2023 was a remarkable year in terms of technological advancements. As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on the technological landscape and acknowledge the innovations that have shaped our digital experience. In 2023, we witnessed the arrival of Apple’s much-anticipated Vision Pro XR headset and the advent of ChatGPT and other generative AI models.
But even as we acknowledge and appreciate our progress, it’s crucial to take a moment to consider the technology that died in 2023. We look forward to the innovations that will emerge in the coming year and change our future in ways we never could have imagined.
Remembering All Tech We Said Goodbye To In 2023
From devices that have reached the end of their lifecycle to software that evolved into more sophisticated versions, we have curated a list of almost all the important technology that died in 2023.
Join us as we look back into the technological graveyard of 2023!
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WordPad — (1995-2023)
WordPad is a text-editing software that has been a fixture of Windows since its inception in the year 1995. The text-editing software i.e WordPad found a good mix of functionality and ease of use for home users, office professionals, and students. Although WordPad has proven a reliable tool for simple text editing tasks, it is not as feature-rich as Microsoft Word. Hence, Microsoft decided to discontinue the WordPad app.
Although the exact date of WordPad’s discontinuation is unknown, it is most likely to be phased out in upcoming Windows versions, more precisely with Windows 12, which is expected to launch in 2024. Additionally, Microsoft stated that WordPad will no longer get updates and will be eliminated in a later version of Windows.
Google Stadia — (2019-2023)
Google’s Cloud gaming platform Stadia is no longer available and was trashed in January 2023. Similar to other cloud gaming services, Google Stadia allows you to play your favourite games without a console. Alternatively, you may stream games while on the road using your Pixel 3 or 3a smartphone, your TV, desktop, or laptop.
As a consumer cloud gaming service, Google essentially gave up on Stadia because it never attracted a user base big enough to support it in the fight against more established gaming genres. Additionally, throughout its two-year existence, Microsoft aggressively entered the market with Xbox Cloud Gaming, while competitors like Nvidia GeForce Now focused primarily on PC gamers. Google Stadia is on our list of technology that died in 2023 because of its poor subscription adoption.
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Grasshopper — (2017-2023)
A JavaScript coding tutorial software called Grasshopper was created by Google. The software, which is compatible with both iOS and Android, sought to educate through short, bite-sized coding courses that increased in difficulty. It is a big example of the technology that died in 2023 for Javascript learners.
Google shut down Grasshopper in June 2023 when it started facing several challenges. At the time of its release, the app had more than 1.6 million installs. Despite its popularity, the app had some drawbacks, including the fact that it only taught JavaScript and was therefore out of step with Google’s strategic objectives. It also faced competition from other apps, such as Khan Academy and Code Academy that offer more options to choose from.
Omegle — (2009-2023)
Omegle, founded in 2009, gained rapid popularity as a platform randomly pairing users for conversations. It allowed users to quickly shift from one conversation to another, becoming a favourite for those seeking connections with strangers online. The app faced criticism for its role in facilitating online abuse and grooming especially during the pandemic. Concerns over inappropriate behaviour, particularly involving children, led to TikTok banning Omegle links.
Leif K-Brooks, the founder announced Omegle’s closure on November 8, 2023, citing financial and psychological unsustainability. The platform had become a target for misuse, rendering it unable to effectively combat issues like online abuse and grooming. Despite its positive aspects, Omegle’s inability to manage harmful activities contributed to its discontinuation.
Google Glass — (2013-2015, 2017-2023)
Google Glass is a must-product when we are talking about technology that died in 2023. When Google Glass was first released in 2013, it was intended to bring in a new era of wearable computing by providing heads-up displays to workers in manufacturing, medical, and agricultural settings so they could see information while freeing up their hands. Numerous pieces of information, including emails, text messages, weather forecasts, and navigational directions, were accessible through this display.
The main reason for the failure of Google Glass was its inability to look cool and modern. Additionally, the launch of Apple’s XR Headset is believed to be the biggest competitor of Google Glass providing more advanced features. Its high price, niche, and specific community of users, and concerns about privacy and safety also contributed to its failure.
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Amazon Halo — (2020-2023)
Amazon launched the Halo brand around three years ago, unveiling products like the minimalistic Halo Band, the fitness-oriented Halo View, and the innovative Halo Rise smart lamp. These devices offered various health and wellness features, including the unique ability to generate 3D images for body fat measurement and monitor user tone during conversations. However, despite these capabilities, the brand faced challenges such as stiff competition in the health tech market and an unpredictable economic climate.
These gadgets didn’t have sophisticated health and wellness features like the Fitbit and Apple Watch; instead, they were basic copies of other fitness trackers available on the market. Not a surprise, this ultimately led to the discontinuation of all three devices and a cessation of their functionality completely.
Cortana Windows — (2014-2023)
On Windows 11, Cortana ran into issues that finally caused it to be discontinued. Although it had some excellent features, such as adaptive learning and extensive device management, several important problems led to its failure. First, in terms of accuracy, it was behind rivals like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Furthermore, Cortana’s user interface was deemed inadequate, devoid of the attractiveness and practicality observed in its competitors.
Another issue was the limited integration with third-party services, a crucial aspect of the competitive digital assistant landscape. Unlike rivals that seamlessly worked with a variety of external applications and devices, Cortana fell short in this regard.
Cortana had several good features despite its shortcomings, such as its capacity to pick up on user preferences over time and adjust accordingly. By being able to access and manage a variety of services and devices, such as Windows PCs, Xbox consoles, and smart home appliances, it also showed its adaptability. Despite having integrated deep into the Microsoft ecosystem, Cortana was unable to get beyond the major challenges that eventually forced Cortana to stop working with Windows 11 in the year 2023.
Netflix Password Sharing — (2021-2023)
Netflix made a deliberate decision to modify its password-sharing policy in 2022 after experiencing a difficult year that resulted in a significant decline in its subscriber base. In the past, the company took a narrow approach, viewing password sharing as a way to use unofficial channels to promote its streaming service to a larger audience. But Netflix had to reevaluate its approach after losing 200,000 customers in the first quarter and nearly a million in the second. Hence, in July 2023, Netflix announced its decision to discontinue the option of Password Sharing with other users.
There were consequences to the decision to limit password sharing. Market analysis indicated that Netflix lost one million Spanish customers in the quarter of 2023—three times the average rate. The company’s efforts to impose harsher regulations on password sharing were directly linked to this notable decline in users. When the crackdown was revealed, users responded negatively, which executives referred to as a “cancel reaction.”
So, let’s bid farewell to the technology that died in 2023 and welcome a fresh chapter of opportunity. Every farewell in the IT business is guaranteed to bring exciting new developments because of the industry’s continual progress. Thus, as 2023 draws to a close, we look forward to the revolutionary technologies that will continue to prosper our digital future.
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