美媒評出年科技領域十大敗筆

A lot of good things happened in tech this year. The iPhone 5 premiered with 4G and a feather-light design. Google released its Nexus 7 tablet to go head-to-head with the Amazon Kindle Fire, and equipped it with Jelly Bean. Samsung delivered a powerful one-two punch with the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II. And we saw a fair number of Ultrabooks that gave the Macbook Air a run for its money.

今年，衆多科技產品紛紛登臺亮相。設計輕薄的iPhone5問世，並支持4G網絡；谷歌發佈Nexus7平板電腦，內置安卓4.1操作系統，與亞馬遜的Kindle Fire展開競爭；三星打出強有力的組合拳，推出Galaxy S III和Galaxy NoteII手機。此外，衆多超級本與蘋果超薄筆記本爭奪市場。

But where there’s good, there’s bad. And there were plenty of major fails this year. Read on for the 10 biggest tech flops of the year.

但是，有好消息也就有壞消息。今年科技領域也出現了許多重大敗筆。下面就是livescience網站總結的2012年科技領域十大敗筆：

Wrong-Way Award: Apple Maps

With all the anticipation surrounding iOS 6, many didn’t think twice about giving up Google Maps for Apple’s new Maps app. But once users switched over, the complaints and outcries that the iOS app was far inferior to Google Maps mushroomed. The app was riddled with errors, including wrong addresses and warped-looking landmarks in the Flyover view while it lacked integrated mass-transit directions.

Apple eventually apologized for the Maps gaffe, and even recommended alternatives. CEO Tim Cook probably put it best, saying "we screwed up."

1.“指錯路”獎：蘋果地圖

人們對蘋果iOS 6系統擁有衆多期待，很多人馬上放棄了谷歌地圖，開始嘗試使用蘋果公司的新版地圖程序。但當用戶改用蘋果地圖後，大家又開始抱怨並抗議iOS系統的地圖遠不及谷歌地圖好用。這一地圖應用程序錯誤百出，包括地址錯誤、立交橋地標扭曲，此外還缺少完整的大規模交通指示圖標。

蘋果公司最終爲地圖錯誤致歉，甚至建議大家改用其他地圖。蘋果公司CEO蒂姆－庫克可能做得最好，他說：“我們搞砸了。”False Start Award: Windows 8

After Microsoft released a preview of the highly anticipated Windows 8, users were dismayed to find that, although the new system's desktop was practically identical to the Windows 7 interface, it lacked a Start menu. Microsoft had substituted the menu with a shortcut to the Start screen, which meant users are forced to leave the desktop just to launch an app that takes them right back to the desktop.

2.“啓動錯誤”獎：Windows8

在微軟公司發佈大家寄予厚望的Windows8預覽版後，用戶們吃驚地發現，儘管新系統的桌面與W indows 7的桌面並無兩樣，但缺少“開始”菜單。微軟用“開始”屏幕的快捷方式取代了“開始”菜單，這意味着用戶要被迫離開桌面，以啓動這一能將他們帶回桌面的應用程序。Worst Sales Pitch: Dell’s “Daily Deals”

During LAPTOP’s annual Tech Support Showdown, we made three calls to Dell's tech support line and got more than we bargained for. During the calls, Dell pushed premium warranties on us, saying we had won a daily drawing that would allow us to buy a $500 four-year extended warranty for just $317.

Lucky us — we were chosen to spend even more money on something we didn’t need! When we resisted, the representative rushed us through the call, barely attempting to answer our question, but routinely haranguing us to buy the warranty, because otherwise the next caller would get our "prize."

According to Dell, using "drawings" as a sales tactic is against company policy. However, aggressively pushing extended warranties and hardware purchases is not, as we experienced on two other calls where support reps seemed more interested in making a commission than solving our problems.

