2023: TECHNOLOGY SUNSETS
Here is a list of top tech products that died in 2023:
1. Google Glass
Google Glass was a brand of smart glasses developed and sold by Google. It was designed to display information to the wearer using a head-up display, and to communicate with the Internet via voice commands. Google Glass was launched in 2013, but it faced several challenges, such as a lack of exclusive titles, a confusing pricing model, a limited availability in certain regions, and a fierce competition from other cloud gaming platforms like Microsoft’s xCloud and Amazon’s Luna. privacy, security, and ethical issues. Google discontinued Google Glass in March 2023, after failing to gain much traction among users and facing backlash from regulators and competitors.
2. Stadia
Stadia was a cloud gaming service developed and operated by Google. It allowed users to stream games on any device without the need for expensive hardware. However, Stadia faced several challenges, such as a lack of exclusive titles, a confusing pricing model, a limited availability in certain regions, and a fierce competition from other cloud gaming platforms like Microsoft’s xCloud and Amazon’s Luna. Google shut down Stadia in November 2023, citing low user engagement and high operational costs1.
If you want to learn more about Stadia, you can check out the official website of Stadia, where you can see the announcement of its closure and how to switch your Stadia Controller to Bluetooth mode.
3. Cortana
Cortana was Microsoft’s virtual assistant that was launched in 2014 as a rival to Apple’s Siri and Google’s Assistant. It was designed to provide users with personalized information, reminders, suggestions, and voice control over various devices and apps. However, Cortana failed to gain much traction among users, as it was often criticized for being less reliable, less accurate, and less versatile than its competitors. Microsoft tried to revamp Cortana several times, such as by integrating it with Windows 10, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Teams, but these efforts did not pay off. In July 2023, Microsoft announced that it would retire Cortana as a standalone service and app, and instead focus on embedding its AI capabilities into other products and services12.
If you want to learn more about Cortana, you can check out the official website of Cortana | Microsoft: where you can see its features, benefits, and use cases.
3. Messenger Lite
Messenger Lite was a simplified version of Facebook’s Messenger app that was designed for Android users in emerging markets. It offered the core features of Messenger, such as text, voice, and video calls, stickers, and group chats, but omitted some of the extra features, such as games, stories, and chatbots. Messenger Lite was launched in 2016, but it faced a decline in popularity, as more users switched to other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, that offered more privacy, security, and functionality. In September 2023, Facebook announced that it would discontinue Messenger Lite, and instead encourage users to use the main Messenger app, which had been optimized for performance and data efficiency12.
If you want to learn more about Messenger Lite, you can check out Messenger – Apps on Google Play: The app page of Messenger, where you can see its features, benefits, and use cases.
4. Meta Horizon
Meta Horizon was a virtual reality platform that was part of Meta’s vision for the metaverse. It consisted of several destinations that allowed users to explore, create, and connect with others in virtual reality. However, Meta Horizon faced many challenges and failed to meet the expectations of its creator, Mark Zuckerberg, and its users. Some of the reasons why Meta Horizon died are:
Lack of user engagement: Meta Horizon had a low number of monthly active users, which was far below the company’s goal. Most users did not return to Meta Horizon after the first month, and the number of users declined steadily since spring 20231. Only a small fraction of the worlds in Meta Horizon were visited by more than 50 people, and most were never visited at all1. Users also complained about the lack of content, variety, and quality in Meta Horizon2.
Privacy, security, and ethical issues: Meta Horizon faced a lot of backlash from users, regulators, and competitors over its privacy, security, and ethical issues. Meta Horizon was accused of collecting and exploiting users’ personal data, exposing users to harmful and addictive content, and monopolizing the VR market13. Users also expressed concerns about the potential risks of spending too much time in VR, such as losing touch with reality, experiencing cyberbullying, and developing mental health problems23.
Technical and operational challenges: Meta Horizon faced several technical and operational challenges, such as high development costs, low performance, and limited availability. Meta Horizon required users to have Meta’s Quest VR headset, which was expensive and hard to find due to supply chain issues. It also suffered from frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, which affected the user experience and satisfaction2. Meta Horizon also had difficulty scaling up and competing with other VR platforms, such as Roblox, Rec Room, and VRChat.
