1. Clippy, the Microsoft Office Assistant
Debuting in 1997, Clippy was Microsoft’s overly enthusiastic paperclip assistant meant to help users navigate Office programs. For about a month, users were amused by its animations and chirpy interjections. It felt like software was getting more human and helpful. But that illusion didn’t last.
Clippy quickly became a nuisance — popping up with unhelpful suggestions and interrupting tasks, Jake Rossen of Mental Floss complains. People found it annoying rather than useful. Microsoft tried updating it several times, but by 2001 it was quietly phased out. It lives on mostly as a meme and a punchline for poor UX.
2. The Segway
When it launched in 2001, the Segway was supposed to revolutionize urban transport. Inventor Dean Kamen hyped it as a device that would be “as big as the PC,” and cities were expected to be redesigned around it. For a brief moment, it felt like we were stepping into the Jetsons’ future. Then reality hit — it was expensive, clunky on sidewalks, and just looked kind of goofy, according to Katie Canales and Mary Meisenzahl of Business Insider.
Its one-month glory peaked with media buzz, but it never found a mainstream audience. It ended up mostly in the hands of mall cops and tour groups. People realized they preferred walking, biking, or using scooters that didn’t require a training course. The Segway was officially discontinued in 2020, its futuristic promise unfulfilled.
3. Google Glass
Although developed by Google, Glass had its trial debut in the U.S. through a limited release in 2013. The wearable smart glasses were exciting in theory — offering hands-free photography, real-time data, and augmented reality overlays. For a few weeks, it was the ultimate tech flex, with early adopters dubbed “Glass Explorers.” But public reaction quickly turned sour, according to Justin Burton Weidner of Investopedia.
People found them intrusive, creepy, and socially awkward. Privacy concerns — like the ability to record others without consent — were a PR disaster. Bars and restaurants banned them, and “Glasshole” became a meme. Within a month, the hype died, and by 2015, Google quietly shelved the consumer version.
4. Cheetos Lip Balm
In 2005, Frito-Lay actually released a cheddar cheese-flavored lip balm. Yes, really. It was part of a brief attempt to extend their Cheetos brand into lifestyle products, including fragrances and fashion. For one bizarre month, it got coverage in teen magazines and novelty gift guides.
The balm supposedly tasted like actual Cheetos dust — which is both impressive and horrifying. But most people recoiled at the idea of slathering orange goo onto their lips, Mario Marsicano of Mental Floss explains. Sales were a flop, and it was quietly pulled from shelves. Still, it remains a legendary “what were they thinking?” moment in food-adjacent innovation.
5. The CueCat
Launched around 2000, the CueCat was a barcode scanner designed to plug into your PC so you could scan barcodes from magazines and jump to related websites. For a brief moment, it was hailed as the future of interactive print media. Dozens of major magazines added CueCat codes, and the company distributed the devices for free. But consumers were instantly confused.
You had to have the magazine, the barcode, the device, and a computer — all at once — just to visit a website. It was more complicated than just typing in a URL. Security issues also surfaced, as it logged user activity without clear consent. It flamed out within months and is now a cautionary tale in tech marketing.
6. TwitterPeek
In 2009, a company called Peek launched a single-function device called TwitterPeek. It was marketed as the world’s first dedicated Twitter device, allowing users to tweet and read tweets on the go. It was sleek and minimal — like a Kindle for Twitter. For a hot minute, it sparked curiosity among social media fans.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse. Smartphones were already taking off, and people didn’t want a device that only did one thing. It had a monthly fee and limited features — you couldn’t even view photos or links. The device tanked almost immediately and now lives in internet infamy.
7. McDonald’s Arch Deluxe
In 1996, McDonald’s tried to class up their menu with the Arch Deluxe — a “grown-up” burger with peppered bacon and Dijon mustard sauce. They spent over $100 million marketing it as a more sophisticated fast food option. For about a month, the campaign dominated TV, magazines, and billboards. Everyone was curious enough to give it a try.
But it turned out that McDonald’s fans didn’t want gourmet — they wanted fast and familiar. The new burger was expensive, overly complex, and didn’t taste much better than a regular Big Mac. Customers were unimpressed, and it was pulled within a year. It’s now remembered as one of the biggest flops in fast food history.
