The 20 Biggest Tech Fails Of The 2000s
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Internet Explorer 6
One could make the argument that Internet Explorer 6 was the worst internet browser ever. It was released in 2001 and many people used it. The problem with Internet Explorer 6 is the security. It was vulnerable to viruses and malware all of the time. Many people got viruses because of the major security problems. Since then, Internet Explorer has been branded as a less safe browser -- and it was all because of Internet Explorer 6.
Internet Explorer 6
One could make the argument that Internet Explorer 6 was the worst internet browser ever. It was released in 2001 and many people used it. The problem with Internet Explorer 6 is the security. It was vulnerable to viruses and malware all of the time. Many people got viruses because of the major security problems. Since then, Internet Explorer has been branded as a less safe browser -- and it was all because of Internet Explorer 6.
Google Wave
In 2009, Google Wave was hyped to be the next big real-time messaging service for users. Many people tried to use Google Wave, but it never lived up to the hype. Subsequently, the interest in Google Wave diminished. In 2010, Google announced that it would no longer develop Wave as a stand-alone product. Google has had its fair share of disappointments during the past 10 years, but this project might be one of the biggest examples.
The JooJoo
Technically, this product didn't get officially released until 2010, but the hype began in 2009. JooJoo was a Linux-based tablet. It was also known as the CrunchPad. This was going to be a big response to Apple's development with its tablet, the iPad. However, JooJoo came crashing down. The investors behind the company, Fusion Garage, suddenly pulled their money out of it. The product was stuck in delay mode for several years before the company went out of business.
Segway
What can you say about the Segway that hasn't already been said? The product, which allows users to move with just two wheels on it, was launched in 2001. The plan behind the product was to serve as a high-tech alternative to a scooter. But the product never really caught on. Sure, there are some people who still use it, but the vast majority of people consider the Segway to be outdated technology.
Samsung Q1
Samsung has many good products, but the Q1 is not one of them. The company had an entire family of these mobile-style PCs in the 2000s, but they never really took off. Part of the problem was the price tag. Q1's cost was closer to that of a computer instead of a cell phone. In addition, it never really had great functionality. Looking back, Samsung can laugh at the Q1 because it now sells much greater products.
Microsoft Tablet PC
Years before tablets dominated the tech world, Microsoft launched its own version in 2001. It was a complete disaster. The software was not that good, the price tag was too high, and it didn't even look that interesting. Microsoft saw an opening in the market and they went after it. But it didn't pay off for them. In the end, the Microsoft Tablet PC was a failure, but it paved the way for better things.
Openmoko
In 2008, Openmoko was released. It was a project by First International Computer, which promoted open source mobile technology. The problem was a massive supply shortage, which ruined the initial release. There were also many flaws with both the software and the hardware. The product was released to compete with the new smartphones on the market, like the iPhone. However, the product never caught on. By the 2010s, Openmoko diminished in popularity.
Friendster
Forget about MySpace — Friendster was really the first big social media network. It came out in 2002, and it really caught on with a younger crowd. However, after a short period of time, other social media networks like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter displaced them from the industry. Believe it or not, the social network operated all the way until 2015. That means there were still some people who used Friendster in that year.
Nintendo Gameboy DSi XL
Truth be told, the Nintendo Gameboy DSi became insanely popular. The XL version is the problem here. Sure, this system is bigger than its predecessor. However, bigger does not mean better. Also, some users don't like carrying a larger Gameboy in their pocket. There were even some concerns about the battery life of this gadget. In the end, the XL was a sequel that gamers didn't really buy.
Wearable DVD Player
Wearable glasses never really became a popular thing in the 2000s, as in the case of the Eyetop Wearable DVD Player, which was released in 2004. It was promoted as a way to watch special programming with just your glasses. The only interesting feature about this wearable player was that it hooked up to your DVD player. That means you could put on a DVD and watch it through the glasses. However, the product failed miserably.
Smart Personal Objects Technology
Microsoft is on this list again and for a strong reason. It had some really bad products in the 2000s, like the Smart Personal Objects Technology, or SPOT as it was called. It launched in 2004 with the goal of making smart home appliances. It included everything from watches to coffeemakers and more. There were many reasons this technology failed: it had a subscription model, it used FM signals instead of WiFi, and it was really pricey.
Nexus One
The Nexus One came out in 2010, but for the sake of this list let's include it here. It was an Android smartphone that initially seemed really popular. However, there were some major flaws on this phone. It lacked many interesting features that are often found on other phones in the market. The media player was slow, and the data storage was outdated. In the end, this was an Android that was just really primitive.
Motorola ROKR E1
The Motorola ROKR E1 in 2005 was going to be a great phone with music playing capabilities. After all, it was connected directly to Apple iTunes so that users can add their songs to the phone. However, the technology on the phone was very bad. It took forever to add songs to the phone, and up to 100 songs could only be added at a time. In the end, the Motorola ROKR E1 was like an experiment gone wrong.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista launched in 2007, and it was an utter failure. The idea behind Windows Vista was good, but it was really slow and there were a lot of operating problems. It was so bad that many users opted to stay with Windows XP instead of going to Vista. Some hardcore PC fans loved Vista, but the rest of population don't want anything to do with it.
America Online
In the '90s, America Online — or simply AOL — was the largest internet provider in the United States. By the new millennium, it lost its dominance in the market. Its dial-up service couldn't compete with the faster broadband service provided by cable companies. The company had been bought and sold and rebranded several times that it ended up losing a lot of its credibility. AOL is now considered to be a relic of the old Internet from the '90s.
MySpace
During the early and mid-2000s, MySpace was the top social media website. Young people all across the United States and other parts of the world had profiles on the social media network. They seemed unstoppable, until Facebook came along in 2006. The rest is history. When Facebook became the dominant social media network, many users left MySpace. By the late 2000s, MySpace became a shell of its former self. Sure, the social media network is still around, but very few users are still active.
HD DVD
In the 2000s, it was clear that a new format would replace DVDs. Would it be Blu-ray or would it be the HD DVD? Toshiba endorsed the HD DVD. Although it made HD DVD players and had movies for it, Blu-ray was just far superior. HD DVD is now regarded as a relic of the 2000s. It was a nice idea when Toshiba came up with it, but it never really clicked on with audiences.
Rockbox
Rockbox is still around, but it is not that popular. Released in 2002, Rockbox is a software for digital audio players. It was hyped to be the next big thing to MP3 players, but users never really caught on. It has some nice features, and there is still a small audience of users. But that is the problem with this software -- the audience is very niche and it is not popular at all.
Gizmondo
Gizmondo was going to be the big gaming and entertainment mobile device of the 2000s, but it was a major fail. It sold less than 25,000 units because it was hugely unpopular. Some units even featured ads, which really ticked off users. In the gaming community, Gizmondo is considered to be one of the greatest flops of all time. It only lasted less than one year on the market for consumers. Many gamers never even played it.
Zune
The Zune is the epitome of failed technology in the 2000s. Microsoft wanted to compete with Apple in the portable media player market, however, it didn't work out. The Zune was really bad. There were some bugs and it never really had a big following like the iPod. It lasted just six years on the market. The poor quality of the design and the lackluster audio are what people remember of the Zune. On the other hand, it did make the iPod look way better.