Today HTC announced the first major smartphone launch of 2017, the HTC U Ultra, and that new device represents a unique combination of failed and misguided ideas from years past. Instead of learning from the mistakes of others, the Taiwanese company has seemingly decided to compile them all into one singular handset — hoping, perhaps, that a half dozen bad ideas would somehow magically transform into a genius concept. Sort of like Louis C.K. trying to eat his way to the other side.

So what exactly is wrong with the U Ultra? I’m glad you asked! Here, in no particular order, are all the missteps that other companies have already made before HTC, and which HTC should have been wise enough to avoid:

Headphone jack omission, part 1 — It’s u…

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