(Yeah I was slow to hit publish lol)

But Hit those update buttons!

As usual all 8.1 related talk/Feedback should be in here from this point forward and I'll update the OP when sideloading files are live and if any major bugs appear.

Changelog

New Features

• Smart Text Selection

• Faster Startup and App Sign-in

• Google Play Protect security scans

Essential Products Beta Features Include:

• Google Security Patches 03-2018

• Dynamic Calendar and Clock Icons

• Slow Scrolling Jitter Fix

Update

Notification Light and Charging Lights will need to be switched back on after the update. Easiest way to do this is to use the search function in the system settings.

Pulled my essential phone out of storage to mess around and forgot about the coffee cup! It was about the little details w the ph1 😊

There's only one source sending out this info (Bloomburg) and one other one claiming an email sent, we need you guys to step up and tell us what is going on. You have a faithful and yet nervous group of users here that are talking so much speculation that it makes other people not want to purchase or keep thier phones.

Do the right thing and come online, tell us what's going on.

On a personal note, everyone is saying it including myself... If you fix the issues, the ph-2 will be an awesome phone. We were all waiting for this and we don't want it sold to some company that will take the I.P., and forget the users and designs. Especially a foreign company.

Our team has been working hard the past few months to launch Oreo 8.0 on Essential Phone. We’re extremely grateful for everyone’s participation in our Oreo Beta program–it’s gone a long way to accelerate our progress.

Through your testing and feedback, we discovered several stability issues in Oreo 8.0 that we believe will be addressed in Oreo 8.1. So we’ve made the decision to focus our energy on Oreo 8.1 instead of releasing 8.0, which will push the public release of Oreo back a couple weeks.

In the meantime, we’re going to release an Oreo 8.1 Beta so we can continue fine-tuning the build with your valuable feedback.

We’re just as eager to release Oreo as you are to receive it, and we’re confident these extra couple weeks will help ensure that you’re delighted with Oreo on your Essential Phone.

We appreciate your continued patience and support,

Team Essential

The Android 8.1 Beta is now live. Those on Oreo Beta 3 check for updates and it should be available

New Features

• Smart Text Selection

• Faster Startup and App Sign-in

• Google Play Protect security scans

• Cheese on the Cheeseburger Emoji fixed

Essential Products Beta Features Include:

• Google Security Patches 02-2018

• Dynamic Calendar and Clock Icons

• Slow Scrolling Jitter Fix (Beta)

don’t forget to send bug reports directly to Essential using their bug reporting form here: https://www.essential.com/developer/beta-feedback

UPDATE: The bug reporting sheet as been updated for more details on the Android Auto issue. If you're having problems please fill this in and all of the Android Auto points too.

Zip file for sideloading (Thanks to u/cursor18) https://storage.googleapis.com/essential-static/PH1-OTA-OPM1.180104.010.zip

Thanks everyone and to Essential for providing the update

Developer Preview link: https://www.essential.com/developer/developer-preview

• Bugs: comment by u/Genericusername083

Known Issues from Essential

Here's a current list of known issues for the Android P Developer Preview on Essential Phone:

• Dynamic calendar/clock is not behaving as designed

• 360 Camera accessory version and serial number do not display in Android Settings

• Outgoing SMS over IP not working

• "System > Gestures > Swipe up on home button" does not work, can use "Home settings" to enable/disable

• W-Fi Hotspot does not stay on

• Cannot receive VT (Video Telephony) calls

• Volume drops during audio playback after tapping on launcher screen with dongle attached

• VoLTE not working

• Quick setting appears in pink with dark wallpaper

Original comment:

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/8/17327302/android-p-update-new-features-changes-video-google-io-2018

This year, there is one sign that the technical fix is working better than just asking nicely. The Android P public beta is available right away, but it’s coming on seven different third-party Android devices. Usually, betas only happen on Google’s own Pixel or Nexus phones. And so if earlier betas are any indication, we might actually see phones release Android P updates sooner than before.

Here’s the list of phones that will support the beta: Sony Xperia XZ2, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Nokia 7 Plus, Oppo R15 Pro, Vivo X21, OnePlus 6, and Essential PH‑1, the Google Pixel, and Google Pixel 2. If you also count the XL version of the Pixels, that’s actually 11 different Android phones with betas. It’s more progress toward solving the Android update problem than I think I’ve ever seen.

In fact, Essential tells me that after receiving a build of Android P on a Friday about a month ago, it was able to stand up a working beta on the PH-1 by Monday. Because Treble does so much to separate out customizations from the core OS, any phone that’s already been “trebleized” and doesn’t have too many deep integrations should be much easier for the manufacturer to update.

As we all know the troubles essential are having at the moment, would you guys support the ph-2 on kickstarter? I've been holding out for the ph-2 but getting worried it might not eventuate. Would happily support a kickstarter for it.

Hey everyone! We're super excited about your enthusiasm for the Android Q beta!

Below is a link to our OTA application. Just tap on the link, follow the on-screen instructions and we'll be able to send you an OTA to the Android Beta!

Enjoy!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.essential.beta