Any Interest In Rubin's Essential Phone?

[spinedoc77]

I don't think they're competing with the iPhone, though. At this point I don't think it's wise for any Android OEM to focus on Apple. I think these two platforms are so mature that people are pretty much staying put.

Rubin's problem is that as we get closer to fall, there's a new Note, V30, and Pixel 2 that he's going to have to compete with. Pixel 2 is the most problematic of all of them for Essential as both phones are going after the same audience, and Pixel has a track record along with being the official "Google phone" which kind of equals any cache associated with "Andy Rubin's Android phone".

Everybody is competing with the iPhone, and I mean everybody. But even ignoring that they have to compete with the pixel 2, as you mention. Google can at least get the pixel 2 into a major carriers shelves, I'm not so sure if getting the Essential onto Sprint shelves really counts for much.

It's a shame, but I definitely see this phone crashing and burning badly. Might be something nice to pick up 2nd hand for a couple hundred though, especially if it can be rooted.

 

[symphara]

I'm sorry, but are you responding to the correct post? Mine wasn't really aimed at missing the ship date

This piece though:

"In fact, having seen the phone was unusual enough, and I guess it only happened because it's the first. Otherwise nobody wants to leak their new device lest the customers stop buying the old one."

Is completely incorrect. They announced the phone. Full stop. They have an entire website dedicated to showing us what the phone looks like, its full specs, and a reservation system. Every single company that has reached this point in their marketing cycle has had a full on demonstration of their phone to generate the reservations/interest. Even if it's months from shipping (which is true of a great many Android OEM's, as a matter of fact).

The phone is no longer a rumor, there are no leaks to worry about. Your argument there makes absolutely no sense because Essential has done something pretty dumb: they announced a phone with NO MARKETING prepared for it.

I understand what you’re saying, but I think you’re too harsh. I’d cut them some slack. They’re a startup after all.

Just like you, I want the phone to come out as soon as possible and be great. I’m prepared to wait and not be too upset about the delays.

 

[widgeteer]

I understand what you’re saying, but I think you’re too harsh. I’d cut them some slack. They’re a startup after all.

Just like you, I want the phone to come out as soon as possible and be great. I’m prepared to wait and not be too upset about the delays.

I'm not upset about anything. I'm going to buy an Android phone at some point in the next couple of months. There's still a decent chance I don't wind up buying there's because for all intents and purposes it's vaporware. They should be upset about that.

 

[symphara]

I'm not upset about anything. I'm going to buy an Android phone at some point in the next couple of months. There's still a decent chance I don't wind up buying there's because for all intents and purposes it's vaporware. They should be upset about that.

I don't think it's vapourware. They certainly haven't fallen off the map, the twitter feed has constant replies as of this week. So it will probably come out, I imagine sooner rather than later.

Having said that, it's entirely possible this phone might have some deal-breaker thing like a mediocre camera, so while I like the design and particularly the build materials, I never got my hopes too highly since I will only buy one if it does everything very well - don't need the best camera but a good one is a must-have - and we have no idea if will be up to the task.

Particularly since it lacks microSD, OLED and a headphone jack, I'm just not willing to make any other compromises.

Both the Pixel 2, the Mate 10 and - if you can put up with Samsung's bixbyness (i.e. useless and intrusive replication of existing Google software in worse variants) - the Note 8 will all be fearsome contenders, and I wouldn't be surprised if all will sport OLED screens and minimal bezels (for sure the Pixel 2 and the Note 8).

 

[widgeteer]

I don't think it's vapourware. They certainly haven't fallen off the map, the twitter feed has constant replies as of this week. So it will probably come out, I imagine sooner rather than later.

Having said that, it's entirely possible this phone might have some deal-breaker thing like a mediocre camera, so while I like the design and particularly the build materials, I never got my hopes too highly since I will only buy one if it does everything very well - don't need the best camera but a good one is a must-have - and we have no idea if will be up to the task.

Particularly since it lacks microSD, OLED and a headphone jack, I'm just not willing to make any other compromises.

