Essential will be closing its doors this year

Essential, the company founded by Android co-founder Andy Rubin, will be shutting its doors just under three years since it started. The company launched the Essential Phone back in May 2017 to mixed reviews. It's helped pioneer the front-facing camera notch that we've seen in a lot of modern smartphones. But after a New York Times report released in October of 2018 reported about Andy Rubin being removed from Google following a $90 million payout over sexual misconduct allegations, the company was pushed into obscurity because Rubin's reputation was tied heavily with the company's.

Essential tried to tease a new kind of phone called Project Gem after that. But it seems it wasn't enough to help revive the company. Essential says they're shutting down because they can't find a way to deliver Gem to consumers. As for existing Essential Phone owners, the February security update will be the last update the phone will get. And those using their email client Newton mail will have access to it until April 30, 2020.

Source: Essential

Essential Phone ends its run as stock depletes

Less than two years in the market, the smartphone that kicked off thin bezels and notches is nbearing its end of life as stock depletes. This means that you won't be able to buy new Essential Phones, nor would you really want to invest in what is essentially a discontinued product.

The Essential Phone is far from obsolete. The company continues to make updates available and might do so for one year. Essential's focus is no longer on this device but on whatever smart home hub they are planning on making. Essential Phone was a remarkable device and this writer's daily carry until an update negated the SIM unlock feature. I doubt we will see the likes of the Essential Phone PH-1 again.

Essential lets go of 30 per cent of its staff

A year ago, Essential was the most exciting new entrant in the smartphone space. Their innovative yet undercooked Essential PH-1 brought a new level of luxury and design thinking to the market plus it had the smallest notch on a edge-to-edge display, something that's easy to overlook in today's notch riddled smartphone market.

Essential reportedly let go of 30 per cent of its staff as it continues to wrap up operations. The cuts were mostly to its sales and hardware divisions after the company was unable to find a buyer. Essential cancelled its follow up to the PH-1 and said it would focus on smart home product although nothing has materialized.

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Telus and Koodo are holding back the Android P update for the Essential Phone and customers aren't happy

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

One of the advantages of the Essential Phone PH-1, sold exclusively in Canada by Telus and subsidiary Koodo, is that it runs on Pure Android.There's no carrier or phone manufacturer bloatware and this ensures quick adoption of the latest OS updates and features.

Designed and created by Android founder Andy Rubin, the Essential Phone's promise was that it would receive the latest Android updates when these were rolled out by Google.

This promise has been fulfilled by allowing Android P Beta on the device early and by rolling our the finished Android Pie update the same day it was made available globally. Except in Canada.

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