3.“最糟糕的推銷用語”獎：戴爾的“每日優惠”

在《LAPTOP》雜誌的年度“技術支持評選”活動時，我們曾三次致電戴爾公司的技術支持熱線，並得到了“意外驚喜”。通話期間，戴爾公司向我們推銷保險擔保服務，並稱我們在每日抽獎活動中中獎，只需花317美元就可以購買價值500美元的4年延保服務。

我們真幸運，我們被選中花更多的錢購買不必要的服務！當我們拒絕時，銷售代表開始在電話中應付我們，不願回答我們的問題，但還是滔滔不絕地推銷他們的保險，因爲如果我們放棄，下一位打進電話的用戶就會“中大獎”了。

據戴爾介紹，使用“抽獎”作爲銷售策略違背了公司政策。但強硬地向消費者推銷延保服務和硬件卻不違反政策。我們在另外兩次致電戴爾時，技術支持代表對賺錢更感興趣，而不是解決我們的問題。Most Sexist Tweet Award: ASUS at Computex

At this year’s Computex in Taiwan, ASUS tweeted a picture of its Transformer AIO with the caption, “The rear looks pretty nice. So does the new Transformer AIO.” Trouble was, the photo also highlighted the backside of a young woman who was showcasing the Transformer.

After understandably receiving tons of backlash, ASUS deleted the tweet. Then Digital Marketing Manager Tim Smalley released an apology, blaming a third party that had access to the company’s social media accounts. ASUS also sent out an apology tweet, but that didn’t stop the negative social media buzz.

4.“最具性別歧視色彩的推文”獎：臺北國際電腦展－華碩

在今年的臺北國際電腦展期間，華碩公司在推特上發佈了一張TransformerAIO功能一體機的圖片。圖片說明寫道：“後部看上去非常漂亮，新款Transfor-merAIO也是如此。”麻煩的是，展示這款一體機的一名年輕女子的臀部也出現在這張圖片上。

這張圖片引起強烈反響，華碩公司之後刪除了推文。數碼營銷經理蒂姆-斯莫利隨後發表道歉，譴責有人盜取了公司的社交媒體賬戶。華碩公司也發表推文道歉，但沒能消除在社交媒體上產生的負面影響。IP-(Uh)-O Award: Facebook

Although Facebook’s IPO initially set a record for technology companies by raising more than $16 billion, it quickly became the decade’s worst initial public offering. When the social networking giant went public in May, its initial offering price was set at $38, while the company was valued at $104 billion. However, a little more than two weeks later, Facebook shares had dropped dramatically to $26.90 per share.

5.“IPO失敗”獎：Facebook

儘管Facebook的IPO（首次公開募股）融資超過160億美元，創下科技類公司的最高紀錄，但卻迅速成爲這個十年中最糟糕的IPO。今年5月，這家社交網絡巨頭以每股38美元的發行價上市，公司市值達到1040億美元。但僅在兩週後，Facebook股價就開始急劇下跌，至每股26.9美元。Biggest Rip-Off Award: Shared Data Plans

In June, Verizon unveiled its new Share Everything plans, which allow customers to pay a flat fee for each device, plus a single charge for shared monthly data, which ranges from 1GB to 10GB. The plan includes unlimited voice minutes and text messages and makes you pay for them, whether you need them or not. As a result, a 2GB data plan costs $100 on the new plan while 2GB with a limited number of minutes and texts cost $70 on the old plan.

6.最“敲竹槓”獎：數據共享套餐

今年6月，韋裏孫公司公佈了新制定的“分享一切”套餐，允許用戶爲每個設備支付固定費率，同時每月爲各設備共享的數據流量單獨付費，數據流量從1GB到10GB不等。套餐內通話和短信雖然上不封頂，但不管是否需要，消費者都要爲這些服務付費。結果，按照新套餐，一項2G數據套餐要花100美元，而根據原來的限時計劃，2G數據流量套餐僅花70美元。Bad Idea Award: Google Nexus Q

Google's Nexus Q could have easily made our list of most overpriced gadgets of all-time . . . if it had actually come out. First shown and given to attendees at Google I/O 2012, the Nexus Q is a set-top box in the shape of an orb that streams either music or movies to your home theater from Google Play and Google Play only.

