When Is a Failed Product Actually Ahead of Its Time?
Weekly Wheaties #2630
In this newsletter:
📝 Post: When Is a Failed Product Actually Ahead of Its Time?
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: Galaxy Unpacked
🗞️ In Case You Missed It: AI Updates
😎 Pick of the Week: Education Picks
📦 Featured Product: Lamps
📝 When Is a Failed Product Actually Ahead of Its Time?
If you know me, or have followed me, long enough - you probably still may think I’m a Microsoft fan boy. To some extent, I may be, but it’s also no secret I’m trapped in the Apple ecosystem pretty deep and I’ve embraced the blue bubble. As mentioned, I still think Microsoft does some things right, I know they also do some things wrong, but other times, they may also just be too early. I also recognize many other companies do the same thing… I just had this thought this week, and now you get to hear about it! And hopefully get to thinking yourself.
What sparked the thought was seeing Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy Z Fold8. It is a “passport” book-opening shape that the rumored new iPhone is also alleged to be. Well, it’s probably not a spoiler, but do you know who released the first passport-style foldable phone? Microsoft. The Surface Duo had two inner screens with one outer screen (with one exception that the two inner screens weren’t connected). However, that may have been the right choice in hindsight since the first few years of foldables had major issues.
Well, this post wouldn’t be made if that was the only product I’m talking about. To be clear, I’m not saying every failed product was amazing and shouldn’t have been cancelled. Some products fail because they are bad, some fail because they are too expensive, others may fail due to understanding, timing, or limitations.
A few other Microsoft examples come to mind that you may or may not have heard of: Cortana, HoloLens, Microsoft Band, and the Surface Duo as mentioned.
Cortana was Microsoft’s digital assistant. At the time, it was their competitor to Apple’s Siri and Google’s assistant. Except anyone who had a Windows phone would tell you that Cortana was the market leader here. Today, Microsoft is trying to push back with Copilot, but I think they’ve fallen a bit too far to catch up, unfortunately.
HoloLens was Microsoft’s mixed reality headset. What we would refer to as Augmented Reality (AR). It was one of the first in the AR space, and most of the market moved towards VR. Where it stayed for a few years… until… you guessed it - back to AR. There are still VR-only headsets, but Apple’s Vision Pro, Meta’s Quest, and Google’s Android XR systems are all a mix of VR and AR. Microsoft’s biggest issue here was it was priced too far out for consumers and was a bit too bulky. Pair the HoloLens with the Xbox Kinect, and they could absolutely have a monopoly on the future of the gaming industry. Okay, that may be a bit too much, but I think you understand my point.
The Microsoft Band was one of the first fitness-focused wearables that wasn’t just a “smartwatch”. Now, all the major manufactures are releasing a screen-less wearable to rival the Whoop - the most popular fitness wearable. Now, smartwatches have taken over and generally include the fitness features most people care about. That said, years before the Band or any other major smartwatch, Microsoft also released SPOT Watch Technology. Too early here is almost an understatement.
I’m not sure what the full pattern is, but the next time Microsoft invests a lot into a product, then eventually cancel it, I may start investing in companies about to release the same type of product! It seems like Microsoft is mostly business-focused and struggles to get normal consumers to care before the category is ready.
The lesson here isn’t that Microsoft always gets it right. Clearly, they don’t. Again - somethings they do right, and somethings they do wrong. But othertimes, maybe they are just too early.
It’s also not just Microsoft. Google was a bit too early with Google Glass, and the Humane Pin has some competitors coming around. There are different reasons for both of those products, but as the market and the potential customers change, so do their needs.
What products are you seeing today that may be too early?
🗞️ ICYMI: Galaxy Unpacked
At the Galaxy Unpacked event last week, Samsung announced update devices, including: three new phones, two new watches, and a pair of smart glasses.
The Galaxy ZX Fold 8 Ultra is their flagship foldable, which was updated to be their thinnest phone, with biggest battery ever. The display now uses a new titanium film providing less of a crease than previous models. The new Galaxy Z Fold 8 is their first passport-style phone which is a bit smaller than the ultra, has one less camera, and is touted as their “lightest Fold phone ever.” The Galaxy Z Flip has been updated to be thinner and faster with a new One UI 9 for the Flex Window, allowing users to create custom Cards. All three phones have updated cameras, softwares, and AI is more integrated throughout the OS.
The phones and watches are available on August 7th, with the Samsung Intelligent Eyewear coming this Fall.
🗞️ ICYMI: AI Updates
OpenAI had a busy week… they Launched Health in ChatGPT, then their Models Escaped and Hacked a Company in a Cybersecurity Test Gone Wrong. Their agents were solving simulated hacking challenges, but found a vulnerability in the testing sandbox, allowing them to Break Into Hugging Face. There’s a much larger discussion here around increasingly more capable AI agents, but it does appear the agents were only trying to solve the issue at hand, not cause harm to the company or gain consciousness. Say what you will, but if companies owning the software are testing with results like this, then true hackers are probably already doing much worse. These models are already out and cannot simply be “shut down,” so this will be common in the foreseeable future. Hugging Face did release a Security incident disclosure.
😎 POTW: Education Picks
With school getting ready to start back across the country, perhaps you (and your kids) may enjoy some unique education picks to end your summer!
6 Fascinating Facts to Know on the 150th Anniversary of the Telephone Call
Education Interactive Periodic Table & Chemical Equation Balancer
📦 Featured Product
Whether your trying to get a bit more (or unique) light in your office, living room, or at the campsite, here’s a few lamps to consider:
