Earlier quoted context omitted.
From the x thread 80% of the size is pdfs of their toothbrush products.
Makes sense. I don't have an X account, so I can only see the linked post (AFAIK).
Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
201–210 of 247 posts
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#202Earlier quoted context omitted.
> who cares? Some people have limited storage space remaining on their device. Some people have slow Internet, or capped Internet.
Limited storage space is a valid argument I guess, though with music / everything streaming these days I’ve always struggled to see how you’d fill up a 128gb phone. And I’ve obviously got no data to support this but i suspect the cross number of people downloading the Oral B toothbrush app on 4G internet out and about would be low. Feels like the number of people in developing countries buying an app-enabled toothbru…
Smartphones with 32GB or less storage are not rare. I can still buy a brand-new Android phone at the local electronics chain with 32GB storage.
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#203My question is: why do an Oral-B app and a Colgate app even exist?
since this is YC, maybe to understand oral-B's business model which is avante-garde, you could consider this great piece on their main competitor (SmartPipe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJklHwoYgBQ
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
How does that work here? Say I have that toothbrush, the app, and say I had to sign up to use it. What they know is how long the toothbrush is on. How are they going to monetize that data?
I can think of a few things at least: * Collect data on brushing frequency and thoroughness, and sell that data to dental insurance companies. Perhaps not even anonymized, so they can raise your premiums if you don't brush as often or as well as they'd like. * Nag you to buy brush replacements after a certain amount of time or certain number of uses. * Use dark patterns to trick you into giving access to other, unrel…
sell that data to dental insurance companies
They've pivoted away from that to general benefits management (basically every flavor of job-connected insurance that isn't major medical), FWIW...
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#205My question is: why do an Oral-B app and a Colgate app even exist?
They need some reason to make you think that a $$$ toothbrush that is yet another device that takes up another electrical outlet and space on your bathroom countertop is better than a $2 brush you can keep out of sight in a drawer and that you will never forget to charge.
An electric toothbrush is better than a regular toothbrush for the same reason that your dental hygienist doesn't use a regular toothbrush for your biyearly cleanings.
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#206What kind of sane person is downloading a toothbrush app?
How else will you update the firmware on your toothbrush?
(i'm wish i was kidding: Phillips seems to publish firmware updates for the sonicare a few times a year)
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#207Earlier quoted context omitted.
How does that work here? Say I have that toothbrush, the app, and say I had to sign up to use it. What they know is how long the toothbrush is on. How are they going to monetize that data?
Sell it to dental insurance companies who charge different amounts depending on how frequently you brush your teeth and for how long?
This is what Beam Dental did. They used to make a toothbrush and I'm betting they now license their tech to toothbrush makers and act as the middle man for dental insurance companies.
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#208What drives me nuts is that gathering user data for data brokers is such a valuable operation. I am sorry, but I can't sit here and be excited about who numbers are going up at conglomerates as they continue to make apps to extract data rather than any sort of good product. I know I have officially passed middle age due to my good old day's rant, but fridges, dishwashers, and toothbrushes with apps... like when the d…
If only the ad quality went up with the efficiency with which they syphon the data. I don’t have a driver’s license and I’m in a relationship yet a considerable amount of personalised ads on my devices are about dating sites and car dealerships.
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
They need some reason to make you think that a $$$ toothbrush that is yet another device that takes up another electrical outlet and space on your bathroom countertop is better than a $2 brush you can keep out of sight in a drawer and that you will never forget to charge.
An electric toothbrush is better than a regular toothbrush for the same reason that your dental hygienist doesn't use a regular toothbrush for your biyearly cleanings.
Okay, so it is better. How much better is it? I don't use an electric toothbrush, I haven't had a cavity since childhood. Why do I need a better toothbrush? Can the cost be justified?
Re: Why is the Oral-B iOS app almost 300 MB? And why is Colgate's app even bigger..?
#210Earlier quoted context omitted.
They need some reason to make you think that a $$$ toothbrush that is yet another device that takes up another electrical outlet and space on your bathroom countertop is better than a $2 brush you can keep out of sight in a drawer and that you will never forget to charge.
As someone that owns a $2 tooth brush, I've always wondered if it was better to put it in a drawer where mould etc might build up on the brush faster, but it was protected from the air in the rest of the bathroom (c.f. Mythbusters "There is poop on everything"). Perhaps the answer is to put the toothbrush in a different room!
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