Making smartphones is hard , and despite having one of the good blood in the business , Andy Rubin ’s company slip up out of the gate when it launch the Essential PH-1 last yr . At first , theEssential Phone ’s tv camera was n’t greatand it ’s computer software was n’t quite as smooth as we ’d like , but thanks to continue keep and a some price drops , the PH-1 turned into one of thebest smartphone buy of 2018 .
So , now that ’s Essential ’s growing pains are out of the way , the company seems advanced for a successful sophomore follow-up — right ? Not so fast , because grant to areport from Bloomberg , Essential ’s next phone could be anything but conventional . It ’s being line as an AI - powered gimmick with a design that “ sound a bit like the sci - fi movie Her . ”
Bloomberg claim the machine will feature a small projection screen and require exploiter to interact with it chiefly using vocalization controls , while AI - powered software indoors handles thing like hold appointments and responding to texts and electronic mail mechanically without additional input from the user .
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
On top of that , the twist is reportedly being designed as a companion gadget that crop together with a traditional smartphone or else endeavor to serve as a full - on replacement for most people . However , this seems like a potentially blasting move . The whole point of a smartphone is to swear out as the sole gadget you need carry around , and trying to convince people to add another brick to their everyday carry could be a very tough sell .
That said , the mind is intriguing . One of the great dreams of engineering , and AI in particular , is to help streamline peoples ’ lifespan so they can drop less prison term responding to constant ( and often unnecessary ) pings from coworkers , solicitor , and other people jamming up your communication . However , with things likeDuplex , constantly improvingauto - fill and auto - response , the freshly announcedCall Screen feature , and the Google Assistant , Google is the clear leader in AI tech . Without the same levels of resource and funding at their disposal , it ’s gruelling to envisage Rubin and Essential will be able to leapfrog the whole manufacture .
Additionally , it seems that the development Essential ’s new AI companion gimmick caused the company to bear on development of its antecedently promised smart home hub to the wayside . That ’s a shame , because with products like the newEcho Show , theGoogle Home Hub , Lenovo ’s Smart Display , Rubin ’s early road single-valued function for Essential appear to be on the right track .
in person , I was really looking forward to a second - gen Essential Phone , because it would be nice — specially in the U.S.—if there were more options for earphone aside from the Apple , Samsung , and Google handsets that most the great unwashed gravitate towards . But Rubin ’s idea could be just wild enough to work . Hopefully this product does n’t get cancel before it can see the light of day .
[ Bloomberg ]
Andy RubinGadgetsSmartphones
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