Apple’s Newton (1992)
Apple Computer's Newton line of personal digital assistants (PDA) began as CEO John Scully's pet project in 1992. Since then, seven different Newton models were released before "iCEO" Steve Jobs came back to Apple: in 1998 he quickly axed the newly formed subsidiary responsible for the Newton line, Newton, Inc.
A small, hand-held device with pen-input, personal organizational functions, and communication capabilities becomes the first shipped Newton product by Apple Inc.
Although intelligent software is an essential element, this product is viewed as a smaller, cheaper, stripped-down version of the initial Newton concept that can be mass produced.