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Andy Rubin's Essential Phone Considered Anything But (theregister.co.uk)

An anonymous reader shares a report: Andy Rubin's ambitions to create a new consumer electronics ecosystem are floundering at base camp. Sales of Essential's phone, which forms a key part of the strategy, are tepid. Google Play reports a mere 50,000 download of Essential's Camera app so far, the Android Police blog notes. This doesn't paint the full picture, but it can be assumed a fairly complete one, barring a few brush strokes. Essential launched in the US with support from Sprint, at a recommended SIM-free retail price of $699. After reported sales of just five thousand in the first month, this was slashed to $499 and could be grabbed for $399 in the post-Thanksgiving sales. As devices from different manufacturers proliferate in the home, Rubin has alluded to "a new operating system so it can speak all those protocols and it can do it securely and privately." But rather than launching a new software platform he's had to launch hardware.

150 comments

  1. BREAKING NEWS by GameboyRMH · · Score: 3, Funny

    Costly niche product doesn't sell in large numbers, news at 11!

    (If they ever want money, just build a modern smartphone in landscape slider form)

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    1. Re:BREAKING NEWS by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2

      It's like the 8th magical open phone, after the Firefox phone, the Ubuntu phone, and some others nobody ever heard of.

      Today we hear a lot about bitcoin and blockchain, too, with IBM trying to talk people into shoving blockchain where it doesn't belong.

    2. Re:BREAKING NEWS by retchdog · · Score: 1

      the market is rational. disagreement with rationality is irrational.

      --
      "They were pure niggers." – Noam Chomsky
    3. Re:BREAKING NEWS by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      It is almost like, we Slashdot posters, actually don't know what people want in a phone. And all the stuff that we do want seems to come with a trade-off that most people do not want to deal with.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    4. Re:BREAKING NEWS by MachineShedFred · · Score: 2

      with IBM trying to talk people into shoving blockchain where it doesn't belong

      What, like the back of a Volkswagen?

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    5. Re:BREAKING NEWS by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      Were any Slashdotters claiming the Essential phones would be a success?!

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    6. Re:BREAKING NEWS by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Today we hear a lot about bitcoin and blockchain, too, with IBM trying to talk people into shoving blockchain where it doesn't belong.

      That's what she said.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    7. Re:BREAKING NEWS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Niche? Why niche? Since when a phone sporting good hardware specs, running an OS as new as most of the flagships that sell in millions, and with a quirky gimmick for those looking for a "plus" factor, in that 360 camera, is a "niche" product? Pixel Galaxy 8 and Oneplus 5, with similar hardware/software have sold in many millions, what do you think makes the Essential "Niche"?

    8. Re:BREAKING NEWS by JoePete · · Score: 0

      To the contrary, Essential is anything but a niche market. The phone and as well as the corporate direction is to eliminate vendor lock-in in the consumer marketplace. The goal is a system that speaks the variety of protocols used in the home today and to avoid the mandatory bloatware or limits that OEMs build into their products. Sure, the phone is fighting for space in a saturated market. The phone is remarkably stable, quality and clean. As the market is proving, however, consumers would rather spend their money on the equivalent of digital jewelry. The Essential is bland by today's standard. It doesn't do anything new. It just does the basics very well, and we have yet to see that be marketable attribute in consumer electronics.

    9. Re:BREAKING NEWS by pots · · Score: 1
      The significant part of the article was the paragraph after the one quoted in the summary:

      ... But rather than launching a new software platform he's had to launch hardware.

      This is a reality of life these days, unfortunately. To get your software adopted widely, and for your services to reach critical scale, you need to make hardware. It's why Amazon makes Alexas and Fire devices, and why Google pours so much effort into digital tat nobody wants.

      It's not news, just a sad truth.

    10. Re: BREAKING NEWS by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      No. You're doing it wrong. Don't ruin the joke, mmmkay?

    11. Re:BREAKING NEWS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if only he had created a phone that was even REMOTELY interesting and had a more reasonable price... then he MIGHT have sold some more of them...

      His phone and his price for it is bordering on a scam operation in my view :P

  2. Sad revelation by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Security is simply no sales argument and can't compete with OHHH SHINY!!!!!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Sad revelation by Cid+Highwind · · Score: 1

      What security? It's stock Android, with all the Google tracking that implies.

      --
      0 1 - just my two bits
  3. Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Consumers are saturated with ONE FORM FACTOR for their phones.

    Many consumers are tired of enormous, fragile, thin phones.

    We want a phone that fits comfortably and safely in our back jeans pocket and does not break if sat on.

    Like ALL phones a few short years ago.

    MAKE ONE, SHEEP !

    AND WE DON'T CARE HOW THICK IT IS !

    1. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Octorian · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Just make the damn thing as thick as the phone+case everyone carries now, but robust enough that the case isn't necessary. Then use the extra space for batteries (and not removing the headphone jack).

      Seriously, the problem is that everyone tries so hard to make the phone look as "shiny" as possible on a store shelf, without giving a damn about what its *actually* like to the *actual* user a month later.

    2. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      We want a phone that fits comfortably and safely in our back jeans pocket and does not break if sat on.

      The question is, why the fuck are people carrying expensive hardware in back jeans pockets in the first place.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    3. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by AvitarX · · Score: 2

      Agreed,

      I want a phone, 5 inches across, but would take 50% or more depth than current, well made plastic case, 720 resolution, good sun viewable display, but lower midrange specs/price (2GB RAM, SD Card, 32GB Storage, Enough CPU/GPU that it doesn't hang, $180-$250).

      Everything seems to be $125 or 5+ inches.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    4. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by SScorpio · · Score: 2

      You might like the Kyocera DuraForce. It's not the fastest phone, but it has Android 7.1 and the battery seems to last forever. Only downside with it, is it's about 2.5x the weight of a regular 5" phone with a cheap case.

    5. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the question is: how are little computers still expensive in 2017?

    6. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We want a phone that fits comfortably and safely in our back jeans pocket and does not break if sat on.

      And when I say "we" I mean me and a couple of my buddies. Also we would like a phone that periodically reminds us of how terribly clever we are when we call others "sheeple".

    7. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't have a vest, so no vest pockets. The phone won't fit in the front pockets of the jeans and my shirts don't have pockets. I don't want to wear a little holster for it or carry a satchel/knapsack/murse/purse. What to do?

