2014 has been (mostly) a success for the world of technology. New phones were released, watches can now show you your Tweets as well as the time, and at long last a company turned a smartphone into a ruler.
Then again there were some low points as well, like that time Apple completely screwed up the iPhone 6 launch live stream, or that other time when a smartphone company tried to turn a phone into a ruler.
We look back on tech's biggest failures, from the gently silly to the downright catastrophic, they're all there. Read on and weep.
Biggest Tech Fails 2014
Microsoft Buys Nook For $300m(01 of09)
Remember the Nook? No? Well don't worry you're not the only one. Created in 2009 to take on the Kindle, the Nook was Barnes & Noble's effort and Microsoft was keen to get involved. So keen in fact that they spent $300m on a 17 per cent stake. $300m.
Now while it's clearly not back-breaking for Microsoft it's certainly not loose change either, that's a big sum of money. Especially when Amazon is starting to gain traction with the Kindle. Sure it'll work out though, these things always do.
Now while it's clearly not back-breaking for Microsoft it's certainly not loose change either, that's a big sum of money. Especially when Amazon is starting to gain traction with the Kindle. Sure it'll work out though, these things always do.
Microsoft Sells Nook For $62m(02 of09)
"$300m you say? Absolutely, and I won't pay a penny less."These are probably (definitely not) the words that an executive at Microsoft had to hatefully chew after it became clear that no, Nook wasn't going to become bigger than the Kindle.
Upon realising this fact Microsoft bailed and promptly lost a cool $238m in the process.
Upon realising this fact Microsoft bailed and promptly lost a cool $238m in the process.
BlackBerry Has A Bit Of A Moment(03 of09)
BlackBerry has been having something of a rough ride. Ok that's an understatement, there are category five storms which would be considered tranquil in comparison to the rough ride BlackBerry's been having. Trying to be something they weren't, BlackBerry faltered and ultimately suffered.
Now though things are different. BlackBerry absorbed Christina Aguilera's sage wisdom and realised that they're beautiful no matter what. Sadly while the keyboard was a welcome return, the rest of the phone wasn't. It was awful. It was big, heavy and expensive. We couldn't even finish our review.
Now though things are different. BlackBerry absorbed Christina Aguilera's sage wisdom and realised that they're beautiful no matter what. Sadly while the keyboard was a welcome return, the rest of the phone wasn't. It was awful. It was big, heavy and expensive. We couldn't even finish our review.
The iPhone 6 Launch, Not That Anyone Saw It(04 of09)
See what we did there? If like us, you tried to watch the Apple launch live then you would have realised that there were a number of things that were missing. The first was any kind of picture. The second was any kind of sound. With both of these quite vital components missing it became increasingly difficult for anyone to find out anything.
Luckily it wasn't all bad news, Apple did eventually get the sound working again. It was in Chinese.
Luckily it wasn't all bad news, Apple did eventually get the sound working again. It was in Chinese.
Sony Pictures 0 Vs North Korea 1(05 of09)
Now as one of the largest film production companies in the world you would have thought that at some point down the line in the making of the controversial film 'The Interview', someone might have mentioned any potential ramifications.
These ramifications might -- for argument's sake -- include the possibility that their film would offend one of the most aggressive and secretive countries in the world. Which would in turn then lead to said country paying a group of highly skilled hackers to prevent the launch of the film by stealing and then publishing all their data. No? No-one? When you discover that all their passwords were kept in a folder called 'Passwords', it points that perhaps no, someone didn't raise their hand.
These ramifications might -- for argument's sake -- include the possibility that their film would offend one of the most aggressive and secretive countries in the world. Which would in turn then lead to said country paying a group of highly skilled hackers to prevent the launch of the film by stealing and then publishing all their data. No? No-one? When you discover that all their passwords were kept in a folder called 'Passwords', it points that perhaps no, someone didn't raise their hand.
Ubisoft Charges Everyone £50 For A Disc Of Plastic(06 of09)
When a developer says that a game isn't ready, it's more often than not quite a good idea to listen to them. Regardless of how big the investment (Activision spent $500m on Destiny). It is with that hat on then that we find it utterly astounding that Ubisoft launched a game where for much of the first two hours, none of the characters had faces.
Assassin's Creed: Unity launched broken. It was broken the day it came out and even as we type this weeks later it is still broken. If it wasn't so bad it would almost be hilarious.
Assassin's Creed: Unity launched broken. It was broken the day it came out and even as we type this weeks later it is still broken. If it wasn't so bad it would almost be hilarious.
The Galaxy Note Edge's Ruler(07 of09)
When you think about all the things in life you absolutely must have, is a 10cm ruler at the top of your list? Ok how about a 10cm ruler that also handily doubles as a smartphone? See now you're more interested, ok now how about we bend one corner of the screen and charge you over £400? No?
That Time Nokia Made An Android Phone..(08 of09)
Nokia and Microsoft were in many ways made for each other. Microsoft had the whole 'Nook incident' and Nokia regularly just made products for no reason other than why not? This level of business intelligence came to a head when Nokia proudly announced that it would finally be launching an Android phone, showing that it wasn't just tied to Windows. Everyone was really impressed and then Microsoft bought Nokia. Never mind then.
That Moment When The Queen LIED To Us All(09 of09)
It was a momentous day for everyone, especially that iPad. The Queen had arrived at the Science Museum to re-open the technology hall. Instead of doing the traditional ribbon cutting, the Queen decided to send her very first tweet. Except she didn't. Someone else did it for her, and forgot to realise that it had 'Twitter for iPhone' plastered underneath. She was using an iPad. Everyone got pretty emotional about it, the Queen probably wasn't that bothered but then she still hasn't apologised for not sitting on the Iron Throne.