From HealthCare.gov to the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, listed here are many of the year’s biggest letdowns.
To quote a protracted-dead English author, “It was the simplest of times, it was the worst of times.”
Indeed, 2013 had its share of fine times and tech innovation. More companies invested in private and public cloud services and began using data analytics to enhance bottom lines. Advancements in robotics got a lift as major players like Amazon and Google bought various robot companies (many call this progress, but it surely qualifies as a letdown in case your job is replaceable by a robot).
The tablet craze continued this year as more sizes and designs hit the market. An influx of Android-based tablets helped reduce Apple’s tablet market share to about 50%. Apple also acknowledged that the iPad had to evolve by releasing the iPad Mini and iPad Air. Collectively, mobile apps and smartphones got better and more plentiful, and more employees found work-life flexibility with BYOD programs.
So cheers to progress. But this slideshow ain’t about progress.
This is set the worst of times. A tale of 10 losers, in the event you will. Disappointments. Letdowns. The tech products, companies, events, or trends that fell in need of their potential — or worse, scared or frustrated us.
Security and privacy worries reached a crescendo this year. A 30-year-old contractor blew the whistle at the NSA’s Prism program, revealing that the agency have been snooping on our private communications. It was one of several biggest stories of the year.
Another security event that stirred anxieties was a mammoth data breach at retail giant Target where attackers stole 40 million mastercard numbers. This was a letdown but with a heavy dose of fear and exasperation for consumers. Also ranking high at the letdown scale: a undeniable government healthcare website that failed very publicly to live as much as expectations.
Poor beleaguered BlackBerry let down anyone hoping that the corporate can make a comeback. Samsung released a smartwatch before it was ready for high time. And Microsoft tried in vain to make sense of Windows 8 because the public shrugged.
If there is a silver lining, it’s that failing is frequently the simplest — maybe the single — solution to ultimately improve a product or situation. Though right here selections were letdowns this year, they’re all salvageable (except maybe BlackBerry). Read directly to see for those who agree.
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