    8. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Get jeans with pockets on the side of the legs.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    9. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You want people to wear special clothes adapted to the only form factor phone manufacturers will make, rather than phone manufacturers finally re-learning to make the phones people want ?

    10. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called on iPhone SE you fucking dweeb.

    11. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      I don't have a vest, so no vest pockets. The phone won't fit in the front pockets of the jeans and my shirts don't have pockets. I don't want to wear a little holster for it or carry a satchel/knapsack/murse/purse. What to do?

      Buy real jeans... or step it up a bit and buy dockers with "mobile" pockets...

    12. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by NeoMorphy · · Score: 1

      Or my new favorite, tactical pants! More pockets than cargo pants.

    13. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Lanthanide · · Score: 1

      *All* of my 10+ pairs of jeans have side-pockets.

      I've never come across jeans that don't.

    14. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      The front pockets of all of my pants are bigger than my back pockets. I can understand if you said it wasn't comfortable (because you're fat), but not that it doesn't fit. Are you wearing your pants wrong? Can you fit your hands in your front pockets? I'm 6ft or more and have never owned front pockets my hands don't fit in. Please describe your body so we know what retarded body type you expect a mass market phone to be designed for. I'm in Mexico right now with a shit ton more people closer to 5ft than I'm used to, so I am open to it being a body type issue, I'd just still expect front pockets to fit your hands, and your hand bigger than your phone.

    15. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you regularly put a 5" phone in your back jeans pocket and you have never broken its screen by sitting on something hard, then you must be anorexic.

    16. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only dweebs still buy Apple products you fucling dweeb.

    17. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      The phone won't fit in the front pockets of the jeans

      I have never had a pair of jeans (or any other trousers) where the back pocket is smaller than the front/side ones.

      The only reason people carry phones in their back jeans pocket is to show off the phone and/or their cute arse.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    18. Re: Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Putting a phablet phone in your front jeans pocket puts a bending moment on it that I do not consider safe. Plus my keys and wallet occupy my front pockets.
      I want the OPTION of purchasing a phone that fits and does not break in my back jeans pocket if I choose to put it there.
      WHY is that too much too ask ?
      Why do ALL phones now HAVE to be phablets ?!

      Oh, and please let us know what sort of retarded brain type thinks a body type can be "retarded".

    19. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is covering your buttock with a phone "showing off your cute arse" ?

    20. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Again with this "everyone should change their clothes to suit the manufacturers' decision to ONLY MAKE ONE PHONE SIZE" ?!

    21. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Only fucking dweebs still buy Apple.

    22. Re:Make a NON PHABLET SLAB PHONE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't buy skinny jeans. Everyone hates the way you look in them anyway, Hipster.

  4. Re:Lousy advertising... by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Technically and ethically the Essential phone is a fine phone... However I don't think they understand the Cell phone market.
    Because for a few hundred dollars less, you can get a good budget phone, or a few hundred dollars more you can get a premium phone.

    Cell phones are not like cars. Where there is a need for a large range of different models. Even the expensive iPhone X at over $1k wouldn't be a painful expense to most middle class people, unlike getting a top end luxury or sports car, where such payments for a middle class person may mean the difference between home mortgage or having the car. So with cell phones a good portion of people can afford to get arguably "the best" phone that money can buy. For those who do not want the best, they are actually happy getting a lower end model. Cars have a middle ground which is popular because they are so much more expensive, that if you are middle class you may want more then a budget car, but not as much as a high end car, because there is variances in your budget to purchase more then the minimum.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  5. Clueless by Dan+East · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't understand how a person can come to wield financial power of the scale required to launch something like new smartphone hardware, and yet be so clueless as to the market. The fact that Microsoft could not survive in this market, with their experience creating software, purchase of Nokia, and the ability to tie the software / user experience in with their world-dominating desktop OS, should be a huge, huge hint as to their likelihood to succeed.

    --
    Better known as 318230.
    1. Re:Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Don't forget - he created the pre-iPhone Android, where it was essentially a Blackberry knock-off. Then once he saw what Apple did, they retooled the whole mess to be an iPhone knock off. Only after his influence began to wane with the Android team, did Android become what it is today.

      I don't know why anyone cares about this guy - it's pretty clear most of his success was due to either shamelessly ripping off other people, or being lucky. And luck appears to have run out.

    2. Re:Clueless by blahbooboo · · Score: 1

      But it's ANDY RUBIN he created Android! Sure, Android is a piece of shit with horrible security and the worst fragmentation of any operating system in history, but since Google somehow managed to force this unholy mishmash of Linux and Java down consumers throats he MUST know what he's doing!

      lol, sad but basically true.

    3. Re:Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the ability to tie the software / user experience in with their world-dominating desktop OS

      Here's something about user experience. No one actually enjoys using Windows. People tolerate it because it's where the programs are, or because it's all they know. And well, it works, most of the time. But it's not like when you use a Mac: "this is so elegant and well-designed, I'll never have a hard time using it." Or when you use Linux: "this is so flexible, I can use different desktop environments and customize everything to my liking." Windows' interface is rigid, poorly laid out, and rather ugly. Do you want more of that shitty experience in your phone?

    4. Re:Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget - he created the pre-iPhone Android, where it was essentially a Blackberry knock-off. Then once he saw what Apple did, they retooled the whole mess to be an iPhone knock off. Only after his influence began to wane with the Android team, did Android become what it is today.

      I don't know why anyone cares about this guy - it's pretty clear most of his success was due to either shamelessly ripping off other people, or being lucky. And luck appears to have run out.

      So... basically Steve Jobs?

    5. Re:Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't understand how a person can come to wield financial power of the scale required to launch something like new smartphone hardware, and yet be so clueless as to the market.

      Not a person, but a bunch of stupid cops on a fishing expedition.

    6. Re: Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. This guy created A droid. Steve jobs created nothing. He just told others what he wanted made. Big difference.

    7. Re:Clueless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or being lucky. And luck appears to have run out.

      Kind of like that famous movie quote:

      Ash: Well hello Mister Fancypants. Well, I've got news for you pal, you ain't leadin' but two things, right now: Jack and sh*t, and Jack left town.

  6. Essential Apps Not Updating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Essential apps were NOT AUTOMATICALLY UPDATED on phone setup.

