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What Are The Biggest Tech Product Failures of All Time?
What are the biggest tech product failures of all time?
From the Samsung S7 and Note 7 to Mobile ESPN, here are answers to the questions, “What are some of the biggest tech product failures of all time, and what can we learn for the future?”
- Samsung S7 and Note 7
- iPod HiFi
- Microsoft’s Zune
- Google Glass
- Segway
- Windows Phone
- Amazon Fire Phone
- The Mini Cd
- The Apple Newton
- Theranos
- Napster
- Samsung Fold
- Solyndra
- Nike’s Magneto Sunglasses
- Netscape
- Mobile ESPN
Samsung S7 and Note 7
One of the biggest tech failures is the Samsung S7 and Note 7 explosion. The reason I thought it was a failure is that we could have avoided it.
Putting in a big battery in a slim phone doesn’t work. I am sure one of their design experts told them that, but they refused to listen. That’s why, as a consumer, I would never buy another Samsung phone because a mistake like this happens only once.
However, for Samsung, both the Samsung S7 and Note 7 exploded and hurt people. That is just plain foolishness on their part.
Jimmy Clare, Motivational Speaker, Autism Advocate, and Founder, CrazyFitnessGuy
iPod HiFi
I remember the iPod HiFi vividly as I saw it on television and in stores for years. Unfortunately for Apple, this product didn’t receive the same iconic status as its iPod predecessors.
They were overly ambitious, with a device that competed with expensive home sound systems costing hundreds of dollars while retailing at the steep price of $349 USD. It ended up being one of the biggest tech product failures, failing to make an impact in both the tech sector and music industry.
Antreas Koutis, Administrative Manager, Financer
Microsoft’s Zune
The Zune was Microsoft’s answer to the iPod. It didn’t land.
The iPod changed the game, and then it dominated the game. It hoarded everything. Apple went away for a while because of Microsoft. PCs virtually wiped the Mac off the map. It’s interesting how Apple made its comeback by creating a digital gadget that made it impossible for even a giant like Microsoft to introduce its own music player.
However, it was dead upon release. It’s one of the great ironies in business history. I don’t know anyone who ever owned a Zune—or even owned up to owning a Zune.
Brittany Dolin, Co-Founder, Pocketbook Agency
Google Glass
Google Glass was the first major product failure for Google. This product was simply too expensive, and there weren’t enough apps available to make it useful. They were a major flop, and Google had to take a significant loss on them.
The biggest takeaway from this product failure is that it’s important to keep an open mind with new technology. Google Glass was a new concept that didn’t catch on immediately. But now there’s a lot of interest in AR glasses, and Google is working on a new version called Google Glass Enterprise Edition.
Matthew Ramirez, CEO, Rephrasely
Segway
I think a notable failure in the tech industry is the Segway. It was supposed to revolutionize transportation, but it ended up being a major flop. The Segway was bulky, expensive, and difficult to use, and it failed to gain enough traction in the market to make it successful.
This is a lesson in how even the most promising products can fail if they don’t meet consumer needs. It shows us it’s not just about having a great idea, but also about understanding what people actually want and need.
Shaun Connell, Founder, Writing Tips Institute
Windows Phone
These days, smartphones are among the most widely used electronic devices. Because of the vast array of capabilities they afford, we frequently resort to their utilization. They have become a “hotbed” for the most significant technology failures of the recent decade, which is unfortunate.
Some of the more extreme examples we’ve found are: Microsoft’s Windows 10 mobile, often known as the Windows Phone, managed to “survive” for quite some time before being discontinued in 2017. They had some success with the Lumia line of phones, and the Windows Mobile platform was an excellent idea, but the firm had a hard time convincing people to switch from iOS and the ever-popular Android.
Samantha Odo, Real Estate Expert and Chief Operating Officer, Precondo
Amazon Fire Phone
Amazon heavily marketed the phone as a revolutionary device, with features such as 3D graphics and a new way to interact with the phone using a dynamic perspective. However, these features failed to impress consumers and were not considered useful or practical.
It also has a limited app selection compared to other popular smartphones, making it less attractive to consumers. Additionally, Amazon’s lack of a powerful presence in the mobile phone market and limited distribution channels made it difficult for the company to compete with established players such as Apple and Samsung.
The lesson that can be learned from this is that it is important to provide a strong value proposition to the consumer. It is also essential to have a good understanding of the target market, market trends, and what the consumers are looking for in a product.
Johannes Larsson, Founder and CEO, Johannes Larsson
The Mini CD
The 90s were an era where many useless tech products were released, but the mini CD stands out. Who thought this was a good idea?
Smaller isn’t always better, especially when the original product works just fine. No one wants to have to go out and purchase new hardware to use essentially the same tech. The other issue is that the mini CD (ridiculously) cost more. The lessons to learn are that smaller doesn’t always mean better, and customers are wary of paying more for, well, less.
Simon Bacher, CEO and Co-Founder, Ling App
The Apple Newton
The Apple Newton is undoubtedly the worst tech product ever. It was a highly ambitious project that promised to revolutionize personal computing, but its clunky design, faulty handwriting recognition, and high cost meant it never achieved its potential.
