Smartphones, iPads, iPods, and notebook computers remain examples of the must-have devices of the last five years. However, for every iPad there’s an Apple TV—a tech failure. Organizations take a chance every time they send a new piece of technology into the market. There is absolutely no guarantee that no matter how cool or helpful a gadget is that it’ll catch on with the buying public. With that in mind, listed here is a quick look at some of the most widely known technology failures of the last decade.
Famous tech failures
- Apple TV: This gadget gives users the capability to purchase entertainment from iTunes then stream it to the device of their choice. Good idea? Possibly, if it wasn’t so restricted to iTunes.
- Sony Mylo: Mylo came in under the radar that is why you may not remember it. This was a Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device from Sony that allowed people to connect to the Internet, send e-mail and it came with Skype! It didn’t get much attention as the iPhone and its app store overwhelmed it.
The Segway peters out
- Segway PT: It was believed that the Segway PT would replace cars in urban areas. It made it simple for people to just zip to the market or make the short commute downtown. But it never quite caught on. Unfortunately for the manufacturers, people believed balancing on two wheels made them look a little silly.
The CueCat doesn’t purr
- CueCat: The CueCat was a portable barcode reader in the shape of a cat. Consumers would use it to scan any barcode and it would navigate them to the company’s website. This did not catch on but did it pave the way for QR codes?
