Not All Tech is Successful
Business Technology | February 15, 2012
In recent years iPads, smartphones, and Kindles have been some of the most in demand gadgets on the market. But not all tech is created equal. Companies can’t predict what will become popular, no matter how much they love it. Here are a few that never quite caught on.
Famous tech failures
- Apple TV: This device gives users the ability to purchase entertainment from iTunes then stream it to the device of their choice. Good idea? Most likely, if it wasn’t so limited to iTunes.
- Sony Mylo: Mylo came in under the radar that is why you may not remember it. It 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: The Segway PT scooter had a lot of media hype before its release. It was expected to be wildly successful, that it could even replace cars in metropolitan areas. However, people thought it made them look sort of silly so it never quite caught on. I suppose next to a flashy sports car there is no comparison.
The CueCat doesn’t purr
- CueCat: Shaped like a cat, the CueCat was a barcode reader introduced to the public in 1999. It permitted consumers to open a link to an Internet address by scanning a barcode on a product. The thought was that consumers would appreciate surfing to a website without having to enter in that site’s address. This theory proved flawed, and it wasn’t long before the CueCat’s maker, Digital Convergence Corporation, was out of business.
In recent years iPads, smartphones, and Kindles have been some of the most in demand gadgets on the market. But not all tech is created equal. Companies can’t predict what will become popular, no matter how much they love it. Here are a few that never quite caught on.
Famous tech failures
- Apple TV: This device gives users the ability to purchase entertainment from iTunes then stream it to the device of their choice. Good idea? Most likely, if it wasn’t so limited to iTunes.
- Sony Mylo: Mylo came in under the radar that is why you may not remember it. It 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: The Segway PT scooter had a lot of media hype before its release. It was expected to be wildly successful, that it could even replace cars in metropolitan areas. However, people thought it made them look sort of silly so it never quite caught on. I suppose next to a flashy sports car there is no comparison.
The CueCat doesn’t purr
- CueCat: Shaped like a cat, the CueCat was a barcode reader introduced to the public in 1999. It permitted consumers to open a link to an Internet address by scanning a barcode on a product. The thought was that consumers would appreciate surfing to a website without having to enter in that site’s address. This theory proved flawed, and it wasn’t long before the CueCat’s maker, Digital Convergence Corporation, was out of business.