    The article mentions the number of downloads for an application the phone did not automatically update from the Google Play Store on setup. I did not turn off automatic updates, make any changes to Android, or anything else. It was connected to fast WIFI and able to download every application the phone wanted to update. That included Google Chrome, Google Play Music, and many other Google applications.

    I was able to update the Essential camera app by searching the store for Essential camera and clicking Update. It seems like the application is not being pushed out to phones and has to be manually updated for now. That makes some sense considering the huge problems they have been having with the camera application.

    Take the article with several grains of salt. My Sprint Essential phone did not update automatically.

    1. Re:Essential Apps Not Updating by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      Huge problems with the camera app on a $700 smartphone? That isn't a problem at all. No one uses a camera on a smartphone, so why even bother testing it before it ships?

    2. Re:Essential Apps Not Updating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Essential should have done a lot more testing on the software and hardware before releasing the device.

      With that said, it doesn't change the way the numbers mentioned in the original article should be interpreted. The number of downloads doesn't reflect the number of Essential phones. The article needs to be fixed as much as the Essential phone itself.

    3. Re:Essential Apps Not Updating by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

      You are right...the number of Essential phones is likely much much lower than the number of downloads.

    4. Re: Essential Apps Not Updating by Faw · · Score: 1

      Maybe the Sprint version. The unlocked one works ok and everything updated. Now running the oreo beta without problems. Btw there is only one app, the camera one, rest is stock clean android.

      I really like the phone. Camera is ok. Never used the headphone jack. Dont care about waterproofing. I thought it was overpriced now at 400 is perfect. A solid titanium block with stock android. Reminds me of my favorite iPhone, the iPhone 4.

    5. Re:Essential Apps Not Updating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Google Play Store simply doesn't work that way. The download number provides a floor minimum and only that. Any other interpretation is objectively wrong.

    6. Re:Essential Apps Not Updating by Lanthanide · · Score: 1

      Because people can't erase their phones and download apps again? You know there's a huge group of people who are continually fucking about with modding their phone etc?

    7. Re: Essential Apps Not Updating by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      Same thing happened with BlackBerry's first Android phone. Apps preinstalled were not automatically updating until after the first manual search and update. It caused an issue with bad out of box experiences for bugs fixed and already released. It left a bad taste that could have been prevented and led to returns. I can see how an app not installed through Play isn't detected for auto update, but fuck, learn about the problems from much more compentant companies so you don't repeat what fucked them over.

    8. Re: Essential Apps Not Updating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm paying $5/month for mine. That's $90 bucks over the 18 months I'll be leasing it. It is a pretty good "8/10 would smash" phone. Not really much I can complain about because it is just plain decent and I have almost no money tied up in it. In that regard, it is exactly what I was seeking in a phone.

  7. Too busy by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess he was too busy harassing women and not paying attention to the fact that no one wants a $700 phone that isn't an iPhone.

    1. Re:Too busy by aergern · · Score: 1

      I guess you were too busy to read the articles on the subject. He wasn't accused of harassing women. He dated a subordinate. And while against company policy it wasn't harassment. You fail ... at reading and indignation. Go home.

      --
      Tell me what you believe...I'll tell you what you should see.
  8. Security shouldn't be a selling point by sjbe · · Score: 2

    Security is simply no sales argument and can't compete with OHHH SHINY!!!!!

    True though in fairness security and "shiny" are not mutually exclusive and security (in principle) should be a given. Even though they shouldn't, people are going to tend to assume that devices are secure. This isn't true of course but if they don't (knowingly) get hurt then they will assume that it isn't a problem. And there is no reason in principle to assume that a device cannot be both secure and a lot of interesting useful features too.

    1. Re:Security shouldn't be a selling point by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Security runs contrary to the interests of the makers of devices who want to sell their devices to you, use them to spy on you and sell that data to whoever wants to pay for it.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Security shouldn't be a selling point by Arkham · · Score: 1

      Security runs contrary to the interests of the makers of devices who want to sell their devices to you, use them to spy on you and sell that data to whoever wants to pay for it.

      You must work for Samsung.

      --
      - Vincit qui patitur.
    3. Re: Security shouldn't be a selling point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, he's just an opportunist with people's data ;)

  9. Lighting striking twice by sjbe · · Score: 1

    I don't understand how a person can come to wield financial power of the scale required to launch something like new smartphone hardware, and yet be so clueless as to the market.

    There are LOTS of people who have achieved fame and fortune due to fortuitous circumstances which they are incapable of repeating. It's not hard to come up with examples. Also remember that Rubin didn't do it by himself. It's kind of like being the lead singer of a successful band who cannot replicate the success of the band as a solo artist. You have to have the right team under the right circumstances to succeed.

    1. Re:Lighting striking twice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Take Zuckerberg. That toilet fish is hailed as a "tech guru" but I'm sure he couldn't code a CS 101 level "bubble sort" to save his life. I doubt he can change the tire on his car.

      Zuckerberg is a swishing ninny, someone who is interested in chit-chat and gossip like an old hen. He did have an idea that the world was full nitwits like himself who would be interested in sharing all the empty moronic trivia and gossip of their inconsequential lives.

    2. Re:Lighting striking twice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      this guy fucks.

    3. Re:Lighting striking twice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You also assume that Essential needed to be successful for Rubin to profit. I'm sure Rubin profited handsomely even in the failure of his company.

  10. Re:Lousy advertising... by fred6666 · · Score: 2

    I disagree. There is a market for mid-range phones and not everybody who could afford it want to waste $1k on a phone.

  11. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  12. Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter.. by yaznaz · · Score: 1

    to the majority. That is why nearly everyone you know carries a iPhone, not because of technical superiority (that might be debatable). That is why it is exceptionally difficult for a new entrant to break into the market.
    Phones are perceived as status symbols and unlike lot of materialistic things, even the most expensive models are within reach for most with the leasing plans offered by carriers. And largely for this reason Amazon failed with their reasonably priced phone with comparable features despite their huge brand cachet and marketing reach. Unfortunately, it was simply in the wrong market as its brand name does not quite correlate with luxury and status.
    I would imagine the a phone launched by a luxury brand is more likely to succeed than a new entrant with tech pedegree.

