5 ms·

It's not really hostile in this particular case. It beeps a few times when the status changes and then just displays led in amber instead of green. It is kinda

by rplnt 3y ago

It's not really hostile in this particular case. It beeps a few times when the status changes and then just displays led in amber instead of green. It is kinda sad how much effort went into this "functionality", how much it increases the cost of the device, but selling replacement heads is their primary business. Maybe the brushes would be more expensive without the NFC reader and timers.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
ndsipa_pomu 3y ago
Just changing the colour of an LED seems okay to me. I'm thinking more of the HP school of business where the toothbrush would stop working until the correct proprietary brush was replaced.
- nolongerthere 3y ago
  Yea I have this toothbrush too, I also noticed the weird IC on the bottom of the brush head when I first bought it, I nearly correctly surmised what it did, was a little upset at the prospect of being forced to buy a new head when Phillips decided it was time, but it turns out it doesn’t really do anything, it buzzes a few times at the end of brushing when it thinks it’s time. And the LED changes color… who cares… The recommendation generally is to replace your tooth brush semi-annually, which this basically reminds you to do.
  - maxerickson 3y ago
    A lot of recommendations are every 3 to 4 months.
    - leipert 3y ago
      I mean at 360 minutes, it’s every 90 days if you do two 2 minute sessions every day.
  - e40 3y ago
    I have never seen the reminder because I guess I change the heads before they detect it is time. I always notice a big difference in function when I do.
royal__ 3y ago
Yes this. It's not like the entire tooth brush stops working. Also, if you've used the brush for so long, it may very well be time to replace the head for the sake of oral hygiene. The most consumer unfriendly thing about these toothbrushes is just how expensive the heads are.
crazygringo 3y ago
Honestly, I appreciate it. Brushes really do wear out and clean less effectively over time, and as a user you don't really notice it -- frog in a boiling pot and everything. But every time I swap brush heads after it reminds me, you can feel how much more effective the stiffer bristles are. It's not like razor blades where it becomes really obvious from tugging that they need to be replaced. Brushes just slowly get softer and, if you're like me, you just don't notice.
- blowski 3y ago
  It just reminds me of the David Mitchell / Robert Webb sketch about "for the first time in history, people are taking orders from their toothbrush".
  - alt227 3y ago
    "If we tell them to, do you really think they will brush their tongues?" https://youtu.be/ltZrfrmb7Ws https://youtu.be/ltZrfrmb7Ws
MereInterest 3y ago
> It beeps a few times when the status changes Every time I turn it off, the Philips Sonicare plays a loud series of beeps, near my head, at times of day when I'm just waking up or about to sleep, for a toothbrush head that is well within its lifespan. The only supported way to stop the beeping is to throw out the current toothbrush head, and pay Philips more money for a replacement that isn't needed yet.
- rplnt 3y ago
  > Every time I turn it off, the Philips Sonicare plays a loud series of beeps OK, that is annoying. Mine doesn't do that. I only got the annoying beeps a few times around the time the timer expired. Ever since only the different color light.
- nkurz 3y ago
  > The only supported way to stop the beeping is to throw out the current toothbrush head Are you sure? On mine, the manual shows how to turn off the "Brush head replacement reminder": https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20201024/46fe48eae7b84c6f8d29ac5e006361e1.pdf https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20201024/46fe48eae7... (p.16-17). Might your model have a similar feature?
- cesaref 3y ago
  I don't have this problem with my manual toothbrush. I've never needed to recharge it's batteries either.
  - secondcoming 3y ago
    I used be skeptical of electric toothbrushes, and still use manual brushes when travelling, but sonicare brushes are really good. Even my dentist once asked me which brush I use. YMMV
- PreInternet01 3y ago
  I'm not sure what you mean by "every time I turn it off", or "loud series of beeps"... Are you sure you have an actual Sonicare? Because that doesn't need to be turned off after brushing (the cycle ends itself), nor is it capable of producing beeps that could be described as anywhere near "loud". In any case, the user manual that helpfully ships with every genuine Sonicare, and is also easily accessible online, succinctly describes the steps to disable the beeping: 1. Put the handle on the plugged-in charger. 2. Press and hold the power on/off button while the handle remains on the charger. 3. Keep the power on/off button pressed until you hear a series of two short beeps (after 4-5 seconds). 4. Release the power on/off button. But, as an actual Sonicare owner: when it beeps for replacement, the head is truly overdue for that. In fact, I synced the replacement schedule of my manual toothbrush (which sees an equivalent duty cycle in my case), and every time I look at both brushes, I have to admit: yup, those need replacement!
blacksmith_tb 3y ago
More expensive because they couldn't annoy you into buying as many brush heads? It's sort of the subscription vs. software license debate all over again, but in our mouths... I will admit to using my brush heads past the time when Philips 'helpfully' starts nagging me to replace them, and it was sort of satisfying to see this reset work. It also got me looking around and I see people pop the NFC rings loose from old heads to reuse them as NFC tags, which is fun, I will have to harvest a few of those (I do eventually retire mine and use them for scrubbing etc.)

