Essential Phone's camera is getting an update featuring portrait mode and more

Since it hit shelves earlier this year, the Essential Phonereceived multiple software updates which, slowly but surely, have significantlyimproved the device. Now, a new update is ready, though this one will onlyenhance the phone's rear camera.

Thanks to a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) session held byseveral Essential officials - including vice presidents of software andhardware - we know that the Essential Phone's dual camera will receive an updatelater today. This will bring a portrait mode (à la iPhone and other high-endhandsets), improved JPEG compression, and various stability fixes. Users willbe able to manually update the camera app, as this is can be found on Google Play- see the second source link below.  

Essential further said that a new Android Oreo beta build for its smartphone would be released sometime next week. Unfortunately, the company doesn't knowwhen a final, public Android Oreo update will be ready.

The folks at Essential also talked about the fact that AndyRubin, the company's founder, has taken a temporary leave of absence (as reported earlier today). Apparently,this doesn't have any effect on Essential, and "it's business as usual"at the company's headquarters. Well, that's good to hear.   

sources: Reddit, Essential camera app (Google Play)