Andy Rubin's Essential Phone Considered Anything But (theregister.co.uk) 150
An anonymous reader shares a report: Andy Rubin's ambitions to create a new consumer electronics ecosystem are floundering at base camp. Sales of Essential's phone, which forms a key part of the strategy, are tepid. Google Play reports a mere 50,000 download of Essential's Camera app so far, the Android Police blog notes. This doesn't paint the full picture, but it can be assumed a fairly complete one, barring a few brush strokes. Essential launched in the US with support from Sprint, at a recommended SIM-free retail price of $699. After reported sales of just five thousand in the first month, this was slashed to $499 and could be grabbed for $399 in the post-Thanksgiving sales. As devices from different manufacturers proliferate in the home, Rubin has alluded to "a new operating system so it can speak all those protocols and it can do it securely and privately." But rather than launching a new software platform he's had to launch hardware.
BREAKING NEWS (Score:4, Funny)
Costly niche product doesn't sell in large numbers, news at 11!
(If they ever want money, just build a modern smartphone in landscape slider form)
Re: (Score:3)
It's like the 8th magical open phone, after the Firefox phone, the Ubuntu phone, and some others nobody ever heard of.
Today we hear a lot about bitcoin and blockchain, too, with IBM trying to talk people into shoving blockchain where it doesn't belong.
Re: (Score:2)
the market is rational. disagreement with rationality is irrational.
Re: (Score:2)
It is almost like, we Slashdot posters, actually don't know what people want in a phone. And all the stuff that we do want seems to come with a trade-off that most people do not want to deal with.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
with IBM trying to talk people into shoving blockchain where it doesn't belong
What, like the back of a Volkswagen?
Re: (Score:2)
That's what she said.
Re: BREAKING NEWS (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
... But rather than launching a new software platform he's had to launch hardware.
This is a reality of life these days, unfortunately. To get your software adopted widely, and for your services to reach critical scale, you need to make hardware. It's why Amazon makes Alexas and Fire devices, and why Google pours so much effort into digital tat nobody wants.
It's not news, just a sad truth.
Sad revelation (Score:2)
Security is simply no sales argument and can't compete with OHHH SHINY!!!!!
Security shouldn't be a selling point (Score:3)
Security is simply no sales argument and can't compete with OHHH SHINY!!!!!
True though in fairness security and "shiny" are not mutually exclusive and security (in principle) should be a given. Even though they shouldn't, people are going to tend to assume that devices are secure. This isn't true of course but if they don't (knowingly) get hurt then they will assume that it isn't a problem. And there is no reason in principle to assume that a device cannot be both secure and a lot of interesting useful features too.
Re: (Score:2)
Security runs contrary to the interests of the makers of devices who want to sell their devices to you, use them to spy on you and sell that data to whoever wants to pay for it.
Re: (Score:2)
Security runs contrary to the interests of the makers of devices who want to sell their devices to you, use them to spy on you and sell that data to whoever wants to pay for it.
You must work for Samsung.
Re: (Score:2)
What security? It's stock Android, with all the Google tracking that implies.
Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE (Score:1)
Consumers are saturated with ONE FORM FACTOR for their phones.
Many consumers are tired of enormous, fragile, thin phones.
We want a phone that fits comfortably and safely in our back jeans pocket and does not break if sat on.
Like ALL phones a few short years ago.
MAKE ONE, SHEEP !
AND WE DON'T CARE HOW THICK IT IS !
Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE (Score:4, Insightful)
Just make the damn thing as thick as the phone+case everyone carries now, but robust enough that the case isn't necessary. Then use the extra space for batteries (and not removing the headphone jack).
Seriously, the problem is that everyone tries so hard to make the phone look as "shiny" as possible on a store shelf, without giving a damn about what its *actually* like to the *actual* user a month later.
Re: (Score:3)
You might like the Kyocera DuraForce. It's not the fastest phone, but it has Android 7.1 and the battery seems to last forever. Only downside with it, is it's about 2.5x the weight of a regular 5" phone with a cheap case.
Re: (Score:2)
The question is, why the fuck are people carrying expensive hardware in back jeans pockets in the first place.
Re: (Score:2)
Get jeans with pockets on the side of the legs.
Re: (Score:1)
*All* of my 10+ pairs of jeans have side-pockets.
I've never come across jeans that don't.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't have a vest, so no vest pockets. The phone won't fit in the front pockets of the jeans and my shirts don't have pockets. I don't want to wear a little holster for it or carry a satchel/knapsack/murse/purse. What to do?
