2023 was a year of great innovation and disruption in the tech world. We witnessed the emergence of new technologies such as ChatGPT, Vision Pro, and X Corp. But we also had to say goodbye to some of the tech that we loved, used, or hated. In this blog post, we pay tribute to the tech that died in 2023, and reflect on their legacy.
Apollo The Reddit App That Reddit Killed
Apollo was a popular third-party Reddit app for iOS users. It was praised for its beautiful design, smooth performance, and rich features. Apollo had a loyal fan base that preferred it over the official Reddit app. But in June 2023, Apollo met its tragic end when Reddit announced new API pricing that would have cost Apollo $20 million a year. Apollo’s developer, Christian Selig, tried to negotiate a deal with Reddit, but to no avail. Thousands of Reddit communities went dark in protest, but Reddit CEO Reed Huffman did not budge. Apollo was forced to shut down on June 30, leaving millions of users heartbroken. Apollo was a victim of Reddit’s greed and indifference, and we will miss it dearly.
13-inch MacBook Pro The Laptop That Nobody Wanted
The 13-inch MacBook Pro was a controversial product from the start. It was supposed to be an entry-level MacBook Pro for those who did not need the power and features of the higher-end models. But it had one major flaw: the Touch Bar. The Touch Bar was an OLED touchscreen that replaced the top row of function keys. It was supposed to be a cool and innovative way to interact with your apps, but it turned out to be a nuisance and a gimmick. The Touch Bar was unresponsive, inconvenient, and annoying. Users hated it, and wished for a physical escape key and a normal keyboard. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was also overshadowed by the M2 15-inch MacBook Air and the M3 14-inch MacBook Pro, which offered better performance, battery life, and ports. The 13-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued in October 2023, and nobody shed a tear. The Touch Bar was a mistake, and we are glad it is gone.
Apple Lightning Port The Port That Europe Banned
The Apple Lightning port was a proprietary charging port that Apple used for its iPhones, iPads, and AirPods. It was introduced in 2012, and since then, Apple users had to buy and carry around special cables and adapters to charge their devices. The Lightning port was also incompatible with the USB-C standard that was widely adopted by other tech companies and devices. The Lightning port was a source of frustration and inconvenience for many Apple users, but Apple refused to change it, claiming it was superior and more secure. But in 2023, the European Parliament passed a law that required all smartphones and tablets to have a common charging port, namely USB-C. Apple had no choice but to comply, and the iPhone 15 and the AirPods Pro were the first Apple products to ditch the Lightning port and adopt USB-C. The Lightning port was a relic of the past, and we are happy to see it go.
Clubhouse The App That Nobody Listened To
Clubhouse was a social audio app that allowed users to join and host live, voice-only conversations on various topics. It was launched in 2020, and quickly gained popularity and hype, especially among celebrities and influencers. Clubhouse was seen as a novel and exciting way to connect and network with people, and it attracted millions of users and investors. But Clubhouse’s success was short-lived, as it faced several challenges and competitors. Clubhouse struggled to moderate its content, prevent harassment and misinformation, and retain its users. Clubhouse also faced competition from other tech giants that launched their own audio chat features, such as Facebook, Spotify, Reddit, and Amazon. Clubhouse’s user base and downloads plummeted, and it failed to sustain its growth and momentum. Clubhouse was shut down in November 2023, and nobody cared. Clubhouse was a fad, and we are over it.
Twitter The Platform That Elon Musk Ruined
Twitter was a social media platform that allowed users to post and read short messages, or tweets, on various topics. It was founded in 2006, and became one of the most popular and influential platforms in the world. Twitter was used by millions of people, including celebrities, politicians, activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens, to share their opinions, news, jokes, memes, and more. Twitter was also a source of controversy, drama, and scandal, as it often hosted heated debates, arguments, and conflicts among its users. Twitter was acquired by X Corp., Elon Musk’s umbrella company, in 2022, and Musk became its CEO. Musk made several changes to Twitter, such as merging it with X Corp., renaming it to X, eliminating the verification system, banning third-party clients, and reducing the moderation and censorship of content. Musk also alienated many of Twitter’s users, advertisers, and partners, by posting controversial and offensive tweets, such as antisemitic remarks, conspiracy theories, and personal attacks. Musk’s actions led to a massive decline in Twitter’s user base, revenue, and reputation. Twitter was effectively killed by Musk, and we are appalled by it.
Conclusion
These are some of the tech products and services that died in 2023. Some of them were loved, some of them were hated, and some of them were forgotten. But they all had an impact on the tech world, and they deserve to be remembered. We hope you enjoyed this blog post, and we invite you to share your thoughts and memories of the tech that died in 2023 in the comments below. Thank you for reading.