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Re:Essential Phone, available now by maxaf on Thursday August 17, 2017 @12:35PM (#15038269)
Why would I spend $700+ on a phone with a dubious fate when I can spend $230 on a Moto G5 Plus and have Lineage OS running on it in no time, for a long time?
Re:Essential Phone, available now by jedmeyers on Thursday August 17, 2017 @12:37PM (#15038298)
Premium materials and true craftsmanship shouldn’t just be for the few, but for everyone (who has $700+ to spend on a phone).
Re:Essential Phone, available now by nradov on Thursday August 17, 2017 @02:49PM (#15039659)
It looks basically the same as every other smartphone and is mass-produced with no "craftsmanship" involved. The concept of "premium" materials for what's essentially a disposable device just seems ridiculous.
Re:Essential Phone, available now by MBCook on Thursday August 17, 2017 @02:59PM (#15039768)
Ignoring the battery stuff isn't Samsung's build quality on Galaxy devices considered close to/as good as Apple's?
Re:Essential Phone, available now by unlmtd1 on Sunday August 20, 2017 @04:18AM (#15057484)
Over 60 francs. Comparable to the yearly salary of a legionnaire of Rome (When they were well paid).
Re:Essential Phone, available now by aeorgnoieang on Thursday August 17, 2017 @04:36PM (#15040720)
What exactly is Lineage OS? Their website is pretty hostile towards anyone trying to answer that question easily. The about page consists solely of two definitions of 'lineage', neither of which is a cutesy reference to the project.
Re:Essential Phone, available now by zifnab06 on Thursday August 17, 2017 @07:34PM (#15042053)
...I've been meaning to fix that.

LineageOS is the continuation of CyanogenMod after Cyanogen Inc decided to close their Seattle office and pivot away from Android. The best way I can put it is "easily buildable Android for unlocked devices" (that is, assuming your device is supported - if it isn't, it's a bit more work). There are a handful of modifications but overall it's close to stock.

Re:Essential Phone, available now by haskal on Thursday August 17, 2017 @05:00PM (#15040963)
It is what CyanogenMod used to be under a new name because CM got sold: https://liliputing.com/2016/12/cyanogenmod-dead-lineage-will...
Re:Essential Phone, available now by Kliment on Friday August 18, 2017 @03:31AM (#15044258)
It's the continuation of cyanogen, which is a more open build of android
Re:Essential Phone, available now by paradite on Thursday August 17, 2017 @12:40PM (#15038320)
I think the entire blog post is meant to address that question. It is trying to differentiate from the cheap Android phones. For me this is the most interesting point:

> Devices shouldn’t become outdated every year. They should evolve with you.

Also the design looks much nicer than average cheap Android phones.

Re:Essential Phone, available now by Gaelan on Thursday August 17, 2017 @02:50PM (#15039679)
> Devices shouldn’t become outdated every year.

They only promised 3 years of security updates.

Re:Essential Phone, available now by jpetso on Thursday August 17, 2017 @04:10PM (#15040408)
Which is basically what any other Android phone manufacturer would offer for their flagship phones, except for the fact that they don't guarantee it. Samsung, HTC, Sony, Google, even LG, all have similar track records with the margin of error within half a year or so.

Make me a $200 phone with 3 years of updates and I'll be impressed, or an Android flagship with 5 years.