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Dot-com Boom's Biggest Duds, From Flooz to iSmell

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "WSJ.com looks back on some of the boom's biggest busts, and catches up with once-optimistic inventors. A creator of the unfortunately named iSmell, a USB device meant to 'print' smells transmitted by websites or videogames, says, 'It was a heartbreaking experience, because we had put so much into it.' The digital currency known as Flooz crashed and burned when a ring of thieves defrauded the company out of $300,000 using stolen credit cards. Microsoft flushed iLoo down the crapper. CueCat, meanwhile, got a second life as a bar-code reader that doesn't pick up personal information. 'The cat got butchered, but it has spawned a cottage industry,' says the device's inventor."

3 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Re:CueCat by evanism · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    like, you know, like is not like puncuation, you know.

    Oh my god. Duh.

    --
    Just bought a new quantum computer, but I'm uncertain how it works.
  2. conspicuously absent by jihadi_lame · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    slashdot!

    the only site that makes money by allowing subscribers to view stories before ddosing them!

    slashdot's editors must be stopped. consider the jihad

  3. One is a big bust, one is a big boob... by ananamouse · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I nominate Anna Nichole Smith for marrying the rich oil man and her step-son for litigating her to the Supreme Court.