Read on for the tech that died in 2023.

Google Glass Enterprise Edition

(Image: Google)

Among the tech merchandise laid to relaxation in 2023 was Google’s augmented actuality headset Google Glass Enterprise Edition, marking the ultimate nail within the coffin for Google’s visionary however ill-fated foray into AR glasses. First publicly introduced in 2012, Google Glass was meant to usher in a brand new period of wearable computing, giving folks working in agricultural, medical, and manufacturing unit settings a heads-up show that would offer them with data whereas protecting their fingers free. But the $1,500 price ticket, lack of clear performance, and privateness issues doomed the Explorer Edition amongst customers.

Google tried to revive Glass for companies in 2017 with the Enterprise Edition, offered for $999. The headset discovered area of interest adoption in fields like manufacturing and medication, the place hands-free computing was helpful. But in the end, Google Glass failed to realize mainstream success or change how we work together with expertise day-to-day.

Lenovo’s Legion Gaming Phone Business

(Image: Lenovo)

Rumours about Lenovo shutting down its telephone enterprise began flying in at first of the yr. Then in March, a Lenovo spokesperson confirmed to Android Authority that it certainly had been shut down. The spokesperson acknowledged that the choice stemmed from “a wider business transformation and gaming portfolio consolidation.”

It appears gaming telephones have struggled to carve out a definite area of interest as common flagship telephones have gotten higher and higher at offering nice gaming experiences even throughout lengthy play classes. Companies tried to draw patrons by means of gimmicks like cooling followers, RGB lighting and big quantities of RAM, however to no avail. Lenovo’s Legion gaming telephones have been well-reviewed units with top-tier specs, however in the end couldn’t compete with extra mainstream choices. The firm appears to be shifting focus to handheld gaming units as a substitute and unveiled the Lenovo Legion Go in September.

The gaming telephone market normally appears to be on shaky floor – Xiaomi’s Black Shark division has gone quiet after layoffs in January this yr, although manufacturers like ASUS proceed to see some success with their ROG Phone collection. While they arguably pushed the boundaries of cellular gaming, Lenovo’s Legion gaming telephones are one more piece of tech that didn’t pan out in 2023.

Amazon Halo Brand

(Image: Amazon)

Did you understand that Amazon had a line of health trackers? Probably not. So it didn’t come as a shock when Amazon determined to tug the plug on its Halo line of well being and health trackers in July 2023, marking the top of the corporate’s try to interrupt into the wearables market. Launched in 2020, Halo was Amazon’s play into the aggressive health monitoring area dominated by Apple, Fitbit and others. However, it failed to realize vital traction in opposition to entrenched rivals.

Halo had three merchandise: the Band, the View, and the Rise. The Band was a fundamental health tracker that launched in 2020. It had some controversial options, comparable to measuring physique fats with a 3D scan and analysing voice tone. The View was a smartwatch that got here out in 2021. And the Rise was a sleep tracker and alarm clock that launched just lately. The firm introduced that it could refund prospects who purchased a Halo gadget or accent within the final yr, cease charging for the Halo subscription, and delete all the information it had gathered.

Cortana on Windows

(Image: Microsoft)

After years of regularly scaling again help, Microsoft discontinued the standalone Cortana app in August 2023, redirecting customers to its new Bing Chatbot and AI Copilot options as a substitute. Cortana’s shutdown marks the top of Microsoft’s try and compete with Siri and Google Assistant within the voice assistant area.

Originally launched in 2014, Cortana was designed to supply hands-free voice management and predictive data on Windows units, much like the capabilities of Apple and Google’s assistants. It expanded to Android, iOS, and Xbox over the subsequent few years. However, Microsoft struggled to get customers enthusiastic about Cortana. Usage remained area of interest in comparison with the competitors. By 2021, Microsoft had already ended help for the iOS and Android apps, eliminated Cortana from the Windows taskbar and stripped out most third-party integrations. Its focus shifted to productiveness options moderately than basic help.

With new AI chatbots like Bing Chatbot and Copilot taking centre stage, Microsoft now not noticed a necessity for the standalone Cortana app. Its removing streamlines the Windows expertise whereas liberating up assets for Microsoft’s new AI priorities. For now, the unique Cortana lives on solely as an AI companion in Microsoft’s Halo videogame franchise.

Microsoft WordPad

(Express picture)

The humble textual content editor WordPad is lastly assembly its demise with Microsoft asserting it could now not replace the app and deprecate it with a future model of Windows. It was included without cost on Windows PCs for over 25 years. While by no means as feature-rich as Word, the no-frills WordPad allowed customers to compose paperwork, edit fonts and codecs, and save information as .doc, .rtf or .txt. For college students, workplace employees, and residential customers alike, WordPad struck a pleasant stability between succesful and uncomplicated.

But with Word and Notepad enhancing over time, Microsoft has determined WordPad’s time has handed. The app was already non-obligatory beginning in 2020 earlier than its looming removing from Windows was confirmed this September. Though it by no means had a big person base in comparison with Word, the soon-to-happen discontinuation of WordPad closes the ebook on an unassuming but succesful writing software many grew up utilizing. For these wanting extra formatting choices, Microsoft suggests its Office suite, whereas Notepad stays for fundamental textual content wants.

Omegle

(Image: Omegle)

The once-popular on-line chat platform Omegle introduced in November that it could be shutting down operations after over a decade of connecting strangers for random conversations. Omegle founder Leif Ok-Brooks cited monetary and psychological unsustainability as causes for closing the nameless chat web site. Since its launch in 2009, Omegle had grow to be a go-to vacation spot for these in search of random connections on-line. However, the platform more and more turned a goal for grooming and on-line abuse regardless of its unique harmless intentions. Short-form video app TikTok even banned sharing Omegle hyperlinks because of issues over youngster security on the platform.

While Omegle’s nameless nature allowed for constructive cultural exchanges and advice-seeking for some customers, the dearth of oversight made it tough to regulate misuse. After years of combating uphill battles, Omegle founder Ok-Brooks determined the platform may now not bear the assaults and shut it down.

Hyperloop One

(Image: Virgin)

Hyperloop One, the bold transportation startup aiming to develop a community of tunnels for levitating pods travelling at speeds as much as 760 mph, has ceased operations after practically a decade of labor. Despite elevating over $400 million in funding and demonstrating a working prototype, the corporate was in the end unable to safe any prospects for its futuristic imaginative and prescient of transportation. After layoffs in 2022 and the withdrawal of funding from Sir Richard Branson, Hyperloop One was merely unable to maintain itself financially. The firm’s property, together with its take a look at monitor in Las Vegas, will likely be liquidated as its story involves an finish on December 31, 2023.