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Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

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Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#471

Post by ThatPlayer »

paultopia wrote: post #446

Can someone explain to me what the user benefit of 5G is? Is there anything that people typically do on their phones/with tethering right now that LTE is insufficient bandwidth for? Or is this just a plan by the carriers to encourage more really expensive usage, like convincing people to stream on their phones/tether all the time?

In populated areas, the increased bandwidth of 5G means more to go around. Ever been in a really crowded area like an airport or a convention center? Data slows to a crawl.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#472

Post by sk0g »

thebean11 wrote: post #184
malkia wrote: post #27

Has Audio Jack! (Comparison with other Pixel 4's) - https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel?toggler0=Pix...

I know lots of people will be really happy with this, but I probably would have traded the jack for water resistance

Water resistance and a headphone jack are not mutually exclusive though, my Xperia Z5 managed both just fine!

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#473

Post by SimeVidas »

paultopia wrote: post #446

Can someone explain to me what the user benefit of 5G is? Is there anything that people typically do on their phones/with tethering right now that LTE is insufficient bandwidth for? Or is this just a plan by the carriers to encourage more really expensive usage, like convincing people to stream on their phones/tether all the time?

Maybe streaming video games (Stadia)?

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#474

Post by boring_twenties »

pixelmonkey wrote: post #374
malkia wrote: post #27

Has Audio Jack! (Comparison with other Pixel 4's) - https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel?toggler0=Pix...

One of the biggest differences between the 4a and the older 4 and 4 XL is that the 4a has a rear fingerprint reader, whereas the 4 and 4 XL want you to use face unlock. So strange that this isn't emphasized (or even mentioned) on the comparison page. This was actually the primary thing that kept me on a Pixel 2 for so long, since it also has a similar rear fingerprint sensor design (and I just pre-ordered the Pixel 4…

Relevant username...

Face unlock is complete BS, no disagreement there.

However... has anyone actually looked into how secure those phone fingerprint readers are?

Could very well be that the reason they're pushing face unlock so hard is they know their fingerprint tech is even worse.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#475

Post by waheoo »

jpeeler wrote: post #461
paultopia wrote: post #446

Can someone explain to me what the user benefit of 5G is? Is there anything that people typically do on their phones/with tethering right now that LTE is insufficient bandwidth for? Or is this just a plan by the carriers to encourage more really expensive usage, like convincing people to stream on their phones/tether all the time?

Forgive me, but this sounds like the same perspective of the famous quote "640K is more memory than anyone will ever need on a computer" (no idea if Gates actually said it). People will always fill the bandwidth with something (just like memory), perhaps with something we don't even use today at all. Though note that the new usage pattern will only emerge after usage is ubiquitous, which is usually due to decent pric…

Its also an American centric view.

Travelling around Korea and back home I noticed the distinct difference in consumption habbits.

Korea data isn't capped, so everyone streams news/twitch/YouTube while on there commute.

Back home, everyone reads articles and spam scrolls static images on instagram.

So "do people need bandwidth" no. Will they use it if they have it? Absolutely.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#476

Post by dexterdog »

dungdang wrote: post #328
userbinator wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A bit sad and amusing that a physical jack is actually considered a feature now... what's next, removable battery? Expandable storage?

no one claimed it was a feature. it has a jack, some phones don't, so they state it does. this does not mean 'feature.' it's a part of the spec, so they list it. it's not sad or bad or good -it just is. for me, i want just usb-c, and no headphone port is a plus. same for sd card, same for removable battery. i thought all of those were important to me, until i realized i haven't actually used any of this in 10 years.…

Anything that adds thickness is a feature to me at this point. It's already awkward enough to use phones as phones.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#477

Post by symlinkk »

detaro wrote: post #298
hocuspocus wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there are several reasons: - The pricing for their flagship models made absolutely no sense given the specs, poor battery life and questionable QA. - Samsung and the big Chinese manufacturers advertise everywhere, you can get their phones at the shop around the corner. At least now in Germany you can find the Pixels at Saturn and Mediamarkt (and often at a discount). - Most people don't care about software up…

Always seemed weird that they didn't continue a Nexus series below the Pixel. Those had a good reputation as solid phones, whereas the Pixels didn't seem worth the money - and probably got anchored as that in peoples mind, even when their prices fall.

The average person doesn’t even know what a Pixel is.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#478

Post by boring_twenties »

robohoe wrote: post #351
thebean11 wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know lots of people will be really happy with this, but I probably would have traded the jack for water resistance

Yeah do people really use their headphone jack? Most everyone that I know in my circle uses bluetooth headphones now. Some of them are quite good...maybe not audiophile level, but if I wanted to be an audiophile, I would listen on a proper AV receiver with an amp.

Yeah but with Bluetooth headphones you are paying the same price as audiophile headphones, but getting mediocre quality.

A couple of phones did have a decent dac/amp combo built in (HTC 10, and some LG phones), FWIW.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#479

Post by sifar »

userbinator wrote: post #252
malkia wrote: post #27

Has Audio Jack! (Comparison with other Pixel 4's) - https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel?toggler0=Pix...

A bit sad and amusing that a physical jack is actually considered a feature now... what's next, removable battery? Expandable storage?

no tracking :)

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#480

Post by boring_twenties »

rurp wrote: post #360
robohoe wrote: post #351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah do people really use their headphone jack? Most everyone that I know in my circle uses bluetooth headphones now. Some of them are quite good...maybe not audiophile level, but if I wanted to be an audiophile, I would listen on a proper AV receiver with an amp.

The main reasons I like a headphone jack are: 1) My car stereo doesn't have Bluetooth. 2) Very few earbuds fit my ears comfortably. After a lot of experimenting I've found a couple wired models that do fit my ears fine. Given the cost and limited selection of wireless earbuds, finding a good pair will be a chore, if I even can. 3) Once in a while having two ports is handy. There are probably dongle solutions to 1 and…

> 1) My car stereo doesn't have Bluetooth.

This you can fix easily with a $30 dongle that stays in a car, some of them will power on and start playing from where you left off when power is applied (i.e., when you start the car, provided you leave it plugged in).

I don't use Bluetooth headphones, but for the car, it's perfect.

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