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Valentine's Day is made for drones, drone company says

Commentary: Chinese drone maker DJI even offers a Valentine's gift pack with chocolates included, of course.

Chris Matyszczyk
2 min read

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.


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Now that's love.

Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Love is a buzzy feeling that can send you soaring.

I thought I'd construct that dreadful sentence in honor of the concept that the one thing you should buy your lover for Valentine's Day is a drone.

I've stumbled, you see, on the marketing page of Chinese drone maker DJI. This company believes that "every moment is a gift," one that should be captured by a camera drone.

In order to emphasize this, DJI has peppered its site with, oh, red hearts and pictures of people thinking about kissing each other as part of its Valentine's Day campaign.

There's also this motivating thought: "Be curious. Get creative." Is this some twisted incitement to a new kind of love? I ought to be relieved there wasn't any reference to love being in the air.

Perhaps the most moving (to tears) element of this marketing, though, is the limited edition Valentine's Day gift set.

What might you imagine would be in this?

Well, there's a Phantom 3 Standard drone and a box of seven Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Yes, just like you'd see at your supermarket checkout counter retailing for a few groats. All this for a bargain $499 (£509 or AU$859).

I contacted DJI to ask if this gift set really represented the apogee of romance. A company spokesman told me: "We were in no way trying to imply that a drone is the perfect Valentine's Day gift for everyone."

He added that this offer was aimed at "creative people." Apparently, when it comes to a creative person's Valentine's Day, a drone "can be a pretty sweet way to show that you care about what matters to them -- and you love them enough to give them a new tool to pursue their passion."

Perhaps this is merely an extension of the human need to selfie itself to death. It's not enough to have handheld remembrances of hand-holding. You need the view from an eye in the sky.

"Make every moment a cinematic moment," gushes the DJI site. Because if your life isn't a movie, it's nothing at all.

First published Feb. 8, 11:24 a.m. PT.

Update, 5:33 p.m.: Adds comment from DJI.

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