A recent report by Bloomberg suggested that, due to poor demand, Microsoft may rethink the Zune media player. The Redmond-based company said that device's operating software will be integrated into Windows Phone 7 and Xbox devices, and sources anticipate that the company will discontinue the current Zune line, which was launched in 2006 as a challenger to the Apple iPod.
If the Zune meets its rumored demise, the device will join a long line of high-profile Microsoft gadgets that flopped. The company's gadget graveyard includes ambitious projects that range from the ingenious to the ill-advised.
Check out our roundup of Microsoft devices that either tanked after launching or fizzled out. Do you have a suggestion that didn't make our list of top fails? Upload your selection using the "Add a slide tool."
The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/01/microsoft-kin-dead-micros_n_631439.html" target="_hplink">Microsoft Kin</a> smartphones debuted in April 2010. Marketed for teens, the devices were priced at $50 for the Kin 1, $100 for the Kin 2. Less appealing were Verizon's $70-per-month subscription plans, as were early reviews calling the devices "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/13/microsoft-kin-review-phot_n_574697.html" target="_hplink">not smart enough</a>" and "<a href="http://dvice.com/archives/2010/04/why-microsoft-k.php" target="_hplink">downright ugly</a>." In June, Microsoft pulled the plug on the Kin family and focused exclusively on Windows Phone 7.
Spot Watch
Launched in 2004, the Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) watches connected to Microsoft's FM radio-based network (MSN Direct) and delivered weather reports, news snippets, stocks and sports scores to users. <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9927213-1.html" target="_hplink">Writes</a> CNET, "Microsoft put a lot of money behind the Smart Watch and partnered up with Fossil, Suunto, Swatch, and even Tissot, which produced a high-end, touch-screen model that cost $800." Critics and consumers were not buying it, though. <em>Washington Post</em> reviewer Rob Pegoraro tested a $300 Suunto model and <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2008/04/microsofts_spot_watch_winds_do.html" target="_hplink">wrote</a> the following: "[It was] too big, too ugly, too useless, too expensive (especially with a $9.95/month subscription charge for Microsoft's MSN Direct data service)."
The devices were discontinued in 2008.
Courier Tablet
The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/29/microsoft-courier-cancele_n_557493.html" target="_hplink">Courier Tablet</a>, leaked in 2009, was expected to be announced shortly before the iPad's debut in January 2010. According to rumors, the device would have featured two seven-inch screens that folded shut. However, this innovative twist on the tablet PC never saw the light of day. Microsoft instead unveiled a comparatively "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/07/hp-slate-tablet-microsoft_n_414364.html" target="_hplink">underwhelming</a>" single-panel tablet device called the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/07/hp-slate-tablet-microsoft_n_414364.html" target="_hplink">HP Slate</a>, which PCWorld called "<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/186247/hp_slate_lowers_the_bar_for_apples_tablet_pc.html#tk.mod_rel" target="_hplink">a mediocre device</a>" and "<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/186172/why_the_microsofthp_tablet_is_a_big_disappointment.html" target="_hplink">a big disappointment</a>." By late April, both the Courier Tablet project and the HP Slate were tabled.
<blockquote><strong>UPDATE:</strong> A post written for the official Microsoft Blog in 2010 clarified that the Courier "project" was <a href="http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2010/04/29/speculation-about-the-courier-project.aspx" target="_hplink">never an official Microsoft product</a>. The statement read: "<em>At any given time, across any of our business groups, there are new ideas being investigated, tested, and incubated. It's in Microsoft's DNA to continually develop and incubate new technologies to foster productivity and creativity. The 'Courier' project is an example of this type of effort and its technologies will be evaluated for use in future Microsoft offerings</em>." The HP Slate was the result of a partnership between Microsoft and Hewett-Packard.</blockquote>
Windows Ultra-Mobile PC
The first hand-held devices built on Microsoft's unique Ultra-Mobile PC platform launched to ample buzz in 2006. This new class of powerful mini-devices, which accepted pen and touch input, never caught on. The first U.S. release, the Samsung Q1, received <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/125919/mobile_computing_ultra_mobile_pc_update.html" target="_hplink">poor reviews</a> because of its hefty price tag ($1,099), buggy software, and odd keyboard design. Other releases suffered similarly.
The Zune
Microsoft's answer to the iPod hasn't had a good run. The Zune's share of the mp3 player market peaked at 10%, slumping to 2% in 2009, according to <a href="http://www.investorplace.com/34097/microsoft-kills-zune-mp3-player-smartphones-windows-phone-7/" target="_hplink">Investor Place.</a> <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-14/microsoft-said-to-stop-releasing-new-zune-models-as-demand-ebbs.html" target="_hplink">Bloomberg</a> reported that Microsoft would be killing off its music player due to "tepid demand" and cease releasing new models, though it would continue developing the Zune software.
<blockquote><strong>UPDATE:</strong> <a href="http://zune.net/en-US/products/software/download/default.htm" target="_hplink">Microsoft announced on October 3</a> that it "will no longer be producing Zune players."</blockquote>
MSN TV
Microsoft's MSN TV (aka WebTV) was a service that allowed users to access the Internet via their televisions. The product, which may have been ahead of its time, was ultimately a flop, failing to attract more than 1 million subscribers.
