Page 2 of 4
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:29 am
by TC Talks
I would have to go with the QR code for consumers. It works great for UPS but I don't know anyone using QR codes anymore.
The other big one would be in car GPS systems. They become obsolete almost a minute you drive the car. Most can't be updated without a CD or an expensive cellular contract for your vehicle.
It seems most vehicles have gone to Android auto or Apple carplay
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:26 pm
by Deleted User 15342
Not sure what this next one is called could be Super-Tenna, but it was a plug-in adapter box that has a coax cable to hook into you television antenna input and turns your electrical wires in the house into a television antenna. Mine never worked as a matter of fact I purchased it from a “As seen on TV” commercial. How about K-Tel Records that’s another winner. One more just came to mind it’s “The Rabbit” that sent a cable signal to other televisions in your house so you wouldn’t have to pay an extra charge to the cable company, the only problem with “The Rabbit” was you had to have the same channel on every television that it was hooked up to.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:27 pm
by SolarMax
Lucky615 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:26 pm
Not sure what this next one is called could be Super-Tenna, but it was a plug-in adapter box that has a coax cable to hook into you television antenna input and turns your electrical wires in the house into a television antenna. Mine never worked as a matter of fact I purchased it from a “As seen on TV” commercial. How about K-Tel Records that’s another winner. One more just came to mind it’s “The Rabbit” that sent a cable signal to other televisions in your house so you wouldn’t have to pay an extra charge to the cable company, the only problem with “The Rabbit” was you had to have the same channel on every television that it was hooked up to.
The "Super-Tenna" in one form or other was around since the fifties. Used to advertise in pulp magazines with a photo of the giant Jodrell Bank radio astronomy antenna and headline "Turn your house wiring into a GIANT TV ANTENNA." Basically it was a box with a 300 ohm antenna output pigtail, and a two prong AC plug. Inside was a capacitor to isolate the voltage from the antenna line. Ridiculous concept in theory and practice, dangerous, too.
IIRC I think the "Rabbit" was a part 15 device, a modulator that sent a channel 3 or 4 signal from your cable box or a VCR etc. and could be picked up off-air by nearby sets.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:41 pm
by CurlyHoward
Digital TV. It reduced the number of channels one can easily receive free over the air.
Those little dipshit FM transmitters 20-25 years ago that were mostly meant to play Discmen over car stereos before CD players in cars were standard-always had static for me even on open channels.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 6:28 am
by MWmetalhead
Stadia, Clippy in Microsoft Office and the Super-Tenna are all terrific examples!
I remember seeing advertisements (directing viewers to call a 1-800 order line) for the Super-Tenna. The (lousy) actors during the commercial would boast about they how receive a clear picture "on every single channel!" The advertisements ran quite often during the early 90's & mid 90's.
The fact actors as opposed to actual consumers gave "testimonials," and the fact only simulated TV pictures were used during those commercials, were dead giveaways that the product was a dud.
https://blog.solidsignal.com/tutorials/ ... n-antenna/
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:37 am
by kager
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:41 am
by Deleted User 15342
The 49 MHz walkie talkies, what a waste of cheap electronics. But one cool thing you were able to hear nearby telephone conversations from wireless phones. I think the channels were 49.830, 49.845, 49.860, 49.875 and 49.890 if I remember correctly.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:54 pm
by Deleted User 15342
Don’t forget the DVD/CD rewinder, Don’t forget to rewind.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:56 pm
by Turkeytop
Dial up modem.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:40 am
by kager
Turkeytop wrote: ↑Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:56 pm
Dial up modem.
Well, they're a device, and for the most part - no longer relevant. Not a flop.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:08 pm
by SolarMax
CurlyHoward wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:41 pm
Digital TV. It reduced the number of channels one can easily receive free over the air
What??
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:04 am
by ftballfan
kager wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:40 am
Turkeytop wrote: ↑Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:56 pm
Dial up modem.
Well, they're a device, and for the most part - no longer relevant. Not a flop.
It wasn't a flop at all. Technology advances made it obsolete. Also, the dial-up modem is older than 25 years old.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:06 am
by Deleted User 15342
SolarMax wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:08 pm
CurlyHoward wrote: ↑Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:41 pm
Digital TV. It reduced the number of channels one can easily receive free over the air
What??
What, What??? It added not reduced.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:20 pm
by km1125
ftballfan wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:04 am
kager wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:40 am
Turkeytop wrote: ↑Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:56 pm
Dial up modem.
Well, they're a device, and for the most part - no longer relevant. Not a flop.
It wasn't a flop at all. Technology advances made it obsolete. Also, the dial-up modem is older than 25 years old.
Even those with acoustic couplers were not flops, but a necessary evolution of the technology. I'd love to have one of those today, but I'm not sure how I'd fit a cellphone to it.
Re: Biggest tech device flops of the past 25 years!!!
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:41 pm
by Turkeytop
ftballfan wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:04 am
kager wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:40 am
Turkeytop wrote: ↑Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:56 pm
Dial up modem.
It wasn't a flop at all. Technology advances made it obsolete. Also, the dial-up modem is older than 25 years old.
So am I.
