RIP Essential Phone: Android Founder Andy Rubin's Startup Shuts Down

Android founder Andy Rubin is closing down his smartphone startup Essential, despite teasing a new product only a few months ago.

- Michael Kan

In February, his company published a vague blog post that said Essential has “no clear path” to deliver its next planned product.

Last October, Rubin had tweeted out images of “Project Gem,” an unusually tall smartphone that resembled a remote control. In its post, Essential said it had spent the past few years quietly developing the product that it hoped would “more seamlessly” integrate with people’s lives than traditional smartphones.