Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

theverge.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

551–560 of 601 posts

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

#551

Post by distances »

Jedd wrote: post #493
ksec wrote: post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Local pricing on google store is A$599, despite US$349 ~= A$490. If I remember correctly, AUS has a 10% VAT. So that is $539. For the extra $60, you get an additional year of warranty and consumer protection that is offered by law.

> If I remember correctly, AUS has a 10% VAT. So that is $539. Yup, we've got a goods and services tax (GST) that's 10%, and it's illegal, IIRC, to advertise an item to end consumers that doesn't include it. So the AUD $599 value would include the GST - but you'd need to divide by 11, not 10, to find the GST component. Not much difference to your estimation of A$539 - the tax-free cost would be closer to A$545. I ver…

> I very much appreciate the benefits of our CP laws, but unless the devices are manufactured to a different standard than those sold in other parts of the world, that cost / value isn't wrapped up into the sale price.

Maybe it is, through higher replacement rate due to longer warranty period?

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

#552

Post by eloisant »

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…

It's not just "they want you to use face unlock", but it has the hardware to a a secure face unlock (with a 3D scan) just like the iPhone. Nothing like OnePlus' face unlock that just uses the selfie camera.

Except during this pandemic where you have to wear a mask everywhere, I actually like face unlock. It's even more seamless than the finger print reader.

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

#553

Post by utopcell »

p1necone wrote: post #485
malkia wrote: post #27

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

One day we'll have wireless earbuds with batteries that last forever and lossless audio over whatever signal format they use and Apple will be hailed as ahead of the curve for removing the headphone jack before everyone else, conveniently ignoring the fact that missing a headphone jack when wireless headphones are not perfect is just a straight up downside.

Agreed. It would be like removing the floppy disk in the 80s or the CDROM drive in the 90s and claiming it was a good move 30 years later.

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

#554

Post by ck425 »

sjwright wrote: post #538
sjwright wrote: post #490

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If what you want is wired earbuds that connect directly to a jack on the phone, nothing has changed. Such earbuds still ship with iPhones today. If you want to use wired headphones, the $9 adapter works well. Wireless headphones are also widely available and have batteries that last all day. I realise the above doesn’t perfectly cater to all customers, but anecdotally it seems to cater well enough to enough of them.

It’s hilarious how many people have downvoted my comment without actually replying. I can’t imagine how anything I said could be construed as controversial or disagreeable, as opposed to representing a perspective.

I'll bite. As others have said you can't charge and listen to music on phones without a jack.

On the point about affordable wireless headphones, many of us have spent a lot of time and money finding a great wired headphone setup. I don't want to go spend another £300 and 20-30 hours of my time finding an equivalent setup, all because some industrial designer wants his design another millimeter thinner.

Lastly bluetooth still sucks, particularly if you change devices a lot. I've yet to see a BT setup that allows me to easily change my headphones between my laptop, my phone and my ps4 in under 2 seconds.

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

#555

Post by drawfloat »

sciurus wrote: post #542
drawfloat wrote: post #541

I loved my 3A when I got it. Great camera, decent specs, not a gamer (still not convinced anyone is a heavy phone gamer) so it was just an absolute steal. But a year and a bit later, the software is already starting to slow down even with a reset (switching to video from photo incurs a good 5-10 second delay, opening the camera itself takes a few seconds), and the volume rocker on the side snapped when I was just tur…

> But a year and a bit later, the software is already starting to slow down even with a reset (switching to video from photo incurs a good 5-10 second delay, opening the camera itself takes a few seconds) FWIW that's really not normal. Sounds like I got my pixel 3a around the same time as you, and I haven't had any problems like that. I wonder if you have a hardware defect of some sort. > Coupled with Google's terrib…

I think it's just a bug prone implementation. For example, I see exactly what I imagine you can see in Gmail etc where it's possible to switch between work and personal.

In calendar? Nothing.

I agree the camera thing does not sound normal, but again if it's a defect it does speak further to the "can tell the build quality was lower already" comment

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

#556

Post by dilandau »

malkia wrote: post #27

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

Rightful king of the top comment.

I got a phone that is just usb-c. Carrying around the adapter sucks, and Bluetooth is an even bigger pain in the ass.

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

#557

Post by utopcell »

Kiro wrote: post #254
malkia wrote: post #27

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

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.

No professional musician is going to use anything else other than wired headphones. You deprecate an old technology when something better has replaced it, not when you want to create a new market for a product to increase your revenue. The majority of BT audio codecs is inferior to a direct connection, and suffer from > 50ms latency.

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

#558

Post by yreg »

p1necone wrote: post #485
malkia wrote: post #27

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

One day we'll have wireless earbuds with batteries that last forever and lossless audio over whatever signal format they use and Apple will be hailed as ahead of the curve for removing the headphone jack before everyone else, conveniently ignoring the fact that missing a headphone jack when wireless headphones are not perfect is just a straight up downside.

I'm daily Airpods user and for me they are pretty much perfect, today. I'm happy with my phone lacking a giant port I never use.

I understand that it doesn't fit everyone though.

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

#559

Post by ck425 »

boring_twenties wrote: post #478
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.

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.

My HTC 10 died a couple of months back. I actually replaced it with a Pixel 3a (and Dragonfly Black) Loved that phone, the default audio was fantastic.

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

#560

Post by hocuspocus »

ksec wrote: post #459
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…

But none of this has anything to do with poor distribution. They could have partnered with logistics and sold it themselves via Online. But even that is not done. They didn't bother partnering with Telecoms or Retail. Basically, judging purely from current evidence and outside perspective, Google is a company that 1. Doesn't know how to make partnership 2. Doesn't know anything other than selling ads. 3. Doesn't know…

Right, but I'm replying to the fact that even in countries where it's reasonably well distributed like Germany, sales seem pretty low.
Post reply on HN