Rewind to about 1999 - and there was a company called "Play Inc." - it was a bunch of engineers and founders of Newtek that made the "video toaster" -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_ToasterThey started a new company called "Play" - their video box was amazing at the time. It's said to have so much custom silicone in it(22 chips in all), that it was they went millions into debt to make it. And.....it kinda flopped. No one really knows why. It was the right tech at the right time. It was almost too good.
Also, you can't call yourself a video editor is you don't know the "Kiki wipe"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiki_StockhammerSee @ 0:40 -
More info:
http://www.patswayne.com/kiki/nab.htmReally would be an epic tear down if you can find one. A true unicorn.