  13. Re:Lousy advertising... by jellomizer · · Score: 0

    For those who choose not to waste 1k on a phone, are actually normally happy with the low end phones, being that a low end phone has 90% of the features of a high end one and costs 1/5 the price. Most of the price on the High End phone are style and build quality, their may be some gimmick feature. But if people want style, they are willing to pay for it, if they want practical then they want to pay a lot less. The Essential phone was to be the Buick of phones. But while their may be some people who want a mid range phone, most people will be happy with top of the line, or practical does what it needs to do.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  14. Re:Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter. by AvitarX · · Score: 1

    I would actually say "phones are hard to distinguish by specs, so brands matter".

    Other things matter, but Samsung is popular not because just because they're cool, but also because they are a known quantity (decent build, some interesting features, interface tweaks people (not me) like). An iPhone was for a while smoother (interface), or longer battery than Android, they beI'm came popular when they were arguably better. Yeah, no 3g, but the OG Android (forget the name) couldn't really keep up with 3g anyway.

    I use budget phones personally, but even then, I'm brand loyal because of history of value.

    --
    Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  15. So basically you want... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...a 1998 era Nokia.

    1. Re: So basically you want... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Palm Treo
      Sturdy, back pocket-compatible, good battery, high specs (for its time).

      MAKE US A MODERN VERSION !

  16. Europe release nowhere to be seen by cloud.pt · · Score: 1

    title says it all, it was expected like months ago and nothing. Their problem was the US market was no place for that phone - the purists already have enough to chose from with iPhones, Pixels and OnePluses. Contract-free price is meaningless there.

    Sell that phone at 400eur/380gbp on this side of the pond, where a LOT of phones are bought flat out, sans-strings attached, and where we really appreciate that effort, and you would notice a market response. How they fail to see this is beyond me. Did I mention Pixels and iPhones are ultra-expensive here, and OnePlus is not every european's cup of tea?

    I bet you an arm that, for that price, stock would go kaput as soon as this hit a launch in London or Paris.

    1. Re:Europe release nowhere to be seen by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Sell that phone at 400eur/380gbp on this side of the pond, where a LOT of phones are bought flat out,

      There's no one EU market that comes anywhere close to the sales potential of the US, and releasing in many different smaller markets is a supreme pain in the ass.

      No device is going to be a success unless it can first succeed in China or the US.

    2. Re:Europe release nowhere to be seen by cloud.pt · · Score: 1

      Disagree with the former, partially argee with the later.

      There is no market like the EU for smartphones - we pay full price for devices, and when we don't, providers subsidize the remainder of the price (usually a VERY small fraction - you no longer see premium phones discounted over 15% with carrier exclusivity cntracts anymore), and manufacturers are still paid full amount, if with a small discount due to volume and/or distribution rights/explusivity/etc.

      And while I see the issue of the "many smaller markets" scenario, I believe it's amazing how companies, especially these new startups with all their vision and concept. fail to grasp that there is no issue with releaseing a phone for in the EU single market: they just don't have to make a full EU-wide release for it to sell everywhere. All they need to do is have one device with all the GSM/3g/LTE bands, pick one BIG, stable EU member (e.g. UK, France, Germany, Spain) and ensure the main reseller of the phone is the regional Amazon of that product, or in alternative, any reputed online shop with decent EU-bound shipping service and cost. Just as that happens, such a phone would now start being bought by anyone, anywhere in the EU, and all they had to do was respect a single country's regulation, and add one country's import and sales taxes. Marketing can be cross-borders. Is it that hard? OnePlus sold most of their devices in Portugal even before they had their site in Portuguese. They just needed Portugal as a shipping destination, and a single EU shipping center/warehouse from which to ship. I remember they distributed the phone in most, if not all EU countries for which teh OP1 supported the most basic LTE bands (for Portugal specifically, they missed one of the bands and the phone was still very usable in any carrier).

      And that last sentence, I believe to each his own - devices are tailored to specific markets. Lenovo, Xiaomi et all make fortunes selling low and mid tier devices in developing markets. Premium devices usually flourish in the US/UK/Korea where not only purchasing power is high but regulations are mostly what every factory in Shenzen follows. Yet in China, there is only one real brand that shines and that is because it is THE de facto consensual premium brand, and just happens to be the brand with walled gardens experience, making it simply ideal for working on the Chinese microcosmos - Apple. Everyone else, be it Samsung or the local giants like Huawei or Oppo are all playing catch with the iPhones, and it's not a quality/marketing/price/features problem. It's just that they're not Apple. And no premium device is gonna make it in China until they flat out ban Apple from there, which has been attempted multiple times by what is obviously the influence of the local players (to which I have to take my hat off, Apple has been stoic to Chinese regulation and political antics against them. Bravo).

  17. Re:Lousy advertising... by fred6666 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I disagree. I, for one, buy used high end phones for about one third their original price when they are 6-18 months old. They have good cameras and are fast, just not as fast as the latest model. But they are still much better than low end phones with crappy displays, low RAM, and lack of updates.
    I couldn't care less about style however. It's a phone. I care about function, not form. And also do not confuse build quality with style and looks. It has nothing to do with each other. The best material for a phone is plastic (durable, shock-absorbent, doesn't block RF) but somehow it is considered "cheap" by so-called "build quality" freaks who prefer bad materials such as glass and metal.

    I still think the essential phone was doomed to fail at $700. Not good enough for the price.

  18. Re:Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Fire Phone failed because it was an awful experience. The software downright unpleasant to use. The Essential phone, on the other hand, is quite a good attempt. The software is basically stock android and the hardware/build is top notch (save for the camera). I owned the Fire Phone, and just picked up the Essential on the Sprint lease plan $145 firesale. You are certainly correct in that status is important, but there's certainly a place for good budget phones. Unfortunately, there is no way you can call Essential a budget phone at $500. There's nothing terribly compelling about the phone unless you put it in your hands (it is pretty awesome) and without a price that will do that, it's not likely to succeed. Launching with Sprint only was another huge handicap.

  19. Re:Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The high-end phones also show up as zero-dollar options around that time period in their lifecycle as well.

  20. The sweet spot in consumer goods by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It has been shown time and again that roughtly $200 is the sweet spot in pricing for establishing a market for tech gear. Usually consumers wait for that price or something close to it.

