTC and related phones, accessories and software”. Link

2009

Jan 31 An average of 350 new threads and 4500 posts per day

Jan 31 New Registrations average 2300 per day

Feb 11 Microsoft ask XDA Developers to remove all OEM ROMs, although this is not pursued by Microsoft.

May 12 PHP-worker server added. Great improvement to site speed as online numbers head towards 10,000

Jun 10 News articles added to front page, focusing on items originating at XDA that have been picked up by the outside world.

Jun 10 New front page is added based on a PHP script and portal is cached every 5 minutes for quick loading.

Jul 16 Plans are made to add full-fledged news-editors for the portal.

Jul 16 RSS feed planned for news items

2010

View attachment 5968895​

Jan 10 XDA-Developers is bought by JB Online Media, LLC

Jan 10 A forum is created to facilitate Developer feedback and new titles for Developers are proposed

Feb 10 A new revamped Portal is launched with much improved news writing as a focus

Jan 27 XDA adds the first non-HTC device forums

Jan 31 New Registrations average 2400 per day

Mar 01 The Title News Writer is given to those writing for the Portal

Mar 10 Users given the ability to Rate threads

Mar 19 WP7 Development Forum Added

Apr 04 XDA Android App launched

Apr 26 XDA gets Official Twitter handle

May 17 egzthunder1 appointed as Portal Admin

May 17 MikeChannon appointed as Forum Admin

May 25 A new tier of Moderators is created to cover individual forums. There is now a Senior Tier in a supervisory role supported by a much larger group of Forum Specific Forum Moderators (FSFMs)

Jun 01 Flar (Forum Admin) retires

Jun 10 The XDA 2010 style is introduced. The yellow days are over! (unless you choose the “Classic” Theme)

Jun 21 Older devices moved to “Legacy” status due to never ending list of forums.

Jun 21 Compact View mode introduced

July 20 Old Wiki migrated to MediaWiki

Jun 25 Vote to front page feature added

Aug 16 XDA clarifies the GPL policy, given the importance of open source development

Sep 02 XDA embraces the “tablets” in addition to phones. Original Galaxy Tab added as the first (of many)

Oct 21 iPhone-Developers.com launched as an xda community site

Nov 26 XDA-TV is announced

Dec 10 Thanks Button added to reduce “thanks posts” in threads

Dec 10 A new Committee of Senior Mods is created to appoint, review and monitor both Moderator tiers (Moderator Committee)

2011

Jan 11 Voting starts for potential “personalities” for XDA-TV

Jan 19 Recognized Developer Program is conceived

Jan 20 XDA gets its own official YouTube channel and XDA-TV is born

Jan 23 The Developer Committee of Senior Mods is formed to deal with the new Recognized Developer system

Jan 24 Paid software section added

Jan 31 An average of 1300 new threads and 26000 posts per day

Jan 31 New Registrations average 5500 per day

Feb 04 XDA-TV Goes live (azrienoch’s first video)

Feb 15 Samsung in touch with XDA. SamsungJohn gets flamed by users

Feb 25 XDA App goes Premium

Mar 30 Windows Phone 7 XDA-App launched

May 04 iTrader rating introduced for Market Place traders

Mar 08 WebOS forum added

May 11 Ten post rule automated system added to prevent new users posting in “development” forums

May 13 Registration requirement for downloading attachments disabled

May 26 The original XDA Noob Video is introduced

July 19 The Original Development forum concept is introduced as a trial for the Samsung Galaxy S2

Aug 11 Iron Fist officially announced

Aug 31 New Reported Post system goes live

Oct 12 Member Found Deals forum added

Nov 30 The dedicated Hardware Hacking forum is introduced

Dec 27 Russell Holly becomes Portal Admin

Dec 29 Contextual Search feature added

2012

View attachment 5968897​

Jan 18 XDA-Developers blacks out in support of the anti-SOPA/PIPA protests that would curb internet freedoms

