Tech hits and misses

A look back at the biggest tech hits and misses in recent years.

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Facebook | HIT

Facebook.com worker Ginnie Chan, left, works at Facebook headquarters on Feb. 5, 2007, in Palo Alto, Calif. The social-networking site launched in February 2004 exclusively to Harvard University. The site would later expand to 800 college networks and eventually open registration to everyone in September 2006. The site now boasts more than 750 million active users and counting.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Google Wave | MISS

In this screen shot taken in November 2009, a computer's screen shows the Google Wave application. Google Wave launched publicly in Sept. 30, 2009. The web app allows users to communicate and collaborate in real time "waves." After the app. failed to pick up steam, Google announced that it would stop developing Wave as a stand-alone product on Aug. 4, 2010.

Peter Zschunke / AP

Apple iPad | HIT

The iPad 2 is shown at an Apple event after the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater on March 2 in San Francisco. The iPad, a touch screen tablet device, was released in 2010 amid a great amount of buzz. Apple released the iPad 2 in March with upgrades like a thinner design and two built-in cameras.

Jeff Chiu / AP

Nintendo Wii | HIT

Tyler Oyler plays with his Nintendo Wii on Nov. 19, 2006, at his home in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Nintendo released the Wii, a game console complete with wireless motion-sensitive remote controllers, in 2006 and in the process got thousands of people off their couch, changing the way people think of home gaming.

Martin B. Cherry / AP

Microsoft Zune | MISS

The ability to wirelessly share music between two of Microsoft Corp.'s new Zune music player is shown during a demonstration Oct. 27, 2006, in Redmond, Wash. Microsoft had hoped to take on Apple's popular iPod music player with features such as a built-in radio and the ability to share songs on a restricted basis wirelessly with other Zune players. The Zune hit stores in November 2006, but was never able to reach the same success as its counterpart. In March, reports surfaced that Microsoft would not be releasing new models of the Zune.

Ted S. Warren / AP

Apple iPod | HIT

The Apple iPod Nano on display after Apple product announcement on Sept. 9, 2008 in San Francisco. Apple launched the iPod in October 2001 advertising the MP3 player with the tag line "1,000 songs in your pocket." Nearly 10 years and several generations of the device later, 275 million iPods had sold through Sept. 1, 2010, according to Apple's Web site. In the process, the rise of the iPod has revolutionized the way people listen to music.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Amazon Kindle | HIT

In November 2007, Amazon launched the Kindle, an e-reader that allows users to read books, newspapers and magazines all at the touch of a finger. In May, the company announced that its Kindle book sales had grown so much that they had begun outselling print books on Amazon.com.

Anonymous / AP

Toshiba HD-DVD vs. Sony Blu-Ray | MISS & HIT

An HD DVD video disc of "The Bourne Supremacy" is seen at left, with a Blu-ray disc of "Superman Returns" at right, at a Ken Crane's Big Screen Headquarters store on Aug. 8, 2007, in Buena Park, Calif. Both types of high definition optical discs were publicly released in the U.S. in 2006 and directly competed against each other to take the top spot as the next step up from DVDs. Blu-ray discs would ultimately win the battle when HD DVDS fizzled out in 2008.

Reed Saxon / AP

Apple iPhone | HIT

Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds up an Apple iPhone at the MacWorld Conference on Jan. 9, 2007 in San Francisco. Apple introduced the iPhone in January 2007. Now over four years later, Apple is continuing to release updates and new versions of the cell phone. The iPhone 4 was released on June 24, 2010, with upgraded features like multitasking, video calling and HD video recording.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Microsoft Xbox 360 | HIT

With explosions happening on the screen, Will Amodei of Kent Wash. tries out the X-BOX 360 before the annual Microsoft shareholder meeting on Nov. 9, 2005 in Bellevue Wash. Microsoft released the Xbox 360 during the 2005 holiday season. The game console features Xbox Live, which allows users to chat with friends, play games with others and earn achievements.

John Froschauer / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

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