As we close the chapter on 2024, it’s time to reflect on the technology products that have failed to evolve with the times, flopped, or simply lost funding. While the fast-paced nature of tech can be thrilling, it can also lead to bittersweet farewells, especially for gadgets that once held promise but ultimately fell short. Let’s take a moment to pay our respects to some of the notable products that bit the dust this year.
Gone are the days when fossil smartwatches were seen as a statement of style and technology. The company has officially exited the smartwatch market, leaving behind its last offering, the Gen 6 model. This shift may be attributed to the fierce competition from industry giants like Apple, which itself faced setbacks.
Apple made headlines by discontinuing its blood oxygen monitoring feature after a patent dispute deprived it of the technology. Furthermore, the company pulled the plug on its "Buy Now, Pay Later" service, Apple Pay Later, less than a year after its launch, and bid farewell to iTunes as it transitioned users to a new ecosystem of apps designed to manage media across platforms.
The decline of physical media continued canvas this year, with Best Buy ceasing the sale of physical movie discs and Redbox shutting down a significant portion of its kiosks amid bankruptcy. Nostalgia took a hit with the closure of ICQ, an instant messaging service that had its heyday in the '90s, marking the end of an era in direct communication.
Google, known for its persistent experimentation and eventual retreat from various projects, shuttered a slew of services, including Google Pay in the U.S., Google Podcasts, and the Google One VPN. Among its more notable closures was the discontinuation of the Chromecast app after a successful 11-year run. Google pivoted its focus toward the Google TV streamer, a more expensive alternative to stream content, leaving many users to reminisce about its cost-effective predecessor.
A Couple of Hardware Blunders
Some tech products were short-lived, and in hindsight, their swift demise offers a sigh of relief. Meta’s bizarre celebrity AI chatbot project met a fiery end, while Snapchat struggled once again with its hardware ambitions, recalling its Pixie Drone due to overheating issues.
Spotify also faced setbacks with its music-streaming accessory, Car Thing. Upon its exit, the $100 device became a remnant of e-waste, and consumers rushed to request refunds before the January deadline.
In a twist that blends emotion with unease, Boston Dynamics retired its hydraulic Atlas humanoid robot, which had both fascinated and disturbed observers with its agile moves. Meanwhile, another robot named Moxy faced unfathomable challenges, ceasing its operations due to lack of funding. Aimed at becoming an AI companion for children, Moxy was designed to promote learning through interaction but ultimately fell victim to its reliance on cloud services. The sudden news has left many kids anxious about losing their robotic friend forever, prompting community outcry for its survival into 2025.
As we reflect on these tech products that have met their end, it’s clear that the landscape of technology is ever-evolving, and only the most adaptable remain relevant. While some departures are seen as blessings, others evoke a deep sense of nostalgia for what they once represented.
If there's a tech product that didn’t make it onto this list that struck a chord with you, consider leaving your thoughts in the comments. Here’s to a new year filled with innovations, but also to the memories—and lessons—of those gadgets that have left us in 2024.
Part 1/7:
Reflections on the Tech That Died in 2024
As we close the chapter on 2024, it’s time to reflect on the technology products that have failed to evolve with the times, flopped, or simply lost funding. While the fast-paced nature of tech can be thrilling, it can also lead to bittersweet farewells, especially for gadgets that once held promise but ultimately fell short. Let’s take a moment to pay our respects to some of the notable products that bit the dust this year.
The Fall of Smartwatches: Fossil and Apple
Part 2/7:
Gone are the days when fossil smartwatches were seen as a statement of style and technology. The company has officially exited the smartwatch market, leaving behind its last offering, the Gen 6 model. This shift may be attributed to the fierce competition from industry giants like Apple, which itself faced setbacks.
Apple made headlines by discontinuing its blood oxygen monitoring feature after a patent dispute deprived it of the technology. Furthermore, the company pulled the plug on its "Buy Now, Pay Later" service, Apple Pay Later, less than a year after its launch, and bid farewell to iTunes as it transitioned users to a new ecosystem of apps designed to manage media across platforms.
The Death of Physical Media
Part 3/7:
The decline of physical media continued canvas this year, with Best Buy ceasing the sale of physical movie discs and Redbox shutting down a significant portion of its kiosks amid bankruptcy. Nostalgia took a hit with the closure of ICQ, an instant messaging service that had its heyday in the '90s, marking the end of an era in direct communication.
Google's Exits
Part 4/7:
Google, known for its persistent experimentation and eventual retreat from various projects, shuttered a slew of services, including Google Pay in the U.S., Google Podcasts, and the Google One VPN. Among its more notable closures was the discontinuation of the Chromecast app after a successful 11-year run. Google pivoted its focus toward the Google TV streamer, a more expensive alternative to stream content, leaving many users to reminisce about its cost-effective predecessor.
A Couple of Hardware Blunders
Some tech products were short-lived, and in hindsight, their swift demise offers a sigh of relief. Meta’s bizarre celebrity AI chatbot project met a fiery end, while Snapchat struggled once again with its hardware ambitions, recalling its Pixie Drone due to overheating issues.
Part 5/7:
Spotify also faced setbacks with its music-streaming accessory, Car Thing. Upon its exit, the $100 device became a remnant of e-waste, and consumers rushed to request refunds before the January deadline.
Robot Retirements
Part 6/7:
In a twist that blends emotion with unease, Boston Dynamics retired its hydraulic Atlas humanoid robot, which had both fascinated and disturbed observers with its agile moves. Meanwhile, another robot named Moxy faced unfathomable challenges, ceasing its operations due to lack of funding. Aimed at becoming an AI companion for children, Moxy was designed to promote learning through interaction but ultimately fell victim to its reliance on cloud services. The sudden news has left many kids anxious about losing their robotic friend forever, prompting community outcry for its survival into 2025.
The Tech Graveyard
Part 7/7:
As we reflect on these tech products that have met their end, it’s clear that the landscape of technology is ever-evolving, and only the most adaptable remain relevant. While some departures are seen as blessings, others evoke a deep sense of nostalgia for what they once represented.
If there's a tech product that didn’t make it onto this list that struck a chord with you, consider leaving your thoughts in the comments. Here’s to a new year filled with innovations, but also to the memories—and lessons—of those gadgets that have left us in 2024.