Every app is a superpower

When Google Maps first came out, it blew me away. It still seems like one of the most magical technologies we have today.

I wonder what Ferdinand Magellan would think if you showed him Google Maps on a phone? The entire world mapped in detail, with photos of every building in every city.

I sat in an airport listening to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky on Spotify, wondering what he’d think if he knew that anyone can listen to high-fidelity recordings of all his compositions. Just a phone and a pair of earbuds  —  no matter where you are.

What if Johannes Gutenberg could hold the world’s knowledge in the palm of his hands, and search Wikipedia for anything he can think of?

Imagine showing Nicéphore Niépce and the Lumière brothers what images they could capture from a camera that fits in your pocket.

I would love to see Alexander Graham Bell wirelessly have a face-to-face conversation with anyone on Earth.

Within ten seconds, I can tell you what the weather will be like tomorrow or what the top five restaurants are, for any city in the world. I can have a chauffeur here in 5 minutes, or have my groceries delivered before dinner.

In our pockets is a portal to powers that even kings couldn’t dream of.