Essential Phone update brings YouTube Live 360 support

Just recently the Essential Phone got an update that introduced Portrait Mode, reduced JPEG compression, and added exposure compensation for all regular camera modes. Now, its camera gets another update (version 0.1.091) that introduces YouTube Live 360 support for Essential 360 Camera and support for broadcasting Live 360 on a Facebook Page. Previously, Essential already enabled 360-degree live streaming to Facebook Live.

Source: Android Police

Essential brings Portrait Mode to PH-1

When the Essential PH-1 launched, its camera’s Portrait Mode wasn’t enabled yet. Thankfully that’s changed now and the startup just updated the device to reflect that. Aside from having Portrait Mode, the update brings reduced JPEG compression for better image quality and exposure compensation for regular camera modes. The update also introduces the usual stability fixes. You can get the Camera app from this link. On the Android Oreo front, according to a recent Reddit AMA with the company, Android Oreo Beta for the PH-1 will be coming out next week.

Source: GSMArena

Andy Rubin takes leave from Essential for ‘personal reasons’ as investigation over ‘inappropriate’ Google relationship surfaces

The latest sexual harassment/misconduct to allegations hits a prominent name in the tech scene. Essential founder and CEO Andy Rubin is subject to a new report from The Information that claims Rubin left Google shortly after an internal investigation found he had an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman who worked under him in the Android division. While relationships are allowed within Google, they needed to disclose their relationship so one of them can be transferred out to another division or department. It isn’t clear what the relationship was like but during the duration of it the unidentified woman filed a complaint with Google’s human resources department. And shortly after this, Rubin left the company.

Rubin’s official spokesperson Mike Sitrick refutes The Information’s story saying, “Any relationship that Mr. Rubin had while at Google was consensual. Mr. Rubin was never told by Google that he engaged in any misconduct while at Google and he did not, either while at Google or since.” However, after this story broke, it’s been announced that Essential’s founder and CEO is taking a leave of absence for “personal reasons” and Essential’s President Niccolo de Masi will be in charge.

Source: The Verge + Android Central

Essential outs beta build of Android Oreo for the Essential Phone

It seems we might be well on our way to getting Android Oreo on the Essential Phone. The startup did promise to release update for the latest Android operating system soon and it looks like we’re well on the way to that. Essential just made a beta version of the update available through its developer portal. You don’t have to be a developer to access it. It’s available to anyone who’s interested to try out the pre-release software. To get it, you’ll need to sign up for beta builds and grab the update as a download and sideload it to your device. You would also need the latest ADB tool and a bit of technical know-how to get this going though. So it’s not exactly for newbies. Plus, pre-release builds are not stable so if this is your main phone, you will need to proceed with caution.

Source: TechCrunch