But what the Newton teaches us is that even with innovative ideas and talented teams of engineers, if you don’t consider things like user experience, pricing, and market demand, your product will probably fail in a big way. Therefore, it’s so important for tech companies to not just focus on innovation but also on creating products that are fit for purpose and meet customer needs.
The takeaway from this is to make sure your products are easy to use, affordable, and tailored to the needs of the target market. That way, you can avoid costly mistakes like the Apple Newton and ensure your product has a better chance of success.
Tiffany Homan, COO, Texas Divorce Laws
Theranos
Pop culture has made Theranos one of the most recognizable tech failures of all time. While the brilliant idea initially attracted investors legitimately, when the technology would not reach their initial expectations, the CEO and other key actors started staging lab results so they wouldn’t lose their funding.
I believe the creators thought that more funding and research would eventually lead to the breakthrough they needed, but unfortunately, they let investors unwittingly gamble their money away. Not every great tech idea will be a winner, but Theranos is an obvious example of the need for full accountability and transparency in innovation and development processes.
Jack Underwood, CEO and Co-Founder, Circuit
Napster
Something else would have undoubtedly popularized internet file sharing if it hadn’t been for Napster, but credit where credit is due.
Napster’s stratospheric rise as the world’s de facto peer-to-peer Internet client around the turn of the century sped the transition from compact discs to ethereal digital melodies. Less well-known is how the service set the stage for the widespread adoption of some critical technical blueprints for the Internet’s middle ages. And the tale of its brash young creator, Shawn Fanning affected the careers of a slew of subsequent company leaders.
Napster’s greatest strength, unrestricted exchange of everything, including copyright-infringing music and albums, became its Achilles’ heel, compelling it to transition to a subscription-based model that eventually drove it bankrupt.
Brian Clark, Founder, United Medical Education
Samsung Fold
Samsung built the Galaxy Fold on the incredibly cool idea of a phone that can fold to fit in your pocket, but it ended up being a bust. More than half of the units sent to reviewers before the release broke because Samsung failed to mention that leaving the screen protector on was a must.
After reworking and improving the design, Samsung eventually released a new version of the Fold, but it’s proven difficult to recover after alienating so many thought leaders in the industry.
The biggest lesson is to wait to reveal tech until it’s ready. If you send out review units with major design flaws to the people who will arguably make or break your product sales, you’re setting your brand up for failure. Getting those influential early adopters on board early makes all the difference.
Maximilian Wühr, CGO and Co-Founder, FINN
Solyndra
The failure of Solyndra, a silicon-based solar panel manufacturer, serves as a cautionary tale for tech companies. Despite having a promising product and significant investment, the company failed to adjust its strategy to changing market conditions and eventually filed for bankruptcy.
To avoid a similar fate, companies should thoroughly research the market and understand their competition before launching a product. Having a solid and flexible business strategy is key to success, as market conditions can change unexpectedly. Solyndra’s failure highlights the importance of careful planning and a willingness to adapt.
Dilruba Erkan, Consultant, Character Calculator
Nike’s Magneto Sunglasses
Nike introduced a line of sunglasses called Magneto that flopped. Since athletes often complain that sweat causes their sunglasses to slip, Nike’s sunglasses came with the request that users glue magnets to their temples.
In short, the public opted out. The lesson here is that more often than not, a product that asks something of the consumer in order for said product to work will probably fail. Think about what you offer, not how you and the consumer can create something together. That’s not a wise sales method.
Kenneth Lin, CEO, BOOP Bakery
Netscape
The browser wars were a major tech story of the 1990s, with Netscape and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer duking it out for market control. Netscape, founded in 1994, won early users with its sleek design and useful features like tabbed browsing. But by 1998, Microsoft had released a version of IE that was now bundled with Windows, and Netscape’s market share had plummeted to around 20%.
Netscape’s parent company, AOL, eventually sold the browser to Mozilla in 2003, and they officially phased it out the following year. Microsoft’s IE survived until 2015, when a new version of Edge replaced it.
From this tech failure, we can learn that innovation is essential and that staying on top of consumer trends can make or break a product. Companies must also remain agile to keep up with the ever-changing tech landscape to stay ahead of the competition.
Gary Gray, CFO, Coupon Chief
Mobile ESPN
According to a famous book written about the goings-on at the World Wide Sports Leader, the president at ESPN got to meet Steve Jobs in 2006, at which time Jobs said to him, “Your phone is the dumbest (expletive) idea I have ever heard.” He was referring to Mobile ESPN, which still goes down as the most expensive failure in ESPN history.
Before the iPhone was invented, and while flip phones were cutting-edge technology, ESPN tried to revolutionize mobile service by introducing a phone that gave fans up-to-the-second sports updates. Users had to buy a clunky phone and weren’t going to shell out $100 per month on top of the cost of the phone just to have a device that gave them baseball scores.
It was a sign to the market that people wanted to use phones for more than sports. However, when smartphones were introduced to the world, ESPN was ready because they had a digital foundation already in place.
Juan Pablo Cappello, Co-Founder and CEO, Nue Life
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