GENERAL MAGIC
An unexpected look into one of Silicon Valley’s most dramatic failures, this doc recounts the story behind the company often credited with designing the world’s first smartphone.
Before the internet, before Google, and before smartphones, there was General Magic. The trailblazing and groundbreaking idea that one could have every conceivable contact, convenience, and recourse literally in the palm of their hand was the brainchild of Marc Porat. CEO of General Magic, Porat was at the helm of the exciting new startup looking to revolutionize daily life by creating the first handheld wireless personal communicator. Directors Sarah Kerruish and Matt Maude utilize archival footage from the 90s, offering a look inside the window to where some of the most important names in Silicon Valley got their start, including Tony Fadell, the co-inventor of the iPhone, and Megan Smith, the 3rd Chief Technology Officer of the United States— visionaries who were trying to create the right tool at the wrong time. The result is an intimate look into the revolutionary successes and ultimate failure of a startup that falls short on delivering a useful final product. In today’s world, where technology is second nature and smartphones dominate our day-to-day lives, this doc tells an inspiring and optimistic origin story that reveals humankind’s ability to see the future. GENERAL MAGIC reveals itself to be the company you’ve never heard of who changed society as we know it.
CAST: Marc Porat, Tony Fadell, Megan Smith, Andy Hertzfeld
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