By Bridget Carey
I can’t say the same for a lot of gadgets in our lives. Tech changes fast — products come and go. This is my annual round-up of the tech products that failed, flopped, or quietly lost funding this year. Some of it is a little sad, and some things… well, you’ll be glad to see them gone.
Let’s say goodbye to the tech that died in 2024.
Fossil Smartwatches
Fossil smartwatches are now smartwatch fossils. The watchmaker is officially out of the smartwatch game. Its last release was the Gen 6 running Wear OS.
And speaking of smartwatches — if you think Apple’s watch is unbeatable, think again. Apple can’t even track your breath anymore.
Apple’s Tough Year
- Blood Oxygen Sensor: Apple discontinued selling watches with this feature after losing a patent dispute.
- Apple Pay Later: Their Buy Now, Pay Later service was shut down less than a year after launching.
- iTunes: It’s (finally) over. Though it still technically exists for Windows 10/11, Apple now pushes users toward new apps in the Microsoft Store for syncing media (like Apple Music, the TV app, and Devices app).
- USB SuperDrive: Discontinued — another nail in the CD/DVD coffin.
Physical Discs Are Over
- Best Buy stopped selling movie discs.
- Redbox filed for bankruptcy and is shutting down 24,000 kiosks.
- And for a nostalgic gut punch — the ICQ Instant Messaging Service shut down after 27 years. RIP, early internet.
The Google Graveyard (2024 Edition)
As usual, Google shut down a slew of side apps:
- Google Pay (US) → transitioned to Google Wallet
- Google Podcasts → merged into YouTube Music
- Stack PDF Scanner → use Google Drive now
- Google One VPN → discontinued, no replacement
- Google Jamboard → digital and physical versions shutting down
- Chromecast (original) → officially ended after 11 years
Chromecast is being replaced by the new Google TV Streamer, a $100 device that essentially does the same thing… but now with a higher price tag.
Killed With Fire
Some tech met a quick and welcomed end.
- Meta’s AI Celebrity Chatbots: Remember the bots that looked like celebrities but had fake names? Yeah, they’re gone.
- Snapchat’s Pixie Drone: A flying camera recalled due to overheating batteries.
- Spotify’s CarThing: A $100 car music accessory that’s now useless e-waste. Refunds accepted until January 14.
Robot Farewells
Atlas the Robot
Boston Dynamics officially retired its hydraulic humanoid robot Atlas. After 11 years of backflips, lifts, and freaky moves, Atlas is bowing out… and being replaced by a new, even creepier electric version.
Moxie the Robot
Moxie was a friendly, cartoon-faced AI chatbot designed for kids. It launched in 2020 at $800. But when funding dried up, the cloud-connected robot lost its functionality. Parents were abruptly informed that Moxie might stop working any day.
It’s heartbreaking — especially since Moxie was more than a toy. It was a friend to many kids. As of now, the company is trying to find a way to keep it going into 2025.
Final Thoughts
If there’s another piece of tech that vanished in 2024 and we missed it here, feel free to pay your respects in the comments.
Thanks for sticking around — see you in the new year!