Vaporware

:This article refers to the term as used in computer industry. For the company, see VaporWare (company).

Related Topics:
Computer industry - VaporWare (company)

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Vaporware (also spelt vapourware) is software or hardware which is

Related Topics:
Software - Hardware

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announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge, either with or without a protracted development cycle. The term implies deception, or at least a negligent degree of optimism; that is, it implies that the announcer knows that product development is in too early a stage to support responsible statements about its completion date, feature set, or even feasibility.

Related Topics:
Development cycle - Product development

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There is a similarity between vaporware and a species of hoax; both involve promoting a product or event which cannot later be produced. There have been a number of hoaxes in technological fields, wherein the hoaxer promises that proof of his offering will be forthcoming -- eventually. Examples include Clonaid, the Raelian company which promised proof of human cloning; or any number of perpetual motion machine "inventors". The distinction may be that in vaporware, the proponent truly does intend to produce the advertised product, while in hoax, he knows the product does not exist or cannot be produced.

Related Topics:
Hoax - Clonaid - Raelian - Human cloning - Perpetual motion machine

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