Any Interest In Rubin's Essential Phone?

[Fernandez21]

I wound wager the exploding battery was a much bigger mainstream story than bootloops. Airlines were banning the phone.

But this is getting away from the point. I don't think bootloop problems are why LG isn't making headway. On websites and in store, all marketing is geared towards Sammy and telling you everything else is a loser.

I think the boot loops may hurt in the "geek" market, and it's hard for a phone to break through into the mainstream without first getting a sizable base in the geek market, as we are the ones that will recommend phones to our families and friends.

Remember Samsung got as big as it is by including just about every feature a geek could want back in the day, and then followed that up with great advertising to really latch on to the mainstream.

 

[widgeteer]

I think the boot loops may hurt in the "geek" market, and it's hard for a phone to break through into the mainstream without first getting a sizable base in the geek market, as we are the ones that will recommend phones to our families and friends.

Remember Samsung got as big as it is by including just about every feature a geek could want back in the day, and then followed that up with great advertising to really latch on to the mainstream.

"Geeks" are as susceptible to marketing as anyone else. HTC 10 and now U11 are excellent almost stock phones that have generated very little interest.

And geeks mostly gravitated towards the Note line vs the S line, at least from the S3 on. Up until last year, most hard core geeks didn't even like Sammy because of "lagwiz" anyway.

I think a lot of folks in forums like this have convinced themselves that they're the taste makers for smartphones because friends and family ask them for advice. But trends don't support that. The two most popular brands are Samsumg and Apple. Most geeky techy folks tend to crap all over both.

 

[Fernandez21]

"Geeks" are as susceptible to marketing as anyone else. HTC 10 and now U11 are excellent almost stock phones that have generated very little interest.

And geeks mostly gravitated towards the Note line vs the S line, at least from the S3 on. Up until last year, most hard core geeks didn't even like Sammy because of "lagwiz" anyway.

I think a lot of folks in forums like this have convinced themselves that they're the taste makers for smartphones because friends and family ask them for advice. But trends don't support that. The two most popular brands are Samsumg and Apple. Most geeky techy folks tend to crap all over both.

Yes, now most crap all over them, but back when they first came out it was geeks that started the base. The S line had a huge geek following up until the S3 or 4, so did the Note line until the 5. The iPhone had a huge geek base in the beginning, and probably up until the iPhone 5. The only manufacturer who wasn't able to crack into the mainstream after having a huge geek following was HTC. If LG wants to break through they first must build up a base of followers, which I think the V line is starting to do.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yes, now most crap all over them, but back when they first came out it was geeks that started the base. The S line had a huge geek following up until the S3 or 4, so did the Note line until the 5. The iPhone had a huge geek base in the beginning, and probably up until the iPhone 5. The only manufacturer who wasn't able to crack into the mainstream after having a huge geek following was HTC. If LG wants to break through they first must build up a base of followers, which I think the V line is starting to do.

Yep, they're doing amazing things with audio.

 

[widgeteer]

Yes, now most crap all over them, but back when they first came out it was geeks that started the base. The S line had a huge geek following up until the S3 or 4, so did the Note line until the 5. The iPhone had a huge geek base in the beginning, and probably up until the iPhone 5. The only manufacturer who wasn't able to crack into the mainstream after having a huge geek following was HTC. If LG wants to break through they first must build up a base of followers, which I think the V line is starting to do.

Wow, totally disagree on the early iPhone. The geek base hated it. BB, Windows Mobile, and Nokia were big in those circles at that time. That was still at a moment when "Mac vs PC" was a big deal. Guess which side the geek community was on in that debate?

 

[Michael Goff]

Wow, totally disagree on the early iPhone. The geek base hated it. BB, Windows Mobile, and Nokia were big in those circles at that time. That was still at a moment when "Mac vs PC" was a big deal. Guess which side the geek community was on in that debate?

A lot were pro Mac because OS X has Unix underpinnings and Windows doesn't.

 

[tbayrgs]

Wow, totally disagree on the early iPhone. The geek base hated it. BB, Windows Mobile, and Nokia were big in those circles at that time. That was still at a moment when "Mac vs PC" was a big deal. Guess which side the geek community was on in that debate?

Have to agree here—geeks hated the iPhone. All I recall reading were comments about how crippled the iPhone was compared to other phones, missing features that had been available for years (i.e. copy/paste, MMS, video recording, hardware keyboard, etc). And I was one of them—swore I wouldn’t get an iPhone as my Windows mobile device was ‘far more capable.’

