17 Forgotten Gadgets That Promised to ‘Change Everything’
Some gadgets arrive with hype so loud it feels like the future is knocking at your door. However, in many cases, the future quietly packed up and left without saying goodbye.
- Tricia Quitales
- 6 min read
Innovation has always been driven by bold ideas, but not every device that makes headlines stands the test of time. Many gadgets once hailed as revolutionary faded into obscurity shortly after their release. Whether due to poor execution, market timing, or just consumer disinterest, these inventions are now distant memories. Still, they played a role in shaping the tech landscape and sparked discussions that led to better, lasting innovations.
1. Google Glass
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Launched with a wave of excitement, Google Glass promised to redefine wearable tech. It allowed users to take photos, check notifications, and browse the web with a simple voice command. Despite its innovation, privacy concerns and a lack of compelling use cases led to its downfall. Eventually, it was pulled from the consumer market and rebranded for enterprise applications.
2. Segway PT
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Billed as a transportation revolution, the Segway was supposed to replace cars for short-distance travel. It had self-balancing technology and looked futuristic, but its steep price and awkward design kept it from going mainstream. Cities were not ready to adapt infrastructure for it, and laws limited where it could be used. Tourists loved it, but most consumers ignored it.
3. Amazon Fire Phone
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Amazon entered the smartphone market with high hopes and a heavily promoted Fire Phone. It had 3D visuals and deep integration with Amazon services, but the hardware and software failed to impress. The device lacked support from app developers and carried a premium price with few unique benefits. It was discontinued shortly after launch, marking a rare misstep for Amazon.
4. Sony PSP Go
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The PSP Go was a compact, download-only version of Sony’s PlayStation Portable. Sony aimed to move away from physical media, but the lack of a UMD drive alienated existing PSP users. Its high price, limited game availability, and smaller screen also received criticism. Many gamers preferred the original PSP for its versatility. Despite being ahead of its time, the PSP Go never gained traction.
5. Microsoft Zune
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Microsoft hoped the Zune would rival the iPod, and on paper, it had potential. The interface was sleek, and the subscription model was ahead of its time. However, Apple’s dominance and the Zune’s late entry into the market sealed its fate. It lacked the brand loyalty and ecosystem Apple had already built. Eventually, Microsoft shifted its focus to streaming and software.
6. Palm Foleo
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The Palm Foleo was introduced as a companion device to smartphones, offering a larger screen and keyboard for email and documents. It was essentially a netbook before netbooks became a trend. However, critics questioned its necessity, and it didn’t offer full computing capabilities. The timing was poor, and Palm canceled the device before it even launched. It remains one of tech’s shortest-lived products.
7. Apple Newton
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The Apple Newton was one of the first personal digital assistants, released in the early 1990s. It introduced handwriting recognition and mobile computing well before smartphones existed. Unfortunately, its technology was not fully polished, leading to frequent input errors. The high price and limited software support hurt adoption. Apple eventually discontinued it, though many ideas resurfaced later in iPhones and iPads.
8. HD DVD
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HD DVD was Toshiba’s answer to Sony’s Blu-ray in the battle for high-definition media. While it had backing from several studios and offered similar quality, Blu-ray gained more industry support. The format war confused consumers, and retailers began dropping HD DVD titles. Once Warner Bros. switched to Blu-ray, the format’s fate was sealed. HD DVD was discontinued in 2008.
9. Nintendo Virtual Boy
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Touted as the future of gaming, the Virtual Boy introduced 3D visuals to console gaming. However, its red-and-black graphics and awkward design led to headaches and eye strain for many users. It lacked a strong game lineup and was uncomfortable to use for long periods. Nintendo quickly realized the device was a failure. It was discontinued within a year of release.
10. Juicero
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Juicero was a high-tech juicer that required proprietary juice packs and came with a price tag over $400. The company claimed the device used precise pressure to extract juice, but a scandal erupted when users found they could squeeze the packs by hand. The revelation undermined the product’s core value and became a viral example of tech overengineering. Investors lost confidence, and the company shut down. It became a cautionary tale in Silicon Valley.
11. LG G Flex
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The LG G Flex featured a curved screen and a self-healing back cover, aiming to introduce a flexible smartphone design. While the tech was innovative, the curve did not add much functional benefit. Critics noted its large size and lack of practical use for the curved design. Sales were weak, and consumer interest quickly faded. LG continued experimenting but eventually dropped the concept.
12. Microsoft Kin
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The Kin was Microsoft’s attempt at a social media-focused phone for teens. Released in 2010, it had a custom interface and focused on sharing photos and status updates. However, it lacked basic smartphone features like apps and email, which made it less functional. Carriers priced it like a smartphone despite its limitations. Poor reviews and sales led to its discontinuation just weeks after launch.
13. Flip Video Camera
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Before smartphones had strong cameras, the Flip was a simple handheld camcorder for quick videos. It was compact, affordable, and easy to use, which made it popular at first. However, as phone cameras rapidly improved, the Flip became unnecessary. Cisco, which acquired the company, shut it down shortly afterward. It had a brief moment of fame but was quickly overshadowed.
14. Pebble Smartwatch
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Pebble was one of the first smartwatches to gain traction, thanks to its successful Kickstarter campaign. It had a long battery life and simple interface, appealing to early adopters. But as Apple and Samsung entered the space with advanced features, Pebble couldn’t keep up. Financial issues plagued the company, and it was eventually acquired and shut down. Pebble’s legacy still lives on in how it shaped wearable tech.
15. Nokia N-Gage
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Nokia aimed to combine a phone and a gaming console with the N-Gage. The concept was ambitious, but the execution fell short with a bulky design and awkward controls. Game cartridges were difficult to insert, and it lacked major game developer support. Users also disliked its “side-talking” phone feature. It struggled in both markets and was discontinued after a brief run.
16. Sony Rolly
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The Sony Rolly was a music player that danced to the beat of the songs it played. Its robotic movement and LED lights were fun but had limited usefulness. It was expensive and didn’t function well as a traditional music player. Users found it entertaining but not practical. It was quietly discontinued and is now considered a curious footnote in tech history.
17. LeapFrog LeapBand
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Designed to be a fitness tracker for kids, the LeapBand combined activity tracking with gamified challenges. It aimed to encourage physical play while tying in educational content. However, kids quickly lost interest, and parents found it lacked longevity. The device also suffered from limited updates and battery issues. It disappeared from shelves as other wearables advanced.