The Best Projects Killed by Google and Why We Miss Them

Amidst all of Google’s achievements, there is a cemetery of abandoned initiatives. These are the top ideas that Google scrapped, from Android Things to Google Podcasts, and we still don’t believe they were a terrible idea.

Shown above is the Google Podcasts user interface.

Google Podcasts was the search engine giant’s effort to compete with other prominent podcasting platforms in the late 2010s and early 2020s, when the industry was seeing explosive growth. When Google Podcasts first debuted in August 2018, it offered a wide variety of entertaining podcasts. A few of examples are Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO and Deep Dive With Ali Abdaal.

For both Android and iOS devices, Google Podcasts was available at no cost. On top of that, you may use your web browser to listen to podcasts. At the end of 2023, Google said that the app will be retired in April 2024 and that YouTube Music would take its place as the primary platform for podcasts.

Google Podcasts was a great alternative to paying for a streaming service that allowed users to easily listen to their favourite episodes whenever they wanted. Free alternatives to Google Podcasts are harder to come by for Android users, but Apple users have Apple Podcasts to fall back on.

Take a look at the top podcasting applications for Android if you’re an Android user.

Dronepicr/Wikimedia Commons Captures Google Stadia Booth at Gaming Conference
One of Google’s most publicised flops, Stadia debuted in November 2019. The cloud gaming service’s library of games was extensive, with titles like Far Cry, FIFA, and Assasin’s Creed. Your TV and mobile applications are only two of the many ways you might play games.

Stadia offered monthly membership packages that featured 4K streaming for $10. But there was also a free plan available. Google Stadia will be turned off in 2023 after the company stated in September 2022 that it will be discontinuing the service.

Although Stadia was met with criticism, which caused some customers to cancel their subscriptions early, the idea was intriguing, and that is why we will miss it. It took a lot more labour to get the job done, but it might have been much larger.

Phones with Android Auto

Android Auto’s User InterfaceCommons by Google and Wikipedia
One more exciting but ultimately abandoned Google initiative was Android Auto for Phones. One major drawback is that your vehicle requires a screen, which isn’t always an option with Android Auto. Android Auto was developed with the intention of providing drivers with access to maps and other relevant information in vehicles without a dedicated system.

Launched in 2019, Android Auto for Phones was later abandoned by Google in 2022. Nevertheless, the process of Android Auto for Phones began to wind down in 2021, and since Android 12, consumers have been unable to install the programme.

The Reasons It Violates Our Life: Even though most new automobiles now had displays built in, this function was helpful for those whose vehicles lacked one. The good news is that Android Auto is still available separately.

Google Plus

Logo for Google Plus with the plus sign (+1)Commons by Google and Wikipedia
The name Google+ is probably familiar to anybody who used the internet in the early 2010s. As of December 2012, Google+ claimed 500 million members (albeit only 100 million accounts were active), according to Yahoo News, who said that the service had been debuted in 2011. Google+ allowed users to post picture updates and external connections. A+1, similar to Facebook’s “like” button, might be given to announcements that you found interesting.

Posts may be commented on and shared via Google+ as well. However, the platform was taken down in April of this year. Google Currents is the name of the platform’s new business-to-business service.

Why We Miss It: Google+ may have been difficult to understand at first, but it served a valuable purpose in helping people find and engage with fascinating information. It was particularly useful for companies to exchange ideas. If you were looking for a Facebook alternative that didn’t restrict your connections to friends and family, Google+ was a great choice.