Jan 31 An average of 1600 new threads and 36000 posts per day

Jan 31 New Registrations average 1800 per day

Feb 02 Willverduzco takes over as Portal Admin

Feb 02 Portal focus shifted to development not general/consumer mobile news

Feb 07 Marketplace rules revamped and restrictions added to prevent scams

Feb 24 XDA Premium HD for Tablets Released

Mar 02 JimmyMcGee made head of XDA TV

Mar 29 Recognized Developer code of conduct published on Portal

Mar 29 Recognition is given to XDA’s top developers who will be titled “Elite Recognized Developers“

Mar 29 New titles are Awarded: Recognized Themers and Regognized Contributors each group having their own private chat forums.

May 01 bitpushr replaces kernelpan1c as our sysadmin

May 19 Beta testing begins on XDA 2012 beta theme (to be later renamed to XDA 2013)

Jun 05 “XDA Developers’ Android Hacker’s Toolkit: The Complete Guide to Rooting, ROMs and Theming” book is released

Jun 13 XDA posts its stance on GPL compliance

Jun 15 Appointing of Liaisons for RC-RT group to have a more consolidated approach

Jun 19 XDA 2013 Theme (Beta) Introduced

Jul 03 Tightened guidelines for accepting RCs and RTs

Jul 03 Training for XDA forum-specific mods rolled out

Jul 03 Banning Policy announced

Aug 31 Free XDA Build Server goes live for Recognized Developers

Sep 03 Decision to close legacy forums

Sep 12 Comment system on the Portal moved to Disqus

Sep 18 A new “Thanks Widget” is added to the forum sidebar to help find most useful posts within a thread

Oct 09 All registered members can use Thanks (not just those with >5 posts)

Oct 09 Recognized Developer program re-opened with streamlined processes and tighter restrictions

Oct 10 New forum created for the Raspberry Pi Android devicehttp://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1845

Nov 12 Added the first Developer Discussion forum for devs to “talk shop” in GNII and GSIII

Nov 12 jerdog heads up Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) relations

Nov 30 The XDA-Marketplace is closed

Dec 20 XDA-Developers is 10 years old!

Dec 20 The XDA-University is revealed.

Dec 15 Forum Moderators are reorganized into OEM and carrier-based teams instead of being allocated to just one or two specific forums, thus giving each forum coverage by six to ten moderators

2013

Jan 5 Added Android Stick Computers forum

Jan 13 Q&A Forums renamed to Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Jan 16 New Registrations average 2000 per day.

Jan 16 An average of 1650 new threads and 40000 posts per day

Feb 4 Added Smart Watches forum

Jul 3 A major new database of ROMs, Kernels and Tools called DevDB is piloted

Aug 8 XDA Development Database Enters Stage Two Rollout

Aug 9 – Aug 11 XDA achieves major-name sponsorship for its first Conference by and for Developers XDA: DevCon, hosted at the Conrad Hilton, Miami Florida: Link 2 XDA: DevCon

Aug 17 New XDA mobile app, XDA Premium 4 is released.

Sep 12 Google log-in is enabled for new member registrations

Sep 16 Sony Cross-Device Development Forum pilot is announced.

2014

Jan 5 Sony Cross-Device Development Forum pilot declared a success and new Sony devices added

Jan 16 New Registrations average 1850 per day.

Jan 16 An average of 1200 new threads and 28000 posts per day

Apr 4 XDA Community Apps forum added covering: Xposed General, Framaroot, and MX Player

May 06 DevDB integrated into XDA’s notification system, and added a variable system for managing multi-device projects.

Sep 16 XDA adds its first Android One forums for Google’s emerging markets platform for sub $100 phones.

Sep 25 Major site redesign for both the forums and the portal. 2015 Theme launched

View attachment 5968899​

Sep 26 -Sep28 XDA-Developers second Conference for and by Developers. Held this time in Manchester UK. XDA:Devcon

Oct 01 News Portal gets a facelift in line with recently added XDA 2015 Forum Theme