Abstract
- Google is notorious for launching a barrage of merchandise, solely to kill most of them off a couple of years later.
- Some failures this 12 months included Eager, Jamboard, and Nest Safe.
- Different merchandise, just like the Chromecast, had been merely rebranded and/or transitioned.
One of many issues Google is notorious for is launching a product to nice fanfare, solely to kill it off when it isn’t instantly profitable. Stadia is a primary instance. In some instances, even the fanfare was by no means there — does anybody bear in mind Neighbourly? In all probability not, however you might need if Google had really put some cash and advertising behind it.
A number of extra merchandise had been added to the Google Graveyard in 2024. Just a few of those may be blamed on Google’s unhealthy habits, however in different instances the corporate transitioned folks over to new merchandise, whether or not they needed it or not. For instance, you may now be shopping for a Google TV Streamer as an alternative of a Chromecast.
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1 Eager
The Pinterest that by no means had an opportunity
Eager was doomed from the beginning — I have been a tech journalist for many years, and I missed its launch, a lot much less that it was nonetheless going. It first arrived in 2020 as a competitor to Pinterest. The one sensible variations, nevertheless, had been its ties to Google, and pinboards being renamed to “keens.”
Should you launch a product that is no higher than what everyone seems to be already utilizing, nobody’s going to hassle to modify over.
The lesson is one which sport publishers have realized with the glut of failed “stay service” video games, comparable to Harmony and Suicide Squad. Should you launch a product that is no higher than what everyone seems to be already utilizing, nobody’s going to hassle to modify over, particularly for those who do not market it.
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2 Nest Safe
Leaving owners within the lurch
Whereas we’d snigger about a number of the issues Google kills off, this one had severe ramifications. Nest Safe was the corporate’s dwelling alarm system, revolving round a keypad hub paired to door and window sensors. The product wasn’t migrated from the Nest app to Google Dwelling and the hub was bricked in April 2024, because it might now not go surfing. Individuals who relied on Safe for cover had been compelled to take a substitute from ADT or else select a platform on their very own, like Arlo or Ring.
What’s complicated is that Google nonetheless gives Nest safety merchandise, specifically the Cam and Doorbell lineups. It might be that Safe simply wasn’t well-liked sufficient to justify growth sources.
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3 Dropcam
Now that is product help
A constructive good dwelling story comes within the type of Dropcam. Whereas no new Dropcam merchandise have shipped since Google purchased the corporate in 2014, current cameras acquired help till April 2024. When that deadline arrived, Google provided free Nest Cams to remaining homeowners. The transfer may not have glad everybody, but it surely was higher than having to modify manufacturers, as occurred with Nest Safe.
Dropcam was initially based in 2009, so it is potential that some folks had been utilizing its cameras for effectively over a decade — earlier than 1080p was widespread, by no means thoughts good dwelling ecosystems like Google Dwelling.
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4 Google Podcasts
A complicated competitor to Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts ought to’ve been a slamdunk. Whereas the time period “podcasts” refers to Apple’s iPod, hundreds of thousands of individuals do not use Apple units, so that they haven’t any purpose to make use of Apple Podcasts (previously part of iTunes). In an alternate timeline, Google’s app might’ve turn out to be the default for the lots, particularly on Android telephones.
The corporate uncared for the app, failing to construct it into a strong (and even absolutely impartial) entity. Its wind-down was introduced on October 2023, finishing in April 2024. An eventful month. The one Google-supported podcast platform is now YouTube Music, which gives the benefit of video help however is not as handy for audio as some third-party apps.
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5 Chromecast
Adios, low-cost dongles
It is easy to neglect, however when the unique Chromecast dongle shipped in 2013, it was a revelation. It introduced superior media streaming to any TV with an HDMI port for simply $35. You probably did have to make use of a cellphone or laptop to regulate that media, but it surely was definitely worth the trouble provided that rivals just like the first-gen Apple TV value a number of occasions as a lot. Chromecasts had been additionally transportable, letting customers change TVs on the fly.
The dongle’s underlying casting protocol has since turn out to be widespread throughout apps and units. In a way, Google hasn’t even killed the Chromecast lineup — it is simply that the Google TV Streamer does not use the identical branding, and it is considerably bigger and dearer. It is also extra area of interest now that many TVs have Google TV inbuilt.
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6 VPN by Google One
One much less purpose to subscribe to One
To boost Google One subscriptions past their further cloud storage, Google began together with a VPN (digital non-public community) service in October 2020. VPNs are primarily helpful for further safety, however will also be used to get round arbitrary regional limitations, say if the US model of YouTube has one thing lacking in Canada.
Google put an finish to its VPN choice in June 2024 — as a multiplatform providing, anyway. VPN know-how is baked into Google Pixel units, which for some consumers could also be a purpose to decide on them over different Android telephones.
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7 Jamboard
A expensive enterprise enterprise
The common client wasn’t conscious of the Jamboard, however not like Eager, Google anticipated that — the product was a 55-inch good whiteboard aimed on the enterprise market. You solely want a wise whiteboard for those who’re a faculty or massive company, not for those who’re jotting down grocery and to-do lists.
The Jamboard was doomed for a few causes, starting with its $5,000 pricetag, which was effectively above what comparable whiteboards value. You had been additionally anticipated to make use of it with Google’s customized Jamboard software program. Even when Google had been much less flaky as an organization, organizations might not have been enthusiastic about paying for one thing so area of interest. The software program stopped engaged on New Yr’s Day 2025.
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8 Google Bard
A query of promoting?
When Google first revealed its generative AI push in February 2023, it was beneath the Bard title, not Gemini. I am nonetheless not fully positive why Google switched branding a 12 months later, for the reason that time period “bard” appears extra apt for one thing that may speak to you and rewrite textual content. Bard’s output was even shakier than Gemini’s, although, and “Gemini” might sound slightly sexier.
The excellent news is that Google appears firmly dedicated to Gemini. It is all over the place, even highlighted in TV commercials for the Pixel 9. It ought to finally change Google Assistant, which remains to be discovered on some Android units, in addition to good audio system and shows.
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