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    Artwork for Planet Money
    Episode

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

    Planet Money · Jun 26, 2026 · 27 min
    Episode page

    In the early 90’s, a company called General Magic began working on a portable device that would allow people to check email, make phone calls, even play games. It was basically a smartphone. But it never caught on. On today’s show, a theory about why this device failed. General Magic had generous investors, world-class talent and creative freedom. But is it possible what they needed was…

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