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 is not instantly profitable. Stadia is a chief instance. In some instances, even the fanfare was by no means there — does anybody keep in mind Neighbourly? Most likely not, however you may need if Google had really put some cash and advertising and marketing behind it.

A number of extra merchandise had been added to the Google Graveyard in 2024. A couple of of those will be blamed on Google’s dangerous habits, however in different instances the corporate transitioned individuals over to new merchandise, whether or not they needed it or not. For instance, you may 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, had been its ties to Google, and pinboards being renamed to “keens.”

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

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2 Nest Safe

Leaving owners within the lurch

Whereas we’d chortle about among 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 House and the hub was bricked in April 2024, because it may not go browsing. Individuals who relied on Safe for defense had been pressured to take a alternative from ADT or else select a platform on their very own, like Arlo or Ring.

What’s complicated is that Google nonetheless presents Nest safety merchandise, specifically the Cam and Doorbell lineups. It could be that Safe simply wasn’t widespread sufficient to justify growth assets.

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3 Dropcam

Now that is product assist

Google

A constructive sensible dwelling story comes within the type of Dropcam. Whereas no new Dropcam merchandise have shipped since Google purchased the corporate in 2014, present cameras obtained assist till April 2024. When that deadline arrived, Google provided free Nest Cams to remaining homeowners. The transfer may not have glad everybody, nevertheless it was higher than having to change manufacturers, as occurred with Nest Safe.

Dropcam was initially based in 2009, so it is potential that some individuals had been utilizing its cameras for properly over a decade — earlier than 1080p was widespread, by no means thoughts sensible dwelling ecosystems like Google House.

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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 units, so 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 develop into the default for the lots, 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 presents the benefit of video assist however is not as handy for audio as some third-party apps.

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5 Chromecast

Adios, low-cost dongles

It is simple to neglect, 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 regulate that media, nevertheless it was definitely worth the trouble on condition that rivals just like the first-gen Apple TV value a number of instances as a lot. Chromecasts had been additionally transportable, letting customers change TVs on the fly.

The dongle’s underlying casting protocol has since develop into widespread throughout apps and units. In a way, Google hasn’t even killed the Chromecast lineup — it is simply that the Google TV Streamer would 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 further cloud storage, Google began together with a VPN (digital non-public community) service in October 2020. VPNs are primarily helpful for further safety, however may 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 know-how is baked into Google Pixel units, 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 common client wasn’t conscious of the Jamboard, however in contrast to Eager, Google anticipated that — the product was a 55-inch sensible 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 related whiteboards value. You had been additionally anticipated to make use of it with Google’s customized Jamboard software program. Even when Google had been much less flaky as an organization, organizations might not have been enthusiastic about paying for one thing so area of interest. The software program stopped engaged on New Yr’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 below the Bard title, not Gemini. I am nonetheless not completely positive why Google switched branding a yr later, for the reason that 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” might sound slightly sexier.

The excellent news is that Google appears firmly dedicated to Gemini. It is in all places, even highlighted in TV commercials for the Pixel 9. It ought to finally substitute Google Assistant, which remains to be discovered on some Android units, in addition to sensible audio system and shows.

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