Google is arguably the second biggest tech company in the world after Apple but as with many great entities, they have had their share of failed products. Yes you read right! From the list below which was originally compiled by EFYtimes Network, you’ll see he Google products that attemted to make it through the market but failed. Some you might remember and others you may not remember.
Google Answers
Google started this project back in 2002. Users could post questions that they want others to answer. The service was paid, you had to pay somewhere between $2 to $200 to get the answer, The most popular question asked by users was, ‘What is the meaning of life?’ The service was shut down in 2006.
2. Google Catalog Search
Google Catalog search had listing of thousands of online catalogs. You could use these catalogs to shop online. The service was closed down in 2009. It was basically a digital form of thousands of paper catalogues. Google shut it down as it failed to gain popularity.
3. Google Web Accelerator
Google Web Accelerator was designed to reduce the site access time. Users could remotely load the site on client’s computer. However, it prevented YouTube videos from playing. Google stopped the support for Google Web Accelerator in 2008. The app is still available to download.
4. Google Video
Google Video was Google’s YouTube rival service. Google video was subsidiary search engine for videos. When Google acquired YouTube, Google Video was replaced by YouTube.
5. iGoogle
iGoogle was customized version of homepage, the service allowed users to select quotes, images and other widgets for display. iGoogle was disappointment for fans. The service was discontinued in 2013 when it was replaced by Google+.
6. Google Reader
Google Reader was the most popular RSS reader software out there. Reader was most preferred service by media people, content writers and data researchers. However the service was shut down in 2013 due to declined usage.
7. Dodgeball
Dodgeball is similar service to Foursquare. Google acquired the company in 2005. The location-based social networking mobile app service was closed down when Google introduced Google Latitude.
8. Google Notebook
Google Notebook is browser based application that allows users to cut and paste bits of text in personal notebook. It was very useful tool in research context. Google ceased the development of Notebook in 2009 and finally discontinued the product in 2011. The project was replaced by Google Keep in 2013.
9. Google Page Creator
Google Page create was basic webpage creation tool which was introduced in 2006. The web tool was replaced by Google Sites in 2008.
10. Jaiku
Google acquired Jaiku, microblogging site in 2007. It was named as Jaiku because the brief posts resembled haikus. This product by Google failed as it didn’t make any significant impact and hence, it was closed down in 2012.
I am Martin Odinuwe, a logo identity designer, Graphic designer, Video editor and a professional videographer based in Abuja, Nigeria with over five years experience. I am currently a consultant with Reachout Multiservice company ltd a multimedia company in Abuja
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
