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Technology Flops

A 2007 Technology Review: The Bad!



The latest year on the calendar is coming to a close, and we at Daily Galaxy thought it was time to take a bit of a look back at the year. Being the resident nerd, I’ve decided to begin by tackling the bad in the tech world we’ve had to endure this year.

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The last couple of months in a year are often flooded with “Top 10” lists. So to mix it up, here are the top three tech-flops this year. Not original, but at least a bit of a difference. 3. RIAA versus the world! You can tell that when an issue as closeted and genre-specific reaches the mainstream, it is a big deal. This is the case with the attacks attack’s that the Record Industry Association of America has laid against single mums, universities and artists. The latest, and most ridiculous, is the news that the RIAA has influenced politicians enough to have a bill introduced, making it illegal for universities not to hamper illegal music downloading. And by illegal, we are talking about cutting off funding for the university and students. Setting aside the fact that the RIAA have enough political muscle to bring a bill to the floor, their accusations and requirements are insane. Students could lose vital funding if the university they are attending does not provide alternatives and deterrents to peer-to-peer piracy. The U.S. House of Representatives Bill was introduced by Democrat politicians, so obviously under the sway of the RIAA that they should have been wearing “I’m with RIAA” T-Shirts. To go in to any more would verge on the edge of ranting, and we still have two other flops to address. For the moment though, let’s just take it at face value that the RIAA are a nasty lot. 2. The iPhone Price Drop + the iPhone From the top, let’s just make it clear: I want an iPhone. Whether Australia gets it in time to beat out my buying a Google Phone, is an entirely different matter. But for Americans, the first in the world to get their paws on the iPhone, it hasn’t been a totally happy experience. First of all, the phone was locked in to a contract so restricted one would have been forgiven for thinking AT&T had gone a little dominatrix. In addition, a lack of 3G and third party applications was not helping. All of this being said the iPhone still broke sales records, thanks to the rabid Apple fanboys and girls. However, the fanboys didn’t take the price drop too well; or at least, not all of them. That’s right, only a couple of months after the iPhone was released, Apple announced a $200 price drop. Steve Jobs announced the drop, much to the pleasure of all those who had yet to purchase one. However the sheer lack of tact and respect for its customers was astonishing. The drop showed that Apple did not ever need to sell it for the $600 price originally listed. It showed that, despite what the fans wanted to believe, Apple was just another mega-corporate company, out to make a buck off the saps who like their products. However, despite all of this, the iPhone has still been a raging success. And though the sales figures don’t necessarily match Apple’s predictions, they aren’t crying. 1. Windows Vista Without a doubt, the year’s biggest flop was the product which should have been released last year. Windows Vista has provided PC users nothing but trouble. External devices do not work, the OS is unstable, and no one knows which version to buy! This article found its roots in CNET.co.uk’s Top 10 terrible tech products. Windows Vista was listed at number 10, after such products as the Tamagotchi and the Apple Puck Mouse (you do not want to know!). It isn’t any surprise either, as Windows Vista is seen as nothing more than a pointless upgrade. What’s worse is the fact that there are numerous campaigns and calls for Windows XP to be reintroduced. Multimillion dollar companies are reverting back to XP, while Microsoft themselves are about to release a third service pack, for the long serving OS. When not only the critics and fans of your products start reverting to the old stuff, but you as well, you have to realize that just maybe, a mistake has been made! Over the next few weeks, we’ll all take a look at some of this year’s flops, successes and more. So stay tuned, for all of the Galaxies Top 10 lists (or Top 3, 5… whatever!) Joshua Hill, a Geek’s-Geek from Melbourne, Australia, Josh is an aspiring author with dreams of publishing his epic fantasy, currently in the works, sometime in the next 5 years. A techie, nerd, sci-fi nut and bookworm.


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