Top 7 products that should still exist (pictures)
Despite glowing reviews from the press and public alike, sometimes a good product goes to end-of-life or just fails. Here are seven products that we wish were still around.
Pioneer Kuro
Five years is a long time in any industry, but this is particularly true for televisions. One of the saddest boom-to-gloom stories is that of the Pioneer Kuro, which disappeared in 2008 but is still a "="" rel="">reference TV today. It is a spectacular screen, and only in 2013 with the impending launch of the Panasonic ZT60 could the Kuro finally see its match. However, as Panasonic is considering ending its plasma business, it seems that these TVs just weren't made for these times.
Flip video camera
A couple of years ago it seemed that Pure Digital had a monster on its hands with the Flip -- a small, handheld camera that did one thing and did it well: capture video. Cisco bought the company in 2009 for $590 million, and within two years the wheels just fell off. Despite larger storage capacities and higher resolutions, the competition from smartphones was simply too much.
Logitech Squeezebox
In what I hope was more of a coincidence than a kiss of death, I reviewed the Logitech Squeezebox Touch just two months before it was pulled from the market. This is a shame, as this is by far my favorite piece of hi-fi gear. Though you can still find units online, its future as a supported platform is by no means guaranteed.
Samsung SP-A900B
With rear projection now finally over, some people are looking to front projection as a cost effective big-screen replacement. Joe Kane's Samsung SP-A900B was the bee's knees when it was released, but it didn't kick-start a revolution in home theater and is, sadly, discontinued.
Palm Pre (WebOS)
As the smartphone OS landscape quickly becomes a duopoly, some excellent operating systems (and phones) have gone by the wayside. Palm's (then HP's, then LG's) WebOS is sadly missed by its fans, and the WebOS-based Palm Pre was praised by CNET for its "well-integrated features and unparalleled multitasking capabilities." Can LG make WebOS succeed on smart TV? Time will tell.
Logitech Harmony 900
Logitech took a hard hit with the public failure of its Google TV box, but that doesn't explain some of the questionable decisions it's made in the last 12 months. In addition to the Squeezebox, it's also discontinued its fantastic Harmony 900 and Harmony One remotes and replaced them with the mewling Harmony Touch.
Motorola Razr (flip phones)
Anyone who was anyone had a Motorola Razr. It was one of the last true omnipresent phones, save for perhaps the iPhone. I also remember with affection my Sony Ericsson and Panasonic models from the '90s. While Sony had flip phones up until last year, its catalog consists entirely of candy bars now.
More Galleries
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?