We all like to think that we’re savvy when it comes to tech. We know what we want and we do our research before making a purchase. But sometimes, we’re fooled. Here are seven tech products that fooled us (at least at first).
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Google Wave
Google Wave was announced in May of 2010 as “the next big thing” in tech. It was supposed to revolutionize the way we communicate by combining the best of email, instant messaging, online chat, and more. Google even went so far as to say that Wave would eventually replace email. We all know how that turned out.
What it was supposed to be
When it was announced in 2009, Google Wave was supposed to be the next big thing in communication. It was going to revolutionize the way we communicate by combining the best of email, instant messaging, online chat, and social networking. Google Wave would let you do everything from sharing photos and documents to real-time collaboration on projects. It sounded too good to be true, and it turns out it was. Google Wave was launched in 2010 as a limited beta and was met with mostly confusion and criticism. Google tried to make some changes, but ultimately decided to shutWave down in 2012.
What it actually was
Each year, new gadgets and tech products promise to change our lives for the better. But for every iPhone or Xbox, there are dozens of flops—devices that fizzle and die on the vine, leave us cold, or just never live up to the hype.
Google Wave was one of those products. Announced in 2009, it was supposed to be the next big thing in online communication, a “real-time messaging platform” that would revolutionize how we interact with each other online. It had all the makings of a killer app: built by Google, hyped by Silicon Valley insiders, and packed with features like instant messaging, email, and video chat.
But Google Wave never took off. In 2010, less than a year after it launched, Google announced that it would be shutting down the service.
So what happened? In a word: complexity. Google Wave was simply too difficult to use, even for tech-savvy users. The interface was cluttered and confusing, and the platform lacked the kind of intuitive design that made other Google products so easy to use. As a result, few people ever really understood what Google Wave was supposed to do—and even fewer people actually used it.
Google Glass
In 2013, Google released a product that was supposed to change the way we interact with technology forever. Google Glass was a pair of smart glasses that had a tiny display built into the lens. You could use them to take pictures, record videos, get directions, and much more. However, the product was a complete failure.
What it was supposed to be
In 2012, Google released the first version of its Google Glass product, a wearable computer with a head-mounted display. The device wasoster marketed as a revolutionary hands-free way to access information and communicate with the world around you. Despite its high price tag and limited functionality, Google Glass was widely regarded as the future of wearable technology.
However, Google Glass failed to live up to the hype. The device was bulky, uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, and had a very short battery life. Furthermore, the built-in camera raised privacy concerns among users and early adopters were often referred to as “Glassholes” due to their perceived arrogance. As a result of these issues, Google Glass was discontinued in 2015.
What it actually was
When it was first introduced, Google Glass promised to be a game-changing wearable technology. Unfortunately, the sleek device failed to live up to the hype and was ultimately pulled from the market.
Juicero
What it was supposed to be
In 2016, Juicero made headlines with its $400 wifi-connected juice machine. The device was supposed to be the future of juicing, allowing users to make fresh, healthy juices at home with the push of a button. The Juicero came with single-serving packets of pre-chopped fruits and vegetables, which users would insert into the machine and watch as it extracted every last drop of juice.
The Juicero quickly became a punching bag for Silicon Valley critics, who called it a prime example of unnecessary technology. Though the machine did work as advertised, many people found that they could get the same result by simply squeezing the packets by hand. In September 2017, Juicero announced that it was shutting down.
What it actually was
In 2016, Juicero made headlines for raising $120 million in funding, with investors including Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins. The product was a Wi-Fi-connected machine that used NFC tags to press bags of fruits and vegetables into juice. It was a novel idea that quickly attracted interest and investment. Unfortunately, it was also a colossal failure.
The machine itself was large, expensive, and inefficient. The bags of produce were also quite expensive, at around $5-$7 each. Even worse, it was discovered that the machine didn’t actually do anything that couldn’t be done by hand. The whole thing was a complete flop, and Juicero ceased operations in 2018.
