Launched in 2018 and discontinued in 2023, Bose Sleepbuds had inconsistent battery life, failure to fully charge, and random shutdowns.
Google+
Launched in 2011 right after Eric Schmidt became the new Google CEO, Google+ went head-to-head with Facebook who launched 7 years earlier.
Google saw that Facebook was consuming progressively more of users’ time. However, people preferred Facebook to Google+ because Google’s approach to social wasn’t fun, while all people’s friends were already on Facebook not Google+. Google assumed its Google+ users would enjoy spending time organizing their information just as Google was helping organize the world’s information.
Meta Smart Glasses
Launched in 2021 one month before changing its name from Facebook, Meta’s Smart Glasses allowed users to take photos and listen to music with the frames of their glasses. However, less than 10% of glasses were actively used by purchasers. Among the top causes of poor user experience were issues with connectivity, problems with some of the hardware features including battery life, inability for users to import media from the devices, and issues with the audio on the product and problems with voice commands for the smart glasses. Plus, as a company that makes nearly all its money from advertising, there have been concerns about how images captured with the glasses will be used since Meta has had a long history of privacy concerns.
Apple Vision Pro
Launched in 2024, the Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset. Although it has advanced display technology and immersive spatial computing, its high price, bulky design, and health concerns—such as eye strain and cognitive fatigue—have limited its appeal.
Slip ‘N Slide
Launched in 1976 by Wham-O, the Slip ‘N Slide waterslide caused neck and spine injuries when older kids and adults used it.
Creeple People
Launched by Mattel in 1964, the Creeple People kit let kids make rubbery bug toys by pouring liquid plastic into hot metal molds. However, the heating plates reached dangerously high temperatures causing burns.
Easy-Bake Oven
Launched by Kenner in 1963, the Easy-Bake Oven had real heating elements that could cause burns and fires. Some kids got their finger stuck inside the oven leading to amputations in extreme cases.
Dyson Air-Purifying Headphones
In 2023, Dyson launched a head-mounted, fan-powered personal air purifier with headphones. It squirts a smooth stream of “clean” air across the wearer’s mouth and nose. Dyson started working on this years before the COVID-19 pandemic. They had confidence this would be a hit after already disrupting the hand dryer, vacuum, indoor air purification, and hair product markets with its unique engineering.
However, they were embarrassing for people to wear in public, while were too heavy and emitted a loud fan noise.
Ember
Launched in 2014, Ember used temperature control technology to keep hot beverages at your desired temperature.
However, the product had issues:
- The app and bluetooth connection can be finnicky.
- The charging coaster uses live pins that contact the bottom of the mug. These pins will get stuck and the coaster no longer works. If something metal falls on the pins it can spark.
- The battery in mug is non-replaceable and if it fails, the mug has to be replaced.
- The battery will not charge while it is keeping your drink hot – mug has to be empty or manually turned off in the app for the battery to charge.
GoBots
GoBots was a line of transforming robot toys produced by Tonka from 1983 to 1987. The GoBots toys were part of the robot “sensation” that swept the nation for a short time. The line sold well initially but was overtaken by Hasbro’s Transformers.