Let's take a look back at the year that was 2013: Apple released the iPhone 5S and 5C, Google dropped the Moto X, Samsung released the Galaxy Gear, and both Sony and Microsoft released new game consoles. Exciting, to say the least. It's easy to think of the spectacular and the flashy, but what about the gadgets that slipped underneath the radar? The things that will have to live out Christmas hiding in shame, with fingers crossed on New Year's Eve hoping that 2014 will be better? Yes, that's right: what about the things that FAILED? That's what we've gathered in this end-of-the-year edition of The Biggest Gadget Flops of 2013. From the bad, the terrible, to worst of it.
Hey, don't be too depressed: some of these gadgets will live to see another day, but many of them were dead on arrival.
RELATED: The 20 Best Tumblrs of 2013
RELATED: The Worst Internet Trends of 2013
Let's take a look back at the year that was 2013: Apple released the iPhone 5S and 5C, Google dropped the Moto X, Samsung released the Galaxy Gear, and both Sony and Microsoft released new game consoles. Exciting, to say the least. It's easy to think of the spectacular and the flashy, but what about the gadgets that slipped underneath the radar? The things that will have to live out Christmas hiding in shame, with fingers crossed on New Year's Eve hoping that 2014 will be better? Yes, that's right: what about the things that FAILED? That's what we've gathered in this end-of-the-year edition of The Biggest Gadget Flops of 2013. From the bad, the terrible, to worst of it.
Hey, don't be too depressed: some of these gadgets will live to see another day, but many of them were dead on arrival.
RELATED: The 20 Best Tumblrs of 2013
RELATED: The Worst Internet Trends of 2013
HTC First
Don't confuse the HTC First with the HTC One, they're vastly different. Let's just call the HTC First the Facebook Phone, because in essence, that's exactly what it was, and is exactly why it failed. The First was Facebook's initial phone to come with Facebook Home installed over Android 4.1. The thought of having Facebook tied to everything within the phone seemed daunting to consumers, and even though owners could disable Home to have stock Android OS, it didn't catch on, and AT&T soon discontinued the phone after sales didn't pick up. The device itself wasn't anything special, as it lacked a removable battery and a microSD slot for increased storage. A Facebook phone is something I think we can all be happy without.
BlackBerry Z10
BlackBerry, oh, BlackBerry. After changing its name from RIM earlier this year, the company put all of its cards in the Z10 and BB10 OS. The phone failed to provide consumers with a better alternative to Apple's iPhone, or the many Android phones that are on the market. The device came with bare-bones apps and low quality camera features. The company believed in it though, and even recruited Alicia Keys as a Brand Ambassador, and she still chose to use an iPhone. The company is on the rebound now, and its BBM app, which is available on BB10 devices, iOS, and Android, is doing surprisingly well. BlackBerry had put itself up for sale, and then took themselves off the market in order to give things another try. Hey, at least President Obama is still loyal to the brand.
Google Chromebook Pixel
To be fair, Google had a horrible idea with the Chromebook. It's a laptop that needs to be connected to the Internet practically at all times since it uses web-based apps. The device itself was praised for its performance, but at a price of $1,300, you'd honestly be crazy to pick that up over the number of other true laptops you could get at that price. Microsoft even enlisted the guy's from Pawn Star's to make fun of it.
OUYA
OUYA had high hopes, and people had high hopes for it. The gaming console was going to be the system that liberated gamers and developers without costing an arm and a leg, but when it finally released, only about 27-percent of OUYA owners actually purchased content. The console lacked original games, and many owners are suspected of solely using the system as an emulator to play SNES, Genesis, and other classic games, which is cool, but mean that they didn't buy any of OUYA's online content. Then again, what online content, amirite? Also, the controller sucked. Look at that thing.
Polaroid iM1836 Android Mirrorless Camera
When the Polaroid iM1836 made its debut at CES, it was difficult to find anyone that loved it. Reviewers weren't impressed by it—even though mirrorless cameras are likely the way of the future over today's DSLR cameras. Regardless, Nokia brought on a lawsuit against Sakar, the camera's manufacturer, alleging that the company infringed on their patents. So, yesterday, a judge ordered that the Sakar can no longer "manufacture, import, advertise, promote, offer for sale, sell, or ship the Polaroid iM1836 digital camera in its present configuration."
The camera is officially dead in the water.
Barnes & Noble Nook
The Nook has been failing for years, this isn't news. But this year, Barnes & Noble saw its CEO William Lynch step down because of its failure, and sales still aren't picking up—at least not to the point where it's sustainable. While the company as a whole isn't looking great, the Nook has turned out to be a thorn in B&N's side. Contrastingly, Amazon's Kindle line and the iPad Mini are both thorns in the Nook's side.
Microsoft Surface RT
Microsoft attempted to position itself to go head-to-head with Apple's iPad with their Surface RT tablet. But one of its major problems wasn't even with the device, it was with the name: the "RT" proved to be confusing for customers, since many had no idea what the RT stood for, or what it entailed in relation to the device. Microsoft ended up taking a $900 million write-off for Surface RT inventory that wasn't sold earlier this year. Outside of the name, people were confused figuring out exactly what it was: a tablet, a laptop? It's marketed with a snap-on keyboard, and it could be paired with a mouse. iPads can be too, but it's not marketed with those in every commercial, or any, for that matter. For consumers, they have to ask whether the RT is a really good tablet, or a cheap laptop? They didn't stick around long enough to find out.
Nintendo Wii U
The Wii U could end up being the little engine that could in 2014, but with the books closing in on its first full year in 2013, the Wii U didn't come prepared. With its only killer app, Super Mario 3D World, coming in the midst of Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One launches, Nintendo set itself up for a disastrous year. (Wind Waker HD is great, but it's a remake.) On the other hand, 2014 may see a slew of releases that will give the Wii U a fighting chance, like an upcoming Zelda game, Super Smash Bros. U., and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
If Nintendo decides to drop the price another $50—which could happen if they switch out the GamePad with the Pro Controller—sells are almost a lock to go up. Until then, 2013 will be sticking out like a sore thumb. But Nintendo makes some of the best games on the planet, and as long as they don't have any other delays, they shouldn't make it on this list again this time next year.
A relaunch of the system, with a lower price and updated logo would be great for Nintendo (think of it as the same thing Sony did when they came out with the PS3 slim.) Also, it would help the many people who get confused by thinking the Wii U is just an add-on to the Wii. Yeah, I've seen it happen a few times already in stores. The Wii U is a fun console that does deserve some love, but the fact is it's not selling, and it's solely Nintendo's fault for not creating a great launch year coupled with a good marketing strategy. Point blank: you're probably not going to see a Wii U commercial unless you're watching Cartoon Network.
The Desktop
Desktops across the board aren't selling well, and their shipments have been continually dropping for a long time, especially this year. Consumers are heading toward laptops, tablets, and smartphones for their Internet needs, and the desktop is slowly headed into obscurity. Hey, the best things to happen to desktops in a long time is the new Mac Pro, but try buying that with your next paycheck. (Not happening.)
HealthCare.gov
The biggest fail of the year in technology. Okay, this isn't a gadget, we know. But for those around the country who were affected, and couldn't get access to the health care options they needed when the time came, the HealthCare.gov fiasco of the Obama administration was a complete failure that will be remembered for a long time. We're sure a few laptops and desktops were smashed out of sheer anger by would-be users. Things are looking up, though: just this week, the website was able to handle some 800,000 unique users, and the site processed 18,000 enrollment requests. Yikes. But that's double their previous record.
Sigh.