Microsoft Kin
The Microsoft Kin was one of the biggest tech flops in history. The phone was released in 2010 and was quickly discontinued due to poor sales. The phone was aimed at a younger audience and had a lot of social networking features. However, it lacked basic features that other phones had and was quickly forgotten.
What it was supposed to be
Microsoft’s Kin was supposed to be a social media phone for a new generation of users. It was released in May 2010 and met with a lot of hype. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. The phone had serious problems with battery life, connectivity, and overall performance. It was also very expensive. Microsoft discontinued the Kin in August 2010, just two months after it was released.
What it actually was
Microsoft’s Kin was an ill-fated attempt at a social media phone. Released in 2010, the Kin was meant to be a sort of “Facebook phone” that would let users easily share updates and photos with their social media friends. However, the phone was plagued with software problems and it failed to gain any traction with consumers. Microsoft ended up discontinuing the Kin less than two months after it was released.
Google+
Google+ was launched in 2011 as a social media platform that was supposed to take on Facebook. It was Google’s attempt to get into the social media sphere and it was a pretty big deal when it first came out. There was a lot of hype surrounding Google+ and it was even compared to Facebook. People were saying that it could be the next big social media platform. However, Google+ never really took off the way that Google had hoped it would.
What it was supposed to be
Google+ was supposed to be Google’s social media platform to take on Facebook. It was launched in 2011 and shut down in April 2019.
What it actually was
Google+ was Google’s social media platform. It launched in June 2011 to try and compete with other social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Google+ failed to gain traction and was eventually shut down in April 2019.
Apple Maps
In 2012, Apple released its Maps app to much fanfare. It was supposed to be a replacement for the Google Maps app that was preloaded on iPhones, and it was supposed to be just as good as Google Maps. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. The app was filled with inaccuracies, and it quickly became the butt of many jokes.
What it was supposed to be
Apple Maps was supposed to be a game-changer. It was supposed to revolutionize the way we interact with maps and navigation. But instead, it became a laughing-stock.
The problems with Apple Maps were many and varied. But the most egregious error was probably its misplacement of whole towns and cities. In one infamous instance, it even directed people to an airport that didn’t exist.
Oof.
Needless to say, Apple Maps was a massive failure. And it proved that even the mightiest tech companies can sometimes release products that are complete duds.
What it actually was
Apple Maps was supposed to be a game-changer. It was released in 2012 as a built-in app for the iPhone 5, and it was supposed to take on Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, 3D flyover, and accurate mapping data. Unfortunately, it was a complete flop. The mapping data was inaccurate, the navigation didn’t work well, and the 3D flyover feature was glitchy. Apple Maps quickly became one of the biggest jokes in the tech world and it damage Apple’s reputation for making great products.
Google Buzz
Launched in 2010, Google Buzz was Google’s attempt to dethrone Facebook as the social media king. It allowed users to post updates, photos, and videos, as well as follow the updates of others. While it had some features that were innovative at the time, it ultimately failed to gain traction and was shut down in 2011.
What it was supposed to be
Google Buzz was supposed to be Google’s big answer to Facebook and Twitter. It was an attempt to get people using Google’s various services together in one place to share information. It launched in 2010 and was generally met with lackluster reviews. People didn’t see the need for another social network and it failed to gain traction. Google eventually pulled the plug on it in 2013.
What it actually was
Google Buzz was supposed to be the social networking platform to dethrone Facebook. It had all the right ingredients: it was integrated with Gmail (the most popular email service at the time) and other Google products, it had a simple and clean interface, and it seemed like something that could actually take on Facebook.
Unfortunately, Google Buzz turned out to be a complete flop. It was marred by privacy concerns from the beginning, and it never managed to gain the traction that Google was hoping for. In 2011, less than two years after it launched, Google announced that it was shutting down Buzz.
