Android Apps Killed Off By Google In The Year 2013

2013 has been one of the most important years for the Google as the company has introduced plenty of new products. Starting from various Android-based devices, Google has even introduced Android KitKat 4.4 and tons of other interesting and useful enhancements that would gear up Android application development for sure.

However, Google has also killed off a few of the decent apps in the year 2013. While the company has introduced some out-of-the-box Android apps, at the same time, the company has delivered the death sentence to five of its own apps in 2013. Let’s take a look at some of the fallen stars in Android application development:

• Google Reader (2010-2013)

 R.I.P. Google Reader – Introduced three years back, the Google Reader Android app was once the most popular app for the Android users. However, the Google Reader lived a lonely and often neglected existence in the past few years. Google has discontinued it in this summer when its parent service became the victim of an unprovoked homicide. Feedly has taken over the marketplace.

• Google Shopper (2010 – 2013)

 Once considered as a tough competitor to the now-forgotten ShopSavvy application, Google Shopper was launched in February 2010. The app guided many-a-store-browser through the act of comparison shopping, making it easy to scan products’ barcodes and get instant price comparisons from local stores and online retailers.

 The functionality of this amazing app was replicated many times by the Google Goggles app, Google Search app and Google Now services. However, in July 2013, Google has decided to kill off Shopper, but its execution occurred at the end of August.

• Google Currents (2011 – 2013)

 Google Currents was intended to change the way users get news on their mobile devices. However, many users have used it for a certain period of time and then forgot it! The main reason why Currents manage to survive is because of its younger brother Google Play Newsstand. Newsstand is accused of orchestrating the murder of Currents and is expected to go on trial sometime next year.      

• Google Talk (2008 – 2013)

It is one of the integral parts of the Android family ever since its inception in the year 2008. It is one of the most popular chat app used by millions of users across the globe.  It is known as GTalk, Google Chat and GChat. However, this year the app has gone through a drastic change and now named as Hangouts.

• Google Play Magazines (2012 – 2013)

This app lived for a very short time. The app has debuted in the world of Android application development in the summer of 2012 and took its last breath just before this past Thanksgiving! The app was quite useful for the people willing to get glimpses of their favorite magazines through their mobile device itself.

Apart from all these, Google has also discontinued other apps like Messaging, Movie Studio and more in the year 2013. Of course, Android application development is on its peak and Google is all set to dazzle the app world with more powerful and innovative apps, but do you think the end of these amazing Android apps is a right move from Google? Share your views in the comments…!