Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#41

Post by Akujin » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:41 PM UTC

thanksgiving wrote: post #32

Akujin wrote: post #21

I currently have a Nexus 6P. It was the flagship before the Pixel series. I use Bluetooth headphones daily on my commute using the Philly subway system (SEPTA). In center city and around suburban station I experience sound cutting in and out all the time on two different wireless bluetooth headphones. It seems to work just fine in my apartment when I don't need it but is never reliable when there's a ton of other sig…

What headphones do you have? I've found that your experience varies wildly depending on your headset. Can you try a different set of Bluetooth headphones and report back?

One of each of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y2YYS2L/ref=oh_aui_deta... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AWIPITS/ref=oh_aui_deta...

They work just fine at the gym, at home, and at work but when in a crowded public space the cutting in/out is consistent.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#42

Post by jamesrcole » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:42 PM UTC

mcjiggerlog wrote: post #15

codq wrote: post #3

As an audio engineer, the headphone jack removal trend is an absolute travesty in an industry that utilizes AUX IN audio capabilities night after night. I'm often using iPods or other local-music devices to pump sound into concert venues between acts. Taking away 1/8" audio standards in favor of USB-C or Lightning non-standardized ports causes chaos when needing to fill in music in a pinch. In my industry, I simply c…

I wonder how many customers they will lose because of this decision? What I don't actually understand is what exactly is gained by its removal? It doesn't seem to be a limiting factor in either thinness or waterproofing, which are the only two I can think of. I know I for one will never buy a phone with no headphone jack.

I think (good implementations of) wireless headphones are the way of the future.

What did they gain by removing floppy disk drives from laptops? Well, nothing per se, but it allowed them to make smaller laptops.

Removing the jack will allow them to make phones thinner - if not now, in future iterations.

And the thing with keeping features around is that it's not just a question of that one feature. It's cumulative over time. It's not just a question of removing the floppy drive, it's that AND the internal modem AND the CD drive, etc. The effects can add up.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#43

Post by AcerbicZero » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

I picked up the Pixel on release, but I've been disappointed by the quality of the product overall. The screen scratches easily , battery life is mediocre, and the changes to android recently have not been positive. I've had the device replaced once by Google, which was a painless process, but the new one scratches just as easily as the old, and loves to reboot on occasion.

Interestly enough, I started a new job right around the time I got my Pixel, and work provided me a brand new iPhone 7, so I've been able to compare them side by side for a year now, in nearly identical usage. I've been on the android bandwagon for a long time now, but the iPhone 7 is hands down the better hardware. The Pixel has been replaced once ~6 months ago, and spent most of its life in a soft shell case, but it has not handled general wear and tear well. The iPhone 7 has been blatantly abused (work phone, don't care) but still looks brand new. iOS leaves a lot to be desired, but with all of android's missteps the difference isn't as drastic as it used to be.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#44

Post by bpicolo » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

rmwaite wrote: post #24

codq wrote: post #3

As an audio engineer, the headphone jack removal trend is an absolute travesty in an industry that utilizes AUX IN audio capabilities night after night. I'm often using iPods or other local-music devices to pump sound into concert venues between acts. Taking away 1/8" audio standards in favor of USB-C or Lightning non-standardized ports causes chaos when needing to fill in music in a pinch. In my industry, I simply c…

man. you're in the audio industry. most people are not. I'm talking the VAST majority of people. So they should cater to you? I think it is not unreasonable to expect the professional to have whatever equipment they need - there are aux adapters for USB C and lightning. They are small. They are inexpensive.

Everybody with a pair of wired headphones would appreciate a standard jack, too.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#45

Post by lopespm » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

Honest question: for those of you who own a mobile device without a headphone jack, do you find it to be an encuberment?

Personally I still find it a bit hostile to not have the jack available, since often times I find myself charging the phone and using the headphones (when watching videos for example), so having an adapter dongle for such a frequent task seems counterintuitive to me. I believe that if a device is correctly designed, then it should serve most of its usecases without the aid of an extra adapter. These should be reserved for edge cases.

