The technology we will have lost by 2025

Seen from the very limited perspective of technology and related services being discontinued, outdated and disconnected, 2025 was pretty quiet. But not silent: 10 events stand out to me as an observer and participant in the industry, from the perspective of having a notable impact or representing the end of an era.

By comparison, we’ve lost some big names in 2022, like the iPod, Google Stadia and Internet Explorer. This year seemed to have less high-profile farewells and a lot more nostalgia and changes that were symptomatic of larger trends.

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Check this out: RIP to the technology that died in 2025

07:12

AOL disconnects the dial-up connection to the Internet

If you’re of a certain age, like me, then the screeching tones of a modem handshake connecting to the internet provides an aural reminder of the slow, formative years of the internet. In those early days you logged into a particular service, so the biggest fish – AOL – became synonymous with dial-up. Thirty-four years laterIn September, the screeching stopped, perhaps leaving a large number of rural customers without internet access at home. (Some Two million people were still using it as of 2015.)

Human AI pin

I was stunned by the excitement surrounding the Human AI pina wearable AI voice chat device: I may have seen so many of these one-trick ponies come and go, most of which have been replaced by multi-functional gadgets. In the case of the pin, which only lasted about a year, the fact is that it wasn’t very good, which exacerbated the problem. While HP bought Humane AI lock, stock and chatbot in February was the driving force behind the technical talent, operating system and patent portfolio; a hardware revival is unlikely.

The last iPhone home button is leaving town

You can’t go home anymore, at least not easily on the iPhone anymore. The last model with a special home button was the iPhone SE, which was replaced in February by the home button-less iPhone 16e. In some cases you can map another control to take you home, but that means giving up direct access to another capability, and I curse its absence every time my iPhone gets crafty about sensing upswipes from the bottom of the screen.

Micron Forgets Crucial Consumer Memory

Memory manufacturers are flocking to high-demand, high-margin, AI-friendly, high-bandwidth memory thanks to the seemingly deep pockets of popular AI companies that needed data centers yesterday. Given that there are really only three major manufacturers – SK Hynix, Micron and Samsung – when Micron announced it is turning away from consumer markets in November, the end of these days impossible to find, impossible to afford memory for PCs seems further away than ever.

Black is the new blue screen of death

Windows’ blue screen of death has been a tech staple since the early days of the graphical user interface, one of the most feared and not very useful scares ever caused by a system crash. As Microsoft improved recovery speed and backend data collection for operating system crashes in October 2024, the company improved replaced the BSoD itself in the October 2025 operating system release, with a “simpler user interface” on a (less scary?) black background. We’ll miss you, giant frown emoticon. Although I still expect it to appear in the usual unusual places, such as digital billboards and taxi entertainment systems, which invariably run on old versions of Windows.

Amazon is firing its Android App Store

Amazon has always had a laser-sharp focus on its bottom line, including driving buyers toward its own branded products. In August this was taken to a new level, closing the store for common Android apps and switching to apps intended solely to run on its own Fire devices, which run a modified version of Android. However, the store has existed for a relatively long time, 14 years after its launch in 2011.

Microsoft Skype becomes a Teams player

Long before FaceTime and ubiquitous VOIP communications, at the turn of this century, Skype became mainstream as a low-cost alternative to expensive long-distance and international phone calls. It picked up speed when it was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 and video calling was added to its skillset. In February, Microsoft has announced that we are saying goodbye to the veteran standalone app and that it would be merged into the company’s free version less loved Teams app.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat sucks

Google’s lobotomy of the first two generations of the OG smart thermostat in October gave us another object lesson in the 21st century planned obsolescence. The hardware is fine, just old by technical standards: Nest Labs launched it in 2011, And Google bought the company in 2014. But by disconnecting from the app (euphemistically referred to as “end support”), it loses many of the features you bought it for, like remote control and notifications, and stops security updates — essentially encouraging people to upgrade.

Google builds latest Stadia controllers

Google’s custom-designed controller, with its own connection to the company, is short-lived Stadia cloud gaming servicewas discontinued then the service was closed late 2022. The company has refunded hardware purchases, but has also provided firmware upgrades to convert it to Bluetooth; it’s a well-designed controller, so throwing it away seems like a waste. But from the end of 2025, the company will stop offering the upgrade. If you haven’t made the switch by then, you can add the controller to your shelf of non-functioning collectibles.

American grounds DJI imports drones

One of the biggest drone manufacturers – probably the best known – is now among the products that are hard to buy here in the US, thanks to a ban on the import of all foreign products drones which came into effect in December. You can still fly and buy them, you’ll just have a problem finding them.