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Any Interest In Rubin's Essential Phone?
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Same here. I didn't buy a P10 specifically because I hated the front reader.
Not sure about the Essential. I really want a stronger camera than my P9 and I'm not sure it has it - certainly the app is crap compared to Huawei's, which is probably the best in the business for manual controls including bokeh control.
I'll probably wait for the Mate 10.
I get really hyped up when I see pictures like this, amazing it's almost the same size as the iPhone with a 5.7" screen.
I disagree, when you look at the design, the materials, and storage, $700 seems fair. The pixel is rumored to be $50 more expensive than last year, so in the $750-$800 price range on the low side (maybe 64gb), which means the next size up (either 128gb or 256gb) will be in the $850-$900 range. The Note 8 is also rumored to be up there around $900-$1,000. And of course there's the iPhone which might go as high as $1,200! So with a device like this that to me is comparable to those devices $700 is fine, of course cheaper is preferable.
As for your other points.
-From what I've seen the screen isn't average LCD, it seems to be the same panels used in iPhones, which look really good to my eyes. Sure Samsung AMOLED is the standard, but this should be fine. Plus you don't have worry about burn in of the navigation buttons, not that any of us would keep a phone that long.
- your right on the wireless charging. I prefer a metal back, but if we are getting something that can break, such as glass or ceramic, it would be nice if they included wireless charging. That being said, not a big deal for me, I never used it on my Samsung phones.
- This is probably the biggest bummer for me, I love having phones that are waterproof. But none of the other phones (except the iPhone) are going to have a design as slick as this, so for now I give it a pass, but will not upgrade to the next version if it doesn't have it. Holding out hope that it's at least ip65.
- This could be where they're shooting themselves in the foot for the regular consumer. From what I've seen, the camera is fine for me, but my iPhone 7 will remain as my main camera phone, most others don't have that luxury. Hopefully they can sort it out, but it does seem rushed. The 360 camera isn't even ready yet either.
Overall though, I think this is the phone for me this year on the android side, just that compact size with a Note sized screen, top of the line specs, materials, and stock android are perfect for me. Though I'm starting to think if maybe I should wait until Best Buy has them, since I'm an elite member I get a 45 day return window. I'm pretty sure this is it for me this year, but it would be nice to have the flexibility just in case google pulls some surprises.
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I have a little bit of interest in this phone, mostly as a curiosity and toy to tinker with. What I can't figure out though is why it's modular and why is the trend leaning that way? Are they going to do a modular headphone jack?!
I remember a while back smart phones where being designed to take the place of say your music player, camera, phone in an all in one package where you only carry one device, now that one device is getting add on accessories.
So now just right back to the starting point. Anyway I'm digressing.
Still been kind of following this device.
I remember a while back smart phones where being designed to take the place of say your music player, camera, phone in an all in one package where you only carry one device, now that one device is getting add on accessories.
So now just right back to the starting point. Anyway I'm digressing.
Still been kind of following this device.
- I really like this tech reviewer. Very understated, concise. Yet thorough.
- The white is KILLING ME. I ordered Black. I may need to change. Dammit dammit dammit.
Yup. One for work and one personal. iPhone has my personal number, so that one is always with me.
I need to stop watching these reviews.... I am going to do something I know I am going to regret... lol That white model looks absolutely amazing....
Whenever you think about buying, remember that Andrew Martonik (or h/e it's spelled) talked about his phone freezing for up to half a minute when he took pictures.
The software needs to mature for sure... I am also interested in seeing if this phone gets a fast update to Android O. If it hits these marks though and they send me an email asking for me to place an order for my white model I might just take it. My current S8 will never see Android O and I can still get decent money for it.
I think the S8 will see Android O, probably days after the S9 is released. That's pretty much been a pattern of Samsung that I've noticed.
