15. Microsoft SPOT Smart Watches (2004-2008)

Announced at CES in 2003, Smart watches, which receive tidbits of information over the air via FM radio frequencies, officially arrived in 2004 and were backed by a big marketing campaign.

Some called them SPOT watches because they used Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology, but whatever they were called, they didn't find a broad audience, even as Microsoft and its hardware partners managed to trim the size of the watches, reduce their cost, and include the basic version of MSN Direct for free. We liked the concept, but we knew the technology faced an uphill battle. Sure enough it succumbed to defeat, though MSN Direct continues to serve existing customers.