12 of the coolest Google projects that were closed. It's a pity
Miscellaneous / / July 20, 2023
These include one of the best RSS readers ever, a search engine for your hard drive, and a touch-controlled jacket.
Google has become notorious for its tendency to create good free services and then ingloriously bury them. There is even a special cemetery site on the Internet Killed by Google, which now contains 288 projects that Dobra Corporation developed itself or bought from other companies, and then closed. We have selected 12 of the most famous examples, the loss of which at one time upset users especially strongly.
1. Google Reader
Reader has been one of the most popular RSS feed readers. It allowed users to subscribe to any sites that supported this format and be notified of new posts. Google Reader also had many useful features such as syncing across devices, the ability to share content with friends, and create your own collections. The service was launched in 2005 and had millions of fans around the world.
However, in 2013, Google announced its closure, citing declining interest in RSS technology. This caused huge frustration and protests from users who didn't want to lose their favorite newsreader tool. Some of them even tried to save Google Reader by filing petitions.
But everything was useless: on July 1, 2013, Google Reader stopped working forever. Left with nothing, RSS lovers switched to Feedly, The Old Reader and other similar services.
2. Google Desktop
Google Desktop was a desktop program that allowed users to quickly find files, email, photos, and other information, not on the web, but right on their computers. It also integrated with Google web search and offered various widgets. For example, you could use Google Calendar to change your schedule, Google News to read the latest news or Google Photos to view your favorite pictures.
In 2011, Google decided to close the project, explaining that technology has changed and people are more interested in cloud services than programs that run on a computer. Many users were upset by this decision and still miss Google Desktop.
3. picasa
Picasa was a popular photo editing and organizing program developed by Lifescape in 2002. In 2004, it was bought by Google and integrated with its services such as Google Photos and Google Drive.
Photos in Picasa could be sorted into different categories, which made it possible to organize even the largest collection. The program offered many features extremely advanced for its time, such as facial recognition and geotagging. In addition, it was possible to create collages and slide show from uploaded pictures.
Google announced they were ending support for Picasa in 2016. All user files have been migrated to Google Photos. But to this day, some photography fans sigh that this service cannot 100% replace Picasa.
4. Google URL Shortener
Google URL Shortener (also known as goo.gl) was an online service from Google that allowed users to compress long URLs into smaller ones. With it, users could create short links, which were then convenient to use in email, social networks or other messages.
However, in March 2018, Google announced the closure of the service, explaining that there are many other analogues. For example, Bitly, TinyURL, Ow.ly and others.
5. Google Glass
Google Glass is glasses equipped with a transparent screen that displays information right in front of the wearer's eyes. The device had a microphone, camera, and other sensors, allowing users to control Glass's built-in system. Android using voice commands and gestures.
The glasses were announced in 2012 and generated a lot of interest as a potentially innovative device. However, after an early beta and a few thousand copies released, they were criticized for their controversial design, overpricing, and underwhelming functionality. In 2015, Google announced that it would stop selling Google Glass. However, glasses are still highly valued by collectors and geeks.
6. Google Stadia
Google Stadia was a cloud service that allowed users to stream and play video games without having to download and install them on their computer or gaming console. Instead, projects were run on remote servers Google, and only the finished image was transferred to the user's device via the Internet.
Google Stadia was playable through the Chrome web browser, Chromecast, or mobile app. With a stable Internet connection, you could turn your smartphone, TV, or even a weak computer into a game console. For more convenience, you could buy an official controller from Stadia.
Unfortunately, despite a decent number of loyal fans, the company has not been able to offer customers what is usually expected from a gaming platform: cool games. On Google Stadia, you could only find various indie crafts for which you didn’t want to pay a subscription at all. Stadia was shut down in the fall of 2022. Too bad she had a lot of potential.
7. Google Jacquard
The Google Jacquard project used technology to embed thin sensory filaments and electronics directly into fabric, making smart clothes. The sensors could respond to user touches and gestures, as well as transmit information via a Bluetooth wireless connection.
One of the most famous products using Google Jacquard technology was the communication jacket, developed in collaboration with Levi's. She had a touch surface on her sleeve. The user could perform various taps and swipes to control music, answer calls, or listen to notifications.
The Google Jacquard project was shut down in 2023. It's a pity, because smart clothes would definitely bring newness to the fashion industry.
8. YouTube Originals
YouTube Originals was an offshoot of YouTube that created original content. There were exclusive shows series, movies and other video projects. The service was launched in 2015.
Notable projects on YouTube Originals included Cobra Kai, the sequel to 1984's The Karate Kid, the horror movie Avoid the Night, and Doug Liman's sci-fi Impulse. You could also find movies, specials, concerts and music videos there.
An important aspect of YouTube Originals was the accessibility of content to viewers. Many projects could be watched free of charge with commercials. And a YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) subscription provided the ability to watch original content without ads and download it for offline viewing.
However, at the end of 2022, the YouTube Originals project was completed, and the "orphaned" series were either closed or transferred to Netflix.
9. Google Answers
Google Answers was launched in 2002. It was a platform where users could ask questions on various topics, and experts and researchers provided quality answers based on their knowledge and experience.
When a user asked about something on Google Answers, he indicated the amount he wanted to pay for the result. Experts chose what they would like to answer and were paid by Google for the information they provided. This model allowed for the connection of users in need of information with qualified professionals willing to share their knowledge.
However, despite public interest and initial success, the Answers service did not pay off, and in 2006 Google decided to close it. The fact is that he could not compete with numerous analogues like the same Yahoo! answers. Of course, on alternative platforms, no one gave guarantees that you would be answered by a professional, and not an elementary school student, but questions could be posted for free.
10. Google wave
Google Wave was introduced in 2009 and the service was unique and innovative for its era. It allowed users to communicate and collaborate in real time through a web browser. Google Wave combined the functions of email, instant messaging, chat, collaborative document editing and social network.
The project had a significant impact on the development of other applications, becoming, in fact, the progenitor of such services as Notion and Slack. However, despite its revolutionary nature, Google Wave was closed in 2012. One of the main reasons for this was the complexity of the interface - it was not intuitive for many users, and most people simply did not appreciate the possibilities that the service promised.
However, some Wave technologies and ideas have been ported to other Google products such as Docs, Gmail, and Hangouts.
11. Google Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print is a cloud-based printing service. It was necessary to set up printers on any gadget that has access to the Internet, or connect a device with built-in Wi-Fi to the Network. And install the application from Google. And then - just send print jobs from a computer, smartphone, tablet and other gadgets, select the desired printer in your Google account and print.
Moreover, Cloud Print allowed you to do this remotely. That is, you choose a printer located elsewhere, press a button, arrive, and ready-made documents are already waiting for you there. Physical presence was not required.
The service was cool and useful, but in December 2020, Google stopped supporting it. Now, if you need to print something on your home printer, while at work, you will have to use alternatives like Microsoft Universal Print.
12. inbox
Inbox is an application Email from Google, which was launched in 2014. It was an alternative interface for working with Gmail and offered many new features and capabilities.
One of the key features of Inbox was the system of organizing mail into categories. Emails were automatically sorted into different tabs: Shopping, Travel, Social Media, and so on. This greatly simplified the process of managing and searching for messages. All sorts of new goodies were also introduced in Inbox - for example, delayed messages, reminders, built-in tasks and integration with Google Calendar.
In March 2019, Google announced the closure of the project, deciding to focus on developing and improving the main interface of its mail. Some of the features introduced in Inbox have been implemented in Gmail. But still, this decision caused disappointment among many users who began to switch to alternative clients.
What closed Google project did you like the most? Share your opinion in the comments.
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