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Essential Phone, available now

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Re: Essential Phone, available now

#221

Post by xienze »

Brakenshire wrote: post #192
ksk wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 de…

It really shouldn't be difficult, it's not as if Intel is worrying about how to support some computer sold in 2009. The reason it's difficult is because the companies have chosen to set up a short term process which means reapplying and testing hacky patches to every upgrade. If they stopped forking the linux kernel and invested in putting their systems on the mainline they could have excellent support, and dust thei…

I've often wondered why it's so difficult to make a standardized OS distribution for ARM processors. You would think it should be as simple as

Google provides core OS -> manufacturers add drivers -> done

(Of course this skips the "manufacturers add shitware" step).

But I've been told ARM just doesn't work that way and for whatever reason that I don't completely understand, hardware can't be abstracted this way on ARM.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#222

Post by nradov »

toastking wrote: post #197
criley2 wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's moot. Apple offers ~3 years of software updates included in the price of the phone. Right now, Android companies COMPLETELY FAIL to match Apple's update value. The idea that Android companies should switch to a paid update subscription model, while iDevices retain free updates for most of device life, would be a hilariously incompetent decision. "They're better than us, we know it, so why not subscribe to us and…

What confuses is me is what kind of work needs to go in to updating android on different phones? If Android is compatible with the architecture of the phone shouldn't the software update from Google work?

Unfortunately there is no real standard hardware architecture for Android devices. Some pieces are the same, but every device has different incompatible components. So the device vendors have to re-apply a unique set of patches every time.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#223

Post by givinguflac »

git-pull wrote: post #85

I admire the gumption of making a new phone. But controlled obsolescence kills me. The real feature that improves in phones the past few years for me is the software and apps, not the hardware . My wishlist: - Give me a lighter, snappier OS. Not something clunkier and slower and uses more ram, gpu/cpu (aka battery life). - Actually support updates to the things for longer than 2-3 years. - (Not related to this phone)…

I'm not trying to be snarky, I swear, but iOS checks all your boxes except "be android" along with dual sim and removable battery. And iOS hardware is still top of the pack when it comes to raw power in the majority of real use cases.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#224

Post by komali2 »

pier25 wrote: post #76

At this price, why buy this instead of a Pixel? To be honest I'm quite happy with my crap Moto G5 Plus phone. The screen and camera aren't that great, but hey at this price I won't complain.

Well it has a headphone jack

EDIT: Er, did you mean pixel 1 or 2?

EDIT: Oh my god, it doesn't have a headphone jack! lol look at me eat my own words holy shit

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#226

Post by nradov »

ProAm wrote: post #61
agumonkey wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Too short IMO, I personally would value having a 5yo device still useful, above that I can accept limitations in terms of new; below it's just pushing for renewal for no reason.

Batteries don't last that long still, last I heard you get about 1000 charges before you need to do serious maintenance to a phone, in which case you'll probably want the latest and greatest anyhow.

This is just another example of consumer hostile planned obsolescence. Rechargeable batteries are consumables. Most cell phones used to have removable batteries so when it wouldn't hold a charge any more you could easily replace. Now most phones have integrated batteries which can only be replaced with an expensive and inconvenient visit to a repair center.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#228

Post by jasonlaramburu »

git-pull wrote: post #85

I admire the gumption of making a new phone. But controlled obsolescence kills me. The real feature that improves in phones the past few years for me is the software and apps, not the hardware . My wishlist: - Give me a lighter, snappier OS. Not something clunkier and slower and uses more ram, gpu/cpu (aka battery life). - Actually support updates to the things for longer than 2-3 years. - (Not related to this phone)…

This sounds like a terrible business with a minuscule market. The cost of designing, manufacturing and shipping something as complex as a phone is huge. By making the battery user-serviceable, and the software updates free and indefinite, you would eliminate any possibility for recurring revenue.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#229

Post by metalliqaz »

Animats wrote: post #227
metalliqaz wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because that's how much iPhones and Pixels cost.

Generic unlocked Android smartphones, which this is, run $200-$400.

Well, I don't think they want a piece of that market. I think they want a piece of the high-end market.

Re: Essential Phone, available now

#230

Post by natch »

I'm sure it's a nice phone, but I cannot unsee that stubby chubby.

Probably a really nice camera though. Other than the look of the camera I would consider this phone.

Edit: Oh, it's an add-on. So it's like we're going back to the old Danger Sidekick days when they had that little camera dongle.

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