There have been plenty of tech failures over the years with various different launches of products resulting in utter failure, disaster or just a complete lack of interest.
Some of these products were simply launched before their time, others were poorly thought out and proved unpopular at launch. Other products seemed to do ok at first, but then needed to be recalled due to safety problems.
We’re summing up the best (or is it worst) from over the years. Which of these classics do you remember?
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
In 2016, things went horribly wrong with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 which had a habit of catching fire or exploding.
The Note range ofSamsung’s smartphone line-upwas always highly thought of,even by us.
In 2016, things went horribly wrong with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Many of the phones purchased by consumers at the time caught fire or exploded. Not an uncommon occurrence in the smartphone world, but it happened so much that Samsung had to recall the devices.
This might well have been Samsung’s worst and most embarrassing period in its smartphone history.
Triumph Dolomite
Over 103,000 cars had to be recalled after it was discovered that a flaw in the design meant the car would become impossible to control after a minor crash.
In the latter half of 1973, Triumph had to recall several models of its vehicles including the Triumph Toledo, Triumph 1500 and Triumph Dolomite.
Over 103,000 cars had to be recalled after it was discovered that a flaw in the design meant the car would become impossible to control after a minor crash. All it would take was a crash into a kerb at around 10 miles per hour to render the vehicle unsteerable. Not ideal.
Google Glass
Glass lead to plenty of concerns over privacy and the product was also banned from many public spaces. In the end, Google Glass was doomed.
Googlefirst announcedGoogle Glassto the public in 2012. The device was remarkably pricey though and people were unenthused. There were also plenty of concerns over privacy with users being labelled as “Glassholes” and the product was also banned from many public spaces. In the end, Google Glass was doomed.
Ford Pintos
Ford recalled 1.5 million Pintos after it was discovered a rear-end crash could cause the car to turn into a deadly fireball.
If you thought the Triumph recall was bad, Ford’s was worse. In 1978 the company was forced to recall 1.5 million vehicles after it was discovered the fuel-tank was likely to cause the car to bust into a deadly fireball as the result of a rear-end crash.
Apple Pippin
Essentially an expensive console, it was doomed to failure as it had to compete with the incredibly popular Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
Back in the hazy days of 1995, Apple collaborated with Bandai to release the Apple Pippin. Essentially an expensive console, it was doomed to failure as it had to compete with the incredibly popular Sony PlayStation and Nintendo 64. This was a distinct flop in Apple’s otherwise fairly successful history.
Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows Vista was generally loathed and not widely adopted. As a result, Microsoft quickly released Windows 7 just a couple of years later.
Windows Vista was meant to come with several enhancements and a brilliant design overhaul that would wow the masses. Instead, it had various issues with security features, shocking performance problems and no end of driver support issues that left users frustrated and bemused.
De Havilland Comet
In the late 1940s, in the wake of World War II, De Havilland created the de Havilland 106 Comet - the first commercial jetliner. It was plagued with problems.
In the late 1940s, in the wake of World War II, De Havilland created the de Havilland 106 Comet - the first commercial jetliner.
It was unfortunately plagued with problems and the planes suffered several fatal crashes. 13 crashes were fatal, resulting in the tragic loss of 426 lives. The company’s reputation took a bad hit and while it was reeling from the disasters, Douglas and Boeing took the lead in the industry.
DeLorean DMC-12
Despite the fame, there was a lack of demand for the car and costs of manufacture as well as other problems harmed the business which went bankrupt in 1982.
The DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) was an automobile company perhaps most well-known for the DeLorean DMC-12 sports car that was featured heavily in the Back To The Future film trilogy.
However, despite the fame, there was a lack of demand for the car and costs of manufacture as well as other problems harmed the business which went bankrupt in 1982.
Apple Newton
The Apple Newton was a PDA that launched in the early 1990s. It didn’t do well though as the software didn’t live up to the promise and it was overpriced
The Apple Newton was a PDA that launched in the early 1990s and is seen as the first PDA to be released. It didn’t do well though as the software didn’t live up to the promise and it was overpriced. The Newton MessagePad didn’t sell well and was discontinued a few years later.
Facebook Home
Facebook released an app for Android phones that was designed to transform the home screen into a direct portal into Facebook. But it was clunky and loathed.
In 2013 Facebook released an app for Android smartphones that was designed to transform the home screen into a direct portal into a user’s Facebook newsfeed.
The company hoped that since over a billion users were logging into Facebook from their phones on a daily basis, they’d be keen on further immersing themselves in the social platform. But a clunky, unfriendly interface made for a frustrating user experience and the app never really took off.