by rplnt 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

ndsipa_pomu 3y ago

Just changing the colour of an LED seems okay to me. I'm thinking more of the HP school of business where the toothbrush would stop working until the correct proprietary brush was replaced.

nolongerthere 3y ago
Yea I have this toothbrush too, I also noticed the weird IC on the bottom of the brush head when I first bought it, I nearly correctly surmised what it did, was a little upset at the prospect of being forced to buy a new head when Phillips decided it was time, but it turns out it doesn’t really do anything, it buzzes a few times at the end of brushing when it thinks it’s time. And the LED changes color… who cares… The recommendation generally is to replace your tooth brush semi-annually, which this basically reminds you to do.
- maxerickson 3y ago
  A lot of recommendations are every 3 to 4 months.
  - leipert 3y ago
    I mean at 360 minutes, it’s every 90 days if you do two 2 minute sessions every day.
- e40 3y ago
  I have never seen the reminder because I guess I change the heads before they detect it is time. I always notice a big difference in function when I do.

royal__ 3y ago

Yes this. It's not like the entire tooth brush stops working. Also, if you've used the brush for so long, it may very well be time to replace the head for the sake of oral hygiene. The most consumer unfriendly thing about these toothbrushes is just how expensive the heads are.

crazygringo 3y ago

Honestly, I appreciate it. Brushes really do wear out and clean less effectively over time, and as a user you don't really notice it -- frog in a boiling pot and everything. But every time I swap brush heads after it reminds me, you can feel how much more effective the stiffer bristles are. It's not like razor blades where it becomes really obvious from tugging that they need to be replaced. Brushes just slowly get softer and, if you're like me, you just don't notice.

blowski 3y ago
It just reminds me of the David Mitchell / Robert Webb sketch about "for the first time in history, people are taking orders from their toothbrush".
- alt227 3y ago
  "If we tell them to, do you really think they will brush their tongues?" https://youtu.be/ltZrfrmb7Ws https://youtu.be/ltZrfrmb7Ws

MereInterest 3y ago

> It beeps a few times when the status changes Every time I turn it off, the Philips Sonicare plays a loud series of beeps, near my head, at times of day when I'm just waking up or about to sleep, for a toothbrush head that is well within its lifespan. The only supported way to stop the beeping is to throw out the current toothbrush head, and pay Philips more money for a replacement that isn't needed yet.

rplnt 3y ago
> Every time I turn it off, the Philips Sonicare plays a loud series of beeps OK, that is annoying. Mine doesn't do that. I only got the annoying beeps a few times around the time the timer expired. Ever since only the different color light.
nkurz 3y ago
> The only supported way to stop the beeping is to throw out the current toothbrush head Are you sure? On mine, the manual shows how to turn off the "Brush head replacement reminder": https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20201024/46fe48eae7b84c6f8d29ac5e006361e1.pdf https://www.documents.philips.com/assets/20201024/46fe48eae7... (p.16-17). Might your model have a similar feature?
cesaref 3y ago
I don't have this problem with my manual toothbrush. I've never needed to recharge it's batteries either.
- secondcoming 3y ago
  I used be skeptical of electric toothbrushes, and still use manual brushes when travelling, but sonicare brushes are really good. Even my dentist once asked me which brush I use. YMMV
PreInternet01 3y ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "every time I turn it off", or "loud series of beeps"... Are you sure you have an actual Sonicare? Because that doesn't need to be turned off after brushing (the cycle ends itself), nor is it capable of producing beeps that could be described as anywhere near "loud". In any case, the user manual that helpfully ships with every genuine Sonicare, and is also easily accessible online, succinctly describes the steps to disable the beeping: 1. Put the handle on the plugged-in charger. 2. Press and hold the power on/off button while the handle remains on the charger. 3. Keep the power on/off button pressed until you hear a series of two short beeps (after 4-5 seconds). 4. Release the power on/off button. But, as an actual Sonicare owner: when it beeps for replacement, the head is truly overdue for that. In fact, I synced the replacement schedule of my manual toothbrush (which sees an equivalent duty cycle in my case), and every time I look at both brushes, I have to admit: yup, those need replacement!

blacksmith_tb 3y ago

More expensive because they couldn't annoy you into buying as many brush heads? It's sort of the subscription vs. software license debate all over again, but in our mouths... I will admit to using my brush heads past the time when Philips 'helpfully' starts nagging me to replace them, and it was sort of satisfying to see this reset work. It also got me looking around and I see people pop the NFC rings loose from old heads to reuse them as NFC tags, which is fun, I will have to harvest a few of those (I do eventually retire mine and use them for scrubbing etc.)