8. The Hoverboard (That Didn’t Hover)
In 2015, “hoverboards” became the must-have gadget of the holiday season. Despite the name, they didn’t actually hover — they were self-balancing scooters. For about a month, you couldn’t go on Instagram without seeing someone zipping around on one. Celebrities and influencers gave them an aura of tech cool.
Then came the fires. Literally. Cheap batteries in many models caught fire or exploded, leading to recalls, airline bans, and widespread fear. Within weeks, stores pulled them from shelves, and the craze went up in smoke.
9. Facebook Poke App
In 2012, Facebook released a standalone app called “Poke,” intended as a direct competitor to Snapchat. It let users send disappearing photos and messages, leveraging the nostalgia of Facebook’s original “poke” feature. For a brief time, people downloaded it out of curiosity and novelty. It even hit #1 on the App Store for a few days.
But it was basically a rushed clone. Snapchat already had a devoted user base and more polished features. The app never got a strong update and vanished from the App Store within a year. It was one of Facebook’s many short-lived attempts to keep up with younger users.
10. Crystal Pepsi
Crystal Pepsi launched in 1992 with a big marketing push and a Super Bowl ad. The idea? A caffeine-free, clear soda that tasted like regular Pepsi. For a couple of weeks, people were fascinated by the concept — a cola without the cola color.
But the novelty faded fast once people actually tried it. The taste was strange, somewhere between citrus and flat cola, and it confused longtime Pepsi fans. Sales dropped quickly, and it was discontinued in 1994. Still, it pops up every few years in limited nostalgia runs.
11. The Rejuvenique Electric Facial Mask
In the late 1990s, infomercials introduced America to the Rejuvenique — a metallic face mask that used electrical stimulation to “tone facial muscles.” Think “Jason from Friday the 13th meets spa day.” For a moment, it felt like something out of the future, promising face-lifts without surgery. Celebrities like Linda Evans even endorsed it.
But once people tried it, they realized it just zapped their faces in weird, uncomfortable pulses. Reviews compared it to being electrocuted by a haunted toaster. It quickly gained notoriety as a bizarre beauty fad. Safe to say, it didn’t become the next big thing in skincare.
12. Pizza Hut’s Pizza Box DJ Deck
In 2016, Pizza Hut UK introduced a limited-edition pizza box that turned into a Bluetooth-enabled DJ controller. Only a few hundred were made, but the marketing hype reached the U.S. and had Americans begging for a chance to drop a beat with their pizza. For about a month, it was internet gold — pizza and turntables, what could go wrong? The idea was undeniably fun.
But practically, it was just a novelty. The box was flimsy, the controller lacked serious features, and grease made it a mess. DJs couldn’t take it seriously, and it wasn’t available to the public beyond giveaways. Another example of viral buzz that didn’t translate to staying power.
13. The Flowbee
Invented in the late 1980s, the Flowbee vacuum haircutting system saw a massive sales spike during its TV infomercial era. It was especially genius in theory: a device that attaches to your vacuum to give perfect DIY haircuts at home. For about a month, Americans marveled at the convenience, especially in rural areas where salons weren’t as accessible. It even got a second wind during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns.
But once people actually tried it, results varied from mediocre to tragic. Haircuts often looked choppy or uneven, and longer hair could get painfully tangled. The idea of vacuuming your head proved too ridiculous to become routine. Still, it lives on as a cult novelty item (and yes, George Clooney reportedly uses one).
14. The Snuggie
Technically, the Snuggie — the blanket with sleeves — debuted in 2008, but its true viral moment hit in early 2009. It started as a late-night infomercial joke, but for one surreal month, everyone was ironically buying one. Snuggie pub crawls happened. Entire families wore them like cult uniforms in holiday photos.
But the gimmick wore thin quickly. It was basically just a backwards robe, and the novelty faded once people realized it wasn’t all that practical. Within a month, it had reached meme saturation and started disappearing from couches nationwide. Still, you probably know someone who secretly kept theirs.
