Tech that Got Rebranded, Recalled, or Plain Old Retired
The tech you once knew (and probably liked), is no more. That’s because it got rebranded, recalled or, worse of all, retired. There’s nothing worse than getting the axe.
That’s the case with all the products presented below. Go take a look!
1. HERE Maps becomes HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo is the latest name that this maps and navigation app carries. Before being known as HERE WeGo, it was known as Ovi Maps, Nokia Maps, and HERE Maps.
2. Firefox 49 will no longer feature Firefox Hello
Firefox Hello, the real-time communications client that Mozilla built into the Firefox browser, will be discontinued. Introduced in the fall of 2014 alongside Firefox 34, it will reach end of life when Firefox 49 will be released to the public.
According to the 2016 release schedule, Firefox 49 was supposed to roll out on September 13. But due to a couple of blocker bugs, Mozilla postponed the release until September 20th.
Once Firefox 49 is released, Firefox Hello will be removed automatically. You won’t have to do anything.
3. Android Wear 2.0 will dump the Together Watch Face
The Together Watch Face came in handy if you wanted to easily share doodles, emojis, photos, and activities with a friend. But since Android Wear 2.0 already covers this type of functionality, the Together Watch Face will be shut down come September 30.
4. Samsung’s all out of Milk
All of Samsung’s Milk-branded services are gone. Milk Video, the video streaming service, was discontinued in November 2015. Milk VR, the repository of 360-defree videos, was rebranded as Samsung VR in June 2016. And Milk Music, the music streaming service, will be retired on September 22, 2016.
"We have made the strategic decision to invest in a partner model focused on seamlessly integrating the best music services available today into our family of Galaxy devices. We believe that working with partners will accelerate innovation, enhance device sales and provide amazing new experiences for our customers," explained Samsung.
5. Nobody uses the Device Assist app, so Google killed it
Back in 2014, Google introduced the Device Assist app to help Nexus users get the most out of their Android-powered devices. It could detect issues with a device’s setup and could offer (mostly useless) tips and suggestions.
But the app failed to catch the public’s attention. So late August, Google shut it down.
6. Nobody uses Chrome apps either
In March, Google announced that it’s retiring the Chrome App Launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux because most users prefer to launch apps from within Chrome and not from the Chrome App Launcher.
In August, Google announced that a paltry 1% of users on Windows, Mac and Linux actively use Chrome apps. Consequently, it makes no sense to keep supporting them.
"Starting in late 2016, newly-published Chrome apps will only be available to users on Chrome OS. Existing Chrome apps will remain accessible on all platforms, and developers can continue to update them," announced Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, VP Product Management.
"In the second half of 2017, the Chrome Web Store will no longer show Chrome apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but will continue to surface extensions and themes. In early 2018, users on these platforms will no longer be able to load Chrome apps."
7. Your days of playing Ghost Recon Phantoms are counting down
The free-to-play Ghost Recon Phantoms game won’t get to celebrate its 5th anniversary. Ubisoft decided to shut it down come December 1. The game remains available until then, but the option to purchase Ghost Coins from the game show has been removed.
8. Sunrise has officially been discontinued
Back in November 2015, the team behind the popular calendar app announced that they’re busy working on Outlook and they have no more time to work on updates for Sunrise.
Then in May 2016, they announced that an end of life date had been set: August 31. But Sunrise didn’t shut down on August 31; Microsoft said that it decided to postpone the shutdown while it worked on integrating more of Sunrise features into Outlook.
Then on September 13, the inevitable happened. The team behind Sunrise announced that the app had finally been shut down. On the same date, Microsoft announced that Outlook for iOS and Android has some interesting new features to offer.
9. Disney kills both Marvel: Avengers Alliance games
Disney decided to "focus our energy and resources into making new games and digital experiences" and thus pull the plug on the original Marvel: Avengers Alliance game as well as the Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2 sequel, on all platforms. That’s iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows, and Facebook.
The games remain available to play until September 30, 2016.
10. Intel Security buyers will return to using McAfee name
Just when you thought the McAfee name was done for, someone came along and decided to bring it back. Here’s what I’m talking about.
Back in 2010, Intel bought McAfee for $6.8 billion. In 2014, Intel decided to rebrand the security company as Intel Security. In September 2016, Intel announced that it sold its majority stake in Intel Security to TPG, meaning that Intel and TPG become the join owners of a new cyber security company that will be named McAfee.
Long story short, Intel basically sold Intel Security to TPG, and TPG decided to bring back the McAfee name.
11. Apple gives up on the very expensive Gold Apple Watch
With the Apple Watch Series 2, the second generation Apple Watch, Apple stopped using gold for the Watch Edition, deciding to use ceramic instead. And now that the Watch Edition is made of ceramic instead of 18-karat gold, it’s priced more affordably, at around $1,300 instead of $10,000.
12. Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 phablet
Since this one is all over the news, I doubt there's anyone who doesn't know about it. Still, in the spirit of being thorough, here's the lowdown. Due to a problem with the battery, Samsung decided to halt sales of the Galaxy Note 7 and recall the device.
