In 2013, one of Internet users’ darlings Google Reader was shut down, making niche users to understand that things they love to use can be axed any time. True to that, in 2014 a lot of products were giving the axe but hopefully these products are those that everyone of us have outgrown. Here’s a list of some of those products.
1. Orkut
Before Google+, there was Facebook; and before Facebook there was Orkut. Orkut was a social network way which started 2 years before Facebook. On September 30, 2014, Orkut was shut down. In a blog post, Google stated that “Over the past decade, YouTube, Blogger and Google+ have taken off, with communities springing up in every corner of the world. Because the growth of these communities has outpaced Orkut’s growth, we’ve decided to bid Orkut farewell”
Farewell, Orkut.
2. MSN Messenger
After 15 years of existence, Microsoft finally put to rest on October 31 its old school chat service, Windows Live Messenger, better known as MSN Messenger.
Although the company announced its intentions back in 2012, the old messaging service lingered on in China until 2014 when Microsoft put the final nail in the app’s coffin. The Messenger gave way to Skype which Microsoft acquired in 2011.
3. Windows XP
Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system which was launched in 2011 was still the most widely used OS as of August 2012 before Windows 7 took over the lead. It maintained that 11 year lead despite being succeeded by Windows Vista in 2007 and Windows 7 in 2009. On April 8, 2014 monthly security updates, free technical support, warranty claims, design changes and extended support for the Windows XP were stopped, 12 years after its launch.
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of which 95% worldwide use Windows XP will continue to receive support as they run on an embedded version which will continue to receive support till January 2016.
4. iPod Classic
In 2001, Apple was able to release one of its earliest hits -the iPod classic. This device whose storage space ranges from 5GB to the recent 160GB was an exceptional, exquisite piece which could last for up to 30 hours of runtime.
On September 9, 2014, Apple discontinued the iPod Classic, making the sixth generation 160GB iPod Classic the last Apple product in the iPod line to use the original 30-pin iPod connector and the Click Wheel.
In a statement, chief executive officer of Apple, Tim Cook explained that, “The company no longer has access to the makings and redesign using other parts was impractical.”
The iPod Classic is being seeing as the device that saved Apple from ruin so many years ago.
5. Flappy Bird
Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen brought to life an addictive game called Flappy Bird back in May 2013. The game is a side-scroller where the player controls a bird, attempting to fly between rows of green pipes without coming into contact with them. After the game went viral in 2014, Dong Nguyen got overwhelmed by the popularity of the game and in a tweet announced he was taking the game down.
Flappy Bird was removed from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play on February 10, 2014. The game was so popular that it was reportedly bringing in $50,000 per day from in-game ads. Nguyen later backtracked on his position and released Flappy Bird Family for Android on the Amazon app store but it never got anywhere as popular.
6. Nokia Devices
After Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia in 2013 for $7 billion, Microsoft announced that it was going to replace the Nokia brand name with its own name and the devices will now be Microsoft Lumia. The parts of Nokia that were not bought by Microsoft will continue to use the name. Also, Nokia could continue to use its brand name on feature (dumb) phones.
Nokia has also gotten into licensing its brand name to third-party manufacturers. The first of this venture is the Nokia N1 tablet by Foxconn.
Everybody who has used mobile in the beginning of the century sure has a soft spot for the manufacturers that shaped the earlier phones. Goodbye Nokia phones.
