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HTC's blockchain-powered Exodus smartphone is a risky bet that needs to pay off
In May, HTC first announced that it was working on a blockchain-powered smartphone called the Exodus. The news came as one of the company's more intriguing projects after a poor start to the year. Last year, HTC shipped over 2 million products in Q1. This year, it shipped only 630,000 products in Q1, according to numbers from IDC.
HTC is in pretty poor shape after a round of layoffs last week where the company laid off 1,500 employees in Taiwan in hopes of becoming profitable. Sales in June were down 68 percent, according to the company. Its latest flagship, the U12 Plus, has received largely negative reviews over its odd solid-state buttons and software bugs.
It's a less than stellar time for blockchain, as well. Cryptocurrency prices are low, and last month, bitcoin was tied to price manipulation in a report from researchers at the University of Texas at Austin.
Considering HTC's financial situation, there's a lot at stake with the Exodus phone. Now we have details from HTC's Phil Chen about when we can expect the phone to be released and an estimate on how much it might cost. Although Chen was vague on specifics, he told The Verge that we can expect the phone around the end of this year and we can expect a price announcement by the end of Q3. When I mentioned that the world's first blockchain-powered phone called Finney, created by Sirin Labs, costs $1000, Chen said the price of Exodus would be "comparable."
And it comes with CryptoKitties!
See also: Wikileaks breeds and sells Cryptokitties, gifts them to Trump and Clinton
Previously: HTC Announces a "Blockchain-Powered" Smartphone
(Score: 1) by pD-brane on Thursday July 12 2018, @11:39AM (3 children)
I have a Fairphone 2, happy with it and expecting to use it for another 5 to 10 yr.
It's my third mobile phone (and I'm 38 yr old); the Fairphone 2 is by far my most expensive (bit over 500 EUR), but that's OK given that I don't buy a new one so often. I should even be able to replace parts.
My point? Don't buy regularly crap. Buy a good phone and keep on to it.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Thursday July 12 2018, @02:53PM (2 children)
5" 1080p touchscreen
Yeah, no, this is just more of the same crap. A 5" touchscreen means it's way too big to carry like a phone, and still way too small for that touch-screen to be a practical interface.
It may be better in comparison but it's still crap.
"Buy a good phone and keep on to it."
I did. Providers refuse to provide for it.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 1) by therainingmonkey on Thursday July 12 2018, @08:53PM (1 child)
What kind of crazy country uses a phone network where consumers can't just put their SIM in whatever phone they choose?
(Score: 2) by Arik on Thursday July 12 2018, @09:00PM
Like I said, they're just wrong at every level. From the size and form of the device to the software and the infrastructure, it's completely inhuman.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?