Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A • Hacker News Board

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

#521

Post by vinay427 » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:14 AM UTC

hocuspocus wrote: post #282

murermader wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in countries were Pixel phones are distributed, they are "hard" to get. Google is doing something wrong. I don't know anybody who owns a Pixel phone, despite Android market share being something like 70% here in Germany. It's all Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Oppo

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…

> They might notice the custom Samsung UI and be annoyed by pre-installed bloatware, but they won't know which version of Android the phone is running, let alone its latest security patch.

Honestly, on newer devices within the last few years, I've found the Samsung modifications to be more helpful than not. I have way more options for random settings that I regularly find useful, as well as customization of how aspects of the UI look, than are provided by either stock Android or Google's Android modifications. There are also some random "bloatware" features that are actually useful and unobtrusive, such as the pen features that come with Galaxy Note devices. What does annoy me with my device model in particular is the locked bootloader, but this doesn't apply to all modern Samsung devices.

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

#522

Post by mnm1 » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:16 AM UTC

thomspoon wrote: post #457

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?

Lower latency, easier to place cells in public places due to a broader range of frequencies, better bandwidth. The lower latency part is what’s going to enable edge computing for AR/VR, autonomous driving (separate via V2V but related), and other functions that need low latency. Cell phones are just a bonus. Also, a lot of telecoms are kind of ignoring 4g/lte deadspots in favor of just putting new NSA 5G cells it see…

> Also, a lot of telecoms are kind of ignoring 4g/lte deadspots in favor of just putting new NSA 5G cells it seems. I’m excited, but I’m also biased because I work in the industry.

T-Mobile has actively reduced coverage these last few years where I live. Went from having almost full bars to almost nothing and calls never being put through and dropping. Just a mile or two from at least three different towers. Even with their lte hotspot placed inside my house, their network doesn't work well. I see commercials about 5g and I think, how about implementing 1g first and getting basic phone service before pretending to deploy some bullshit 5g that likely won't be around for years and no one gives a fuck about? Anyway, I have no delusions about fixing this. Unfortunately Verizon is cdma so the only real competitor is att. Tried Google fi but it wasn't great and Comcast can go fuck themselves. So either I switch to a carrier that is more expensive and likely just as bad or I stay with the shit service because the telecom idiots decided to downgrade their network ten miles outside one of the biggest cities on the west coast.

You'll have to excuse me for being skeptical about a technology pushed by telcos that in 2020 still can't get a basic cellphone voice call to connect or text messages to send reliably even with an lte hotspot literally inches away from a phone they claim 100% support for.

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

#523

Post by williamdclt » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:22 AM UTC

dageshi wrote: post #230

williamdclt wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? When I got it, the only problem I found with my pixel 3a was that it was so slippery, I dropped it a couple times a day while it never happened with my Motorola. I bought a leather case specifically to give it more grip

Nope, I can lay it on my hand and tilt it to about 25 degrees before it start to slip and even then only gradually. Compared to a lot of glass/metal backed phones it's vastly better.

Alright fair enough, my standard was too high from years with from my Motorola's weird textured back (https://3g.co.uk/userfiles/products/n_389-2.jpg)

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

#524

Post by GoToRO » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:46 AM UTC

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

Be aware: water resistance is not covered by warranty, at all! If you put your new phone in the water and it dies, that’s it! Read the fine print. I read it for iphone because they brag with a bigger water depth.

Also, even if when new they might be water tight, after you leave it in the sun the glue that holds the phone together and seals it will melt and age. On a samsung I discovered that above the buttons it had less than 1 mm of glue.

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

#525

Post by daleharvey » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:48 AM UTC

I loved my Pixel 4, it was a really good phone albiet very expensive (£669).

I went out for a run one day and it rained my phone got slightly damp in my pocket, never booted again and Google Support offered to repair it for ~£500.

Hard to consider spending that amount on a phone again.

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

#526

Post by gempir » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:51 AM UTC

ehsankia wrote: post #306

bdz wrote: post #2

4A Review from Marques https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlHnleQU9tQ

He mentions mono speaker but other reviewers all say it's stereo (well, the same stereo other pixels are, which uses earpiece)

He corrected himself in a comment. It does use the earpiece as a speaker aswell.

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

#527

Post by Kiro » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:54 AM UTC

greggman3 wrote: post #465

Kiro wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad there's an option for people who are into vintage technology like headphone jacks. Maybe they can add phonograph cylinders to the next version.

Problems with wireless headphones over wired 1. batteries run out and can't use until recharged. Even if that only took 10 minutes I wanted to use my headphone now, not later. 2. batteries die and are not replaceable. Bad for both pocketbook and the environment 3. interference can make them unusable. Try walking through a crowded train station and you'll find you get about 2 seconds of audio for every 5 seconds of no…

Very weak arguments that you could say about anything with a battery. Never had any of the problems you describe. Even the most stubborn conservatives like yourself will give up sooner or later. You're already in minority. Wireless headphones are no different than any other technological advancements.

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

#528

Post by tiagobraw » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

daleharvey wrote: post #525

I loved my Pixel 4, it was a really good phone albiet very expensive (£669). I went out for a run one day and it rained my phone got slightly damp in my pocket, never booted again and Google Support offered to repair it for ~£500. Hard to consider spending that amount on a phone again.

I had issues with my pixel 2 and pixel 3, both of them were poorly handled by Google support...

I was a terrible critic of apple but now I own an iPhone just because I am fairly certain that I will be better treated if something happens and there's an actual physical store.

I just don't trust Google hardware anymore.

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

#529

Post by benhurmarcel » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 8:02 AM UTC

FeepingCreature wrote: post #373

freeqaz wrote: post #363

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I ended up making this jump. What I've found works best for me: - In the car I have a Bluetooth audio adapter for the aux in my older car. Works great. - In my backpack I have a pocket where I always leave a headphone adapter. I always put it back if I use it. - Bluetooth to Aux adapter with a small battery. Costs like $20 on Amazon and also lives in my backpack. Has saved my ass many times. Beyond that, I just own m…

I mean, I have a phone with an audio jack, and I plug my headphones into the audio jack and I am happy. How would you sell "no audio jack" to me? What's my gain here?

> What's my gain here?

More choice of phones when buying one.

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

#530

Post by nxc18 » Tue, Aug 04, 2020, 8:03 AM UTC

mehrdadn wrote: post #308

droidno9 wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's one of those things that you don't think you'd need until you have had it, and then wonder why you've gone so far in life without it. As someone who constantly has to step away from my desk during the day, I don't have to think about charging the phone anymore. It automatically goes on the wireless stand (directly in front of me) when I'm back at my desk. I can be certain that if I choose to go out for the eveni…

Oh I see. But putting it in the charger all the time just makes the battery die more quickly, right? Though I see the value now if you don't care about that.

Apple specifically has software features to protect the battery from the consequences of that usage pattern.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210512