Andy Rubin's Essential smartphone company to close

[HEXUS]

Meaning the end of support for the Essential PH-1 and that Project Gem will never arrive.

Read more.

[AGTDenton]

Backwards step for a phone. In my eyes, it makes more sense as a controller of people who love their Internet Of Things.

Could be a controller for the TV, sound system, washing machine etc... etc...

[LSG501]

Backwards step for a phone.

I don't know about that, I kind of liked it if I ignored the case colours. Kind of thought it would be good for a 'night out' phone, especially if it was overall more compact than the 6inch+ screens we keep getting forced on us.

Yes, I want a smaller sized phone and I'm over 6ft tall... hell I've been tempted by the palm thing if it was slightly better spec'd

[Gentle Viking]

I liked the look too, seem more manageable not least for a person that almost exclusive only use his phone as a phone.
But all the other junkies of whatever will cram thru some sort of wireless connection, well for those it would probably be a hard sell.
And those poor bastards are the majority of people on this globe, so with no fruit company wunder machine, well then you are lost.

Just got a SMS from my underwear, it say its time for a bath, OMG what did people do before this wonderful IOT, if it wasent for that SMS i would be wearing the same underwear Saturday.
Thank god for IOT, the savior of mankind.

[philehidiot]

I'm glad to hear they are handing over all the stuff required for the community to play and hack the thing. That's something at least.

[Output]

I thought it was likely to be tough for them to compete when they launched, so it's not entirely surprising.

I'm glad to hear they are handing over all the stuff required for the community to play and hack the thing. That's something at least.

I agree, releasing the sources and allowing the community to carry on where they left off can only be a good thing for the longevity of it.

[jimborae]

This is a real shame as loved my PH-1's even if they did have a rather crap screen & tinny speaker, at the price I got them for they were an absolute bargain and felt so good in the hand. I was really hoping they would do a follow up and fix the errors of the PH-1 but alas it was never to be.