What do the Edsel car, Crystal Pepsi, the XFL,?and Burger King’s bacon sundae?have in common? They were hyped up products that turned out to be disasters.?Thinking about where the Windows tablet might end up, I wonder what some recent tech flops are.
10. My Space: In the mid-2000s, this was the next big thing. But?My?Space couldn’t handle competition from?Facebook, You Tube or Google Plus. This New My Space has about as much potential as New Coke did in the 1980s.
9. Sony PSP Go: Great concept at the wrong time. This gadget was to download games. Well, by 2009-2010, you could do that on many of your hand held devices, and skipped the $250 this ill-timed electronic cost.
8. Google Buzz: Sometimes, it’s just best to stick with what you know. Nobody was using this social media. The only thing it was good for was for?critics to pounce on.
7. Sony Mylo: Remember these little guys? How are you going to attract 15-24 year olds with an expensive price tag and lack of PSP games? Sony Mylo lasted about two years.
6. HD Radio: This was supposed to be a plus?for?free radio service. They didn’t count the cost of manufacturing and poor marketing.?They didn’t count on competition from?Sony or Insignia.
5. Sony Aibo: I have fond memories of this electronic dog. But it got expensive and old, and by 2007, it got put down.
4. Facebook E-Mail: Aren’t there enough companies that offer email service?
3. Apple Maps: The Statue of Liberty site has no Statue of Liberty. The Eiffel Tower is cut in half. Woolworth’s lunch counters are still in service. Welcome to the world of Apple Maps.
2. Windows 8: It had the same capacities as Windows 7, except a start button. When a company makes a new product faction, that faction is?supposed to be better, not confuse everybody.
1. Microsoft Zune: In 2006, this was supposed to rival the iPod. Instead, it made it’s competition look so good. In 2008, Zune revenue was less than one percent of iPod. In 2011, this monstrosity was finally discontinued.
Can you think of even bigger flops?