We always read about the most popular gadgets on the market. But for every technology that changes our lives there is something that flops. It’s difficult to judge what the general public will take a fancy too, so companies take a risk every time they release something. Below we explore a handful of technologies that fall outside of the “took flight” category.

Famous tech failures

• Apple TV: This gadget gives users the ability to purchase entertainment from iTunes then stream it to the device of their choice. Good idea? Most likely, if it wasn’t so limited to iTunes. 

• Sony Mylo: You might not remember the Mylo. That’s because it came and went without eliciting much response from consumers. This Wi-Fi-enabled mobile device permitted consumers to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, and hold online chats. Additionally, it came with Skype for free Internet calls. Sadly for Sony, the iPhone and its huge app store simply overwhelmed the Mylo.

The Segway peters out

• Segway PT: The Segway PT scooter hasn’t exactly been a flop. However, it never caught on in the way its manufacturers anticipated. This two-wheeled transportation machine was supposed to be a must-have for commuters traveling to work and for family members taking short trips to their local supermarket. Unfortunately, the scooter makes people look kind of silly when they are riding it. Maybe this is why the device hasn’t become a mainstream replacement for cars.

The CueCat doesn’t purr

• CueCat: Shaped like a cat, the CueCat was a barcode reader released to the public in 1999. It allowed consumers to open a link to an Internet address by scanning a barcode on an item. The concept was that consumers would appreciate surfing to a website without having to enter in that site’s address. This theory proved flawed, and it wasn’t long before the CueCat’s maker, Digital Convergence Corporation, was out of business.

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