Moreover, I use headphones for a good part on my day and I am not sold on the idea of having a wireless device next to my brain for such an extended amount of time. Sure, we are already exposed to a good number of electromagnetic radiations, but this one I might want to pass. Not to mention the need to charge yet another device.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#46

Post by oedenfield » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

mattnewton wrote: post #26

earlybike wrote: post #2

Guess it’s for many a minor thing but why can’t the phone just be symmetric (top and bottom bezel have the same height)?

The top of the phone’s bezel contains a camera, and the bottom doesn’t. Why do you want a larger chin with wasted space? The pixel 1’s chin always bothered me for that reason.

I kind of like the chin on the Pixel 1 because I know I have another option to grab the phone without touching the touchscreen.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#47

Post by limeblack » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

stephengillie wrote: post #30

deep_concern wrote: post #23

The only reason to remove the headphone jack is to sell more dongles and wireless headphones. That's it. Consumers are not asking for it for the aesthetics. It doesn't make the phone much thinner. It doesn't make the phone easier to manufacture.

After finding cheap Bluetooth headsets on Amazon last about as long as a pair of earbuds, and have no cord, I don't see a problem. I'm very rough on physical devices, and will go through 4-6 pair of earbuds a year. Because these do not physically connect to the device, they take an order of magnitude less wear, and thus last longer.

I have the same problem of "going through earbuds." I'm not an engineer but I believe it has has to do with feedback when unplugging and plugging in the headphones. I have both a Nexus and an iPhone and have noticed that the new lightning headphones last longer then the same Apple branded earbuds.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#48

Post by Akujin » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

endorphone wrote: post #39

Akujin wrote: post #21

I currently have a Nexus 6P. It was the flagship before the Pixel series. I use Bluetooth headphones daily on my commute using the Philly subway system (SEPTA). In center city and around suburban station I experience sound cutting in and out all the time on two different wireless bluetooth headphones. It seems to work just fine in my apartment when I don't need it but is never reliable when there's a ton of other sig…

I had every Nexus through to the 6P, and then moved to a Galaxy S8. With the Pixel Google has been overcome with profound me-tooism trying to ape every choice of Apple. It's humorous that the new iPhone offers wireless charging. Coincidentally I just caught their cringe-inducing intro of the new Google Clips that captures live photos. Groan.

I can't bring myself to buy a Samsung device. The bloatware is cringy as fuck. Maaaybe if it was unlocked right away and someone on XDA put together a Google only rom but short of that I'll never willingly buy a Samsung device.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#49

Post by robterrell » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

legohead wrote: post #4

codq wrote: post #3

As an audio engineer, the headphone jack removal trend is an absolute travesty in an industry that utilizes AUX IN audio capabilities night after night. I'm often using iPods or other local-music devices to pump sound into concert venues between acts. Taking away 1/8" audio standards in favor of USB-C or Lightning non-standardized ports causes chaos when needing to fill in music in a pinch. In my industry, I simply c…

I love my Pixel, but they just lost me as a customer for this reason. I'm not totally against removing the headphone jack, but it's not time yet -- the transition has been done poorly.

Why is it not time yet? When I lost my Pixel on a trip, I switched to an iPhone 7 + airpods and it's been great. I don't want to go back to wired headphones. Apple certainly seems to have nailed it. I can't imagine Google + HTC can't too.

Re: Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced

#50

Post by endorphone » Wed, Oct 04, 2017, 5:43 PM UTC

MBCook wrote: post #38

Grazester wrote: post #5

Its DX0 score is 98

Which is meaningless. They have declared themselves the standard but that number doesn’t actually measure anything. I mean the fact they sell cameras alone means they’re not unbiased. https://daringfireball.net/linked/2017/09/22/dxo-ratings-are... Wait for real camera reviews.

John Gruber's stance on DXO is utterly meaningless, and it's farcical that you seriously cite it.

Measuring the technical capabilities of an imaging device is patently obvious and justifiable. From dynamic range to optical and electronic resolution, noise at different light levels, etc. You can question their methodology, but saying that it "doesn't measure anything" is nonsense, and citing a guy who laughably claims that you can't measure the "art" is uproarious.

Gruber has less than zero legitimacy in this discussion, and his sole motivating intention is defend Apple in all facets.