Digest

This podcast delves into the fascinating world of cancelled tech projects, exploring the stories behind their demise. The first chapter focuses on the Mafia's influence in New York City and the challenges law enforcement faced in combating organized crime. The episode then shifts gears to the tech world, examining the Microsoft Courier, a dual-screen tablet device that was cancelled due to internal disagreements and the rise of the iPad. The podcast continues to explore other cancelled tech projects, including the Sinclair Loki, a PC designed to compete with the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, and the Polaroid Lady Gaga glasses, a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera and display. The episode also examines the case of Mattel's Aristotle, a smart speaker for kids that was cancelled due to public backlash over privacy concerns. Finally, the podcast explores the Atari Cosmos, a quasi-holographic portable tabletop game system that was in development but never released due to technical limitations and lack of market appeal.

Outlines

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Cancelled Tech Projects: From Mafia Dominance to Holographic Dreams

This podcast explores the history of cancelled tech projects, examining the reasons behind their failures, including internal conflicts, market competition, and public backlash. The episode begins with a discussion of the Mafia's influence in New York City and the challenges law enforcement faced in combating organized crime. It then shifts gears to the tech world, examining the Microsoft Courier, a dual-screen tablet device that was cancelled due to internal disagreements and the rise of the iPad. The podcast continues to explore other cancelled tech projects, including the Sinclair Loki, a PC designed to compete with the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, and the Polaroid Lady Gaga glasses, a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera and display. The episode also examines the case of Mattel's Aristotle, a smart speaker for kids that was cancelled due to public backlash over privacy concerns. Finally, the podcast explores the Atari Cosmos, a quasi-holographic portable tabletop game system that was in development but never released due to technical limitations and lack of market appeal.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the main reasons behind the cancellation of the Microsoft Courier?

  The Microsoft Courier was cancelled due to internal disagreements within Microsoft, particularly between the team developing the Courier and the Windows division. The success of the iPad also played a role in its cancellation.

• What was the Sinclair Loki project and why was it cancelled?

  The Sinclair Loki was a PC project designed to compete with the Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. It was cancelled due to tax regulations in Spain that favored computers with more than 64 kilobytes of memory.

• What were the main concerns raised about Mattel's Aristotle smart speaker for kids?

  The main concerns raised about the Aristotle were privacy and security issues, as well as the potential for parents to rely too heavily on technology to raise their children.

• What were the technical limitations of the Atari Cosmos holographic gaming system?

  The Atari Cosmos was limited by its use of still holographic images and a low-resolution grid of LEDs. The controls were also very limited, and the system was designed to have all games pre-installed, which limited its potential for expansion.

Show Notes