Essential

It's that time of year again but, thankfully, this isn't about that non-holiday that some love and others love to hate. Admittedly, Google could have perhaps chosen a better date to publish its April 2019 security bulletin for Android phones in general and its own Pixel phones. April 1 or otherwise, the security and performance issues they address are no laughing matter and it's very encouraging to see Essential still taking things very seriously.

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Andy Rubin's Essential almost has an HTC and LG problem. Its first and so far only phone, the Essential PH-1, was easily a crowd favorite, especially thanks to its quick and regular software updates. Despite that, the phone's disappointing sales have caused the startup to almost give up on smartphones. Almost. Rumors about an Essential PH-2 abound and it could bring the world's first true in-display camera. Curiously, it might also take on step backward as well.

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Ever since the Stagefright exploit, Google has religiously been releasing updates every month. Most of the time, those have been filed with bug fixes and security patches, most of which have been uninteresting to consumers. This month's update dump, however, might be exciting for owners of the latest Pixel 3 phones, with owners reporting palpable performance improvements. As always, Essential is the first OEM to rush to the frontline, bringing a different kind of treat to its faithful users.

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A set of images created by Essential indicate the company's intentions for a second Essential Phone. Publicly the company's seen better days - in its very short tenure on the scene, the company's released a phone, some accessories, and a chopping down of future products, (at least in the short term.) Lower key evidence shows us this week that Essential hasn't called it quits just yet - they seem instead to be working on a futuristic phone the likes of which we've never quite seen before.

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This morning the Newton email app and organization turned their porch light back on and all apps were returned to full functionality. Almost like they never went out of business in the first place. This return to business is largely because of the acquisition of Newton parent company CloudMagic by the company called Essential. This is the same company that released the Essential Phone PH-1 - that company - and Newton is now available for use by all users, business or otherwise.

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Essential Phone PH-2 appeared in carrier files this week - but we might not be ready for it just yet. If what Andy Rubin predicted is meant to come to fruition, we might have to look to another device to see how well we're prepared for the sort of future for which Essential is prepared. That other device was the Palm Phone (2018) and it did not do very well.

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The Essential PH-1 smartphone is dead. The company has stopped manufacturing the device so any phone you buy will be either through third-party retailers or second-hand resellers. That, of course, doesn’t mean that the company itself is dead. While some may have presumed that, since the PH-1 is so far the only major product it males and sells, that has never really been the case. Now a company exec confirms it’s still alive and kicking but better tame your expectations that there’ll be a PH-2.

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Back in 2017, the Essential Phone was poised to shake up the Android market, promising the perfect smartphone experience. While the device was highly praised at release with its impressive features, it eventually failed to live up to its potential, seeing a number of price cuts alongside accessories that failed to catch on. Now Essential, the startup led by Android co-founder Andy Rubin, has confirmed that its flagship PH-1 is sold out and being discontinued.

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Today we're going to have a quick chat about why buying a new phone is a bad idea. To be real clear here right out the gate, I don't mean all new phones - only new phones that've only just been released. This goes for all brands, no matter the place or carrier - and it's only very recently become more important than ever before.

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The folks at Essential that made the Essential Phone did not include a standard headphone jack with the phone. Instead, they included a dongle that allowed the phone to output audio through its USB-C port. With the Audio Adapter HD, the user of any Essential Phone PH-1 can make use of the phone's Click-Connect tech.

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Essential has cut around 30-percent of its workforce, as the struggling Android phone-maker attempts to focus its efforts in the tough mobile space. The company, founded by former Android chief Andy Rubin, had hoped to usher in a new age of premium, modular smartphones and thoughtful connected accessories.

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The next Essential phone may not be like anything you recognize as a smartphone, with Andy Rubin's Android startup reportedly looking closer to sci-fi movie "Her" for inspiration than anything else on carrier store shelves. Essential made headlines with Rubin's original concept, a smartphone that would use open software and modular hardware to last for longer than the typical handset.

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