328: Connected: Why Would Anybody Want a Phone Without a Keyboard?
Summary
Hosts Mike, Steven, and Federico review the 2023 film *BlackBerry*, praising its dramatized account of the company’s rise and fall. They discuss Glenn Howerton’s performance as Jim Balsillie, the tension between founders, and the pivotal impact of the iPhone’s launch. The episode also touches on historical inaccuracies, the SEC scandal, and the shift from hardware to software dominance in tech.
Topics discussed
Introduction and initial reactions to the BlackBerry movie
The three-act structure and character dynamics
Dramatization, historical accuracy, and the sadness of irrelevance
The iPhone keynote scene and the end of hardware startups
Glenn Howerton's performance and production details
Poaching talent, backdating scandal, and corporate arrogance
The BlackBerry Storm, carrier power, and the rise of Android
Timeline compression and the cultural impact of Apple keynotes
Personal anecdotes: Nokia, Palm, and BlackBerry as status symbols
Work phone experiences and concluding thoughts
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