They say necessity is the mother of all invention, and nothing screams this more than the 21st century. While the 19th and 20th centuries gave us game-changers like the light bulb, the steam engine, and breakthroughs in medicine, the 21st century has taken things up a notch with a whirlwind of bold new ideas.
The past ten years, in particular, have been a playground for ambitious tech experiments. Some took off brilliantly, changing how we live, while others fizzled out before they could make a mark. Let’s look at those tech gadgets and ideas that didn’t make the leap from concept to success.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7
The Galaxy Note 7, launched on August 2, 2016, was supposed to be Samsung’s next big hit, following the success of the Note 5.
With its stunning Super AMOLED display, sleek curved edges, and a solid camera setup (12MP on the back and 5MP for selfies), it had all the makings of a game-changer. People couldn’t wait to get their hands on it. But then, things went south fast.
Just weeks after hitting the shelves, reports of the phone overheating and exploding started pouring in from around the world. Samsung scrambled to fix the problem, recalling millions of devices and replacing the batteries. But the replacements exploded too.
By then, the damage was done, and the Note 7’s reputation had gone up in smoke quite literally. The financial hit, though massive at $5 billion, was something Samsung could absorb. But the ripple effects were harder to control. Lawsuits piled up, and trust in the brand took a nosedive.
- Google+
Google’s attempt to muscle its way into the social media scene with Google+ felt more like an awkward stumble than a grand entrance. Launched in mid-2011, it was meant to challenge Facebook’s dominance and finally give Google a slice of the social media pie.
They had high hopes, aiming for 90 million users by the end of year one, but reality had another think coming. Google+ flopped spectacularly, barely registering on the social media radar.
By 2015, less than 10% of its accounts were active, and the average session lasted under five seconds. Facebook’s grip on users was too strong for Google+ to loosen.
The reasons for its demise were plenty: confusing branding, overly aggressive promotion, and a clunky user experience that left people unimpressed.
The final nail in the coffin was a massive data breach affecting 52.5 million users. That was the kind of scandal no amount of rebranding could fix. By April 2019, Google+ was officially laid to rest.
- Ouya
Back in 2013, a bold underdog called Ouya tried to shake up the gaming world dominated by giants like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
Julie Uhrman’s brainchild promised a “revolution” in gaming, cramming over 600 games into a sleek little box funded by an impressive $8.5 million Kickstarter campaign. It sounded like a dream, but the reality was anything but.
The Ouya struggled from the start. Its Android-based operating system was underwhelming, and the games were little more than low-budget offerings you’d scroll past in the Google Play Store.
The Ouya struggled to keep up with what your average smartphone could deliver. Back then, mobile phones were already offering an enormous variety of games, catering to both mainstream audiences and niche enthusiasts.
Online casinos quickly joined this digital evolution, carving out a growing presence in the early 2010s, around the same time the Ouya made its debut.
With just a smartphone in your hand, you could explore countless online casino games, from poker to blackjack, all within a few taps. It didn’t matter if you were on your couch or waiting for a coffee; your device turned into a virtual casino where you could play roulette online or deal cards with ease.
Additionally, Ouya simply couldn’t compete with the power and polish of established consoles. To make matters worse, Ouya’s marketing flopped.
One infamous ad featured a grumpy man in his underwear, reinforcing stereotypes instead of attracting players. The tagline, “Stop wasting cash on crappy games,” ironically mirrored the console’s fate.
- Windows Phone
In 2010, Microsoft gave its Windows CE a makeover, introducing the Windows Phone. With a sleek design, fast performance, and customizable features like Live Tiles, it looked promising.
Devices like the Nokia Lumia stood out for their vibrant displays, excellent cameras, and affordability. But by the time Windows Phone hit the scene, it was already too late to catch up.
As iPhones and Androids took over, Microsoft struggled to get app developers and manufacturers on board. Retailers and carriers didn’t push it, and users probably didn’t see a compelling reason to switch from their trusty iPhone or Android devices.
By 2014, most people were firmly in either the iOS or Android camp, leaving little room for Microsoft to lure users. Even after buying Nokia’s Lumia lineup, the company couldn’t turn things around. In 2017, Microsoft officially pulled the plug on Windows Phone, ending its attempt to be a mobile contender.
We Learn from Our Mistakes
Some technologies stumble and fall, but that’s just how progress works. Sure, these failures might seem like setbacks, but they’re the stepping stones for breakthroughs that fix their flaws. We’ve seen it before; what flops today often inspires the game-changers of tomorrow.