    Apple has already established themselves as the high-end "prestige" brand. They can ask whatever they want. But newcomers must "try harder"

    Recently the xda-developers released their pick for best bang for your buck phones. Their pick? The $200 Honor 7X, a hacker friendly octocore, 64gb with "premium body quality" and construction. Besides the great features, the $200 sweet spot was part of the criteria. Runners up included Sony XA1 and Moto G5Splus.

    I like Essential but they need two tier pricing, one unit for the hoi polloi to pay Essentials bills, and another tier for their flagship unit to compete at the higher end.

  21. Re:Lousy advertising... by ctilsie242 · · Score: 2

    Not everyone wants or needs a four digit priced phone. For a lot of people, a lower end LG, BLU, or Huawei device is good enough. For $250, I picked up a LG Stylo 3 Plus for development work. Other than lack of NFC (which I rarely use), it is a decent phone with a very responsive fingerprint scanner. There are not many apps that really matter that require a flagship device, other than having animated poop.

    If a phone has the usual features (fingerprint scanner, NFC, wireless charging, etc.) there isn't that much difference for day to day use. Especially if you clean out the bloatware.

    Nothing wrong with an iPhone X. However, there is still plenty of room in the market for the iPhone 8 and 8+.

  22. Re:Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter. by Stormwatch · · Score: 1

    That is why nearly everyone you know carries a iPhone

    Apply some geography to that statement. iOS is hugely popular in the USA and a few other countries, but globally, Android's market share is close to 90%.

  23. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cars also last 10 years, give or take, no matter how much they were brand new.

    Phones seem to last 3 years tops, after which either there are no updates so you get hacked or the shoddy build quality left you with something major broken.

    1k for a device that lasts 3 years, but maybe even just 1 is a different deal than as little as 10k on a device that lasts 10 years and can be repaired to last quite a bit longer than that.

  24. Re:Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    GP implied the following:
    * Essential is a mid-range phone at a mid-range price - 700$
    * You can get a budget (weaker than Essential) phone for about 300$
    * You can get a high-end (stronger than Essential) phone for about 1000$
    * There is no market for 700$ phone that is in between budget and top end phones

    What you are saying is that GP is wrong, because you are happy buying previous gen high-end phone (essentially mid-range) for 1/3 of the original price, so around 300$, therefore, there is definitely a market for 700$ mid-range phone. How does this make sense?

  25. Andy Rubin's Stupid Phone Is Butt by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who would buy that stupid ass phone - even for $399?

    1. Re: Andy Rubin's Stupid Phone Is Butt by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      Why would you ask such a stupid question, knowing the answer is over 50,000 and no where close to one? It's a stupid question asked by an obviously stupid person.

  26. Re:Lousy advertising... by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I disagree. I, for one, buy used high end phones for about one third their original price when they are 6-18 months old.

    The fact that you buy high end phones (whether used or not) is not evidence that there is a market for mid-range phones.

  27. Re:Lousy advertising... by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

    Other than lack of NFC (which I rarely use)

    Does anyone use it? Years ago, NFC was touted as a way to "pay for stuff with your phone". But now that the future has arrived, when I pay, it is always by scanning a QR code on the kiosk screen and then using the plain ol' cellular network to complete the transaction. No NFC needed.

  28. Who knew? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    Who knew competing with companies like Samsung and Apple who spend billions in advertising and billions more in R&D would be so difficult?

  29. Re:Lousy advertising... by ctilsie242 · · Score: 1

    Everyone has their own style, but I've used NFC (or more specifically Apple Pay) quite often. For all but some vending machines with a bum transceiver, it works well.

  30. 1/2 price by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    Same here. I never buy a "new release". I wait til another new release comes out, scoop up the last years model, like you, for about 1/2 price. Better bang for your buck IMO.

  31. Phone Prices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Lets see, for close to 700 I can get:

    a mediocre camera with poor light sensitivity and high noise
    a mediocre mp3 player with poor battery life
    a mediocre netflix box, with a small screen
    a mediocre phone with poor battery life
    a terrible calculator [with the default app]
    a mediocre PDA
    a poor replacement for a bank-card
    a mediocre skype device
    a poor quality computer - with a small "monitor"

    But I also get:

    a great spying device
    a great advertising platform
    an excellent gps tracker
    an excellent advertising delivery platform - the user even pays for the AD bandwidth!

    Sounds like an excellent deal to me!

    My limit for a cellphone is about $200 or under. Even for that, I can get a decent quad core, so my ads get delivered faster, my location sent, and my privacy invaded, but for a low low price

  32. Who did software w/ APK on it 1st? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject: Me! That crook (from a tribe of known crooks in history banished nation to nation) just took it! Can I prove it??

    Easily (myself born w/ those initials) online circa 1994 (& earlier on BBS system, on various CD distros of freeware/shareware in those days (walnut creek etc.) & EARLER in academia in 1993.

    Is this actionable by myself vs. Google??? Yes!

    AND

    I've seen it done before by others & Microsoft did it to ME for putting "APK Windows System Tools" out (they made me change it to "APK System Tools for Windows" back in the late 1990's - early 2000). I didn't bother fight them on it - they didn't even INVENT the word Windows (still do but they're fucking up hugely VISTA onward - poetic justice that).

    WHY DIDN'T JooGLE try FORCE ME TO DO THE SAME? All of the above & they KNOW it.

    APK

    P.S.=> Google's a piece of shit (look what they did on YouTube - which yes they OWN & CONTROL - suppressing truth https://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=11467749&cid=55717933/ & they don't invent a damn thing (DEC had search out way before JOOgle did in AltaVista , Chrome wasn't invented by them (& they push it as a 'packaged addon' in OTHERS' wares taking advantage of the ignorant masses - all it is, from THEM @ least, is an advertising machine (try turn off script in it in the GUI, & does the commandline switch work anymore?)) & they LIVE off the sweat of others' back (it's what "their kind" does as they own the media to cheat like hell like they're after politics, law, medicine etc.)... apk

    1. Re: Who did software w/ APK on it 1st? by Brockmire · · Score: 1

      Fuck off you racist piece of shit. Your mother should have aborted you.

