Six Things That Have Been Replaced With The Improvement Of Better Technology

It is always exciting to see technological innovation make an improvement to someone's life. When an innovation is especially well-regarded, it can even end up replacing the technology that existed before it. Here are six examples of products or services that have been replaced due to the improvement of technology.

The Symbian Operating System

Less than eight years ago, the Symbian operating system was the king of mobile operating systems. Controlled by Nokia, it powered almost 60 percent of the world's cell phones. Then, Apple introduced the iPhone. On its heels came the Android operating system from Google. By 2011, the Symbian operating system officially ended for all intents and purposes, and Nokia began using Microsoft Windows on all its cell phones.

Video Rental Stores

Although they have not completely faded into obscurity just yet, in the United States, where Blockbuster and Hollywood Video used to reign, their stores have been replaced with Redbox kiosks, Netflix, and on-demand digital cable. Going to pick out a movie with the family is no longer the same experience.

Desktop Computers

Although the concept of the desktop computer has not gone away, the form factor has certainly been given up for lost with the advent of all-in-one computers that look almost like a giant tablet and contain the computer internals mounted in a slim-line behind the computer monitor. In addition to competition from the all-in-one, the desktop computer was sunk by the popularity of tablets and smartphones as a second computing device. While there are still plenty of desktop computers being used at businesses and at home, it has changed quite a bit and downsized from what they used to be.

Simple Cartoons

Animation in film making has been going strong for almost 100 years. New mocap animation software that allows creators to make impressive 3D movies has replaced more traditional animation techniques like simple cartoons. The end product is better and the process is easier to control.

Gourmet Ice Cream Makers

Although the technology has been around for a while, restaurant chefs that want to provide the freshest and best ice cream have switched from gourmet ice cream makers to using liquid nitrogen to create fantastic recipes that are often catered to the individual party ordering it. Moreover, they are able to create the ice cream in front of the patrons while they wait. With liquid nitrogen prices at an all-time low, people are even creating ice cream at home using the technology.

Traditional Phone Service

Ever since cable companies started to offer phone service and smartphones with free US long-distance calling, landlines tied to the POTS system have declined greatly. Some people just use a cell phone and others use either VOIP or the phone from their cable system. Even AT&T, the original phone company, has switched a large number of customers over to their DSL service, which uses different back end equipment and requires a certain type of phone line.

With technology constantly changing and improving, the entertainment world and personal convenience has greatly improved. We can all benefit from these simple changes that have made a major impact over time.