Experience immersive workshops on product development, team building and resilience in the approach to failure, told through the General Magic story.
Learn More




General Magic is available to watch on VOD platforms worldwide.
Learn MoreLearn MoreHost a private screening of General Magic for your organization paired with live panels and team-building workshops.
Learn MoreGet a custom quoteGeneral Magic is the story of the original creators of the smartphone, who after a great failure, changed the lives of billions.
In 1990, at a secretive Silicon Valley start-up, a small and passionate group of innovators and engineers formed to build a magical device that would enable anyone to connect everyone to everywhere and everything – a personal computer in your pocket.
General Magic, though relatively unknown, is considered by many to be one of the most influential innovation startups in the history of technology. This pioneering team—featuring visionaries like Tony Fadell (co-creator of the iPod and iPhone, founder of Nest, author of Build), Megan Smith (former White House CTO, founder of shift7), Marc Porat (original visionary of the smartphone), Andy Hertzfeld (software engineer, original Macintosh team), and Joanna Hoffman (marketing, original Macintosh team)—created the first smartphone and laid the foundation for many of the 21st century's most transformative communication and digital technologies.
While the business of General Magic ultimately did not succeed, the groundbreaking technologies developed by this trailblazing startup and the subsequent ventures led by its team have profoundly impacted the lives of billions.
Discover the General Magic story.
Find streaming and rental options available in your region on JustWatch
or rent it on Prime Video, iTunes, Vimeo, Google Play, Roku Channel, or YouTube.
Contact us about private screenings for your organization.
Please contact us for more information about how to host a private screening, panel or team building event. Former General Magic employees are able to speak on request.
CONTACT US

















“A rippling standing ovation followed the film. We Estonians are typically straight faced as people, resistant to emotion or expression in public, but the film resonated something deep within our audience.
“My hope and dream is that General Magic elevates the purpose of each Town employee.”

The compelling story of General Magic shows the powerful value that lies in failure, perseverance and teamwork amongst other empowering themes. Teams and groups will find inspiration in this legendary piece of history.
If that sounds like a gift, then yes:
(Ndumiso Manana). It examines the project's sonic architecture and its philosophical inquiry into the "in-between" spaces of human relationships. The Architecture of the "In-Between" Manana’s But Could the Moments In Between
The first “single” (though that word feels too commercial). A lo-fi beat, whispered vocals, and a chorus that inverts the phrase: “Tomorrow never comes / so I’ll hold the now.” Think Bon Iver meets Four Tet. manana but could the moments in between album download
The keyword phrase specifically includes the word "
Even in chill music, there is a peak. In Manana's work, the climax is subtle—a swelling of chords, a slightly more complex percussion pattern—but it resolves back into tranquility. The album ends not with a bang, but with a fade, leaving the listener in a state of calm readiness to face the world again. If that sounds like a gift, then yes: (Ndumiso Manana)
This specific search query points toward a desire to own, to hold, and to replay a piece of art that has resonated deeply. But to understand why this particular album generates such a dedicated following, we must look beyond the file format and delve into the artistry of Manana. We must explore the sonic landscape of But Could the Moments in Between and understand why, in an era of streaming, the desire to "download" remains an act of devotion.
Always check first. Many indie artists offer direct download via Gumroad or their own storefront, sometimes bundled with merchandise. A quick Google search for [artist name] official store can yield the most direct link. A lo-fi beat, whispered vocals, and a chorus
In "But You First," Manana exposes the toxic side of love, specifically the exhaustion of repetitive arguments and the "patience" required to navigate them. Authenticity vs. Industry Pressure:
: You can stream the full album, which includes tracks like "Call Me," "Sunday Morning," and "All I Seek".

Michael Stern has practiced law in Silicon Valley for 35 years. He has worked with General Magic, Pixar, Adobe, NeXT, and eBay. His varied background as an English professor, journalist, and Dickens scholar led to the story development of the General Magic documentary.
“Working at General Magic was an all-consuming, life-changing experience for me. The company was full of the smartest and most creative people I had ever known. It was a story that cried out to be told.”
Matt is a multi award winning director, writer, cinematographer and producer. At the Tribeca Film Festival, he was nominated for the Best New Director Award.
“There was this amazing moment reviewing the archival film, seeing all these young people sitting on the floor of a tiny office … the people who made the iPod, Nest, Android, eBay, the emoticon, the touch screen, the modem, tools we can’t imagine living without today.”
Sarah, a Peabody Award winner and Emmy nominee, was part of the original documentary crew at General Magic. She has held a number of roles in the Tech industry, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer at Kheiron Medical, dedicated to the detection and treatment of breast cancer using AI.
“Our hope is that this film will inspire the next generation of technologists and makers to learn from those who have gone before them and apply the lessons of General Magic to solving the most important problems of our day.”
Host a private screening of General Magic for your organization paired with live panels and team-building workshops.
Book an Event