Bi-weekly AMA recap from Reddit

[modifier]

It's been quiet here on the Essential board. Here's a bit of good news for those who are still hanging around.

https://www.reddit.com/r/essential/comments/743sto/biweekly_ama_with_essential_team_wednesday_121pm/

I scanned the page quickly but here are a few major points to note:

• Pure White order notifications should go out next week
• Android O is in internal testing with employees and will go to public beta soon
• Night Mode will arrive in Android O
• Fingerprint reader gestures are targeted for the next OTA
• Essential Services app updated (this is used for telemetry)
• Essential Camera app updated alongside 81C, response time should be quicker now
• Home button issue fixed in 81C
• Touch input improved in 81C
• Slow scroll stutter issue patch from Qualcomm being tested now, slated for release in next OTA
• Upcoming charging dock said to charge more quickly than via USB-C
• Smart Lock issue noted and slated for fix in upcoming update
• Speaker grille mesh issue has been corrected in production
• Manual mode in the camera app is "on the to-do list"

 

[Orangejuicizzle]

It's good seeing Essential being hard at work making improvements on the software.

I used to be a Windows Phone user, and I think this is one of the things I really like about Essential. It was fun seeing new builds come out and then experiencing the improvements.

Not that the software on Essential is ANYWHERE near as buggy as Windows 10 mobile was, but it's kind of fun being along for the ride as the software matures.

 

[modifier]

Mine wasn't buggy at all, which was unexpected given other user reports. My home button survived the update and touch input never bothered me as I never scrolled at a snail's pace.

If anything it was the camera app that I found lacking, although I tried Open Camera and sideloaded the Google HDR+ camera just to test. I rarely use a phone camera so this wasn't an area of concern for my use.

I suspect Essential is taking this more seriously than many online users are willing to admit. It'll be interesting to see the state of operations after year one is under their belt.