Both the Pixel 2, the Mate 10 and - if you can put up with Samsung's bixbyness (i.e. useless and intrusive replication of existing Google software in worse variants) - the Note 8 will all be fearsome contenders, and I wouldn't be surprised if all will sport OLED screens and minimal bezels (for sure the Pixel 2 and the Note 8).

What I most want out of the phone is a gorgeous design that runs like butter. I'm mildly interested in the modular piece only because it looks like a cleaner version of what Moto is doing but that one is a big wait and see.

 

[symphara]

What I most want out of the phone is a gorgeous design that runs like butter.

I'll take that too

 

[jamezr]

Been a little shake up at Essential.
VP of marketing leaves company......

http://m.gsmarena.com/essentials_vp_of_marketing_has_left_the_company-news-26217.php

 

[Tig Bitties]

Been a little shake up at Essential.
VP of marketing leaves company......

http://m.gsmarena.com/essentials_vp_of_marketing_has_left_the_company-news-26217.php

Not a good sign. The phone was announced end of May, and it's now middle July. And still so little known besides what they told us at the reveal in May.

I understand "Shipping in approx. 30 days" doesn't always mean exactly 4 weeks to the date. But...a month a half later and still no confirmation or hands on previews from the big Android sites. Not being an alarmist here, something's up.

I see this phone being a bargain sale early next year.

 

[jamezr]

they missed their release date in the US but that is not stopping them from going to the UK and Europe....
I am away interested in new phones. Then with Rubin's name attached it made it interesting. But this thing has been handled and communicated very badly!

Essential Phone reportedly coming to the UK, Europe and Japan

https://www.androidcentral.com/esse...mpaign=Feed:+androidcentral+(Android+Central)

 

[noobinator]

they missed their release date in the US but that is not stopping them from going to the UK and Europe....
I am away interested in new phones. Then with Rubin's name attached it made it interesting. But this thing has been handled and communicated very badly!

Essential Phone reportedly coming to the UK, Europe and Japan

https://www.androidcentral.com/essential-phone-reportedly-coming-uk-europe-and-japan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+androidcentral+(Android+Central)

Yeah they should have given us more info on the initial US release that is going to happen instead of where else it is going. I am thinking they don't have a clue when it will be ready so they are announcing any "news" they have.

 

[widgeteer]

they missed their release date in the US but that is not stopping them from going to the UK and Europe....
I am away interested in new phones. Then with Rubin's name attached it made it interesting. But this thing has been handled and communicated very badly!

Essential Phone reportedly coming to the UK, Europe and Japan

https://www.androidcentral.com/essential-phone-reportedly-coming-uk-europe-and-japan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+androidcentral+(Android+Central)

This is exactly what I was referring to in a previous post. Their PR/Marketing is tone deaf. How about wrap this announcement around a ship date for the U.S.?

"Essential Announces a July 28 U.S. ship date; UK, Europe, and Japan to follow"

Instead they evoke eye rolls vs interest.

 

[co.ag.2005]

Arrival is now "imminent". Just announce a dang date!

http://www.droid-life.com/2017/07/17/essential-phone-launch-us-imminent/

 

[widgeteer]

Arrival is now "imminent". Just announce a dang date!

http://www.droid-life.com/2017/07/17/essential-phone-launch-us-imminent/

Ummm..."imminent" means different things to different people, I guess. If you have to take payment first, that means nothing is "imminent". So we pay, then they confirm a ship date to customers who have done so.

Still a few questions:

• F*ck is it that I'm actually buying again?
• Does "imminent" mean no backorders?
• What is the value proposition over anything else out right now? Granted, this was a fair question when the phone was first announced but as I said in a previous post, they've done a p*ss poor job of SELLING us on what it is the device offers vs anything else.

Phone looks gorgeous, and I want to believe it's a smooth stock version of Android. Buuuuut...maybe it isn't? Dunno. They haven't done a single thing to market their device.

 

[noobinator]

This device is dead to me.