The <a href="http://cachef.ft.com/cms/s/0/a20ccd80-d16e-11df-96d1-00144feabdc0,s01=1.html#axzz1GxNEJiL8" target="_hplink">Financial Times</a> wrote of Microsoft's efforts, "Surfing the TV on a keyboard and web browser sounds about as enticing as pushing a rickety shopping cart across the plush carpet of a designer boutique."
A recent report by Bloomberg suggested that, due to poor demand, Microsoft may rethink the Zune media player. The Redmond-based company said that device's operating software will be integrated into Wi...
A recent report by Bloomberg suggested that, due to poor demand, Microsoft may rethink the Zune media player. The Redmond-based company said that device's operating software will be integrated into Wi...
Once touted as an iPod killer, Microsoft's Zune media player is dead. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft will no longer release new versions of the Zune...
The past decade has been one of historic technological achievements and massively successful releases in consumer tech. In the shadow of those triumphs reside the...
Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg recently took the stage at a joint press conference alongside another large technology company. He described his partner using a...
UPDATE 4/30/2010 8:54 AM ET: Will Microsoft be tablet-less? New reports from Hewlett Packard suggest that HP has scrapped the HP Slate, a tablet unveiled...
Eleven years ago, I made a list of the happiest periods in my life, and I realized that none of them involved money. I realized that building stuff and being creative and inventive made me happy.
Too bad about the zune, it was actually a really good personal jukebox. My first-gen is still going strong and the zune software is so much better, in my opinion, than i tunes.
Ryan_M_Kealy: Too bad about the zune, it was actually a really
The later Zunes actually were not that bad at all. I might have preferred them to the Touch if Microsoft had had a bigger market share and similar support to what Apple has behind iTunes.
sportwarrior: The later Zunes actually were not that bad at all.
If more companies had the resources and the cajones, they would have an equal amount of fail ures. Success rate is very small compared to failure rate in most industries. I give MS credit for experimenting. Experimenting is what moves us forward towards bigger and better things.
AllyCat7: If more companies had the resources and the cajones, they
winner winner, chicken dinner! Finally, someone that gets that success is often born from failure. Apple has had it's share of failures too, and they are doing just fine...
six_seven: winner winner, chicken dinner! Finally, someone that gets that success
I used a "Pocket PC" phone from Verizon with a slide out keyboard back in '05. It had a stylus and I loved the thing, used it all the time. It ran Windows. I still have it in a drawer.
mairs: I used a "Pocket PC" phone from Verizon with a
I like the idea of the ultra-portable PC. It's more portable than a tablet or netbook and more robust than a smart phone. Great idea, but probably not the best design or overall execution. They should try it again. I also like the two-panel tablet design.
AllyCat7: I like the idea of the ultra-portable PC. It's more
The Courier shouldn't count. At best it seemed to be a concept filled animation.
I watched it a few times, and the narrator makes everything seem real simple and says things like "I need to see a map, so I pull up the web...". It seems like every time she needs something, she just has to "pull it up". It's impressive at first, until you start asking yourself "wait a minute! what do you mean, pull up an address book? It looks like you did the same motion for the internet!?" You just realize that a lot of the actions were not so intuitive after all, but the confusing career and life of the narrator just keeps rambling on too quickly for most people to notice, so they're on here now saying "I would buy one of those!" which is like me saying I would buy a Star Trek Tricorder, or George Jetsons rocket ship that folds into a suitcase.
JohnTheMac: The Courier shouldn't count. At best it seemed to be
The new Office 2011 for Mac is a good product, and I hear MS finally got it right with Windows 7. I am a long MS hater, but the hate was largely because of their anti-competitive practices and the company's apathy. Now that the monopoly is weakened and I never have to use Windows again, I bear no ill will toward the company. This is why I don't understand the Apple-hatred. Apple has no monopoly, and there are other choices.
qwr: The new Office 2011 for Mac is a good product,
It's Apple users. Many of them are cult ish and we ird. They hurt Apple's brand image...to me at least. It's a total turnoff to anyone who h@tes the idea of group thought.
AllyCat7: It's Apple users. Many of them are cult ish and
I have a PC but I have Apple products as well, which I love. I've never paid attention to other users of Apple products. They should have nothing to do with what works for YOU, which should be wholly personal.
Apple fans often come off as elitist. I'm happy that you like your gadget, but why do they feel the need to talk down to people with differing tastes...
six_seven: Apple fans often come off as elitist. I'm happy that
Seriously. It looks cool! Don't know why they shelved it. It's not perfect, but with a few changes, it could be a great product. Current tablets and tablet-sizes are not practical.
AllyCat7: Seriously. It looks cool! Don't know why they shelved it.
I second that motion. Most people would agree if they watched the video showing its usefulness. tablets look clunky and unnatural, the Courier looks like a futuristic moleskin notebook.
anotheRedherring: I second that motion. Most people would agree if they
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The Huffington Post Catharine Smith First Posted: 03/18/11 10:15 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:40 PM ET