We’ve come once more to the top of one other yr, and one other twelve months of some fairly spectacular tech. We noticed Apple launch the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors. Phison launched a brand new PCIe controller enabling ridiculously quick SSDs just like the Corsair MP600 Pro XT, and Intel finally struck back towards AMD’s surging Ryzen processors.
But amid all of the highlights, 2021 additionally gave us some unhappy goodbyes. Some had been storied merchandise beloved by many, whereas others had been failed experiments, or gadgets that we barely knew had been there.
Here’s our have a look at The Tech We Lost, 2021 Edition.
Google’s graveyard
When it involves ruthlessly chopping extra merchandise no firm can match Google. There weren’t any massive surprises this yr, however Google did snuff out just a few issues. The firm dumped text message forwarding for Google Voice, although this one was extra the fault of the carriers than Google, as they began blocking messages from being forwarded. The Google Home Max was retired in late 2020 (aka nearly 2021), and Plex, a mobile-first checking account experiment with Citibank that was introduced however by no means launched, was killed off in October 2021.
Google Loon, the corporate’s Internet balloons mission that was spun off in 2018, sailed off into the horizon by no means to return. Google Shopping cellular apps surrendered the sphere, and Feedburner, Google’s RSS administration service, went into upkeep mode with providers like electronic mail subscriptions and superior analytics discontinued. You can nonetheless use Feedburner for now, however who is aware of how lengthy that can final?
Android Auto not works on newer telephones because it’s been changed by Google Assistant’s Driving Mode. Google Play Movies and TV took a last bow in favor of YouTube, and Google stopped promoting Cardboard {hardware}–to be sincere this mission was at all times one thing of a daydream.
Google FLoC, the corporate’s most controversial experiment in ages, additionally had a short-lived life. While not formally lifeless, Google FLoC because it was initially conceived gained’t be coming again. Instead, because of public feedback, Google plans to redesign the non-tracking user-tracking program.
There had been way more Google deaths in 2021 than we might ever summarize right here, however if you wish to see extra issues that suffered by the hands of the large G, take a look at the Killed By Google website.
Office for Android on Chromebooks
In 2021, Microsoft determined that utilizing its Android apps on Chromebooks simply wasn’t a good suggestion anymore. The firm has now shunted Chromebook customers to Office’s net apps, saying they provide a extra laptop-optimized expertise than the Android apps.
Alienware Graphics Amplifier
Michael Brown/IDG
Turning your laptop computer right into a gaming powerhouse is surprisingly simple with an exterior GPU. Dell was one of many first firms to leap into these DIY gaming set-ups with its eGPU dock, the Alienware Graphics Amplifier—however in 2021, that experiment got here to an finish. The Verge was the primary to identify this when it seen Dell’s proprietary port that the Graphics Amplifier requires was lacking from newer laptops. Now that hooking exterior GPUs into laptops through Thunderbolt is far more frequent, this loss of life wasn’t actually shocking, however pour one out for a pioneer.
Windows 10X’d
For a short interval, Microsoft thought it might be a good suggestion to create a stripped-down model of Windows referred to as Windows 10X for dual-screen units (specifically the Surface Neo, a double-display folding pill). Then 10X was moved to an OS for single-screen units and seen as a possible substitute for Windows 10 in S Mode. But no extra. Windows 10X misplaced its individuality and was assimilated back into the Windows collective, seemingly serving as a basis for Windows 11’s design. (That in all probability explains why the Windows 11 taskbar is such a mess.)
Persicope consigned to the depths
Not to be overlooked of the loss of life occasion, Twitter killed certainly one of its merchandise in 2021. Periscope shut down in March 2021. Acquired by Twitter in 2015 in response to the upstart Meerkat, Periscope was an app that let you stream your life live on Twitter. Despite fashionable early adoption it’s been just about invisible for years, with Twitter Live being the corporate’s most well-liked possibility. In 2021, Twitter Live’s dominance was made official and Periscope pale into oblivion.
Oculus Rift S
Hayden Dingman/IDG
The final Oculus headset that needed to be tethered to a PC went away this yr. The Oculus Rift S disappeared from the proto-metaverse, forsaking its untethered cousins who supply a extra constant expertise, just like the Oculus Quest 2 with its 2K/90Hz shows. The Rift S will proceed to be supported for just a few extra years, so if you have already got one you need to nonetheless get some use out of it earlier than it’s simply one other paperweight.
Optane Desktop SSDs
Intel mentioned goodbye in 2021 to its ridiculously fast Optane drives that use normal PCIe ports. It’s a little bit of a loss for PC lovers, however with second-generation PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD blowing our minds it’s not the hugest loss on this planet.
Minecraft Earth
Microsoft
It was a stupendous concept: Bring Minecraft into the actual world, similar to those early demos of Hololens, however together with your cellphone as a substitute of a headset. The concept by no means actually caught on thanks in no small half to the pandemic stopping folks shifting in regards to the world, and so Minecraft Earth headed for the sunset in 2021.
LG abandons Android
LG determined it wasn’t price enjoying the cellular recreation anymore and discontinued its line of Android phones in 2021. LG made just a few good fashions over time, however the firm felt its time was higher spent elsewhere such because the sensible residence, robotics, AI, and electrical car elements.
Pruning Apple
Apple mentioned in March that it might quit on the full-sized Apple HomePod for its sensible residence ambitions, specializing in the extra reasonably priced HomePod Mini as a substitute. The firm additionally bid adieu to the iMac Pro that very same month, and plenty of anticipated an M1-based all-in-one laptop to take its place. While we’ve seen a 24-inch M1 iMac there hasn’t been something increased powered but, although rumor has it an M1 iMac Pro will make an appearance in 2022.
Grab bag of doom
Logitech
A number of different items of tech caught our discover heading their method to the graveyard of oblivion in 2021. Logitech gave up on its Harmony Remote, Yahoo Answers died, and the PlayStation Store stopped promoting motion pictures and TV reveals. Also, Amazon Pantry went stale, shifting every part over to Amazon Fresh, and the first two Kindles that relied on Edge networks to get their content material misplaced help.
Dates with future
A number of firms additionally provided previews of things that might be solid into the good unknown within the coming years. Microsoft mentioned Windows 10 will go off to live on a very nice farm in 2025. Verizon and AT&T are set to surrender on 3G networks in 2022, and 2022 will even be the end for Internet Explorer, an internet browser that has been each a blessing and a curse to the World Wide Web.
Pour one out for all our deceased devices and providers that left us in 2021. And right here’s to 2022, when little doubt we’ll say an enormous goodbye to extra of the tech we liked.
Ian is an impartial author primarily based in Israel who has by no means met a tech topic he did not like. He primarily covers Windows, PC and gaming {hardware}, video and music streaming providers, social networks, and browsers. When he isn’t masking the information he is engaged on how-to suggestions for PC customers, or tuning his eGPU setup.