HTC’s recently announced One A9 flagship has come in for a lot of stick concerning it’s not too dissimilar appearance to the iPhone 6 .
Hell, I like HTC’s One range (even if the last few models were a little unexciting), and even I couldn’t help but wonder whether wishing for an overhaul was really the right thing .
Then it emerged that while it’s available to pre-order in the US right now for $399, it’s actually priced at just under £430 in the UK, which would be around $660 as a straight conversion.
HTC has since explained that the discrepancy comes about due to promotional regional pricing options, and that the handset would increase to $499 on November 7.
Way to go, HTC!
Don’t worry about making the handset more appealing by launching with a lower introductory price in the UK, just increase the price for everyone else. A sure-fire way to fix the problem of languishing sales .
HTC is by no means alone in offering promotions at launch – it’s a smart move – but explaining to alienated potential purchasers that the reason it costs more in their country is because the company chose not to offer a discount is a bit of a kick in the teeth. It’s also not great to have to explain that, yes, it did use to cost $399 in the US but now costs $499.
When you’re flatlining and trying to rebuild your brand, it’s a tough call between cutting early margins on US sales or rolling out the offer globally to treat all your customers equally.
In this case, I think HTC took a wrong turn, but I’m still trying to look forward to finding out how it really performs.
Playbrush turns your kid’s toothbrush into a game controller for just $50
It isn’t always easy to get children to do the rather mundane ‘adult’ task of brushing their teeth twice every single day. So, turning it into a fun activity can surely be no bad thing; enter Playbrush .
Available from today in the EU, US and Canada at $51 (€49) apiece, Playbrush fits on the bottom of any toothbrush handle and pairs with a smartphone game to encourage kids to brush thoroughly and often. The gadget can also be shared amongst siblings as it’s easy to detach.
The device includes motion sensors to detect whether little Janey has brushed in every corner and guides them through a healthy routine via a mobile game controlled by their brushing action.
Geared towards children aged between five and ten years, Playbrush ships with Utoothia , a game that takes players through 12 countries to collect magical teeth for the Tooth Fairy. In addition to actual brushing challenges, the title lets kids advance through levels with performance-based goals like brushing properly for two days in a row.
Utoothia , developed in-house, is available now for iOS and will arrive for Android on December 15. The company has more titles planned for release every couple of months.
Of course, Playbrush isn’t the first smart brushing gadget out there — but it’s significantly cheaper than its rival Kolibree , which costs $150.
Playbrush is available through the company’s online store now, as well as select dentists, children’s stores and pharamacies in Austria and the UK. The device will also go on sale on Amazon soon.
➤ Playbrush
Here’s what the LG G5’s ‘Magic Slot’ removable battery will probably look like
Rumors have been flying around that LG’s upcoming G5 could the first all-metal phone with a removable battery. Now we’ve got an idea of know what those batteries will probably look like, courtesy of a post on Weibo :
The battery would fit into the G5’s so-called ‘Magic Slot,’ which will also let the phone add rumored accessories like physical control knobs for the camera or a high-end audio DAC (digital-to-analog converter, a type of sound processor). LG just announced a partnership with Bang & Olufsen, for that matter.
The slot is particularly interesting because it could solve the biggest complaint about metal phones: their lack of expandability.
The ability to replace batteries and add storage used to be one of the best things about Android, but as more manufacturers try to compete with Apple’s design skill and its inherent eyecatchiness, flagship devices have slowly lost such beloved features.
LG is pretty much the only manufacturer to keep both of these features alive on an Android flagship, but it’s suffered for its plasticky phones. It’s refreshing to see it try to find a way to give Android fans the best of both design and features – theoretically, at least.
We’ll see how the expandability plays out in the real world soon enough: LG is set to reveal the new device at Mobile World Congress on February 21.
➤ Weibo via Engadget