Tech
Startups Which Should Have Succeeded But Failed
Published
5 years agoon
Ideas are like magic. Either they work or they just fizzle out and die. The same concept works with startups as well. While some startups with supremely crazy ideas boom and leave you wondering about how that happened, others which should have succeeded, failed miserably. Today, instead of looking at the successful startups, here is taking a look at the ones which should have succeeded, but didn’t:
1. Friendster
Touted to be one of the first social media websites in the World, Friendster failed to take off as well as Facebook. Founded in the year 2002, Friendster hit the ground running with $ 50 million as funding. The site was so popular, even Google wanted to buy the site for a whopping $ 30 million. However, Friendster got too confident and decided to reject Google’s offer, a move which is still considered as one of the biggest mistakes made by a startup. While the idea of connecting with friends and talking to people on a common platform was considered a novel and bright idea, Friendster failed because it refused to move with the trends. By not letting users share news, the site slowly started becoming irrelevant as people started growing bored of the simple tools. What also went against Friendster was, it was profile based and did not let you do things unless you went directly to a person’s profile. If Friendster had stuck to the trends and gone with the flow, it wouldn’t have fizzled out and disappeared so quickly. Oh well, at least other social media platforms are learning from Friendster’s mistakes!
2. GovWorks
Founded in the year 1998 by two childhood friends, GovWorks had all the right intentions, but was not worked on in the right way. Designed both to help the government keep track of its clients, and for the citizens to perform tasks like pay tickets online, apply for jobs and look for information regarding to the city in which they were, the startup grew from having just 8 employees in the beginning to 250 employees by 2000. However, because of major rifts between the two founding partners, the startup refused to take off. Furthermore, because of the founders’ inability to fix the constantly growing bugs, they had no option but to sell GovWorks in 2001. The lesson here? If you are mixing your professional and personal life, make sure you have a plan of action to not let things go bad.
3. Webvan
Before the likes of BigBasket and other grocery delivery platforms became popular, WebVan started toying with this idea in the year 1999. Founded by Louis Borders during the dot com boom, the startup promised to deliver groceries to customers within a 30 minute time frame. Louis Borders and CEO George Shaheen believed in the online system so much, they jumped into the business with guns blazing. Despite buying warehouses full of produce, trucks to deliver the products and expensive computers to simplify the delivery process, the startup refused to make a mark. With people refusing to buy into the idea of ordering groceries online and because of the lack of internet everywhere, the owners had no option but to shut up shop in the year 2001. If they had waited for a few years later, they would have made quite a mark now!
4. Pay By Touch
While Paytm is perhaps one of the most used apps for online payment, it wasn’t the first startup of its kind. Founded in the year 2002, Pay By Touch allowed users to make online payments with the swipe of a finger on a biometric sensor. Innovative and one of the first startups of its kind, Pay By Touch rose quickly and even raised $ 340 million! However, despite doing extremely well, the Company started failing because CEO John P. Rogers was accused of domestic abuse and possession of drugs, amongst other charges. With so much bad press, the Company stopped doing well and in 2007, it had to be shut down.
5. WebTV
Founded in 1995, WebTV was supposed to be a combination of the World Wide Web and television. Coming in the size of a VCR which promised to bring affordable internet to the living room without using a PC, WebTV grew so big, MSN bought it and renamed it as MSN TV in the year 1997. However, because of the lack of availability of broadband and the steep price of the device, the idea slowly started to die. While WebTV didn’t take off when it launched, companies like Xbox 360 and DVRs are using a similar principle now.
While each of these startups thought their ideas could work if done right, they all failed because they just couldn’t make it across the troubled waters. If you think we missed out on other startups like these, comment and let us know!
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Navigating Instagram’s New Teen Accounts: A Guide for Parents and Teens!
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 20, 2024Instagram has introduced a new feature called “Teen Accounts” to enhance the safety and well-being of its younger users. This initiative aims to address growing concerns among parents and guardians about the potential risks associated with social media use among teenagers.
Understanding Teen Accounts
Teen Accounts are automatically assigned to users under 18 years old and come with built-in safety features. These accounts are designed to provide a more secure online experience for teenagers by protecting them from inappropriate content and unwanted interactions while giving parents more control over their teens’ social media activities.
Key Features of Teen Accounts
- Default Private Settings: All Teen Accounts will be set to private by default, requiring teens to approve follower requests and ensuring that only people they know can see their content.
- Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only receive messages from accounts they follow or are already connected to, limiting the risk of unwanted contact from strangers.
- Sensitive Content Filtering: Teen Accounts will automatically have the most restrictive content settings, filtering out sensitive material such as violent videos or posts promoting cosmetic procedures to create a safer browsing experience.
- Hidden Words Feature: Instagram’s anti-bullying tool, Hidden Words, will be activated by default on Teen Accounts, filtering out offensive comments and messages to help reduce cyberbullying.
- Time Management Tools: Teens will receive reminders after using the app for over an hour, encouraging them to take breaks. A sleep mode will mute notifications between 10 PM and 7 AM, promoting healthier usage habits.
- Parental Controls: Parents can monitor their teen’s messaging activity over the past week without accessing the actual messages. They can also set daily time limits for app usage and block access during specific hours.