5. Amazon Halo
Amazon Halo was a health and wellness service that combined a wearable device, an app, and a subscription plan. It was launched in 2020, and offered features such as body fat measurement, tone analysis, sleep tracking, and fitness challenges. However, Amazon Halo faced criticism for its privacy, accuracy, and usefulness. Users were concerned about sharing their personal data, such as their voice recordings, body scans, and health metrics, with Amazon. Users also questioned the reliability and validity of the measurements and insights provided by Amazon Halo. Along with that, Users also found the service to be expensive, intrusive, and gimmicky. In April 2023, Amazon announced that it would discontinue Amazon Halo effective July 31, 2023, and refund customer purchases and subscriptions6.
6. Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts was a cross-platform instant messaging service developed by Google. It originally was a feature of Google+, becoming a standalone product in 2013, when Google also began integrating features from Google+ Messenger and Google Talk into Hangouts1. Google Hangouts allowed users to send text, voice, and video messages, as well as make voice and video calls, to other users or groups. Google Hangouts also supported integration with other Google services, such as Gmail, Calendar, and YouTube. However, Google Hangouts faced several challenges, such as a lack of clear direction, a confusing user interface, and a strong competition from other messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. Google announced in 2018 that it would split Hangouts into two separate products: Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet, for business communication and video conferencing, respectively. Google also launched Google Duo and Google Allo, for consumer video and text messaging, respectively. However, these products also failed to gain much popularity, and Google Allo was discontinued in 2019. Google Hangouts was finally discontinued in December 2023, as Google shifted its focus to Google Chat and Google Meet2
7. Hyperloop one
Hyperloop One was a transportation technology company that worked to commercialize high-speed travel using the Hyperloop concept, which was a variant of the vacuum train. The company was founded in 2014 and rebranded as Virgin Hyperloop One in 2017. However, the company faced several challenges, such as financial difficulties, regulatory hurdles, and technical setbacks. It failed to secure any contracts for building a working Hyperloop system, and announced that it would shut down on December 31, 20231. The company’s assets, including its test track in Las Vegas, will be liquidated as its story comes to an end on December 31, 2023.
If you want to learn more about Hyperloop One, you can check out Hyperloop One – Wikipedia:
8. Microsoft Altspace VR
Microsoft Altspace VR was a social VR platform that allowed users to create and visit virtual worlds, interact with other users, and attend live events. It was founded in 2013 by Eric Romo and acquired by Microsoft in 2017. However, it was shut down on March 10, 2023, due to low user engagement, privacy and security issues, and technical and operational challenges12.
Some of the features of Microsoft Altspace VR were:
- Worlds: Users could create and explore user-generated worlds that hosted various events, games, and activities. Some of the worlds were built and maintained by official developers, such as the Campfire, the FrontRow, and the Origin1.
- Events: Users could attend or host live events in VR, such as concerts, comedy shows, lectures, and meetups. Some of the notable events that took place in Microsoft Altspace VR were a virtual fashion show for 2020 Paris Fashion Week, a red carpet premiere of Baba Yaga, and a book launch of new sci-fi short stories123.
- Avatars: Users could customize their appearance and express themselves with a variety of avatars, accessories, and gestures. Users could also use spatial audio and voice chat to communicate with others12.
Microsoft Altspace VR supported several VR headsets, such as Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows Mixed Reality. It was also available as a desktop application for Windows and Mac, and had a non-VR Android app until 201912.
If you want to learn more about Microsoft Altspace VR, you can check out Microsoft is sunsetting social VR pioneer AltspaceVR
9. 13 Inch MacBook pro with Touch Bar.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar was a laptop model from Apple that featured a 13.3-inch Retina display, a Touch Bar, and a Magic Keyboard. It came in two variants: one with an Apple M1 chip and one with an Intel Core processor. The M1 variant was launched in November 2020, and the Intel variant was launched in May 20201.
The Touch Bar was a thin touch display that replaced the top row of function keys on the keyboard. It was supposed to provide users with context-sensitive and customizable controls for various apps and tasks. However, the Touch Bar was widely criticized for being unnecessary, distracting, and impractical. Many users preferred the physical keys over the Touch Bar, and some even disabled it or covered it with stickers23.
Apple decided to discontinue the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar in October 2023, when it introduced the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip. The new models did not feature the Touch Bar, but instead brought back the function keys and added a new Touch ID button. Apple also lowered the price of the new models, making them more attractive and affordable than the old ones14.
With the discontinuation of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, Apple effectively killed the Touch Bar for good, as it was the last laptop model to have it. The Touch Bar was one of Apple’s most controversial and unpopular features, and its demise was welcomed by many users and critics
You think you have a story worth everyone’s time? SUBMIT A STORY and we will publish it.
Share this content:
1 comment