The faulty battery caused some devices to catch fire, even explode.
That’s the case with all the products presented below. Go take a look!
1. HERE Maps becomes HERE WeGo
HERE WeGo is the latest name that this maps and navigation app carries. Before being known as HERE WeGo, it was known as Ovi Maps, Nokia Maps, and HERE Maps.
2. Firefox 49 will no longer feature Firefox Hello
Firefox Hello, the real-time communications client that Mozilla built into the Firefox browser, will be discontinued. Introduced in the fall of 2014 alongside Firefox 34, it will reach end of life when Firefox 49 will be released to the public.
According to the 2016 release schedule, Firefox 49 was supposed to roll out on September 13. But due to a couple of blocker bugs, Mozilla postponed the release until September 20th.
Once Firefox 49 is released, Firefox Hello will be removed automatically. You won’t have to do anything.
3. Android Wear 2.0 will dump the Together Watch Face
The Together Watch Face came in handy if you wanted to easily share doodles, emojis, photos, and activities with a friend. But since Android Wear 2.0 already covers this type of functionality, the Together Watch Face will be shut down come September 30.
4. Samsung’s all out of Milk
All of Samsung’s Milk-branded services are gone. Milk Video, the video streaming service, was discontinued in November 2015. Milk VR, the repository of 360-defree videos, was rebranded as Samsung VR in June 2016. And Milk Music, the music streaming service, will be retired on September 22, 2016.
"We have made the strategic decision to invest in a partner model focused on seamlessly integrating the best music services available today into our family of Galaxy devices. We believe that working with partners will accelerate innovation, enhance device sales and provide amazing new experiences for our customers," explained Samsung.
5. Nobody uses the Device Assist app, so Google killed it
Back in 2014, Google introduced the Device Assist app to help Nexus users get the most out of their Android-powered devices. It could detect issues with a device’s setup and could offer (mostly useless) tips and suggestions.
But the app failed to catch the public’s attention. So late August, Google shut it down.
6. Nobody uses Chrome apps either
In March, Google announced that it’s retiring the Chrome App Launcher for Windows, Mac and Linux because most users prefer to launch apps from within Chrome and not from the Chrome App Launcher.
In August, Google announced that a paltry 1% of users on Windows, Mac and Linux actively use Chrome apps. Consequently, it makes no sense to keep supporting them.
"Starting in late 2016, newly-published Chrome apps will only be available to users on Chrome OS. Existing Chrome apps will remain accessible on all platforms, and developers can continue to update them," announced Rahul Roy-Chowdhury, VP Product Management.
"In the second half of 2017, the Chrome Web Store will no longer show Chrome apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux, but will continue to surface extensions and themes. In early 2018, users on these platforms will no longer be able to load Chrome apps."
7. Your days of playing Ghost Recon Phantoms are counting down
The free-to-play Ghost Recon Phantoms game won’t get to celebrate its 5th anniversary. Ubisoft decided to shut it down come December 1. The game remains available until then, but the option to purchase Ghost Coins from the game show has been removed.
8. Sunrise has officially been discontinued
Back in November 2015, the team behind the popular calendar app announced that they’re busy working on Outlook and they have no more time to work on updates for Sunrise.
Then in May 2016, they announced that an end of life date had been set: August 31. But Sunrise didn’t shut down on August 31; Microsoft said that it decided to postpone the shutdown while it worked on integrating more of Sunrise features into Outlook.
Then on September 13, the inevitable happened. The team behind Sunrise announced that the app had finally been shut down. On the same date, Microsoft announced that Outlook for iOS and Android has some interesting new features to offer.
9. Disney kills both Marvel: Avengers Alliance games
Disney decided to "focus our energy and resources into making new games and digital experiences" and thus pull the plug on the original Marvel: Avengers Alliance game as well as the Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2 sequel, on all platforms. That’s iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows, and Facebook.
The games remain available to play until September 30, 2016.
10. Intel Security buyers will return to using McAfee name
Just when you thought the McAfee name was done for, someone came along and decided to bring it back. Here’s what I’m talking about.
Back in 2010, Intel bought McAfee for $6.8 billion. In 2014, Intel decided to rebrand the security company as Intel Security. In September 2016, Intel announced that it sold its majority stake in Intel Security to TPG, meaning that Intel and TPG become the join owners of a new cyber security company that will be named McAfee.
Long story short, Intel basically sold Intel Security to TPG, and TPG decided to bring back the McAfee name.
11. Apple gives up on the very expensive Gold Apple Watch
With the Apple Watch Series 2, the second generation Apple Watch, Apple stopped using gold for the Watch Edition, deciding to use ceramic instead. And now that the Watch Edition is made of ceramic instead of 18-karat gold, it’s priced more affordably, at around $1,300 instead of $10,000.
12. Samsung recalled its Galaxy Note 7 phablet
Since this one is all over the news, I doubt there's anyone who doesn't know about it. Still, in the spirit of being thorough, here's the lowdown. Due to a problem with the battery, Samsung decided to halt sales of the Galaxy Note 7 and recall the device.
The faulty battery caused some devices to catch fire, even explode.
