The Untold Story of Handspring: The Pioneers Before iPhone and Android

📱Handspring was among the first to realize that phones would become more than just phones and would eventually become computers.

💡The idea of an expandable platform, demonstrated by the Springboard slot in Handspring's Visor PDA, set the stage for future smartphone capabilities.

🚀Handspring's Visor, with its unique expansion modules, offered a customizable and versatile user experience ahead of its time.

📶Handspring envisioned a wireless future for handheld computing, paving the way for the advent of smartphones.

💥Despite their success in the PDA market, Handspring knew that selling PDAs wasn't their ultimate goal and sought to create wireless modules for smartphones.

What was Handspring's contribution to the smartphone revolution?

—Handspring laid the foundation for the smartphone revolution with their innovative ideas and products, such as the Visor PDA with its expandable Springboard slot.

How did Handspring differentiate themselves from Palm and other competitors?

—Handspring differentiated themselves by focusing on expandability and customization in their PDAs, allowing users to add various modules for added functionality.

What challenges did Handspring face during their journey?

—Handspring faced challenges such as money problems, difficulties in launching products, and competition from larger companies. However, their determination and vision kept them going.

Why didn't Handspring continue selling PDAs and instead focused on wireless modules?

—Handspring realized that the future was in smartphones, which would combine various functionalities like cameras, music players, and internet connectivity. They saw the potential in creating wireless modules for these devices.

What impact did Handspring have on the mobile industry?

—Handspring's innovative ideas and products influenced the mobile industry, setting the stage for the development of smartphones and the integration of various functionalities into a single device.

00:00[Applause] The Untold Story of Handspring: The Pioneers Before iPhone and Android

03:11Handspring, a technology company, embraced the idea that phones would evolve into computers.

06:05The Visor PDA with its expandable Springboard slot allowed for customizability and versatility.

09:19Handspring ventured into creating wireless modules, anticipating the future of handheld computing.

10:58The Visorphone was an early experiment in turning a PDA into a smartphone.

11:40Handspring met with Steve Jobs to discuss compatibility with Mac, despite his initial dislike for their products.

12:07Handspring's focus shifted towards creating wireless modules for smartphones rather than selling PDAs.

15:56Despite challenges and competition, Handspring played a significant role in laying the foundation for the smartphone revolution.