Parental Oversight
The introduction of Teen Accounts gives parents greater oversight of their children’s social media interactions. By enabling parental supervision features, parents can approve or deny changes to account settings, view topics their teens are exploring on Instagram, and set daily time limits for app usage. This level of control is designed to reassure parents that their teens are engaging with age-appropriate content and are protected from potential online dangers.
Implementation Timeline
Instagram began rolling out Teen Accounts on September 17, 2024, starting with users in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Existing accounts for users under 18 will transition to Teen Accounts within the next 60 days, and the rollout will extend to other regions, including the European Union, later this year and into early 2025.
Conclusion
Instagram’s new Teen Accounts represent a significant step towards ensuring the safety of younger users on social media platforms. With enhanced privacy settings, content filtering, and parental controls, these accounts aim to create a more secure environment for teenagers while allowing parents to stay informed about their children’s online activities. As social media continues to play a crucial role in young people’s lives, initiatives like these are essential in fostering safe and responsible usage. Parents should familiarize themselves with these features and engage in conversations with their teens about safe social media practices.
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Apple Halts iPadOS 18 Update for M4 iPad Pro Amid Reports of Bricked Devices!
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 18, 2024Apple has recently pulled the iPadOS 18 update for M4 iPad Pro models following a wave of complaints from users who reported that their devices became bricked after installing the software. This decision comes just a day after the update was made available, highlighting significant issues that have rendered some iPads unresponsive.
The Rollout of iPadOS 18
On September 16, 2024, Apple launched iPadOS 18, which introduced several new features, including customizable home screens, a calculator app for the first time on the iPad, and enhanced note-taking capabilities. However, shortly after the rollout, many M4 iPad Pro owners began reporting serious problems. Users took to platforms like Reddit and Apple’s Discussion Forums to share their experiences of devices that turned off during the update process and failed to power back on.
One user recounted their experience: “I just took it to the Apple Store, who confirmed it’s completely bricked,” indicating that they would need to send the device to engineers for assessment before receiving a replacement, despite having AppleCare. This frustration was echoed by numerous other users facing similar issues.
Apple’s Response
In light of these complaints, Apple has temporarily removed the iPadOS 18 update for M4 iPad Pro models and has stopped signing the firmware files necessary for restoring these devices. While Apple has not publicly acknowledged the full extent of the problem, they confirmed they are working to resolve it. Notably, other devices are still able to download and install the update without incident, suggesting that the issue is isolated to specific models.
User Experiences
Affected users reported various scenarios leading up to their devices becoming bricked. Some noted that their iPads were fully charged and connected to power during the update process but still encountered failures. Attempts to recover their devices using recovery mode or connecting them to a computer yielded no positive results, leaving many frustrated and seeking assistance from Apple Support.
Community Reactions
The community response has been overwhelmingly critical of Apple’s quality assurance processes. Many users expressed disappointment over experiencing such severe issues with a brand-new device. Comments highlighted concerns about whether adequate testing was conducted prior to releasing the update. Some users even compared their experiences unfavorably with Android devices, stating that they had never encountered such critical failures during updates on other platforms.
Looking Ahead
As of now, Apple has not provided a timeline for when iPadOS 18 will be re-released for M4 iPad Pro models or what specific measures will be implemented to address these issues. Users are advised to refrain from installing the update until further notice and are encouraged to contact Apple Support if they experience problems.
Conclusion
The withdrawal of iPadOS 18 for M4 iPad Pro models underscores the challenges tech companies face in ensuring software reliability across diverse hardware configurations. As Apple works to rectify this situation, affected users are left navigating uncertainty regarding their devices’ functionality and future updates. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough testing in software development and maintaining user trust in technology companies.
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Essential Steps to Prepare Your iPhone for the iOS 18 Update!
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 16, 2024Preparing Your iPhone for iOS 18: Essential Steps
As Apple rolls out the much-anticipated iOS 18 today, it’s important to ensure your device is ready for the update. This guide outlines the necessary steps to prepare your iPhone for a smooth installation of iOS 18, which promises to enhance customization and introduce several new features.
1. Verify Device Compatibility
Before proceeding, confirm that your iPhone is compatible with iOS 18. The update will be available for the following models:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
2. Free Up Storage Space
iOS 18 requires approximately 6.98 GB of available storage. To ensure a smooth installation, check your storage by navigating to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Delete unused apps, photos, and files. Consider offloading photos to iCloud to create additional space.
3. Back Up Your Data
Backing up your iPhone is crucial before any major update. Use iCloud or connect your device to a computer with iTunes/Finder to create a backup. This protects your data in case of any issues during the update process.
4. Check App Compatibility
Some apps may not be immediately compatible with iOS 18. Check for updates from app developers or consider waiting a few days after the update to ensure your essential apps function correctly.
5. Ensure a Stable Wi-Fi Connection and Charge Your iPhone
A stable Wi-Fi connection is essential for downloading the update. Additionally, ensure your iPhone is charged to at least 50% before starting the installation to avoid interruptions.
6. Wait for Early Reviews
If you’re not in a rush, consider waiting a few days after the initial release to install iOS 18. This allows time for developers to identify and resolve any initial bugs, ensuring a smoother experience.
By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to install iOS 18 and take full advantage of its new features. Enjoy your updated iPhone experience!
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