While a $50 Roku box, a $100 Apple TV or a $99 Google TV box offers a variety of content services and even apps, the $299 Nexus Q didn't even have Netflix. Once you got over its unique design, the Nexus Q's main feature was allowing multiple users to add to the same playlist, something that was sure to create plenty of arguments among family members with different tastes. To Google's credit, the company quickly realized it had a dud on its hands, stopped accepting new orders and gave free units to anyone who had preordered.

10.“壞主意”獎：谷歌NexusQ

如果正式面世，谷歌的Nexus Q很有可能成爲史上定價最爲過高的設備之一。在2012谷歌開發者年會上，NexusQ初次亮相，並被分發給參會者。Nexus Q是一種球形機頂盒，能從谷歌在線商店（只能從谷歌商店）傳輸音樂或電影到你的家庭影院。

50美元的Roku機頂盒、100美元的蘋果電視機頂盒或者99美元的谷歌電視機頂盒都能提供各種內容服務甚至應用程序，但299美元的Nexus Q甚至無法使用Netflix視頻網站的服務。一旦你搞清了它的獨特設計，那麼Nexus Q的主要特點就是能讓多位用戶添加一份播放列表，這當然會使不同品味的家庭成員間產生爭吵。值得稱道的是，谷歌公司迅速發現了這一產品毫無用處，停止接受新訂單，並對預訂者給予免費。

Reach-Around Award: Acer Aspire S5 Ultrabook

The Aspire S5 was the thinnest Ultrabook around when it debuted, but to achieve such a svelte profile, Acer incorporated a drop-down door to access the Ultrabook’s ports. Even worse, the ports are in the back, making it uncomfortable to reach around to plug in a USB cable.

7.“使用不便”獎：宏碁Aspire S5超級本

Aspire S5以“世界最薄的超級本”的身份首次亮相。爲了得到這樣的“苗條”身材，宏碁公司採用了下拉式接口設計。但糟糕的是，接口位於機身後部，插入USB等設備時有所不便。Broken Promises Award: BB10

BlackBerry 10 has become somewhat of a punchline in the tech industry, with the release of RIM’s new OS continually delayed at a time when the straggling smartphone-maker should be trying anything to keep up with its Android and iPhone competitors. After a brief demonstration of BlackBerry 10 at BlackBerry World in May, RIM pushed back the operating system’s release until Q1 of 2013, and soon after slashed 5,000 jobs.

Although there are some features in BB10 that look promising, many BlackBerry loyalists have already jumped ship. We'll find out in January if RIM has a shot at a better 2013.

8.“違背諾言”獎：黑莓10

從某種程度上說，黑莓10已經成爲科技行業的笑柄。目前，已經落伍的移動通信研究公司應該竭盡全力，追趕競爭對手安卓和iPhone，但這家智能手機制造商卻一再推遲發佈新操作系統。今年5月在“黑莓世界”簡短介紹了“黑莓10”後，該公司將操作系統的發佈推遲到2013年第一季度，隨後又削減了五千個工作崗位。

儘管黑莓10也有令人期待的新特色，但很多黑莓手機的擁躉已經改用其他手機。我們靜待明年1月，看該公司是否將在明年有所起色。Bait-and-Switch Award: Microsoft Surface

When commercials for the Microsoft Surface started airing, viewers were enthralled by the device's Touch Cover.

One would assume that if Microsoft was putting the Touch Cover into its Surface commercials, it would come with the Surface, right? Wrong. Turns out the Touch Cover is a separate purchase, and shoppers would have to invest an additional $119 for the accessory.

9.“誘餌調包”獎：微軟Surface平板電腦

當微軟Surface平板電腦的廣告開始播出時，這款電腦的Touch Cover鍵盤保護罩吸引了觀衆的眼球。

有人也許會認爲，如果微軟把Touch Cover放在Surface平板電腦的廣告裏，那麼Touch Cover會和Surface一起出售，對嗎？錯了。Touch Cover需要單獨購買，另外再加119美元才能得到。