  33. Re:Lousy advertising... by NeoMorphy · · Score: 1

    I bought the Essential phone at the $399 price including the 360 camera. It's a really nice phone with the same snapdragon 835 processor as the other flagship phones. The LCD display seems less impressive compared to the amoled display on my last phone(Nexus 6p), but I don't stare at pictures all day, so I rarely notice it. The other weakness is the camera which could be better, but it still takes great pictures. Overall, I would say it compares with the other flagship phones better than I thought it would. I like the ceramic over metal or plastic and the modular ability with the 360 camera is pretty cool.

    I actually know a lot of people who are getting tired of spending a lot of money for cell phones and contract plans. One middle class bachelor might not mind spending $1000 every two years, but if you have a family, that becomes $5000 every two years. Add insurance and it becomes $6000 every two years. With a service plan, it's ~$10,000 every two years! This is an unlocked phone that I can switch over to another network if they offer a better rate and it's cheap enough that I don't worry about insurance. If you're going to pay $1000, you're probably getting insurance, so it's really $1200.

    I think the main problem is marketing. Teenagers and 20-somethings are whining that "all my friends have an iphone"! Seen it happen multiple times and talked to other parents, it's similar to the ipod days when "all my friends have an ipod"! The only other phone they seem to acknowledge is the Samsung Galaxy s8, but they still prefer to have an iphone. It's not like they do a lot of research into what they need and what will satisfy their needs and look into reviews etc. They don't know which phones have the best battery life or best reception or gps. It's all marketing. And since it's the parents who would end up paying for it, they don't care how much it costs.

  34. Re:Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, the Essential phone is a huge rip off. Instead of making a camera attachment, they should have had a user replaceable battery and SD card slot.

    Even the display is kind of lackluster, as it's lower resolution than my 4 year old phone. I also have multiple spare batteries for times when I need to use my phone a lot and I have 432GB of storage (32GB built-in + 400GB SD card).

    Essential is hardly essential.

  35. Essential phone is.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The application of anti-features similar to that of iPhones to Android.

    And, as you can see users arent buying it.

  36. Re:Lousy advertising... by fred6666 · · Score: 1

    But you end-up paying large sums for the device with your monthly plan

  37. Re:Lousy advertising... by fred6666 · · Score: 1

    Well to me $700 USD is clearly the high end phone segment, $300 is mid range and budget is $150 or less.
    The Galaxy S8 is about $700 and I consider it a high end phone. I don't think any phone is worth $1000 to begin with, in that sense I think the essential is a better idea at $700. I think a lot of people buy phones in that price range, the Essential was just too little too late, and Samsung has better marketing a distribution networks.

  38. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Surprised he didn't sneak in an affiliate link. He must want some karma back.

  39. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nah... He's just driving traffic to his weekly YouTube video. Did you see his Apple video from last week?

  40. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  41. For me, it's the best phone I've owned - no cruft by unfortunateson · · Score: 3, Informative

    I've had it now for two weeks, and it's pretty darn sweet:
    * same basic specs as the Galaxy S8. Same SOC, memory and 128GB storage. Phone is a little shorter, but with less bezel, there's not much difference in pixels
    * fantastic battery life
    * sturdy construction
    * can't beat the price at those specs -- it's a high-end phone at mid-range prices
    * pure Android, no carrier or manufacturer cruft

    Downsides
    * camera is not top-notch (but it's getting better in software)
    * accessories are minimal
    * there may be some touchscreen glitches, hard to pin down (could be software, as alternate firmware doesn't have the problem)

    This is the android phone for people who want the pure experience, unlocked bootloader, and don't want to pay Pixel prices.
    Their marketing is not top-notch. I would barely have heard of it if I didn't fish in the android forum waters.
    My biggest worry is if Andy Rubin decides he's bored with it, and it loses support for upgrades in the future. However, if they deliver on the Project Treble version of Oreo, maintaining upgraded firmware gets a lot easier.

    --
    Design for Use, not Construction!
  42. Re:Lousy advertising... by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

    I use the NFC payment system in my phone for 90%+ of my transactions. Pretty much every store in Australia supports paywave / paypass so I just use my phone.

    Personally I love it.

  43. The name sucks too by mario6915 · · Score: 0

    They need to rebrand, "Essential" sounds like cheap store brand.

  44. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My last car, a Subaru Outback I bought new, lasted me 15 years. The dealer told me that they resold that one pretty quickly after I traded it in.

    My phone is a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and is more than 3 years old. It's hanging on pretty well. Why do I keep it? Apart from nifty features like the stylus and handwriting recognition (which I use all the time) or the infrared transmitter (which I use sometimes as a TV remote control), it has the absolutely essential killer feature for me: two radios. This phone will do simultaneous voice and data even over 3G. It is the last phone on Sprint that has this capability.

    If they want to make an "Essential" phone for my use, it had better be able to do simultaneous voice and data on CDMA. There are plenty of places where the LTE signal is too weak to use.

  45. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Slashdot viewers make up 7% of the external traffic to my YouTube channel. Facebook is 40%. Go figure."

    Cute, Chris. Really cute. If I had mod points, I would mod you up!

    --
    Balena!

  46. Re:Lousy advertising... by h4ck7h3p14n37 · · Score: 1

    I paid about $330 for my Moto X Pure. It works great and does everything I need; great display, microSD slot, and plenty fast enough. What exactly is "low end" about it besides the price?

    What do I get by spending three times as much?

  47. Major flaw: Sprint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I stopped the minute I heard 'Sprint.' What good is a phone if it has no service? The whole point would be for me to get data and voice outside of WiFi. I had Sprint for 2 years. It was the worst carrier I ever had. At least T-Mobile had decent customer support and fast data. Verizon has coverage everywhere, even in the boonies where I occasionally go. But Sprint never worked well for me anywhere I went.

  48. Re:Lousy advertising... by h4ck7h3p14n37 · · Score: 1

    I have a Yuibkey NEO which uses NFC to talk to the phone. I can encrypt and decrypt messages using OpenKeychain by pressing the two devices together and entering the passphrase to my private key.

  49. Re: Lousy advertising... by Brockmire · · Score: 1

    NFC is awesome for triggering events, like getting into your car, tapping an NFC tag and having it go into WiFi sharing, enabling Bluetooth, opening google maps, launching pod cast, etc. But recently, it's nice for pairing without hassle to things like headphones and portable speakers.

