Google likes to retire products all at one time, so its no surprise that today during a “Spring Cleaning” at the beginning of summer post, we heard about a few of our favorite familiar products going bye-bye.
We already told you about Google Video, which we all saw coming, but we’re kind of surprised by iGoogle, honestly. Have a look at the rest, will you be missing some of these?
– Google Mini
– Talk Chatback
– Google Video
– iGoogle
– Symbian Search App
Here’s the short version on each shutdown, from Google GM of Global Enterprise search, Matt Eichner:
– Google Mini: Beginning July 31 we’re discontinuing the product because its functionality can be better provided by products like Google Search Appliance, Google Site Search and Google Commerce Search.
– Google Talk Chatback: It’s now outdated, so we’re turning off Chatback and encouraging websites to use the Meebo bar.
– Google Video: Later this summer we’ll be moving the remaining hosted content to YouTube. Google Video users have until August 20 to migrate, delete or download their content.
– iGoogle: On November 1, 2013, iGoogle will be retired. With modern apps that run on platforms like Chrome and Android, the need for iGoogle has eroded over time, so we’ll be winding it down. Users will have 16 months to adjust or export their data.
– Symbian Search App: We encourage you to go to www.google.com and make it your homepage or bookmark it.
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As Google mentioned, most of these tools have been replaced by other products, or by extensions created and published in the Chrome Web Store. Still though, it’s interesting to reflect on how far the company has come on showing us news, publishing items to a feed and displaying videos.
Luckily, the company is providing you with export and migration options for all of these tools, so none of your data will go missing.
At the end of his post, Eichner says “Streamlining our services enables us to focus on creating beautiful technology that will improve people’s lives.” Interestingly the, phrase “beautiful technology” links to a post about Android and I/O, which features Google Now. Yes, yes, I know…the future is mobile.
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