13 Useful Products that Got the Axe, Will Be Sorely Missed (Or Not)
As I’ve said several times before, the tech and software world is constantly changing and evolving. While new products hit the market hoping to make it big, other products get discontinued, retired, or shut down.
This is the case with the 13 products presented below. They are a thing of the past. And if they haven’t already been discontinued, they will be soon.
1. Apple stopped selling the Thunderbolt Display
On June 23, Apple announced that it is discontinuing its Thunderbolt Display, the monitor that was introduced in the summer of 2011.
"We're discontinuing the Apple Thunderbolt Display. It will be available through Apple.com, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last. There are a number of great third-party options available for Mac users," said an Apple spokesperson.
2. Samsung dropped "Milk" from its VR offering
Milk – that’s the name Samsung chose for a music streaming service, a video streaming service, and a repository of 360-degree videos for the Gear VR. Out of these three, the only one to survive is Milk Music.
Milk Video has been discontinued in November 2015. And Samsung Milk VR has been rebranded as Samsung VR in June 2016.
3. Goodbye BitTorrent Bundle, hello BitTorrent Now
BitTorrent Bundle, the platform launched back in 2013 to support breaking music, film and art, is no more. It has been replaced by BitTorrent Now, BitTorrent’s first-ever streaming app for Android, iOS, Apple TV, and the web.
4. Intel reportedly plans to sell Intel Security (formerly McAfee)
In 2010, leading CPU producer Intel bought McAfee for some $6.8 billion. In 2014, it rebranded the security company as Intel Security. And in 2016, Intel is looking to sell Intel Security.
"Intel is looking at options for Intel Security, including potentially selling the antivirus software maker," reports the Financial Times. "The Silicon Valley chipmaker has been talking to bankers about the future of its cyber security unit in a deal that would be one of the largest in the sector, according to people close to the discussions."
5. Microsoft will no longer manufacture the Surface 3 tablet
The Surface 3, Microsoft’s affordable Windows tablet, will be pulled from stores by the end of the year. Microsoft said that Surface 3 inventory is now limited and by the end of December 2016, the company will no longer manufacture Surface 3 devices.
On the bright side, the 1TB Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, have recently gone on sale in 10 more countries. In addition to the US and Canada, the devices are available in Australia, Austria, China, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
6. Xbox Fitness is slowly but surely going away
On June 27, 2016, Microsoft stopped selling Xbox Fitness content. Customers who bought Xbox Fitness content can access it until June 30, 2017.
Come December 15, 2016, Xbox Live Gold members will no longer have access to the 30+ Xbox Fitness workouts that are currently available. And come July 1, 2017, Xbox Fitness and all associated content will no longer be available for download/play.
7. Facebook’s discontinuing Paper
Paper, the very first app to come out of the now defunct Facebook Creative Labs, will be discontinued on July 29, 2016. Facebook is ending support for the app and you won’t be able to use it after July 29.
8. Dell gets out of the Android business
Dell wants to focus on Windows, not Android. Consequently, the company decided to discontinue its Venue line of Android tablets and cease issuing OS updates. Furthermore, Dell decided to discontinue its Android-based Wyse Cloud Connect.
9. Say farewell to the classic BlackBerry phone
Earlier this month, BlackBerry's chief operating officer and general manager for devices, Ralph Pini, announced that BlackBerry has decided to stop manufacturing the BlackBerry Classic.
"For many years, Classic (and its BBOS predecessors) has been in our portfolio. It has been an incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations. But, the Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today’s market," said Ralph Pini.
10. Rovio dropped support for Windows Phones and PCs
No more Angry Birds for Windows Phone. Rovio announced that it’s no longer developing games for Windows Phone; only Android and iOS.
Rovio also announced that it is discontinuing development of Angry Birds and Bad Piggies for PC. Rovio games that are already available on PC will no longer get any updates.
11. Skype drops support for Windows Phone
Bad news for Skype users who have a mobile device that runs Windows Phone 8 or 8.1, device that can’t be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile. Come October 2016, Skype will no longer be supported.
The weird thing here is that Microsoft, who owns Skype, is showing Linux more love than its own Windows Phone.
12. The VCR is officially dead
Remember the VCRs of old? While most people thought they were dead, they were in fact still alive because manufacturers were still making them. Not anymore. Japan’s Funai Electronic Company, the last known company to market VCRs, announced that it will cease production at the end of July.
So 40 years after the first VHS video cassette recorder rolled off the production line, the last company to market the devices will cease production.
13. Yahoo’s core business has been sold
Verizon entered a definite agreement to acquire Yahoo’s operating business for approximately $4.83 billion in cash. Yahoo will be integrated with AOL under Marni Walden, EVP and President of the Product Innovation and New Businesses organization at Verizon.
"Just over a year ago we acquired AOL to enhance our strategy of providing a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon Chairman and CEO. "The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising."
This is the case with the 13 products presented below. They are a thing of the past. And if they haven’t already been discontinued, they will be soon.
1. Apple stopped selling the Thunderbolt Display
On June 23, Apple announced that it is discontinuing its Thunderbolt Display, the monitor that was introduced in the summer of 2011.
"We're discontinuing the Apple Thunderbolt Display. It will be available through Apple.com, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last. There are a number of great third-party options available for Mac users," said an Apple spokesperson.
2. Samsung dropped "Milk" from its VR offering
Milk – that’s the name Samsung chose for a music streaming service, a video streaming service, and a repository of 360-degree videos for the Gear VR. Out of these three, the only one to survive is Milk Music.
Milk Video has been discontinued in November 2015. And Samsung Milk VR has been rebranded as Samsung VR in June 2016.
3. Goodbye BitTorrent Bundle, hello BitTorrent Now
BitTorrent Bundle, the platform launched back in 2013 to support breaking music, film and art, is no more. It has been replaced by BitTorrent Now, BitTorrent’s first-ever streaming app for Android, iOS, Apple TV, and the web.
4. Intel reportedly plans to sell Intel Security (formerly McAfee)
In 2010, leading CPU producer Intel bought McAfee for some $6.8 billion. In 2014, it rebranded the security company as Intel Security. And in 2016, Intel is looking to sell Intel Security.
"Intel is looking at options for Intel Security, including potentially selling the antivirus software maker," reports the Financial Times. "The Silicon Valley chipmaker has been talking to bankers about the future of its cyber security unit in a deal that would be one of the largest in the sector, according to people close to the discussions."
5. Microsoft will no longer manufacture the Surface 3 tablet
The Surface 3, Microsoft’s affordable Windows tablet, will be pulled from stores by the end of the year. Microsoft said that Surface 3 inventory is now limited and by the end of December 2016, the company will no longer manufacture Surface 3 devices.
On the bright side, the 1TB Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, have recently gone on sale in 10 more countries. In addition to the US and Canada, the devices are available in Australia, Austria, China, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
6. Xbox Fitness is slowly but surely going away
On June 27, 2016, Microsoft stopped selling Xbox Fitness content. Customers who bought Xbox Fitness content can access it until June 30, 2017.
Come December 15, 2016, Xbox Live Gold members will no longer have access to the 30+ Xbox Fitness workouts that are currently available. And come July 1, 2017, Xbox Fitness and all associated content will no longer be available for download/play.
7. Facebook’s discontinuing Paper
Paper, the very first app to come out of the now defunct Facebook Creative Labs, will be discontinued on July 29, 2016. Facebook is ending support for the app and you won’t be able to use it after July 29.
8. Dell gets out of the Android business
Dell wants to focus on Windows, not Android. Consequently, the company decided to discontinue its Venue line of Android tablets and cease issuing OS updates. Furthermore, Dell decided to discontinue its Android-based Wyse Cloud Connect.
9. Say farewell to the classic BlackBerry phone
Earlier this month, BlackBerry's chief operating officer and general manager for devices, Ralph Pini, announced that BlackBerry has decided to stop manufacturing the BlackBerry Classic.
"For many years, Classic (and its BBOS predecessors) has been in our portfolio. It has been an incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations. But, the Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today’s market," said Ralph Pini.
10. Rovio dropped support for Windows Phones and PCs
No more Angry Birds for Windows Phone. Rovio announced that it’s no longer developing games for Windows Phone; only Android and iOS.
Rovio also announced that it is discontinuing development of Angry Birds and Bad Piggies for PC. Rovio games that are already available on PC will no longer get any updates.
11. Skype drops support for Windows Phone
Bad news for Skype users who have a mobile device that runs Windows Phone 8 or 8.1, device that can’t be upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile. Come October 2016, Skype will no longer be supported.
The weird thing here is that Microsoft, who owns Skype, is showing Linux more love than its own Windows Phone.
12. The VCR is officially dead
Remember the VCRs of old? While most people thought they were dead, they were in fact still alive because manufacturers were still making them. Not anymore. Japan’s Funai Electronic Company, the last known company to market VCRs, announced that it will cease production at the end of July.
So 40 years after the first VHS video cassette recorder rolled off the production line, the last company to market the devices will cease production.
13. Yahoo’s core business has been sold
Verizon entered a definite agreement to acquire Yahoo’s operating business for approximately $4.83 billion in cash. Yahoo will be integrated with AOL under Marni Walden, EVP and President of the Product Innovation and New Businesses organization at Verizon.
"Just over a year ago we acquired AOL to enhance our strategy of providing a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers," said Lowell McAdam, Verizon Chairman and CEO. "The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising."