Buy real jeans... or step it up a bit and buy dockers with "mobile" pockets...
Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE (Score:2)
Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The phone won't fit in the front pockets of the jeans
I have never had a pair of jeans (or any other trousers) where the back pocket is smaller than the front/side ones.
The only reason people carry phones in their back jeans pocket is to show off the phone and/or their cute arse.
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed,
I want a phone, 5 inches across, but would take 50% or more depth than current, well made plastic case, 720 resolution, good sun viewable display, but lower midrange specs/price (2GB RAM, SD Card, 32GB Storage, Enough CPU/GPU that it doesn't hang, $180-$250).
Everything seems to be $125 or 5+ inches.
Clueless (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't understand how a person can come to wield financial power of the scale required to launch something like new smartphone hardware, and yet be so clueless as to the market. The fact that Microsoft could not survive in this market, with their experience creating software, purchase of Nokia, and the ability to tie the software / user experience in with their world-dominating desktop OS, should be a huge, huge hint as to their likelihood to succeed.
Lighting striking twice (Score:2)
I don't understand how a person can come to wield financial power of the scale required to launch something like new smartphone hardware, and yet be so clueless as to the market.
There are LOTS of people who have achieved fame and fortune due to fortuitous circumstances which they are incapable of repeating. It's not hard to come up with examples. Also remember that Rubin didn't do it by himself. It's kind of like being the lead singer of a successful band who cannot replicate the success of the band as a solo artist. You have to have the right team under the right circumstances to succeed.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Don't forget - he created the pre-iPhone Android, where it was essentially a Blackberry knock-off. Then once he saw what Apple did, they retooled the whole mess to be an iPhone knock off. Only after his influence began to wane with the Android team, did Android become what it is today.
I don't know why anyone cares about this guy - it's pretty clear most of his success was due to either shamelessly ripping off other people, or being lucky. And luck appears to have run out.
Re: (Score:2)
But it's ANDY RUBIN he created Android! Sure, Android is a piece of shit with horrible security and the worst fragmentation of any operating system in history, but since Google somehow managed to force this unholy mishmash of Linux and Java down consumers throats he MUST know what he's doing!
lol, sad but basically true.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Because people can't erase their phones and download apps again? You know there's a huge group of people who are continually fucking about with modding their phone etc?
Re: Essential Apps Not Updating (Score:2)
Maybe the Sprint version. The unlocked one works ok and everything updated. Now running the oreo beta without problems. Btw there is only one app, the camera one, rest is stock clean android.
I really like the phone. Camera is ok. Never used the headphone jack. Dont care about waterproofing. I thought it was overpriced now at 400 is perfect. A solid titanium block with stock android. Reminds me of my favorite iPhone, the iPhone 4.
Re: Essential Apps Not Updating (Score:2)
Too busy (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
I guess you were too busy to read the articles on the subject. He wasn't accused of harassing women. He dated a subordinate. And while against company policy it wasn't harassment. You fail ... at reading and indignation. Go home.
Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter.. (Score:1)
Phones are perceived as status symbols and unlike lot of materialistic things, even the most expensive models are within reach for most with the leasing plans offered by carriers. And largely for this reason Amazon failed with their reasonably priced phone with comparable features despite
Re: (Score:1)
I would actually say "phones are hard to distinguish by specs, so brands matter".
Other things matter, but Samsung is popular not because just because they're cool, but also because they are a known quantity (decent build, some interesting features, interface tweaks people (not me) like). An iPhone was for a while smoother (interface), or longer battery than Android, they beI'm came popular when they were arguably better. Yeah, no 3g, but the OG Android (forget the name) couldn't really keep up with 3g anywa
Re: (Score:2)
That is why nearly everyone you know carries a iPhone
Apply some geography to that statement. iOS is hugely popular in the USA and a few other countries, but globally, Android's market share is close to 90%.
Re: (Score:2)
iOS is hugely popular in the USA and a few other countries
And even within the US, there are huge geographical differences.
Re: (Score:2)
That is why nearly everyone you know carries a iPhone
Actually, nearly everyone I know uses an Android phone. I can count the total number of iPhones I see regularly on one hand.
Europe release nowhere to be seen (Score:2)
title says it all, it was expected like months ago and nothing. Their problem was the US market was no place for that phone - the purists already have enough to chose from with iPhones, Pixels and OnePluses. Contract-free price is meaningless there.
