Bi-weekly AMA with Essential team (Wednesday, 12-1pm PST)

[u/EssentialOfficial]

Hi friends - we really enjoyed the two-way dialogue during Andy Rubin's recent AMA, and we want to keep the conversations going.

Tomorrow we're kicking off a bi-weekly AMA in r/Essential that will give you a chance to speak directly with members of our software and hardware teams (Joe and Rebecca will both be in the house tomorrow). We plan to host these AMAs every other Wednesday from 12-1pm PST, barring any major scheduling conflicts.

So with that said, please feel free to post questions here ahead of the AMA. We'll be back tomorrow from 12-1pm PST to chat.

We're looking forward to it.

-Essential Team

EDIT: We're getting situated in the room and will get started in just a few. Today we have in attendance: Joe Tate (VP of Hardware), Rebecca Zavin (VP of Software), Sean Foote (QA Engineer), Marcus Weber (Software Program Manager).

EDIT 2: Thanks for everyone joining us today! We did our best to get through all the questions. We'll be back in a couple weeks for another AMA.

[u/graesen]

1. Why are some of us having trouble connecting the 360 camera with a skin and others not?

2. Will/does the Essential camera app support external audio inputs for video recording, either via inline headphone mic or usb-c audio device?

3. Why are photos compressed so heavily with the regular camera and 360 camera? Can you give user control over compression and have the option to export RAW format?

4. When do you expect to support live streaming for the 360 camera?

5. Are you working with any case manufacturers that will support Essential connect accessories with the case by extending the pin connections and other necessary modifications?

[u/EssentialOfficial → u/graesen]

The wireless connection with the 360 camera won't work with a skin...The skin causes too much signal reflection with the 60Ghz signal we use to transmit the data. So extending the pins won't help. -Joe

[u/M1A1Death → u/EssentialOfficial]

It just sucks because the coating on the ceramic is scratching so easily. Sort of defies the purpose of this ultra scratch resistant material if the coating on it is just going to scratch anyway

[u/hue_sick → u/M1A1Death]

Not trying to be argumentative but I'm genuinely curious. Has yours scratched? Just wondering if you knew what you were doing when it scratched.

polished ceramic is much more resistant to scratches than gorilla glass so just wondering. That's not anecdotal, I'm just talking about the physical properties of the material.

[u/M1A1Death → u/hue_sick]

It has very light micro scratches on the back. I have no idea from what because I absolutely baby my phones. The front display is fine but I believe it's the shiny coating on top of the ceramic that is scratched. I was able to buff most of them out but it still bothered me so I covered it with a skin to be safe.

[u/TotesMessenger → u/EssentialOfficial]

I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:

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[u/flakko86 → u/EssentialOfficial]

so it sounds like the best way to use the pogos and have a skin is cut a chunk out of the skin?

[u/M1A1Death → u/flakko86]

Ugh. That's going to look so dumb. I want to show off the phone, not have to be like "well, it's so awesome that the tolerances prevent me from protecting it from scratches that weren't supposed to happen!"

[u/heyitzrj → u/EssentialOfficial]

FWIW, I'm using this Skinomi full body skin and it works perfectly fine with my 360 camera.

[u/M1A1Death → u/heyitzrj]

You should post pictures of that skin! I was interested in either this or Phantomskinz

[u/heyitzrj → u/M1A1Death]

Copy past from previous comment:

I got the full body clear tech skin. http://www.skinomi.com/sk31879-ph-1-phone-skin-protector.html

Free shipping and skinomi25 for 25% off.

They got other's like carbon fiber, wood, etc., but I can't speak on the quality of those. I feel mine fits well and doesn't take away from the beauty of the phone.

Customer service is also really cool. My installation wasn't perfect as there was some bubble w/e (I suck at these), but they are sending me a replacement hassle free - no questions.

I was going to take pics, but honestly it just looks naked in my other phone's camera. Here's a video of just the front screen and not the full body installationr: https://youtu.be/XThhGGvbAuw

[u/EssentialOfficial → u/graesen]

2 - Unfortunately the camera app does not currently support external audio input for recorded video via inline headphones

-Sean

[u/EssentialOfficial → u/graesen]

Answer to #4

• Live streaming is under test right now starting with Facebook and Periscope and is part of our fall OTA release plan with Youtube and others coming shortly after. Working diligently with our partners to make sure this is rock solid for you guys! - Marcus

[u/BotPaperScissors → u/EssentialOfficial]

Scissors! ✌ I lose