Not too long ago, Google used to offer two email apps — Gmail and Inbox. The latter breathed its last breath in 2019, and was interred into Google’s own digital necropolis. Inbox took with it Gmail Offline to the product cemetery the same year. Inbox had its own share of faults and lagged behind in getting updates, but it also had some features that its legion of fans appreciated. With a rather distressing email history under its belt, that is also no secret in the Google ecosystem, the chatter about Gmail’s death hit a bit too close to home.
However, the “Google Graveyard” is no stranger to well-loved products, some of which persisted for years with high ambitions, while others lived in obscurity or only enjoyed a short spell. In 2023, Google shuttered its domain name registry service and the promising Pixel Pass service — which would have allowed users to get a new phone every two years — and the Jaquard project for integrating tech with lifestyle products, among others. One of the biggest casualties was Stadia, the game streaming service that was put on ice after a few years of dedicated development.
Next year, Google Podcasts, one of many favorite places to listen to audio shows, will also meet an untimely end, following in the footsteps of Google Play Music. However, Gmail continues to live another day, and likely isn’t going away any time soon.
