Version History
Episodes
The Clapper: Light work
This episode of Version History explores the bizarre legacy of the Clapper, a 1980s device that turned lights on and off via sound.
Philips Hue: The smart home’s light bulb moment
Version History explores the origins of Philips Hue, the smart lighting system that popularized smartphone-controlled home automation.
Keurig: The K-Cup invasion
Host David Pierce joins Eater’s Melissa McCart and barista champion Morgan Ekroth to explore the history of the Keurig coffee maker.
Nest: The iPod of thermostats
Host David Pierce and guests Jen Toohey and Nealai Patel explore the history of the Nest Learning Thermostat, created by former Apple executive Tony Fadell.
Roomba: Rise of the robovac
Host David Pierce and guest Jen Toohey interview iRobot co-founder Colin Engel about the Roomba’s origins.
Harmony remote: Control freak
Virgin History explores the rise and fall of the Logitech Harmony remote, which aimed to unify chaotic home theater controls in the early 2000s.
Western Electric 500: Monopoly phone
In this season finale, host David Pierce and guest Tim Wu explore the history of AT&T’s monopoly and the iconic Western Electric 500 landline phone.
Amazon Echo: Always listening
Host David Pierce and guests Jen Tui and Hayden Field discuss the history of the Amazon Echo, tracing its origins to Jeff Bezos’s 2011 vision for a voice-controlled cloud computer.
Macintosh: All in one
Host David Pierce and guests Nilay Patel and John Gruber explore the history of the original Macintosh, discussing its development under Steve Jobs and its departure from the expensive Lisa project.