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Essential Phone, available now

essential.com

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Re: Essential Phone, available now

#51
post #11

At this point, the only thing I care about is whether or not they plan on releasing quality software updates in a timely manner for a reasonable amount of time...

They stated 2 years OS updates, 3 years monthly security updates in the blog post.

Its scary that this is impressive for Android, while still 2+ years less than ios. (iPhone 5s will get ios 11)

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#52
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the Project Fi FAQs: >Project Fi is available on the Pixel, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6. Currently these are the only smartphones to support our network of networks. You must have the North American model of the above devices in order to use it on the Project Fi network.

That's for official support. Project Fi worked fine on my iPhone SE. However, I had problems with Project Fi sending my calls to random other peoples' phones across the country even when I was using my sim in my Nexus so I went back to T-Mobile.

Hey, this happened to me. The reason was that one of my older phone numbers was available to Google somehow, and it made that number a backup number to Fi. So when I dropped a call, it made a call to that old number, which is now owned by someone else (A nice lady who even helped my wife debug what was going on.).

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#53
post #11

At this point, the only thing I care about is whether or not they plan on releasing quality software updates in a timely manner for a reasonable amount of time...

I can see (though don't entirely agree) why companies feel some pain, when the customer paid for the phone, but the public's expectation is free updates for "life" (however you define that). I wonder if having a subscription where they reduce the cost of the phone for the general population, and let others sign up for a paid subscription model for updates, backed up by some kind of SLA type agreement would work. I definitely would prefer a model where instead of finding other ways to screw you (selling data) they get paid by me and serve my needs.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#54
post #38

Is it just me, or does the selfie camera ruin the display? It comes so close to being bezel-less and ruins it with a feature I'll never use.

You're not alone. Just go to any thread and search for camera. For example:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/6e6f48/exclusive_t...

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#55
post #8

If they really made it well, it would come with a declared lifetime. What it has is a 2 year $99 extra warranty, on top of a $699 price.

Eh, who has a phone longer than 2 years now?

The refrain 'not everyone lives in SF' has become so overused I suspect you forgot to append /s

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They stated 2 years OS updates, 3 years monthly security updates in the blog post.

It's kind of funny what they follow that up with: > Essential Phone will get guaranteed Android OS updates for 2 years and will get monthly security updates for 3 years, so your phone will always be secure and have the latest features. I do not think the word "always" means what they think it means :)

If we go one level up the abstraction, always doesn't mean always either. The universe's life is finite. :)

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#59
post #8

If they really made it well, it would come with a declared lifetime. What it has is a 2 year $99 extra warranty, on top of a $699 price.

Eh, who has a phone longer than 2 years now?

I would really like to have a phone longer than 2 years. Given the maturity of the hardware market, a 3-5 year lifespan seems reasonable.

That probably means:

- waterproof and dustproof

- shock resistant for drops from waist height to a hard surface

- replaceable battery

- stronger (heavier) frame

- a bezel around the screen that comes out a millimeter or two to protect it

- a back not made of glass

That sounds like a phone worth paying $700 for.

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