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 first-rate instance. In some instances, even the fanfare was by no means there — does anybody keep in mind Neighbourly? Most likely not, however you might need if Google had truly put some cash and advertising and marketing behind it.

A number of extra merchandise had been added to the Google Graveyard in 2024. Just a few of those could be blamed on Google’s unhealthy habits, however in different instances the corporate transitioned folks 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 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 sport publishers have discovered with the glut of failed “dwell service” video games, akin to Harmony and Suicide Squad. For those who launch a product that is no higher than what everyone seems to be already utilizing, nobody’s going to trouble to change over, particularly for those who do not put it up for sale.

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2 Nest Safe

Leaving owners within the lurch

Whereas we’d chortle about a number of the issues Google kills off, this one had critical ramifications. Nest Safe was the corporate’s residence 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 might now not go browsing. Individuals who trusted 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 gives Nest safety merchandise, particularly the Cam and Doorbell lineups. It might be that Safe simply wasn’t widespread sufficient to justify growth sources.

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3 Dropcam

Now that is product help

Google

A optimistic sensible residence story comes within the type of Dropcam. Whereas no new Dropcam merchandise have shipped since Google purchased the corporate in 2014, current cameras acquired help till April 2024. When that deadline arrived, Google provided free Nest Cams to remaining house owners. The transfer may not have glad everybody, however it was higher than having to change 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 effectively over a decade — earlier than 1080p was widespread, by no means thoughts sensible residence 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 have no cause to make use of Apple Podcasts (previously part of iTunes). In an alternate timeline, Google’s app might’ve turn out to be the default for the plenty, particularly on Android telephones.

The corporate uncared for the app, failing to construct it into a strong (and even absolutely unbiased) 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 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 manage that media, however it was definitely worth the problem provided that rivals just like the first-gen Apple TV price a number of occasions as a lot. Chromecasts had been additionally transportable, letting customers swap TVs on the fly.

The dongle’s underlying casting protocol has since turn out 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 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 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 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 cause 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 sensible whiteboard aimed on the enterprise market. You solely want a sensible whiteboard for those who’re a faculty or giant company, not for those who’re jotting down grocery and to-do lists.

The Jamboard was doomed for a few causes, starting with its $5,000 pricetag, which was effectively above what related 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 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 selling?

Google

When Google first revealed its generative AI push in February 2023, it was beneath the Bard identify, not Gemini. I am nonetheless not fully certain 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” might sound a bit of 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 ultimately change Google Assistant, which continues to be discovered on some Android gadgets, in addition to sensible audio system and shows.

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