Tech Tales

IBM started work in 1991 on Workplace OS, an operating system that would run other operating systems. It was planned as a showcase for the PowerPC architecture, and the solution to IBM's multi-system woes. Workplace OS proved to be a massive technical challenge, and it was only ever released as OS/2 PowerPC Edition. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs. Follow on Twitter: https:/...

IBM and Microsoft worked together to create OS/2, a next-generation operating system, but the future of OS/2 was left in IBM's hands after Microsoft left the project. Faced with marketing troubles and increasing competition from Microsoft Windows, IBM pushed forward with OS/2 2.0 and OS/2 3.0 Warp. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechT...

IBM and Microsoft teamed up in the 1980s to create the PC operating system of the future, called OS/2. It was designed as a modern software platform with excellent backwards compatibility, and was even intended to replace Microsoft Windows. However, PC owners were slow to upgrade, and the growing success of Windows made Microsoft think twice about the future of OS/2. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, gu...

VisiCalc was the first spreadsheet computer application, released in 1979 and created by two developers in an attic. The tool quickly became the must-have program for the Apple II computer, but it didn't take long for VisiCalc's publisher and developers to fight over its success. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Joe Fedewa. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechTalesShow Follow on M...

Moonbase Alpha was a video game released in 2010, developed by a handful of game studios in partnership with NASA, which placed you in a damaged future moonbase in need of repair. The game is best known for its brief status as a meme, thanks to the text-to-speech functionality, but its story didn't end there. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Jules Wang. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter...

In 1999, Apple finally had everything it needed to revitalize the Macintosh. It had a nearly-completed modern operating system, it had Steve Jobs as interim CEO, and it had developers promising to build apps for the new platform. Now all Apple had to do was release the Mac OS update that had been in development since the late 80's and hope for the best. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring C...

The GM EV-1 was the first electric car produced by a major auto company when it rolled off production lines in 1996. Even though the car gained a dedicated fan base (dedicated enough to produce unauthorized radio ads) and higher-than-expected demand from drivers, only a few thousand EV-1 cars were produced. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Joe Fedewa. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.c...

Following its purchase of NeXT Inc in 1996, Apple started work on a modern operating system for the Macintosh based on NeXT's impressive software. However, software developers didn't want to rewrite their apps from scratch for the new system, and the finished product ended up only being a stepping stone to the final Mac OS X release. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs. Follow o...

Apple tried again in 1995 to create a new operating system for the Macintosh, named 'Copland'. The new system aimed to bring new features and a modern core to the Mac platform, but the project was fraught with delays and bloat. Eventually, Apple executives began looking outside the company for the modern operating system it desperately needed. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs...

Hewlett-Packard and Intel teamed up in the 1990s to create a completely new 64-bit CPU architecture, which was going to power everything from home PCs to high-end enterprise servers. However, it didn't quite turn out as planned, eventually becoming one of the most costly mistakes in technology history. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Zachary Wander. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.co...

The Sony Xperia Play was the long-awaited 'PlayStation phone' when it was released in 2011, combining the power of an Android smartphone with physical controller buttons. The phone seemed like an easy sell to the millions of PlayStation fans across the world, and yet, demand dropped soon after launch and Sony cancelled plans for a sequel. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Jules Wang. Foll...

In the late 1980's, a team of engineers at Apple set out to create a new operating system for the Macintosh. What followed was a saga of corporate partnerships, mismanagement, and shifting goals, culminating in a platform for developers that developers didn't want to use. Hosted by Corbin Davenport, guest starring Cody Toombs. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechTalesShow Follow on Mastodon...