The 20 Most Successful Technology Failures of All Time

In the world of technology, failure is often seen as a negative thing. However, there are many cases where failure has led to even greater success. In fact, some of the most successful technologies in the world today were once considered to be failures.

Here are 20 of the most successful technology failures of all time:

• Napster: Napster was a file-sharing service that allowed users to share music for free. It was shut down in 2001 due to copyright infringement lawsuits. However, Napster helped to popularize the idea of file-sharing and led to the development of other file-sharing services, such as iTunes and Spotify.

• BlackBerry: BlackBerry was a line of smartphones that were once very popular. However, the company failed to keep up with the competition and filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Despite its failure, BlackBerry helped to pioneer the idea of a smartphone and its technology is still used in some devices today.

• AOL: AOL was once the world’s largest internet service provider. However, the company’s dial-up internet service was slow and expensive and it lost market share to broadband providers. AOL filed for bankruptcy in 2009. However, the company continues to operate under the name Verizon Media and it owns some of the most popular websites in the world, such as Yahoo and HuffPost.

• Palm Pilot: The Palm Pilot was one of the first personal digital assistants (PDAs). However, the device was expensive and its battery life was short. The Palm Pilot was discontinued in 2006. However, it helped to popularize the idea of a PDA and its technology is still used in some devices today.

• Betamax: Betamax was a video cassette format that was developed by Sony. However, Betamax lost out to VHS in the “format war” of the 1980s. Despite its failure, Betamax was a technologically superior format and it is still used in some professional applications today.

• GM EV-1: The EV-1 was an electric car that was developed by General Motors. The car was leased to a limited number of people in California and Arizona. However, GM canceled the program in 2003 and forcibly repossessed all of the EV-1s. Despite its failure, the EV-1 was a groundbreaking car and it helped to pave the way for the development of modern electric cars.

• Netscape: Netscape was a web browser that was once very popular. However, the company lost market share to Microsoft Internet Explorer and it was acquired by AOL in 1999. Despite its failure, Netscape is considered to be one of the most important companies in the history of the internet.

• Windows 8: Windows 8 was a major overhaul of the Windows operating system. However, the new user interface was confusing and it was not well-received by users. Windows 8 was a commercial failure and it was succeeded by Windows 10 in 2015.

• MySpace: MySpace was a social networking website that was once very popular. However, the company’s website was slow and cluttered and it lost users to Facebook. MySpace was acquired by News Corp in 2005 and it is no longer as popular as it once was.

• AltaVista: AltaVista was a search engine that was once very popular. However, the company was unable to keep up with the competition from Google and it was shut down in 2013.

• Google Glass: Google Glass was a wearable computer that was released in 2014. However, the device was expensive and it had a number of privacy concerns. Google Glass was discontinued in 2015.

• Dreamcast: The Dreamcast was a home video game console that was released by Sega in 1999. However, the console was not a commercial success and it was discontinued in 2001.

• Motorola ROKR E1: The Motorola ROKR E1 was a mobile phone that was released in 2005. The phone was developed in partnership with Apple and it was the first phone to be preloaded with iTunes. However, the phone was a commercial failure and it was discontinued in 2006.

• Segway: The Segway is a self-balancing personal transporter. However, the device has been criticized for being expensive and difficult to use. The Segway has not been as commercially successful as its inventor, Dean Kamen, had hoped.

• QR Codes: QR Codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be scanned by smartphones. However, QR Codes have not been as widely adopted as their inventor, Masa