There’s nothing more heartbreaking than getting pumped about the latest product announced only to wait… and wait… and then be told it’s been delayed. Again. Gamers should be used to it by now, but what have been the worst culprits over the years? The gadgets that were put back and back, some of which never saw the light of day, at least in the UK? Read on to find out in our top 10 pieces of tech languishing in development hell.
- 1. White iPhone 4
- 2. YouView
- 3. Google TV
- 4. Duke Nukem Forever
- 5. Notion Ink Adam Tablet
- 6. Nokia MeeGo
- 7. Razer Switchblade
- 8. Polaroid Lady Gaga GL20 Camera Glasses
- 9. LA Noire
- 10. Sony NGP
1. White iPhone 4
It’s been so long coming that you have to wonder if anyone cares anymore. Initially supposed to ship with the black iPhone 4 last June, the white version was delayed until August, and then to some time in 2011. The problem is thought to be with getting the paint on the Home button to match the rest of the device, but with the white iPad 2 available from launch, it seems that’s been fixed. Now the white iPhone 4 is set to hit stores in April, just a couple of months before the iPhone 5 is expected to be announced. Anyone who’s been holding out this long can surely wait two more months for an iPhone 5, no matter what colour it is.
2. YouView
The cross channel internet TV service promises to bring web TV to the masses, but it’s been a long time coming. Initially announced in 2008 as Project Canvas, it was a deal between the BBC, BT and ITV; subsequently Channel 4, Channel 5, Arqiva and TalkTalk came on board too. Following wranglings over approval, and numerous complaints from private sector broadcasters like Sky and Virgin Media, it has now been delayed until February 2012 – six months later than previously expected. Well at least it’s got Sir Alan Sugar as Non-Executive Chairman, maybe he can sort out the whole blahdy mess.
3. Google TV
Announced last summer, and launched in the states before Christmas, we’re still waiting for Google TV to land in the UK. Though judging from the teething problems it’s had in the US, with poor quality video feeds, various networks being blocked, and general usability issues, maybe it’s better off being worked on a while longer. Despite denials, Google is rumoured to be prepping a YouTube subscription streaming service to launch in Europe before Google TV, bringing paid-for movies to your desktop. It’ll have to get a move on if it wants to beat Amazon, who recently acquired Lovefilm. And it’s already launched the YouTube Store in the states, and is negotiating with the NBA and NHL to stream live games, so expect if not a straightforward movie rentals store soon, then something very similar.
4. Duke Nukem Forever
Setting a standard for vapourware that makes others look prompt, Duke Nukem Forever was announced in 1997, a full 14 years ago – considering most games consoles have a life cycle of about five years, that’s a ridiculous amount of time for a game to be in development. In 2001, developer 3D Realms announced it would be released “when it’s done”, which is a curt response if ever we’ve heard one. 3D Realms was downsized, and the game sank further into development hell. A lawsuit followed, and in September 2010 it was announced to be in development with Gearbox Software (who ported Half Life expansion packs to consoles), and a release date said to be May 2011. But the question remains: can any game be worth waiting 14 years?
5. Notion Ink Adam tablet
This tablet was first outed at CES 2010, with a release pencilled in for that year. That didn’t happen, then it was spotted at CES 2011, with the firm saying you could pre-order for delivery later in the month. A quick look at its website and people who pre-ordered in February are still having to check the status of their orders. As with anything delayed this long, the specs are starting to look a little limp compared with at announcement: 1GHz processor, 8GB flash memory, and Android 2.2. Especially when you consider the iPad 2 is in stores a matter of weeks after the announcement.
6. Nokia MeeGo
It was way back at Mobile World Congress in February 2010 that Nokia and Intel held their joint press conference. The idea was to merge Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo to form a new Linux-based operating system for mobile phones, netbooks and tablets. According to Intel the project came about because Microsoft’s Windows 7 didn’t fully support the Atom processor common to netbooks. A year on, and Nokia CEO Stephen Elop sent his infamous “burning platform” memo to staff, damning the entire MeeGo project by saying, “We thought MeeGo would be a platform for winning high-end smartphones. However, at this rate, by the end of 2011, we might only have one MeeGo product in the market.” Days later Nokia announced its tie-up with Microsoft, saying it’d use Windows Phone 7 as its primary OS for mobile devices, MeeGo would become, “an open-source, mobile operating system project,” and reiterating it would still ship a “MeeGo-related product later this year.” Still, it’s not looking too good.
7. Razer Switchblade
Notable at CES 2011 mostly for its promotional video that saw the Razer CEO claiming it was “just phenomenal,” and even “sheer genius.” Big talk for a device that’s purely a prototype at the minute. Developed with Intel, it’s a 7-inch gaming laptop with customisable keys, like the Optimus Maximus keyboard, so you can have your controls just how you want. It’s powered by an Intel Atom processor, but apart from that details are pretty sparse, including a price and release date. Well, you can’t rush “sheer genius.”
8. Polaroid Lady Gaga GL20 Camera Glasses
Announced at CES 2011, these glasses let you take pictures as well as upload them and others to the frames for the world to see. A pretty cool idea, and one of the better celebrity tie-ins of recent years, but all that’s known for a release date is “later this year.” We’re hoping this isn’t one of those concepts that gets a lot of headlines, only to be conveniently forgotten about.
9. LA Noire
From the trailers to Rockstar’s 1940s-themed gangster thriller, it’s hard to imagine it was announced way back in 2004, for a 2007 release. Then it was put back to 2009. Now it’s finally set to launch in May of this year, with the requisite hype from Rockstar. It certainly looks great, and with Aaron Staton from Mad Men voicing a character, we’re expecting big things from these cut scenes.
10. Sony NGP
Rumoured for years, the PSP2 was finally announced at the end of January, but it’s not set to launch until the end of the year. It won’t even be called NGP – Sony said it was just a working title in its original announcement. So why announce a console so early that its name isn’t even finalised? Hype was building about Nintendo’s 3DS ahead of its European launch at the end of March, so Sony had to be seen to be doing something to compete.
