Springboard: the secret history of the first real smartphone (Full Documentary)

The Verge・2 minutes read

Handspring, with a team led by Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky, foresaw the future of smartphones and created innovative products like the Visor and trio smartphones, inspiring Steve Jobs' development of the iPhone. Despite financial challenges and carrier reluctance, Handspring's vision for smartphones left a lasting impact on the evolution of technology.

Insights

  • Handspring, founded by former Palm members, introduced the Springboard slot, allowing for innovative expansion modules like a camera phone and MP3 player, showcasing their foresight in mobile technology.
  • The meeting between Handspring executives and Steve Jobs, despite initial skepticism, potentially inspired Jobs' interest in developing the iPhone, marking a significant moment in mobile technology history and illustrating the influence of Handspring's vision on future smartphone development.

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Recent questions

  • What was Handspring's innovative product feature?

    Springboard slot for expansion modules

  • Who were the key executives behind Handspring's success?

    Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, Ed Colligan

  • What challenges did Handspring face with launching the Visor?

    Web immaturity and shipping issues

  • What was the significance of Handspring's meeting with Steve Jobs?

    Sparked interest in developing the iPhone

  • What was the outcome of Handspring's merger with Palm?

    Strategic move due to complementary strengths

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Summary

00:00

"Handspring: Pioneering Mobile Technology Evolution"

  • Handspring, a forgotten technology company, foresaw the evolution of phones into computers before the smartphone era.
  • The team behind the successful Palm Pilot believed in a mobile revolution, with Jeff Hawkins as the product mind, Donna Dubinsky as CEO, and Ed Colligan in marketing.
  • Palm faced financial issues and was acquired by US Robotics, then 3Com, whose leaders failed to grasp the mobile future.
  • Handspring was formed by former Palm members who saw the potential in mobile technology, leading to the creation of the Springboard slot for expansion modules.
  • The Springboard slot allowed for various modules, including a camera phone, MP3 player, and even a dental floss holder, enhancing the Visor PDA's capabilities.
  • Handspring faced challenges with launching the Visor due to web immaturity, causing website meltdowns and shipping issues despite high demand.
  • The Visor's success in the PDA market was notable, but Handspring aimed to transition into wireless modules for smartphones, foreseeing the future of handheld computing.
  • Handspring's Visorphone, a prototype smartphone, faced integration challenges with external radio vendors but served as an experimental step towards smartphone development.
  • Handspring's executives met with Steve Jobs to ensure Visor-Mac synchronization, despite Jobs' initial disdain for their products, leading to contrasting visions of the future between Jobs and Handspring.
  • While Handspring focused on wireless modules for smartphones, Steve Jobs' meeting with them potentially sparked his interest in developing the iPhone, marking a pivotal moment in mobile technology history.

14:57

Impact of dot-com bubble on lastminute.com and trio smartphones.

  • The dot-com bubble led to a stock market crash and recession, causing the dot-com crash, impacting lastminute.com after going public.
  • Despite lastminute.com's public offering success, analysts doubted its true value, leading to an excess inventory issue and price reductions.
  • The decision to focus on the future trio, a revolutionary communication tool, was made due to financial difficulties and inventory problems.
  • The trio, a groundbreaking smartphone, was designed to be powerful yet user-friendly, with features like a physical QWERTY keyboard and ringer switch.
  • The trio's early web browsing challenges were resolved with Google's help, highlighting the device's innovative features for its time.
  • Handspring's struggle to create and sell smartphones was hindered by carrier reluctance to embrace smartphones as computers rather than just phones.
  • Handspring's merger with Palm, despite past corporate complexities, was a strategic move due to complementary strengths in communication technology.
  • The evolution of Palm's products, including the trio smartphones, faced challenges but laid the groundwork for future smartphone development.
  • Apple's iPhone success was attributed to its supply chain investment, carrier relationship transformation, and leverage in the market.
  • Handspring's pioneering vision for smartphones, exemplified by the trio, influenced the future of technology despite the company's eventual closure.
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