TechnologyProducts

We Lost in 2014

MSN Messenger

MSN Messenger debuted on July 22nd 1999 and was marketed under the MSN brand until 2005 where it was rebranded as Windows Live Messenger. With Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype Technologies in 2011, Windows Live Messenger was discontinued in the US in 2013, but remained active in China until October 31st, 2014.

Apple iPod (Classic)

The iPod is arguably Apple’s driving force behind why they are such a major player in the tech-industry today. Although the iPod Touch is still available for purchase, the infamous click-wheel is no longer to be seen. You can also credit the iPod for pioneering the digital ecosystems we interact with every day from Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

Windows XP

Windows XP debuted on October 25th, 2001. Some argue that Windows XP is the “definitive” Windows experience (hence XP); however, on April 8th, 2014 Microsoft ended extended support for the operating-system. Unfortunately, this hasn’t incentivized anyone to upgrade, as Windows 7 didn’t overtake XP market share until the end of 2011.

XBOX Entertainment Studios

Microsoft unveiled it’s newest Video Game Console, Xbox One, at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The idea was that Xbox One would eventually replace your Cable TV by offering “interactive television content”. Xbox Entertainment Studios was created in 2012 to help create and distribute the content, but it closed it’s doors in 2014 after several key-figures departed the company. The company still plans to release their Halo spin-off series in 2015, but halted any further production on other projects.

Macworld Magazine

Although still digitally distributed, the “hard-cover” print magazine that covered all things Apple for decades (1984-2014) reached its final production in September 2014. It was the oldest Macintosh magazine still in publication at the time it ended production. Some speculate that the date of the announcement was symbolic towards Apple’s vision for the future of publication as it was announced around the same time as Apple’s iPhone 6.

Nokia X (Android-based)

When Satya Nadella came in as CEO of Microsoft, he brought a wide-range of rapid changes with him. Included in an internal memo that explained massive company-wide layoffs was news that Nadella “plan(s) to shift select Nokia X product designs to become Lumia products running Windows” in the future. Still, this leaves many Nokia loyalists unconvinced that Microsoft will continue the same craftsmanship on the hardware they have come to respect and love from the company.

Facebook (Poke App)

Word is (through the Silicon Valley grapevine) that if Facebook can’t acquire you, it will copy you.

You see this approach through the launch of certain Facebook apps like Messenger; but most

recently Facebook tried to acquire SnapChat, which rebuffed their $3 billion offer, and instead

created “Poke”, Facebook’s own ephemeral message app. Months later, Facebook ditched “Poke”

and SnapChat has landed a new investment valuing the company around $10 billion.

Orkut

Otherwise known as Google’s first-attempt at a social network, Orkut never gained ground in the

United States (as Facebook remained the most-popular social network at the time) but it did have

immense popularity in Brazil in 2010. This popularity only faded however as Facebook added Brazil

to it’s list of supported countries in 2011. Google decided to shut down the network in 2014 to

focus on it’s Google+ platform, but only time will tell if Google+ will suffer a similar fate.