RED is discontinuing its Hydrogen smartphone project. On Thursday, the cinematography camera maker's founder Jim Jannard announced his retirement, and with it the demise of Hydrogen.

"Just now turning 70 and having a few health issues, it is now time for me to retire," Jannard said.

The Hydrogen One launched last year as a much-hyped Android smartphone that critics, including PCMag, ultimately dismissed as an underwhelming product. One of the phone's biggest selling points was a special display that was designed to offer a holographic, 3D viewing experience. By using the Hydrogen One's camera system, you could also capture images in 3D and display them on your phone.

However, the technology felt more like an underwhelming gimmick that often ended up beaming low-resolution and dark images. At 9.3 ounces (or more than half a pound), the phone was also heavy and too big to fit in an average pocket. Its $1,295 starting price also didn't help.

RED also failed to deliver mods for the device, including what was supposed to be a powerful 8K cinema camera. In March, Jannard justified pulling the mods, explaining the company was in the middle of "radically changing" the Hydrogen program, which involved the filing of new technology patents.

What will come of those efforts remains unknown. In Thursday's forum post, Jannard simply said the original Hydrogen One model will continue to be supported. In the meantime, RED President Jarred Land, EVP Tommy Rios, and marketing chief Jamin Jannard will be "at the controls" of the company, which primarily sells cinematography cameras to movie studios.