Sell that phone at 400eur/380gbp on this side of the pond, where a LOT of phones are bought flat out, sans-strings attached, and where we really appreciate that effort, and you would notice a market response. How they fail to see this is beyond me. Did I mention
Re: (Score:2)
Sell that phone at 400eur/380gbp on this side of the pond, where a LOT of phones are bought flat out,
There's no one EU market that comes anywhere close to the sales potential of the US, and releasing in many different smaller markets is a supreme pain in the ass.
No device is going to be a success unless it can first succeed in China or the US.
Re: (Score:2)
Disagree with the former, partially argee with the later.
There is no market like the EU for smartphones - we pay full price for devices, and when we don't, providers subsidize the remainder of the price (usually a VERY small fraction - you no longer see premium phones discounted over 15% with carrier exclusivity cntracts anymore), and manufacturers are still paid full amount, if with a small discount due to volume and/or distribution rights/explusivity/etc.
And while I see the issue of the "many smaller mark
The sweet spot in consumer goods (Score:1)
It has been shown time and again that roughtly $200 is the sweet spot in pricing for establishing a market for tech gear. Usually consumers wait for that price or something close to it.
Apple has already established themselves as the high-end "prestige" brand. They can ask whatever they want. But newcomers must "try harder"
Recently the xda-developers released their pick [xda-developers.com] for best bang for your buck phones. Their pick? The $200 Honor 7X, a hacker friendly octocore, 64gb with "premium body quality" and con
Re: Andy Rubin's Stupid Phone Is Butt (Score:2)
Who knew? (Score:2)
Who knew competing with companies like Samsung and Apple who spend billions in advertising and billions more in R&D would be so difficult?
Re: Who did software w/ APK on it 1st? (Score:2)
For me, it's the best phone I've owned - no cruft (Score:4, Informative)
I've had it now for two weeks, and it's pretty darn sweet:
* same basic specs as the Galaxy S8. Same SOC, memory and 128GB storage. Phone is a little shorter, but with less bezel, there's not much difference in pixels
* fantastic battery life
* sturdy construction
* can't beat the price at those specs -- it's a high-end phone at mid-range prices
* pure Android, no carrier or manufacturer cruft
Downsides
* camera is not top-notch (but it's getting better in software)
* accessories are minimal
* there may be some touchscreen glitches, hard to pin down (could be software, as alternate firmware doesn't have the problem)
This is the android phone for people who want the pure experience, unlocked bootloader, and don't want to pay Pixel prices.
Their marketing is not top-notch. I would barely have heard of it if I didn't fish in the android forum waters.
My biggest worry is if Andy Rubin decides he's bored with it, and it loses support for upgrades in the future. However, if they deliver on the Project Treble version of Oreo, maintaining upgraded firmware gets a lot easier.
Comparing with Fairphones? (Score:2)
Please don't take this as a criticism, I'm really interested.
Here in Europe we don't really work with heroes à la Andy Rubin, but we've had the Dutch Fairphone company for years now, which is geared to ethical procurement rather than google independence but still have a rooted version, and even a version compatible with the Sailfish OS (for the daring).
Their latest model, Fairphone 2, is about one year old now.
I had the Fairphone 1 before my company forced me to use their Samsung-VPNed standard : FF1
Unsurprising (Score:2)
At the initial price point, it wasn't exactly a stellar deal for anybody.
Personally, I still consider it seriously overpriced as it lacks essentials such as headphone jack, SD card slot and removable battery.
I give no Jack (Score:2)
because this phone also gives no (headphone) jack.
Bluetooth still has a lot of problems including output lag, quality, battery, price, and security. It's a good option to have but not a replacement. Also the adapter can easily break due to one flaw. Angled 3.5mm headphone plug can tell you why.
Re:Lousy advertising... (Score:5, Interesting)
Technically and ethically the Essential phone is a fine phone... However I don't think they understand the Cell phone market.
Because for a few hundred dollars less, you can get a good budget phone, or a few hundred dollars more you can get a premium phone.
Cell phones are not like cars. Where there is a need for a large range of different models. Even the expensive iPhone X at over $1k wouldn't be a painful expense to most middle class people, unlike getting a top end luxury or sports car, where such payments for a middle class person may mean the difference between home mortgage or having the car. So with cell phones a good portion of people can afford to get arguably "the best" phone that money can buy. For those who do not want the best, they are actually happy getting a lower end model. Cars have a middle ground which is popular because they are so much more expensive, that if you are middle class you may want more then a budget car, but not as much as a high end car, because there is variances in your budget to purchase more then the minimum.
