Andy Rubin, CEO of Essential showed off the long-rumored AI phone, now christened Product Gem via his Twitter handle. The phones are different for their unique form factor and the ethereal paint job. However, the Twitterati have been decisive of his twitter reemergence for reasons you may know already.
Andy, who is the co-founder of Android Inc., Essential Products and a few more ventures was off the radar for two reasons. While the middling performance of the archetype is one, workplace sexual harassment allegation is the other. Since you and I are here for the sole love for tech, let’s look at the phones for what they are.
GEM Colorshift material pic.twitter.com/QJStoiDleH
— Andy Rubin (@Arubin) October 8, 2019
Essential – Project Gem
Last year, Bloomberg had reported Andy Rubin’s company is working on a small-screened AI phone that ‘could mimic the user and automatically respond to messages on their behalf’. In principle, the device will be sentient and auto book appointments or respond to emails and text messages on its own, as per the people close to the plans. If you’re wondering, it’ll still support making calls.
The irony is that if this is the said phone, won’t it be then more than Essential? Well, the precursor i.e, the Essential PH1 was also in some ways flamboyant with modular accessories, etc. Nevertheless!
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From the images shared, the phones appear in 4 gorgeous colors which are apparently using “Gem Colorshift” material. Well, few other phones like the Galaxy Note 10 have come with a color-shifting Aura Glow variant. However, from the looks of it, Essential has taken it up a notch. The colors will transition based on the angle of view and the reflection of light off their surface.
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The rear is also bedecked with a circular camera island, the specifics of the same is yet to be known. Right beneath the camera bump is a round dimple. This is rumored to be a fingerprint scanner-cum-voice assistant trigger.
Flip to the front and the display is reminiscent of the Galaxy Fold’s frontier, while its folded. Essential tweeted that the new device aims to “reframe your perspective on mobile.” Umm, let’s see.
In one of the images, we can see different app widgets hovering on the screen, while the other one seems to be running Google Maps directions.
The project Gem is mentioned to be in the testing phase. So, we won’t advise you to hold your breath regarding an imminent launch. The company has promised to share more details in the coming future.
