By 2024, Google continued to simplify its services and added several new items to its “killer applications” list. This year was another chapter in the company’s growth process. This year, Google Shut Down 8 Products mentioned below.
Google admires continuous innovation and successful attempts to maintain its technological leadership. This method enables Google to direct its efforts on sectors that will demonstrate the most growth.
Although these decisions are concerning, they cause diverse reactions among users. Remember that they prove that Google wants to be a company that responds to changes. It wants to remain relevant to the increasing number of competitors.
1. Chromecast Loses Its Name (Sort Of)
The widely used Chromecast streaming dongle didn’t disappear, but its name did. Suddenly, Google began the transition to “Google Cast.”
It predicts that “Chromecast” will soon be completely erased. This fits with Google’s broader plan to make its brand ‘chromeless.’
2. VPN by Google One Says Goodbye
In June 2024, Google One users who chose the in-built VPN based on security lost the feature. Google shifted resources to other security activities, causing users to seek other VPN providers.
3. Dropcam Meets Its End
Wi-Fi security camera maestro Dropcam, which Google bought in 2014, formally rode off into the proverbial sunset in April 2024.
Google started by urging its users to switch to the Nest Cam lineup for added compatibility with the rest of the Google environment.
4. Google Podcasts App: Updated 2024
For podcast fans, a familiar twist was waiting. The previously standalone Google Podcasts app was no longer available.
Google encouraged users to switch to YouTube Music for podcast consumption, centralizing Google’s audio portfolio into one company.
5. Stadia Fades Completely (Though Technically 2023)
Although Stadia shut down in 2023, the full manifestation of this effect extended to 2024, as all the remaining online functionalities and social aspects of the Stadia cloud streaming service disappeared.
6. The Short-Lived Life of Keen
Keen, an experimental app made in 2020 for curating interests, hasn’t managed to attract a core audience. It became one of the discontinued projects in 2024.
7. Play Movies & TV Gets Rewound
This veteran service started in 2004 and ended in 2024. The target audiences were redirected to Google choices such as YouTube or Google TV for their movie and Television shows.
The Stack folds up
Even the 2021 project Stack, created to solve the group work problem, seemed to lack a unique selling proposition amidst the rapid increase in such platforms. It was discontinued in 2024.
The Final Word
Concisely, these goodbyes underscore a current strategy that Google popularizes: simplification. For what concerns may lose sight of these ‘gone’ products, it is also about Google’s focus on filing and enhancing its principal offerings and investment towards potential areas.
Looking at the future, we can realize that there will be more technological changes in the coming years. This includes innovations and changes that will occur in 2020.
More to Read: 6 Google Apps Samsung Can’t Compete With
