Essential Phone, available now
I think Andy Rubin is brilliant, but the more I read  about the Essential phone and its history the more I think Rubin just got used to having a super high degree of control over his phone over the years, and doesn't feel comfortable not having a seat at the manufacturer's table anymore.<p>All of the attempts at differentiation seem muddled. It's upgradeable, not locked in, except the accessories use a proprietary docking system. It's high end, but that's an incredibly competitive space.<p>I would be shocked if this company last more than 5 years before acquisition/absorbtion.<p>I can imagine phones that could differentiate against Google/Apple... something super low end spec wise, that sips power and has a new OS built for speed. Maybe. I still think a Web Phone is a good idea. Maybe focus on niches like an exercise phone.<p>But... Any of this is extremely hard. Rubin just seems to be trying to beat Google at their own game, which I don't see going well.