  50. Re: Lousy advertising... by Brockmire · · Score: 1

    Fuck off you apk type piece of shit.

  51. Re:For me, it's the best phone I've owned - no cru by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually lfor the last two weeks Pixels were given away for nearly free due to collision of two deals (Target was giving $300 off pixel 2 and then Sprint was giving you $500 for byod pixel2 if you stick around for 2 months (-$200 or so))

  52. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who are you quoting, creimer?

    "Slashdot viewers make up 7% of the external traffic to my YouTube channel"

    You must be good with calculus, handling all those infinitesimals...

  53. Unsurprising by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    At the initial price point, it wasn't exactly a stellar deal for anybody.

    Personally, I still consider it seriously overpriced as it lacks essentials such as headphone jack, SD card slot and removable battery.

  54. Re:Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter. by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    That is why nearly everyone you know carries a iPhone

    Actually, nearly everyone I know uses an Android phone. I can count the total number of iPhones I see regularly on one hand.

  55. Re:Phones are indistinguishable and brands matter. by JohnFen · · Score: 1

    iOS is hugely popular in the USA and a few other countries

    And even within the US, there are huge geographical differences.

  56. A $200 waterproof phone would dominate. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The upmarket cell phones are already dominated by Apple, Samsung, and a few others. Heck, Amazon couldn't do it with their Fire Phone* because it was too expensive. The market as a whole is consolidating/slowing down, but there's still some room to enter.

    The mid-tier and low-end range has consumers looking for durable products at a non-inflated price (I'm one of them). A $200 durable waterproof phone could sell nicely. Cheaper phones could also do well.

    Even Apple has a low-end phone: the iPhone SE. Normally $350, it can be had from some AT&T MVNOs for $160.

    *I thought Amazon was also supposed to release a cheaper version, but I don't know what became of that.

  57. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No. I'm here to stay. Don't like it? Complain to the management. Complaining in the comments achieves nothing.

  58. I give no Jack by n329619 · · Score: 1

    because this phone also gives no (headphone) jack.

    Bluetooth still has a lot of problems including output lag, quality, battery, price, and security. It's a good option to have but not a replacement. Also the adapter can easily break due to one flaw. Angled 3.5mm headphone plug can tell you why.

  59. Comparing with Fairphones? by Herve5 · · Score: 1

    Please don't take this as a criticism, I'm really interested.
    Here in Europe we don't really work with heroes à la Andy Rubin, but we've had the Dutch Fairphone company for years now, which is geared to ethical procurement rather than google independence but still have a rooted version, and even a version compatible with the Sailfish OS (for the daring).
    Their latest model, Fairphone 2, is about one year old now.
    I had the Fairphone 1 before my company forced me to use their Samsung-VPNed standard : FF1 was technically reasonable only (but an excellent root experience). The new Fairphone 2 looks clearly better on all specs, with a very impressive modularity (each element dismountable with a simple screwdriver, of course replaceable battery etc.)
    While I'd have little need for a second, non-company-owned phone, I have been considering Fairphone 2 for quite a while -the company is well afloat now.
    I wonder how Rubins' specs compare, I'm definitely interested...
    TIA!

    --
    Herve S.
  60. Re:Lousy advertising... by tehcyder · · Score: 1
    Apple/Android Pay is fairly widespread here in the UK although anecdotally I see more people swiping their contactless debit cards than using phones.

    I have no idea what you mean by "scanning a QR code on the kiosk screen and then using the plain ol' cellular network to complete the transaction".

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  61. CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok chris. Well the other day I said I would leave you alone.
    Now you've undone that.

    Chris dale reimer says that moving to mexico to marry an "underage sweet thing" is how you get "the most bang for your retirement dollar"

    CHRIS DALE REIMER IS NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT HIS SHIT JOB AT THE FBI HELPDESK AT THE REQUEST OF HIS STAFFING COMPANY

    1. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Arent you the guy who writes blog posts about marrying children? And who keeps Loli-Japanimation next to his bed?

    2. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Arent you the guy who writes blog posts about marrying children?

      Discussing marriage laws is not the same as marrying children.

      And who keeps Loli-Japanimation next to his bed?

      That was some other AC.

    3. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody says you have actually married a child. Just that you have a creepy obsession with marrying them, that occasionally delves darker into an apparent sexual fixation.

    4. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah I think he works at the FBI. Any time someone talks about it he will sockpuppet AC and say that he works somewhere else. I think this came to light because he was always talking about his morning commute and the three letter agency that he works at.

      He always tries to sockpuppet that he works other places as Anonymous Coward shortly after his FBI employment is mentioned but as always you can tell it's him and nobody cares about creimer enough to waste setting the record straight. It's his objections that give him away.

      I'd like to hear more about the loli-japanimation next to his bed. Make sure you archive.is that shit.

    5. Re:CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sassed off just when people were telling you that you weren't annoying enough for them to watch like a hawk anymore.
      Remember this day when someone inevitably gives you a page on encyclopedia dramatica. I can't wait to see you cry so that we can tell you to take it up with weev /management if you don't like it.

    6. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just that you have a creepy obsession with marrying them, that occasionally delves darker into an apparent sexual fixation.

      This meme coincided with the child molester running for election in Alabama. The election is over. Move on.

    7. Re:CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Chris, you didn't tell me if you want me to call you tomorrow.

    8. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He works for the Secret Service and checks into Slashdot while waiting to pick up POTUS's McDonald's order.

    9. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its not really a an old meme...just yesterday you talked about fucking children in a gutter completely out of nowhere. Who says shit like that?

    10. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its not really a an old meme...

      Six weeks.

    11. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well when you keep talking about child fucking, of course people are going to call you on it.

      And WTF? Maybe you donâ(TM)t understand how creepy you are? Youâ(TM)re always going to be that guy who says getting a Mexican child bride is the best bang for your retirement buck. Even years from now, even if you totally stop bringing it up.

    12. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A lot of ACs are goat fuckers. Will no one think of the goats?!

    13. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wondered why you're so obsessed with goats, Chris, until I found out goats have human-looking vaginas and they scream like people.

      Now I see what you like about goats.

    14. Re: CHRIS REIMER WORKS AT THE FBI!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just turn the piece of shit into the FBI. Collect enough evidence and contact them. Easy. If Chris Reimer works at any three letter agency, contractor or Fed, he will be promptly arrested and removed from duty, pending investigation. Given everything youâ(TM)ve written below, it is your moral and ethical duty. Good luck removing him from society.

