Is the Essential phone actually essential, or is it Extraneous? The answer to that and more in The Daily Crunch for May 30, 2017.

1. Android creator's new Android phone is a stunner, but...

Andy Rubin, who helped create Android originally prior to its acquisition by Google, is back in the mobile business. Rubin's Essential phone made its official debut today, and it looks like a pretty good expensive piece of glass and metal.

Expensive is the key word here: Rubin and co. will be selling the thing for $699 as a starting price, which is right up there with the Pixel, Galaxy S8 and iPhone 7. That's a mighty big ask for the average consumer, who doesn't know or care about Rubin's pioneering role in the modern mobile ecosystem. I'm just gonna say it: This isn't going to work, unless Essential gets acquired by Google or someone and brought in-house to work on hardware.

2. Intel's new high-end desktop CPUs are for power players

Intel debuted its Core i9 X-Series processors at Computex this year, giving hardcore gear heads and graphics pros something to water at the mouth about with 18-core, 36-thread "extreme" processing power.

3. Twitter and the BBC to team up on live video

Twitter continues to lock down new live video partners, and the latest is the BBC, which will be supplying breaking news and live video commentary content around the upcoming UK election. Twitter wants to be the destination for online live video, and inserting itself into major world news events should help.

4. Kitty Hawk's flying personal vehicle looks hella fun

I definitely wanted one of Kitty Hawk's Flyers when it first debuted, but I want one more now that they've released this behind-the-scenes look at how their first test pilots felt about learning to ride one of the aerial motorbikes.

5. Vive's Deluxe Audio Strap shows how VR can get better mid-cycle

Deluxe audio might not seem like a huge deal as a VR add-on, but sound is crucial to immersion and this really does make the Vive experience much better according to Lucas. I'll probably get one even though I barely use VR anymore, because I'm a sucker for ergonomics upgrades.

6. Report on Uber's workplace culture could land tomorrow

The investigation by former attorney general Eric Holder into Uber's workplace culture, and former employee Susan Fowler's allegations of harassment and unfair treatment could produce a report as early as Wednesday. Holder's report will be made to the board, but board member Arianna Huffington has said the results will be shared publicly, too.

7. Cities are on a path to improvement

Can cities be fixed? Eric Eldon, former TC editor, says 'yes,' and it's already happening thanks to improvements in local journalism and technology. Still, there's work to be done.

1. Android creator's new Android phone is a stunner, but...

Andy Rubin, who helped create Android originally prior to its acquisition by Google, is back in the mobile business. Rubin's Essential phone made its official debut today, and it looks like a pretty good expensive piece of glass and metal.

Expensive is the key word here: Rubin and co. will be selling the thing for $699 as a starting price, which is right up there with the Pixel, Galaxy S8 and iPhone 7. That's a mighty big ask for the average consumer, who doesn't know or care about Rubin's pioneering role in the modern mobile ecosystem. I'm just gonna say it: This isn't going to work, unless Essential gets acquired by Google or someone and brought in-house to work on hardware.

2. Intel's new high-end desktop CPUs are for power players

Intel debuted its Core i9 X-Series processors at Computex this year, giving hardcore gear heads and graphics pros something to water at the mouth about with 18-core, 36-thread "extreme" processing power.

3. Twitter and the BBC to team up on live video

Twitter continues to lock down new live video partners, and the latest is the BBC, which will be supplying breaking news and live video commentary content around the upcoming UK election. Twitter wants to be the destination for online live video, and inserting itself into major world news events should help.

4. Kitty Hawk's flying personal vehicle looks hella fun

I definitely wanted one of Kitty Hawk's Flyers when it first debuted, but I want one more now that they've released this behind-the-scenes look at how their first test pilots felt about learning to ride one of the aerial motorbikes.

5. Vive's Deluxe Audio Strap shows how VR can get better mid-cycle

Deluxe audio might not seem like a huge deal as a VR add-on, but sound is crucial to immersion and this really does make the Vive experience much better according to Lucas. I'll probably get one even though I barely use VR anymore, because I'm a sucker for ergonomics upgrades.

6. Report on Uber's workplace culture could land tomorrow

The investigation by former attorney general Eric Holder into Uber's workplace culture, and former employee Susan Fowler's allegations of harassment and unfair treatment could produce a report as early as Wednesday. Holder's report will be made to the board, but board member Arianna Huffington has said the results will be shared publicly, too.

7. Cities are on a path to improvement

Can cities be fixed? Eric Eldon, former TC editor, says 'yes,' and it's already happening thanks to improvements in local journalism and technology. Still, there's work to be done.