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

A number of extra merchandise had been added to the Google Graveyard in 2024. A number of of those will be blamed on Google’s unhealthy habits, however in different circumstances the corporate transitioned folks over to new merchandise, whether or not they wished it or not. For instance, you may now be shopping for a Google TV Streamer as a substitute 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 recreation publishers have discovered with the glut of failed “stay service” video games, resembling 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 hassle to modify over, particularly should you do not market it.

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2 Nest Safe

Leaving owners within the lurch

Whereas we would giggle about among the issues Google kills off, this one had severe ramifications. Nest Safe was the corporate’s house 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 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 affords Nest safety merchandise, specifically the Cam and Doorbell lineups. It might be that Safe simply wasn’t well-liked sufficient to justify improvement sources.

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3 Dropcam

Now that is product help

Google

A constructive good house story comes within the type of Dropcam. Whereas no new Dropcam merchandise have shipped since Google purchased the corporate in 2014, current cameras obtained help till April 2024. When that deadline arrived, Google supplied free Nest Cams to remaining house owners. The transfer won’t have glad everybody, nevertheless it was higher than having to modify manufacturers, as occurred with Nest Safe.

Dropcam was initially based in 2009, so it is doable that some folks had been utilizing its cameras for nicely over a decade — earlier than 1080p was frequent, by no means thoughts good house 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, tens of millions of individuals do not use Apple gadgets, in order that they haven’t any cause to make use of Apple Podcasts (previously part of iTunes). In an alternate timeline, Google’s app may’ve turn into the default for the lots, particularly on Android telephones.

The corporate uncared for the app, failing to construct it into a strong (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 affords 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 cellphone or laptop to regulate that media, nevertheless it was well worth the trouble on condition that rivals just like the first-gen Apple TV price a number of instances as a lot. Chromecasts had been additionally transportable, letting customers swap TVs on the fly.

The dongle’s underlying casting protocol has since turn into widespread throughout apps and gadgets. 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 cause to subscribe to One

To boost Google One subscriptions past their additional cloud storage, Google began together with a VPN (digital personal 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 know-how is baked into Google Pixel gadgets, which for some customers could also be a cause to decide on them over different Android telephones.

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7 Jamboard

A expensive enterprise enterprise

Google

The typical client wasn’t conscious of the Jamboard, however not like Eager, Google anticipated that — the product was a 55-inch good whiteboard aimed on the enterprise market. You solely want a wise whiteboard should you’re a faculty or giant company, not should 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 nicely above what comparable whiteboards price. 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 could 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 selling?

Google

When Google first revealed its generative AI push in February 2023, it was underneath the Bard identify, not Gemini. I am nonetheless not fully certain why Google switched branding a 12 months later, for the reason that time period “bard” appears extra apt for one thing that may discuss to you and rewrite textual content. Bard’s output was even shakier than Gemini’s, although, and “Gemini” could sound a bit 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 exchange Google Assistant, which continues to be discovered on some Android gadgets, in addition to good audio system and shows.

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