We almost had a smartphone in the 90s. Why did it fail?

In 1990, General Magic set out to build a handheld device that combined email, phone calls, and games—a vision remarkably close to what would become the smartphone. Despite having generous investors, world-class talent, and creative freedom, the device never caught on. This episode examines a theory for its failure: that the team lacked the constraints—technical, financial, or time-based—that often force innovation to actually ship. Hosts Erika Beras and Emma Peaslee explore what happens when too much freedom undermines the discipline needed to bring a product to market.