Essential Phone, available now

Post by zeograd » Thu, Aug 17, 2017, 7:55 PM UTC

throwaway613834 wrote: post #309

ariofrio wrote: post #286

Give me software updates for 7+ years, then we'll talk about buying your $700 phone. Lasting hardware means nothing without lasting software. In the meanwhile, I'll keep buying $120 phones (Moto G4 with Amazon Ads FTW) and keeping them for ~2 years until they break or software updates stop. Even though as a Catholic (Laudato Si, Rerum Novarum) it kills me to waste all those materials every couple of years and be part…

I'm on Android 4 as I'm typing this and the only reason I'm even considering a new phone is that apps have gotten a bit more demanding of the CPU, i.e. my hardware is too slow for a handful of apps now. What do you find so critical about OS/OEM software updates that you find a need to buy a new phone every 1-2 years?

Post by alexmat » Thu, Aug 17, 2017, 7:55 PM UTC

gcb0 wrote: post #113

wake me up when there is a phone that runs proper linux. with decent drivers. if anyone told you that you would be using your own computer in "kiosk" mode with a root password you don't have, you would be laughing your ass off. but here we are, all using the 90s equivalent of a library computer.

Post by krastanov » Thu, Aug 17, 2017, 7:56 PM UTC

throwaway613834 wrote: post #299

colordrops wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Meh, I bought my first OnePlus phone a few months ago and while the phone itself is great, I've been thoroughly unimpressed with their support and unavailability of most accessories, both from OnePlus and 3rd parties. It's a huge turn off and I won't buy another one.

What kind of support do you need for a smartphone? I've literally never even thought "maybe I should contact support" for a phone problem.

Post by vturner » Thu, Aug 17, 2017, 7:58 PM UTC

givinguflac wrote: post #223

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.

Post by iOsiris » Thu, Aug 17, 2017, 8:00 PM UTC

1024core wrote: post #225

As phones become more and more powerful, the EOL dates should be longer and longer. Why restrict it to 3 years? Apple supports iPhones for about 5(?).