Co-Founder of Android’s Company, Shuts Down

Essential, the company started by Andy Rubin, the co-founder of Android, is ceasing operations. According to a blog post on the company’s website, the team couldn’t see a clear path to bring GEM to the market. And as a result of this, has decided to shutter its doors.

There’s more bad news. Users of the Essential PH-1, the company’s interpretation of a premium Android smartphone, can expect no further updates after the one that was received on February 3rd. The phone will work as any other Android device, it’s just that, it won’t receive software support from the company.

A pre-built vendor image and other information will be hosted on github. And with this, Essential phone loyalists can continue to hack and improve device’s features till their hearts’ content.

Newton Mail, another Essential product, will continue to work until April 30th, 2020. After this, users of the service will have to seek other alternatives. Newton is a cross platform email management application, and a rival to Google’s Gmail client.

Gem, was Essential’s most recent pet project, a candy bar shaped device that was meant to change how we used smartphones. Now, with the company shutdown for good, GEM’s true potential will never be realized.