Question: What began on  May 1, 2016 in regard to The DragonBox Pyra handheld computer?

Context articles: GPD Win
Pre-order
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Ferranti MRT
Cybiko
PlayStation Portable
Pandora (console)
Modding
Mobile device
DragonBox Pyra

The GPD Win palmtop is a Windows-based handheld computer equipped with a keyboard and gaming controls.
 It is an x86-based device which runs a full version of Windows 10 Home.
 The device was envisioned primarily with video game console emulation and PC gaming in mind, but is capable of running any x86 Windows-based application that can run within the confines of the device's technical specifications.
 First announced in October 2015, it was crowd funded via Indiegogo and two other crowdfunding sites in Japan and China, and was released in October 2016.
A pre-order is an order placed for an item that has not yet been released.
 The idea for pre-orders came because people found it hard to get popular items in stores because of their popularity.
 Companies then had the idea to allow customers to reserve their own personal copy before its release, which has been a huge success.
Kirby's Dream Land 2 is a platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console.
 It was first released in Japan on March 21, 1995, and was later released in North America on May 1, 1995.
 It was released in Europe on July 31, 1995.
The Ferranti Market Research Terminal (MRT) was, arguably, the world’s first application-specific handheld computer.
 It was designed specifically for the market research sector as a means to augment the regular clipboard schemes that, at the time, were common-place, in social and market research.
 The Ferranti Market Research Terminal (MRT) is also of historical significance to the computing industry since it marked the last original computer design from Ferranti, a long established business (started 1882) that had risen to fame through a collaboration Manchester University to produce the "Mark 1", the world’s first commercial computer and later with Cambridge University producing the "Atlas" and "Titan" computers which, at their peak, held around 25% of the computing market.
The Cybiko is a Russian handheld computer introduced in the U.S. by David Yang's company Cybiko Inc. as a retail test market in New York on April 2000, and rolled out nationwide in May 2000.
 It is designed for teens, featuring its own two-way radio text messaging system.
 It had over 430 "official" freeware games and applications.
 Because of the text messaging system, it features a QWERTY keyboard that was used with a stylus.
 An MP3 player add-on was made for the unit as well as a SmartMedia card reader.
 The company stopped manufacturing the units after two product versions and only a few years on the market.
 Cybikos can communicate with each other up to a maximum range of 300 metres (0.19 miles).
 Several Cybikos can chat with each other in a wireless chatroom.
 By the end of 2000, the Cybiko Classic sold over 500,000 units.
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) (ᴊᴘ プレイステーション・ポータブル) is a handheld game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment.
 Development of the handheld was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on May 11 , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004.
 The system was released in Japan on December 12 , 2004, in North America on March 24 , 2005, and in the PAL region on September 1 , 2005.
 It primarily competed with the Nintendo DS, as part of the seventh generation of video games consoles.
The Pandora is a handheld game console and mobile personal computer originally released in 2010.
 It is designed to take advantage of existing free and open-source software and to be a target for homebrew development.
 It includes several features that no handheld game consoles have previously had, making it a cross between a handheld game console and a subnotebook.
 It is developed and produced by OpenPandora, which is made up of former distributors and community members of the GP32 and GP2X handhelds.
 Until 2013 multiple batches of slightly updated Pandora variants were produced.
 In 2014 the development of a redesigned and upgraded successor, called DragonBox Pyra, was started.
Modding is a slang expression that is derived from the verb "modify".
 Modding refers to the act of modifying hardware, software, or virtually anything else, to perform a function not originally conceived or intended by the designer, or achieve a bespoke specification.
 The term modding is used within the computer game community, particularly in regard to creating new or altered content and sharing that via the web.
 It may be applied to the overclocking of computers in order to increase the frequency at which the CPU operates.
 Case modding is a popular activity amongst many computer enthusiasts which involves the customization of a computer case or the installation of water cooling technology.
 In connection with automobiles, modding can mean engine tuning, remapping of a vehicle's engine control unit or customization of the bodywork.
 Some people modify small electronic handheld toys by circuit bending, changing the circuits and adding a knob or switch that will change the produced pitch up or down.
A mobile device (or handheld computer) is a computing device small enough to hold and operate in the hand.
 Typically, any handheld computer device will have an LCD flatscreen interface, providing a touchscreen interface with digital buttons and keyboard or physical buttons along with a physical keyboard.
 Many such devices can connect to the Internet and interconnect with other devices such as car entertainment systems or headsets via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks or near field communication (NFC).
 Integrated cameras, digital media players, the ability to place and receive telephone calls, video games, and Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities are common.
 Power is typically provided by a lithium battery.
 Mobile devices may run mobile operating systems that allow third-party apps specialized for said capabilities to be installed and run.
The DragonBox Pyra is an upcoming Linux-based handheld computer equipped with a keyboard and gaming controls.
 The project entered prototyping stage in 2015.
 Pre-orders began on 1 May 2016, with a final release date open.