The Vergecast Behind the scenes of our Treo documentary, Springboard
Dec 7, 2021
Dive into the fascinating journey behind the creation of the first real smartphone with insights on the documentary Springboard. Discover the forgotten innovators at Handspring and the challenges they faced in a competitive market. Unpack the rise and fall of Palm, detailing the missteps that led to its decline against the iPhone. Explore the impact of smartphones on culture and daily life, and examine the contrasting strategies of tech giants Apple and Samsung. Plus, discussions on the viability of Linux-based smartphones add to a rich narrative.
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Sourcing Parts Then vs. Now
- Handspring struggled to source a cellular radio for their Visor phone, eventually finding one in France.
- Today, building the physical phone is easier, but carrier relationships remain crucial.
Market Realities
- The myth that a great product guarantees success is false.
- Market control by a few powerful players determines success, and carrier partnerships can make or break a product.
QWERTY vs. T9
- Jeff Hawkins won a typing challenge against a carrier executive skeptical of QWERTY keyboards.
- The executive didn't believe QWERTY could be faster than T9 and made Hawkins type with the phone under a table.