Geeks have always tended to favor Android over iPhone and then more specifically, Android phones on the fringes, especially Nexus devices, GPE edition phones, and others that were more accommodating to custom ROMs. If tech geek preferences were such a significant driving force in the industry, Apple and Samsung wouldn’t be in the dominating positions they’re in.

The problem other OEMs have is so much inconsistency across their generations and lack of a defined strategy and focus. Every LG phone is entirely different from the last—same goes for HTC and even Google. If you’re a fan of a specific model, don’t hold your breathe that its sequel will resemble it in design, features or performance. Hard to build up a fan base with so much inconsistency, IMO.

 

[symphara]

A lot were pro Mac because OS X has Unix underpinnings and Windows doesn't.

Geeks run Linux on PCs, not Windows or MacOS

Back on the topic though, I am still very curious to read real impressions about the Essential, from ordinary people. I didn’t want to jump in on the early order bandwagon to avoid the kind of disappointment some here are experiencing, but the phone still looks interesting. So do the V30 and the Mate 10 though

 

[AppleRobert]

Are we talking about the same LG whose mobile division lost over 100m dollars last quarter? It isn' just the US they're not getting.

Yep, it is either iPhone or Samsung. I will try a Sprint store today.

 

[Fernandez21]

Wow, totally disagree on the early iPhone. The geek base hated it. BB, Windows Mobile, and Nokia were big in those circles at that time. That was still at a moment when "Mac vs PC" was a big deal. Guess which side the geek community was on in that debate?

I guess you and I have different definitions of geeks. While yes, a lot complained about the lack of features with those iPhone models, so many were excited about the touchscreen and ui and apps. I think most willing to wait all night in line to buy a $600 smartphone under contract at a time when everyone was getting free flip phones, i would consider them as geeks.

 

[noobinator]

Somewhat techy people liked the original iPhone but the hardcore and even semi-hardcore geeks made fun of the phone from what I remember.

 

[symphara]

I guess you and I have different definitions of geeks. While yes, a lot complained about the lack of features with those iPhone models, so many were excited about the touchscreen and ui and apps.

Not to rain on your parade, but I had in 2001 an Ericsson R380, which had a touch screen, apps (full office suite), copy & paste, a stylus and excellent handwriting recognition. When the iPhone came out in the summer of 2007 the geek in me was utterly unimpressed. It was colorful with nice animations, to appeal to girls (still does), but certainly a geek phone it wasn't.

I think most willing to wait all night in line to buy a $600 smartphone under contract at a time when everyone was getting free flip phones, i would consider them as geeks.

Nah, just stupidly queuing up for an overpriced fashion tech item doesn't make you a geek. A closer description would be an impatient, silly person.

 

[widgeteer]

Have to agree here—geeks hated the iPhone. All I recall reading were comments about how crippled the iPhone was compared to other phones, missing features that had been available for years (i.e. copy/paste, MMS, video recording, hardware keyboard, etc). And I was one of them—swore I wouldn’t get an iPhone as my Windows mobile device was ‘far more capable.’

Same. I was completely in the BB camp. I thought Safari on the iPhone was the most impressive thing about it with pinch to zoom, but otherwise I was completely underwhelmed. I knew their pricing strategy with ATT at launch was a winner though: $20/monthly data. That was a means to get the public accustomed to paying for data. Boy did that work out (among virtually everything else with the iPhone).

The problem other OEMs have is so much inconsistency across their generations and lack of a defined strategy and focus. Every LG phone is entirely different from the last—same goes for HTC and even Google. If you’re a fan of a specific model, don’t hold your breathe that its sequel will resemble it in design, features or performance. Hard to build up a fan base with so much inconsistency, IMO.

YESSSSSS. Great point. Samsung and Apple have been fairly consistent year over year. Sammy's design philophy changed with the S6 but that was simply improving on the design, same as Apple moving to the iPhone 4. Year over year you can feel fairly confident your phone will resemble what you're familiar with, and improvements. HTC or LG will hit on a style that is well received one year, then blow it out of the water next.

 

[AppleRobert]

No demo at Sprint, not surprising.

At this point the company shot themselves in the foot anyway with their timing what with the Note 8, iPhones and LG 30 due soon.

 

[noobinator]

No demo at Sprint, not surprising.

At this point the company shot themselves in the foot anyway with their timing what with the Note 8, iPhones and LG 30 due soon.

Don't forget the Pixel 2 / XL 2 coming early October.

 

[widgeteer]

Don't forget the Pixel 2 / XL 2 coming early October.

I think the Pixel 2 is the competition for this phone. People who want a Note 8 or LG V30 probably don't care about stock, which is the phone's biggest selling point. It is the anti-Samsung: there is absolutely zero value add.

