Google, the search giant, is known to everyone thanks to its multiple services and applications, but also in part thanks to hardware like its Google Pixel. Gmail, Google Maps, Google Photos and an infinite number of others that make up the signature ecosystem based in Mountain View, apps and services we use every day.
However, we also know that Google does not hesitate to close these services. In 2023 we will experience the end of Stadia, its cloud gaming platform. And he was not and will not be the last to end up in the cemetery: in 2024 Four other initiatives are buried and will end up in oblivion.
The four new tombs arriving this year
Even though sometimes it may not seem like it, the search engine company is accumulating nearly 300 services, applications and devices which has been abandoned over the last decade. It is true that a few years ago, they were eclipsed by new releases, but this trend has deteriorated thanks to the maturity of existing versions.
Anyway, there is a website that tells us the exact date of each discontinued service, as well as those that are coming soon. It’s “Killed by Google”, which tells us about the upcoming funeral: two apps and two devices you may not know about.
First, by earliest date, we have Google Podcasts, surely the most popular on the list. Google’s podcast service was the answer to the competition, with a comprehensive app and an intuitive interface. However, it has lost all meaning in the world because of a similar service: YouTube Music.
So, from next April it will disappear, cede all podcast ground to YouTube Music. Moreover, it added RSS subscription and reached more countries before experiencing the end of the aforementioned platform.
Next in line is DropCam, although you might not know it. Dropcam was a range of Wi-Fi video streaming cameras acquired by Google in 2014. It will be around 15 years old when it completes its cycle on April 8: it is the firm that launched Google’s first Nest Cam.
On the other hand, in third position and with a marked end of activity for September 2024 appears Dashboard. Another even lesser-known device, Jamboard was a digital whiteboard, the American company’s first hardware product.
55 inches, 4K resolution, HD camera, digital pen… it was the perfect device to use in class and online with other services such as Google Classroom, Gmail, Google Meet or Google Drive. You will no longer receive updates on September 30. Of course, the units sold will continue to function as before.
Finally, in December will come the last death: the official application will also die at the hands of the Jamboard. It is compatible with other Android devices, so it can be used on touchscreens and whiteboards other than the original equipment. No longer available on December 31although before – October 1 – it will abandon other devices such as the Series One Desk 27 or the Board 65.
Either way, we’ve added four more spaces to say goodbye throughout the year. These are not very important results – which is however appreciated – but they are relevant in certain niches. Fortunately, there is a replacement or solution for each of them, so that we don’t miss them too much.
Cover image | Microsoft Designer Image Creator
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