Re: (Score:3)
I disagree. There is a market for mid-range phones and not everybody who could afford it want to waste $1k on a phone.
Re: (Score:1)
For those who choose not to waste 1k on a phone, are actually normally happy with the low end phones, being that a low end phone has 90% of the features of a high end one and costs 1/5 the price. Most of the price on the High End phone are style and build quality, their may be some gimmick feature. But if people want style, they are willing to pay for it, if they want practical then they want to pay a lot less. The Essential phone was to be the Buick of phones. But while their may be some people who want
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I disagree. I, for one, buy used high end phones for about one third their original price when they are 6-18 months old. They have good cameras and are fast, just not as fast as the latest model. But they are still much better than low end phones with crappy displays, low RAM, and lack of updates.
I couldn't care less about style however. It's a phone. I care about function, not form. And also do not confuse build quality with style and looks. It has nothing to do with each other. The best material for a pho
Re: (Score:2)
But you end-up paying large sums for the device with your monthly plan
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
GP implied the following:
* Essential is a mid-range phone at a mid-range price - 700$
* You can get a budget (weaker than Essential) phone for about 300$
* You can get a high-end (stronger than Essential) phone for about 1000$
* There is no market for 700$ phone that is in between budget and top end phones
What you are saying is that GP is wrong, because you are happy buying previous gen high-end phone (essentially mid-range) for 1/3 of the original price, so around 300$, therefore, there is definitely a market
Re: (Score:2)
Well to me $700 USD is clearly the high end phone segment, $300 is mid range and budget is $150 or less.
The Galaxy S8 is about $700 and I consider it a high end phone. I don't think any phone is worth $1000 to begin with, in that sense I think the essential is a better idea at $700. I think a lot of people buy phones in that price range, the Essential was just too little too late, and Samsung has better marketing a distribution networks.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
I disagree. I, for one, buy used high end phones for about one third their original price when they are 6-18 months old.
The fact that you buy high end phones (whether used or not) is not evidence that there is a market for mid-range phones.
1/2 price (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I paid about $330 for my Moto X Pure. It works great and does everything I need; great display, microSD slot, and plenty fast enough. What exactly is "low end" about it besides the price?
What do I get by spending three times as much?
Re: (Score:3)
Not everyone wants or needs a four digit priced phone. For a lot of people, a lower end LG, BLU, or Huawei device is good enough. For $250, I picked up a LG Stylo 3 Plus for development work. Other than lack of NFC (which I rarely use), it is a decent phone with a very responsive fingerprint scanner. There are not many apps that really matter that require a flagship device, other than having animated poop.
If a phone has the usual features (fingerprint scanner, NFC, wireless charging, etc.) there isn't t
Re: (Score:2)
Other than lack of NFC (which I rarely use)
Does anyone use it? Years ago, NFC was touted as a way to "pay for stuff with your phone". But now that the future has arrived, when I pay, it is always by scanning a QR code on the kiosk screen and then using the plain ol' cellular network to complete the transaction. No NFC needed.
Re: (Score:2)
Everyone has their own style, but I've used NFC (or more specifically Apple Pay) quite often. For all but some vending machines with a bum transceiver, it works well.
Re: (Score:2)
I use the NFC payment system in my phone for 90%+ of my transactions. Pretty much every store in Australia supports paywave / paypass so I just use my phone.
Personally I love it.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Lousy advertising... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I have no idea what you mean by "scanning a QR code on the kiosk screen and then using the plain ol' cellular network to complete the transaction".
Re: (Score:2)
Some people are using it. Apple Pay (popular), Samsung Pay (somewhat popular), and Android Pay (not very popular so far) are all out there.
Perhaps more importantly, the next generation of transit payment systems will use NFC. Chicago, Portland, and Salt Lake City already allow NFC payments. New York, Boston, and Seattle all will in the future.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I bought the Essential phone at the $399 price including the 360 camera. It's a really nice phone with the same snapdragon 835 processor as the other flagship phones. The LCD display seems less impressive compared to the amoled display on my last phone(Nexus 6p), but I don't stare at pictures all day, so I rarely notice it. The other weakness is the camera which could be better, but it still takes great pictures. Overall, I would say it compares with the other flagship phones better than I thought it would.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: Lousy advertising... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)