https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B075TNZDC7/

I couldn't resist, and didn't feel like waiting for the V30 to drop to similar price levels.

Cheers,
Scott.

Ph-1 = Ph-one = Phone. Clever. ;-)

I finally backed up everything on my LG V10 and got the Ph-1 configured today.

I had to buy some USB-A to USB-C cables to get it to talk to my PC to do some backups. It comes with a charger and a USB-PD cable, but nothing that connects to a PC.

It's fast. I like the vibration motor. It's well assembled and feels good in my hand (in the case I got for it).

I always want to use a glass screen protector. I got one for it and it installed easily. Unfortunately, the front isn't perfectly flat (it has a gentle crown), so there's a gap around the edges. :-( It's not a functional problem (thus far), and looking straight on it's not really noticeable unless you look for it, but it's an aesthetic annoyance.

It's running 7.1.1 with the latest security updates. Supposedly Essential is skipping 8.0 for 8.1 for the next OS upgrade.

I used "SMS Backup +" to backup my text messages, to a new (dedicated) GMail account. It didn't seem to finish fully the first time, so I did it twice. It seemed to work. I transferred my Pimlical calendars and contacts list via the PC. I have 3 (now 4) Gmail accounts that I used on the V10. I didn't appreciate that my Android Contacts were tied to a Google account and not to the phone. On starting up the Essential, I saw that my Google contacts were scattered across the 3 accounts, and some were missing. So I spent a bunch of time re-entering that data and collecting it all in one account (to make things easier next time) - there may have been some way to get it via some backup, but it wasn't clear to me. (LG has a "LG Backup" but that's for LG to LG transfers.)

The Essential (maybe a feature of 7.1, the V10 is on 7.0) offers the ability to setup multiple Users on the phone, but that seems to set them as segregated users (like different logins on Winders) - so that wouldn't have helped me with the contacts issue.

I'm used to the V10 combination power/fingerprint sensor button on the back. The Essential has the fingerprint button in the same place as the V10, but there's a separate power button on the side (near mis-side, under the volume buttons). Pressing the power button twice brings up the camera quickly. The fingerprint sensor is fast.

The stock launcher seems Ok, but I decided to try Nova Launcher (and spent the $5 for the Prime version). I haven't studied all the options, but I think it will be worth using (I like that it saves all the settings to make it easier to transfer them to a new phone, when the next upgrade comes).

I've only taken a few inside pictures thus far. They're Ok - good exposure and colors with a reasonable amount of light, some issues with low light (but that's to be expected). Not terribly sharp though. I imagine it'll be better outside and with better light.

I haven't figured out a replacement for a LG weather "widget" that sits on the home screen that was very handy. 1-2 icons high, 3-4 icons wide. Small and unobtrusive, but big enough to show more than a temperature and an alert that there's a flood watch. Looking on the Play Store for weather widgets has thus far shown me weather apps that run full screen (and many that require a bunch of scrolling). :-( . I'll have to look around some more.

So far, I'm very happy with it. It seems well worth the $400 I paid for it.

Dunno when I'll get to trying the 360 camera. Apparently it uses a huge amount of power and the battery life is very short. Plus, one has to remove any case to use it. :-/

Cheers,
Scott.

But I don't see any "widgets".

Sliding up the app drawer shows lots and lots of apps. On the V10, there's a tab with "widgets", but I don't see that on the Ph-1. Curious.

I'll have to poke around some more.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Scott.

Long-pressing on an empty area of the home screen brings up a menu of widget options. I think I tried that earlier but nothing seemed to happen. Maybe a reboot was required or something.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cheers,
Scott.

I hope they find a way to stay in business (or get bought out by someone with deep pockets). It's a good phone.

I wish I could find a screen protector for it, though. It's got a very slight crown and only this one from Moshi claims to be curved to fit it. Unfortunately, it's not available yet. Even plastic ones seem to be problematic.

(sigh)

Cheers,
Scott.

Wikipedia:

On August 2017, it was reported that Amazon, Tencent and Foxconn have invested in Essential Products.[11][12]

That probably has something to do with their new $450 version, with Alexa...

Cheers,
Scott.

Yup. LG is selling bundles at B&H of phones with Bluetooth headsets.

But even at this late date lots of phones have Bluetooth issues (I think even the Pixel 2 has had problems with some cars, or something).

My 2004 VW has an aftermarket adapter box to tie into the Monsoon stereo. That interface is either via an old multipin Apple plug or a 3.5mm plug. So the 3.5mm plug is valuable for me. Saves me buying a new car (as the aftermarket car stereo boxes don't quite fit right or are vastly overpriced or don't have features I want)!! ;-)

Just today I see that Essential is bringing out a clip-on 3.5 mm adapter/DAC. If they can fix the reception issues, it would be a very useful accessory for me.

Cheers,
Scott.

Dunno how common that is, but I think the previous Sony had a wired mic as well.

Presumably a wireless mic for the car would need a battery, then how would you recharge it? But, yeah, they could put a micro (or nano? is there such a thing?) USB port on it.

It probably all comes down to how big the market is for it.

Cheers,
Scott.