That is each product Google killed in 2024

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 chief instance. In some circumstances, even the fanfare was by no means there — does anybody bear in mind Neighbourly? Most likely not, however you may need if Google had truly put some cash and advertising and marketing behind it.

A number of extra merchandise have been added to the Google Graveyard in 2024. A number of of those will be blamed on Google’s dangerous habits, however in different circumstances the corporate transitioned folks over to new merchandise, whether or not they wished it or not. For instance, you will now be shopping for a Google TV Streamer as an alternative of a Chromecast.

1 Eager

The Pinterest that by no means had an opportunity

Google

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, nonetheless, have been its ties to Google, and pinboards being renamed to “keens.”

The lesson is one which sport publishers have realized with the glut of failed “reside service” video games, equivalent to Harmony and Suicide Squad. In the event you launch a product that is no higher than what everyone seems to be already utilizing, nobody’s going to trouble to modify over, particularly when you do not advertise.

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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 critical 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 Residence and the hub was bricked in April 2024, because it may now not log on. Individuals who relied on Safe for cover have been pressured 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 could be that Safe simply wasn’t fashionable sufficient to justify improvement assets.

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3 Dropcam

Now that is product help

Google

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, present cameras acquired help till April 2024. When that deadline arrived, Google supplied free Nest Cams to remaining homeowners. The transfer won’t have happy everybody, however it 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 have been utilizing its cameras for properly over a decade — earlier than 1080p was widespread, by no means thoughts good dwelling ecosystems like Google Residence.

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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 gadgets, in order that they haven’t any purpose to make use of Apple Podcasts (previously part of iTunes). In an alternate timeline, Google’s app may’ve grow to be the default for the plenty, particularly on Android telephones.

The corporate uncared for the app, failing to construct it into a sturdy (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 overlook, 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 telephone or pc to manage that media, however it was well worth the problem on condition that rivals just like the first-gen Apple TV value a number of occasions as a lot. Chromecasts have been additionally transportable, letting customers change TVs on the fly.

The dongle’s underlying casting protocol has since grow to be widespread throughout apps and gadgets. 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 costlier. 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 additional cloud storage, Google began together with a VPN (digital non-public community) service in October 2020. VPNs are primarily helpful for additional safety, however will also be used to get round arbitrary regional boundaries, say if the US model of YouTube has one thing lacking in Canada.

Google put an finish to its VPN possibility in June 2024 — as a multiplatform providing, anyway. VPN expertise is baked into Google Pixel gadgets, which for some buyers could also be a purpose to decide on them over different Android telephones.

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7 Jamboard

A expensive enterprise enterprise

Google

The typical shopper wasn’t conscious of the Jamboard, however in contrast to Eager, Google anticipated that — the product was a 55-inch good whiteboard aimed on the enterprise market. You solely want a sensible whiteboard when you’re a college or giant company, not when you’re jotting down grocery and to-do lists.

The Jamboard was doomed for a few causes, starting with its $5,000 pricetag, which was properly above what comparable whiteboards value. You have been additionally anticipated to make use of it with Google’s customized Jamboard software program. Even when Google have been much less flaky as an organization, organizations could not have been enthusiastic about paying for one thing so area of interest. The software program stopped engaged on New 12 months’s Day 2025.

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8 Google Bard

A query of promoting?

Google

When Google first revealed its generative AI push in February 2023, it was underneath the Bard title, not Gemini. I am nonetheless not fully positive why Google switched branding a 12 months later, because the 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” could sound a little bit sexier.

The excellent news is that Google appears firmly dedicated to Gemini. It is in every single place, even highlighted in TV commercials for the Pixel 9. It ought to ultimately change Google Assistant, which remains to be discovered on some Android gadgets, in addition to good audio system and shows.

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