Why wouldn't your S8 get Android O? That statement makes no sense at all.
it looks VERY thick, reviewers are also saying it's quite heavy. I'm psyched for 2017 and making phones more pocketable via smaller bezels, but not sure if I want a thicker/heavier phone in my pocket. IP68, OLED, wireless charging, still has a bottom bezel, no stereo speakers, so much missing. Also that 3040mah battery makes me wonder how it will fare with heavy use, or that occasional time when I need my phone to last 2 days.
The other thing I'm a bit baffled on is why Rubin didn't add anything to Android itself. Heck he is the freakin creator of Android, you'd think he has ideas and opinions on where Android should be after he left. I know I'm contradicting myself in terms of wanting vanilla and fast updates, but I'd also be curious to see what Rubin's take on modern Android should be. As a rabid hater of the garbage that is Material Design I'd love to see what Rubin would have done had he stayed as Android's captain. In that same vein I see the camera icon is being panned by reviewers, but IMO it's easily the nicest looking icon on the Essential's screen. My god but Material Design icons are ugly, cartoony and just overall completely devoid of any life or spirit.
I do like that they went with vanilla android, from what I understand it's only the camera app and the modifications for the camera cutout that are different, that should provide for very fast updates.
Will have to wait to see what the XL2 brings at this point.
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It will, but most likely 8+ months after O gets released based on Samsungs history.
The other thing I'm a bit baffled on is why Rubin didn't add anything to Android itself. Heck he is the freakin creator of Android, you'd think he has ideas and opinions on where Android should be after he left. I know I'm contradicting myself in terms of wanting vanilla and fast updates, but I'd also be curious to see what Rubin's take on modern Android should be. As a rabid hater of the garbage that is Material Design I'd love to see what Rubin would have done had he stayed as Android's captain. In that same vein I see the camera icon is being panned by reviewers, but IMO it's easily the nicest looking icon on the Essential's screen. My god but Material Design icons are ugly, cartoony and just overall completely devoid of any life or spirit.
I do like that they went with vanilla android, from what I understand it's only the camera app and the modifications for the camera cutout that are different, that should provide for very fast updates.
Will have to wait to see what the XL2 brings at this point.
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It will, but most likely 8+ months after O gets released based on Samsungs history.
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It was an exaggeration but my point was that the S8 won't see Android O for a very long time and most likely after it's successor is released.
I think you kind of answered your own question here. Rubin did do something different: he created and released a unique, premium Android device that runs vanilla Android. That in and of itself differentiates his take vs other OEM's.
For me, I'm interested in if this does mean speedy updates. The David Lee review mentioned his pre-release unit already had the latest security update. As I said previously, if Essential gets O shortly after Pixel devices, then I gotta believe it's a huge win for device and will suddenly turn a lot of heads in the Android community.
For the mainstream, I have no idea how this phone is going to fare. Probably not well, it's an extraordinarily niche device.
[doublepost=1503254559][/doublepost]Android O might release this week. If so the smartest thing Essential can do is have the OS update ready to go for the first set of devices they ship out this week.
Definitely agree. I was mainly curious what the creator of Android would have interpreted that to be today. But vanilla android is certainly a great thing. For me if they release O for the Essential 1-2 months after O releases I will consider that a success, any longer than that and they are just another oem taking their time. If vanilla android and fast updates are their marketing points then they darn better deliver.
If they do get O onto the Essential in 2 months or so then I may pick one up on swappa for the $300ish it should be selling at by then.
My own bet is they release the update within a couple of weeks of availability.
My requirement would be weeks not months as well. Would be pretty cool if during the official launch the essential phone would be included with the pixels as the first phones to get the update. Doubtful but it would certainly make a statement if it did happen.
I originally was going to order the white one and was bummed to see it was delayed. However, after watching that video and seeing photos of the black, I ordered a Black Moon model. I think it really suits the design of the device and it reminds me of a black iPhone 4/4s which was an amazing design. Can't wait to put it through it's paces.
