The HTC Vive Flow VR headset’s USP is its size and weight, designed such that it goes where you go. Despite growing lighter each year, VR headsets are still known to result in rashes and weariness. But the Flow’s official site portrays the headset as being so light that it effortlessly gets integrated into one’s life, among other things.
However, it’s unsettling to see HTC pull photos from Shutterstock and photoshop its HTC Vive Flow VR onto models’ faces rather than using their own stuff. And once you see it, there’s no turning back.
Now, don’t get us wrong here for the headset has actually received positive reviews, mainly for its light weight and comfort. But it’s difficult to believe that it is any good when HTC has apparently cheaped out on the marketing.
It’s not just the headset that’s been photoshopped though. Take the image above for example. The woman in the photo originally held a bowl of popcorn, which has been duly erased and replaced with a phone. The editing itself seems to be a fine job, but it’s odd seeing a woman throwing in the “finger purse” sign when engrossed in virtual reality.
Emojipidea says that in Italy, this gesture tends to be used in disagreement, frustration, or disbelief – definitely not the kind of reactions a company would want from their product, unless of course if it’s so good that it leaves its beholders staggered in disbelief.
The above image is just the tip of the iceberg though as Protocol’s Janko Roettgers pointed out (via: The Verge) yesterday on Twitter that the majority of HTC’s leaked lifestyle images of the HTC Vive Flow can be traced back to istockphoto.com. These images have now made their way to the headset’s official site.
Nonetheless, it is worth mentioning here that making use of Photoshop in product images in such a manner isn’t exactly something new. Companies do it all the time. It’s just that HTC has photoshopped images from Shutterstock, rather than using their own, and has gotten caught in the act.
Dear HTC, in conclusion, just try not to get caught next time.
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