Not that it matters. The rate Essential is going, people will probably have a Pixel 2 in their hands before Essential orders ship out.

I'm kidding. Maybe.
[doublepost=1504021873][/doublepost]BTW, on that note, here's a public service announcement:

One week ago today, Essential charged me for the phone.

I still have zero confirmation of shipping or confirmation of the cancelation that I requested. They also stopped responding to email.

Caveat emptor, people.

 

[Fernandez21]

I just got my shipping info this morning, ordered on the 18th and money gone over the weekend. I should hopefully have it by weeks end.

Their communication has been horrible.

 

[widgeteer]

I just got my shipping info this morning, ordered on the 18th and money gone over the weekend. I should hopefully have it by weeks end.

Their communication has been horrible.

Good luck! I'm looking forward to your comments on the actual device itself.

 

[co.ag.2005]

I think the Pixel 2 is the competition for this phone. People who want a Note 8 or LG V30 probably don't care about stock, which is the phone's biggest selling point. It is the anti-Samsung: there is absolutely zero value add.

Not that it matters. The rate Essential is going, people will probably have a Pixel 2 in their hands before Essential orders ship out.

I'm kidding. Maybe.
[doublepost=1504021873][/doublepost]BTW, on that note, here's a public service announcement:

One week ago today, Essential charged me for the phone.

I still have zero confirmation of shipping or confirmation of the cancelation that I requested. They also stopped responding to email.

Caveat emptor, people.

Did you order the camera as well? I ordered the same time as you and got a tracking number over the weekend. I didn't order the camera though. the phone is in customs now and should arrive to me on Thursday. According to this reddit post, i think some that ordered the camera are starting to get tracking numbers, at least for their phone... but definitely a dumpster fire of a shipping process right now...

BUT, I am still excited to try the phone out. If it doesn't meet my expectations, I'll simply return it. Or see if I can get close to my money back on Swappa.

 

[widgeteer]

Did you order the camera as well? I ordered the same time as you and got a tracking number over the weekend. I didn't order the camera though. the phone is in customs now and should arrive to me on Thursday. According to this reddit post, i think some that ordered the camera are starting to get tracking numbers, at least for their phone... but definitely a dumpster fire of a shipping process right now...

BUT, I am still excited to try the phone out. If it doesn't meet my expectations, I'll simply return it. Or see if I can get close to my money back on Swappa.

I did order the camera. This came up before, that those who ordered the camera didn't get tracking. But there have been a few folks on XDA and a couple of other places that state they didn't order the camera and still haven't gotten tracking either. So who knows. Besides, the camera highlights the issue all over again: why are you telling people it's ready to ship, and charging money for it, if it's not ready to ship?

The phone is still the phone. I think it's going to be a fantastic device with a bad/mediocre camera. Hopefully they roll out Oreo soon so the folks that do receive it get a little validation for sticking with them.

 

[noobinator]

I wonder how returns will go with this phone? Hopefully you don't have to wait 30+ days for your money back.

 

[widgeteer]

I wonder how returns will go with this phone? Hopefully you don't have to wait 30+ days for your money back.

This is why I used Affirm. Ain't gonna be my money tied up.

 

[noobinator]

This is why I used Affirm. Ain't gonna be my money tied up.

Is that their credit option I'm guessing? Either way it still sucks to have an account showing you owe money. I went through this a few years back with Motorola. No refund until about 90 days so they started marking me as delinquent on the payments.

 

[Fernandez21]

I did order the camera. This came up before, that those who ordered the camera didn't get tracking. But there have been a few folks on XDA and a couple of other places that state they didn't order the camera and still haven't gotten tracking either. So who knows. Besides, the camera highlights the issue all over again: why are you telling people it's ready to ship, and charging money for it, if it's not ready to ship?

The phone is still the phone. I think it's going to be a fantastic device with a bad/mediocre camera. Hopefully they roll out Oreo soon so the folks that do receive it get a little validation for sticking with them.

I ordered the camera as well. My tracking number is still coming up empty at the FedEx website, but hopefully I'll have it before the weekend.

 

[widgeteer]

Is that their credit option I'm guessing? Either way it still sucks to have an account showing you owe money. I went through this a few years back with Motorola. No refund until about 90 days so they started marking me as delinquent on the payments.

You're not wrong but I'd still rather have the hassle of dealing with a 3rd party credit account vs them taking and holding my money. I can always fix the credit. Besides, I would absolutely make a payment or two while they sort it out. Being out 30-60 vs 700 ain't no thing.