Tech Obituaries: Innovations That Died in 2024

Tech That Died in 2024

As we wrap up 2024, it’s time to bid farewell to several tech products that couldn’t keep up with the ever-changing industry landscape. Some of these departures are nostalgic, while others feel overdue. Here’s a roundup of the tech that bowed out this year.

The Fall of Fossil Smartwatches

Fossil, known for its stylish wearables, has exited the smartwatch market. The Gen 6, running Wear OS, marked its final model. This marks the end of Fossil’s journey in the competitive smartwatch space dominated by giants like Apple and Samsung.

Apple’s Discontinued Products

Even Apple faced setbacks this year. Due to a patent dispute, Apple discontinued watches with blood oxygen sensors. The company also scrapped its short-lived “Apple Pay Later” service, rebranding it briefly as “Apple Pay Right Away” before shutting it down entirely. Additionally, Apple officially retired iTunes for Windows, urging users to transition to newer apps like Apple Music and the TV app. The nostalgia continued with the discontinuation of its USB SuperDrive, signaling the end of an era for CDs and DVDs. This trend aligns with broader changes in media consumption, as Best Buy stopped selling physical movie discs and Redbox filed for bankruptcy, closing 24,000 kiosks.

The End of ICQ and Instant Messaging Nostalgia

ICQ, the once-iconic instant messaging service, shut down after 27 years. Its closure marks the end of the age of traditional instant messaging services, a relic of the ‘90s.

Google’s Annual Cleanup

Google continued its tradition of sunsetting services:

• Google Pay (U.S.): Replaced by Google Wallet. This move was part of Google’s effort to streamline its payment ecosystem, consolidating features under the Google Wallet brand to provide a unified experience for users.
• Google Podcasts: Merged into YouTube Music. This shift aimed to consolidate Google’s audio streaming services, making YouTube Music the primary hub for both music and podcasts. The move aligns with Google’s strategy to simplify its offerings and attract more users to its YouTube ecosystem.
• Stack PDF Scanner: Consolidated into Google Drive. By integrating this feature, Google aimed to streamline document management, allowing users to scan and organize PDFs directly in Drive. This move simplifies workflows and ensures all tools are available within a single ecosystem.
• Google One VPN: Discontinued without replacement.
• Google Jamboard: A $5,000 digital whiteboard, ended due to low demand.
• Chromecast App: Retired after 11 years, replaced by the pricier Google TV Streamer.

Meta and AI Missteps

Meta’s controversial celebrity AI chatbots were short-lived, quickly shut down due to widespread criticism. Similarly, Snapchat’s Pixy drone, plagued by overheating issues, was pulled from the market, joining the list of failed hardware experiments.

Spotify’s “Car Thing” Crash

Spotify’s “Car Thing”, a $100 music-streaming device for cars, was discontinued and rendered non-functional. Users can request refunds until mid-January 2025, but the product is already considered e-waste.

Robots That Bid Adieu

Boston Dynamics retired its Atlas robot, known for its acrobatic maneuvers, after 11 years of development. Meanwhile, the Moxy robot, an AI-powered companion for kids, faced a sudden shutdown due to funding issues. Its cloud-dependent functionality left owners scrambling, with many children devastated by the impending loss of their robotic friend.

What’s Next?

While some products will be fondly remembered, others remind us of the rapid pace of innovation and obsolescence. Did we miss any notable tech farewells? Share your thoughts, and here’s to new beginnings in 2025!