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Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

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Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- "And let's be honest. No one cares about a camera phone" - "And let's be honest. No one cares about having 2 GB RAM on a phone" - "And let's be honest. No one cares about " New processors are not only 'faster' but also more energy efficient, which is an equally (or more) important thing especially now when we've reached high speeds even in basic (/cheap) smartphones. As long as they're not going backwards, I don't…

I don't think that is a fair response. 1) Camera's had proven use and adoption before being mounted on mobile computers. RAM has been ever increasing since the inception of it. 2) My comment should be seen in a timeframe. When I say no one needs 6GB RAM, there is an implied 'in 2017' added to that. Otherwise every discussion about hardware could be killed with you argument. >As long as they're not going backwards, I…

As I said, I'd choose SD835 simply because it's more energy efficient even if the speed improvement is insignificant (even though it is not), and for most people more battery saving is a very welcome improvement. Moreover, it's not just that. Here's what's new in SD835 besides being 'faster' -

- Around 25% less power consumption

- Quick Charge 4 (up to 25% faster charging than Quick Charge 3)

- Faster, more reliable and efficient Wireless (Gigabit LTE)

- Bluetooth 5.0 support (significantly better than BLE 4.*)

- Inbuilt Dual camera support and Electronic Image Stabilization version 3.0 for much better shake free videos.

- Considerably smaller size so that phone makers can fit more 'stuff' inside.

- And more ...

All of these features are quite important to me. Of course, we'll have to see how these numbers turn up in real life, but to say it's an overkill for most people is equivalent to saying any new phone with new features is an overkill.

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was the story with Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 too, and it never happened. Believe me, I bought into the ecosystem and was a true believer. And it never happened.

But again, the difference is that it's full Windows 10 on ARM with x86 Win32 emulation. You can take your 32-bit Windows x86 software and run it with no changes needed if you want to. You don't have to buy into any new ecosystem because there is no new ecosystem. Here's a demo video they released at the start of the year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_GlGglbu1U

TBH, there is not much you can do on a phone of that size. There aren't many windows exclusive applications that you would want to use on a phone.

Also, it simply doesn't make sense when seen through a buisnessman's perspective.

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#163

It doesn't seem premium Android phones have something spectacular to differentiate. Sure, you can spice up the camera, make the body more glossy, and add a beautiful screen. But the software is just another commodity that would be available for 1/3rd the price. That's why Google Pixel would always feel exorbitant even when the price is almost close to Apple iPhone. Seeing Essential's price tag, I have the same viscer…

> It doesn't seem premium Android phones have something spectacular to differentiate. Sure, you can spice up the camera, make the body more glossy, and add a beautiful screen. ... you so realize that your hot take is the minority opinion, right? The vast majority of customers consistently choose phones based on hardware features. > But the software is just another commodity that would be available for 1/3rd the price…

The vast majority of customers consistently choose phones based on price, not hardware features...

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#164
> - Devices are your personal property. We won’t force you to have anything on them you don’t want to have.

Ok, so at first glance this is just a diplomatic, manifesto-ese way of saying "no bloatware". However, there's probably a very pragmatic discussion about what this really means and that just leads us back around to where we are now with who defines "anything" (i.e., the phone app is on table for that discussion...)

> - We will always play well with others. Closed ecosystems are divisive and outdated.

Closed ecosystems are also knowable, stable, and can produce very happy customers.

> - Premium materials and true craftsmanship shouldn’t be just for the few.

So for a few more? There's a reason mass-production is an economic success.

> - Devices shouldn’t become outdated every year. They should evolve with you.

"Outdated" is an extremely subjective concept. Hardware that evolves? Do tell.

> - Technology should assist you so that you can get on with enjoying your life.

Should it?

> - Simple is always better.

Now you're just being lazy.

I'm a huge fan of big picture, think-outside-the-box vision-casting.

But this just comes across as so tone deaf from the very start and ultimately so vapid that it's easy to see how these SV figureheads have earned such a reputation for utter lack of self-awareness.

Please, if you have become this level of successful, you need someone in your inner circle who specifically is tasked with keeping you grounded.

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#165

I like the idea of tougher phones, but to me it misses the mark to talk about the titanium phone case surviving corner drop tests, it's the glass that's the problem. The number of people I've seen wandering around with cracked phone screens from drops is quite high, and is the reason I put a case which covers the front on every phone I buy. So having no phone case here just means you get the usual after market screen…

> The number of people I've seen wandering around with cracked phone screens

Fwiw, this is called "the spider app" among the younger.

Breaking your screen is called "installing" (the spider app)

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#167
post #164

> - Devices are your personal property. We won’t force you to have anything on them you don’t want to have. Ok, so at first glance this is just a diplomatic, manifesto-ese way of saying "no bloatware". However, there's probably a very pragmatic discussion about what this really means and that just leads us back around to where we are now with who defines "anything" (i.e., the phone app is on table for that discussion…

> Closed ecosystems are also knowable, stable, and can produce very happy customers

... until they don't. Then you are screwed.

> Now you're just being lazy

Now you are just arguing for the sake of the argument.

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#168
post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But again, the difference is that it's full Windows 10 on ARM with x86 Win32 emulation. You can take your 32-bit Windows x86 software and run it with no changes needed if you want to. You don't have to buy into any new ecosystem because there is no new ecosystem. Here's a demo video they released at the start of the year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_GlGglbu1U

TBH, there is not much you can do on a phone of that size. There aren't many windows exclusive applications that you would want to use on a phone. Also, it simply doesn't make sense when seen through a buisnessman's perspective.

The x86 desktop application support is for the desktop use case. For a phone you'd plug it into a dock and use it as a desktop or into a laptop shell and use it like a laptop. Like this for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNzatcI9Fqw

Re: Essential Products – Andy Rubin’s new hardware company

#170

I like the idea of tougher phones, but to me it misses the mark to talk about the titanium phone case surviving corner drop tests, it's the glass that's the problem. The number of people I've seen wandering around with cracked phone screens from drops is quite high, and is the reason I put a case which covers the front on every phone I buy. So having no phone case here just means you get the usual after market screen…

Most of the time I see a cracked display it is on an iPhone.

Is there a reason Android phones don't shatter as easily? Is it the elasticity of the plastic frame that causes this?

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