**2024: A Year of Technological Triumphs and Unmet Expectations**
The year 2024 marked a significant chapter in the realm of technology, with **artificial intelligence (AI)** standing out as one of the most revolutionary breakthroughs since the inception of the internet. In tandem with AI, the tech landscape saw the introduction of exceptional **gadgets**, **laptops**, **smartphones**, **tablets**, **electric vehicles**, and even some intriguing **robots**. However, not all expectations were realized. A number of eagerly awaited products and services that were intended for 2024 did not come to fruition, leaving technology enthusiasts disheartened as they transitioned into 2025.
Here’s a retrospective glance at the most notable tech disappointments of 2024.
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### **Apple’s Next-Gen CarPlay: Still Awaiting Approval**
Apple’s next-generation CarPlay was among the most sought-after upgrades of the year. Marketed as “the ultimate iPhone experience for the car,” this new version promised to flawlessly integrate with a vehicle’s infotainment system and instrument panel, crafting a cohesive interface that merged Apple’s design excellence with the car’s operational features.
While the existing version of CarPlay serves its purpose, it frequently feels detached from the other elements of the car’s user interface. The anticipated upgrade was expected to close this gap and bring us closer to the long-speculated Apple Car, a project that is believed to have been shelved after a decade of development.
Apple had specifically announced that the initial vehicles featuring the advanced CarPlay would enter the market in 2024. However, as the year came to a close, no such vehicles were to be found. The company’s website continues to assert that these models will launch in 2024, yet the calendar has moved forward. When the feature ultimately does arrive, it is expected to first appear in cars like the **Porsche Taycan**, which has been endeavoring to integrate the latest CarPlay capabilities into its offerings.
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### **Spotify Hi-Fi: The Quiet Offering**
Spotify’s long-awaited hi-fi subscription tier has morphed into one of the most baffling tech narratives in recent memories. Initially announced in **February 2021**, this feature was designed to provide high-fidelity audio streaming to rival platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Tidal. At that moment, it appeared to be a logical progression for Spotify’s service.
Fast forward nearly four years, and Spotify has yet to fulfill this promise. The company has consistently teased the feature, suggesting a potential rebranding as **Spotify Supremium**, yet a definitive launch date remains elusive. Back in 2021, Spotify indicated that the hi-fi tier would come “later this year,” a promise that has now become a source of humor among audiophiles.
Most recently, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek mentioned a “deluxe version of Spotify” with enhanced audio quality, but did not provide a timeframe. One thing is certain: it did not materialize in 2024.
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### **Tesla’s Aspirations: Economical Vehicles, Robotaxis, and Full Autonomy Postponed**
Tesla’s ambitious agenda for 2024 encompassed a **less expensive electric vehicle**, **Robotaxis**, and a completely autonomous version of its **Full Self-Driving (FSD)** software. Unsurprisingly, all of these projects have been postponed, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has now shifted the timelines into 2025 and beyond.
#### **The $25,000 Tesla**
Back in 2020, Musk asserted that Tesla could introduce a $25,000 electric vehicle by 2023. Over the years, this vision has undergone multiple adjustments, with Musk recently abandoning the idea of a “$25,000 non-robotaxi conventional car model.” Instead, he has guaranteed a “more affordable” Tesla, which is now projected for debut in the first half of 2025.
#### **Tesla Robotaxis**
Tesla’s self-driving Robotaxis were initially promised as far back as 2020. While the concept has evolved, the actual Robotaxi model—possibly titled the **CyberCab**—is now anticipated to launch in 2026. Musk’s dream of streets populated with autonomous Tesla taxis remains a distant aspiration.
#### **Unsupervised Full Self-Driving**
Tesla’s FSD software, which aims to facilitate completely autonomous driving with no human oversight, has been in progress for years. Although supervised iterations of FSD have been released, the unsupervised version has encountered continued delays. The latest supervised FSD update was rolled out in late 2024, and reports indicate that Tesla is gradually moving closer to realizing true autonomy. However, the benchmarks have now shifted to 2025.
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### **Anticipating 2025**
While 2024 was a period of groundbreaking innovations, it simultaneously underscored the tech industry’s habit of over-promising and under-delivering. From Apple’s next-gen CarPlay to Spotify’s elusive hi-fi tier and Tesla’s grand designs, several highly awaited advancements fell short of their timelines.