 

[Tig Bitties]

"imminent release" means in my opinion it's shipping later this week.

But back to reality, with the recent Pixel 2 XL leaks, of it being a a slightly larger LG G6, with top notch hardware, and running Android O right out of the box. I just can't see why you would spend $700 on this Essential, over the $769 for the Pixel 2 XL ?

Not being a smart butt, serious question. What would the benefit or better phone is this Essential over the upcoming Pixel 2 XL ? Updates we know for sure will come right away first with the Pixel, what else?

I really think this Essential should be competing in the OnePlus 5 market now, price it at $499 to attract a crowd and get a name started in the nerd community, and grow it from there over the next year or two. Because at $700 I see this a tough sell compared to the flagships out there; right now you can get a brand new Galaxy S8+ for the $700 range, you can get a brand new LG G6 for like $500, and the Pixel XL 2 will be like $750.

 

[Moneoa]

This phone is vapourware. It’s an ugly, gimmicky phone with mediocre tech. Bezeless is not a killer feature, nor is a 3D camera

 

[symphara]

Not being a smart butt, serious question. What would the benefit or better phone is this Essential over the upcoming Pixel 2 XL ? Updates we know for sure will come right away first with the Pixel, what else?

Titanium and ceramic build, that's the major thing for me. And the dual camera (I like the monochrome/colour setup), which will probably allow bokeh shots like the Huawei's do. Personally I also think it's a beautiful and quite striking device, and I appreciate having a 5.7" screen in what used to be a 5" phone.

The Pixel will surely be a nice phone but I doubt it will have that great build quality, it won't have any particularly awesome feature either, just very solid all-around. I want more.

 

[widgeteer]

I guess "imminent" means "STILL not anywhere near the 30 days of Rubin's original comment!"

 

[noobinator]

To me imminent is them saying, "Yes, we are still going to release it for sure...At some point or another."

 

[spinedoc77]

im·mi·nent
ˈimənənt/
adjective
adjective: imminent

1. 1.
   about to happen.
   "they were in imminent danger of being swept away"
   synonyms: impending, close (at hand), near, (fast) approaching, coming, forthcoming, on the way, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, just around the corner, coming down the pike, expected, anticipated, brewing, looming, threatening, menacing;
   informalin the cards
   "a ceasefire was imminent"
2. 2.
   archaic
   overhanging.
   

 

[Moneoa]

Vapourware

 

[widgeteer]

Vapourware

Starting to think you're right.

Might be time to consider the U11.

 

[widgeteer]

http://time.com/4859000/essential-phone-android-google-andy-rubin/

Short hands on with the phone. It sounds...exactly as we've been expecting:

Stock Android with zero bloat.

 

[co.ag.2005]

I got a personal email from Andy Rubin today .... few weeks... imminently, of course...

Hi co.ag.2005,

I personally wanted to thank you for putting your name down for our first phone. We've been hard at work getting everything ready and the good news is that we’re now going through certification and testing with multiple US and international carriers.

You might be getting impatient to get your hands on your new Essential Phone (and I’m also impatient to get it to you!) but rest assured that you will have a device in your hands in a few weeks.

In the meantime, give us a shout out using #thisisessential to show the team that sweating the details and working long hours to get this device shipped is worth it.

Andy

 

[widgeteer]

Message sent to those who reserved the phone this morning (sent from Andy Rubin himself! Okay, of course it's not, it's just copy created by marketing, but here it is all the same:

"I personally wanted to thank you for putting your name down for our first phone. We've been hard at work getting everything ready and the good news is that we’re now going through certification and testing with multiple US and international carriers.

You might be getting impatient to get your hands on your new Essential Phone (and I’m also impatient to get it to you!) but rest assured that you will have a device in your hands in a few weeks.

In the meantime, give us a shout out using #thisisessential to show the team that sweating the details and working long hours to get this device shipped is worth it."

Translation: Hey, we have no phone to send you yet and still won't for a while but could you help us on social media and spread the word on our phone that we still don't have a shipping date for yet? Thanks!