  62. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More like complaining to management does nothing. Instead you should talk about what a pedophile creimer in the comments section.

  63. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  64. Re:Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I pay for something, 10% of the time is with cash and 90% is with chip and pin. My phone doesn't even come into it unless I have an e-loyalty card for the shop.

  65. Jews = race, not religion & they're RACIST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jews believe this of others they call goyim/gentiles (any non-jew): Jews = biggest racists of all (for which they "jew guilt" you for no less! They're hypocrites known as thieves all thru history or were Argentines in the 1940 under Perrone, Spanish inquistion, France (1306), Egypt (despoiled/robbed by jews), Arabs (pre & post 1948), England (1330 Edward longshanks), Romans under titus, Russia pogroms and Germany who got rid of them from their nations nazi german's too? No. Driven into DESERTS ages ago! Don't wonder why after all those exilings above. Should anyone doubt any of this see Jacob Javits' crony Rosenthal spill the beans on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4zMVZ8HnFI/ where he called all Christianity fools for helping Israel and the biggest scam of all time per their beliefs below from their Talmud. This is the province of the synagogue of Satan (Khazar/Pharisees whom Jesus Christ himself kicked to the curb out of the temple & they killed him for it. Jeremiah did the same to them also):

    Barbara Spectre, a jew, tells everyone it's jews orchestrating the muslim migrant problem in Europe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFE0qAiofMQ/ . No migrant raping of women in Poland. Tons in Sweden. Do the math. Use common-sense. This is to get muslims and other goyim/gentiles to wipe one another out as incompatible cultures that will clash and always have.

    George Soros who funds groups to create division in the USA?? A jew. One who sold his own jew people into death for the nazis. Zucker @ CNN is another frying publicly for lying about "russians" and John Bonifield a producer @ CNN said it is bs. Van Jones did also.

    What World-famous Men have said About the Jews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MYPzKNQUE0/

    Harvey Weinstein the child molester tops it all off.

    There are three types of people who call themselves Jews:

    1. True Torah [Sephardic] Jews: these are the descendants of Prophet Jacob-Israel (Jacobites or Israelites) (about 5%-10% of all Jews)

    2. Khazarian or Ashkenazi Jews: these are the descendants of a Turkic idol/phallic worshiping tribe who migrated to Russia in the 7th Century A.C. and whose nobility converted to Judaism in the 8th Century A.C. and now inhabit mostly Europe. (about 90%-95% of all Jews)

    3. Zionist Jews: these are the ones from the 2 above who are pretending to be Jews for political reasons but whoâ(TM)re are actually Illuminists-Luciferian-Masonic-Satanists as Harold Wallace Rosenthal admits in this interview.

    They are led by the neo-Pharisees (occult-priest-banklords). They want to establish a Zionist Luciferian state from the Nile to the Euphrates from where they plan to rule the Earth. The new Israeli Supreme Court funded by the Rothschilds Banklords is full of Masonic Symbols, just like the B.I.S. Bank of International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, which is the Mother of All Private Central Banks.

    The hexagram symbol on the Israeli flag is the ancient Star of Moloch, a Satanic-Baal deity to which people were sacrificed. There is no such thing as a Star of David which the modern Jews have been fooled into believing; however, the True Torah Jews are not fooled by the Zionists Illuminatis and you can visit their websites for more info .

    1. Sanhedrin 59a: "Murdering Goyim is like killing a wild animal."

    2. Abodah Zara 26b: "Even the best of the Gentiles should be killed."

    3. Sanhedrin 59a: "A goy (Gentile) who pries into The Law (Talmud) is guilty of death."

    4. Yebhamoth 11b: "Sexual intercourse with a little girl is permitted if she is three years of age."

    5. Schabouth Hag. 6d: "Jews may swear falsely by use of subterfuge wording."

    6. Hilkkoth Akum X1: "Do not save Goyim in danger of death."

    7. Hilkkoth Akum X1: "Show no mercy to the Goyim."

    8. Choschen Hamm 388, 15: "If it can be proven

  66. Correcting my subject line (it's what jews say) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject now above & change my subject line here to Jews = religion, not RACE URL:https://hardware.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=11477749&cid=55741393/> showing JEWS = RACIST & all I put out was facts I read about HERE ON /. THAT have backing facts BEHIND THEM vs. your "FoAmInG-@-TeH-MoUtH" profanities loser.

    THEY PROVE IT FOR ME THAT I AM NOT A RACIST (jews = a religion) & ALSO PROVE THEY ARE RACISTS BIGTIME! From their own talmud book of law.

    (TRUTH & FACT too much for you? Yes, lol!)

    APK

    P.S.=> You do yourselves in EVERY TIME, lol - the exiles from 10 nations PROVE it for me... apk

  67. Re:Lousy advertising... by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    Some people are using it. Apple Pay (popular), Samsung Pay (somewhat popular), and Android Pay (not very popular so far) are all out there.

    Perhaps more importantly, the next generation of transit payment systems will use NFC. Chicago, Portland, and Salt Lake City already allow NFC payments. New York, Boston, and Seattle all will in the future.

  68. Re: Lousy advertising... by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    No phone will ever support simultaneous voice and data on CDMA. The underlying technology doesn't support it, and Qualcomm has no plans to upgrade CDMA to include that capability. Fortunately, LTE networks are improving. Within a few years carriers will probably start turning off CDMA service, starting in major cities, and go LTE-only. (They'll start in the cities because that's where the pressure on spectrum availability is most severe.)

  69. Re: Lousy advertising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is that video so shitty? Even at 1080p it looks like shit. Either he's upscaling some 360p content or he really doesn't know how to use a camera.

  70. Re:For me, it's the best phone I've owned - no cru by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I agree, best phone I've ever owned. Love it.

    Still can't get over the battery life of the thing.... can actually skip charging overnight.

    I was such a big fan of the nexus series until they decided to move to the pixel's match-apple's-pricepoint, which is way more than I wanted to spend.

    Caveat: I did wait until the price drop to buy-in... was a little to rich for me before that.

  71. You Should Have Chose Verizon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sprint? No wonder you can't sell any of those things!