Google Pixel 9 Pro • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#391

Post by eldaisfish » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

chimeracoder wrote: post #367

nblgbg wrote: post #158

One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriou…

> One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seri…

More than once, pixel devices were left unable to call emergency services - 911.

Just imagine, you are in a life or death scenario and your literal phone has a bug preventing you from calling help.

All other issues are minor. I cannot forgive a bug of this nature.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#392

Post by locallost » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

nblgbg wrote: post #158

One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriou…

I've used Pixel 6 for the last few years and Pixel 3a before that. "As daily drivers" whatever that actually means, as I for sure don't have any other phone laying around.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#393

Post by MBCook » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

NotSammyHagar wrote: post #197

Pixel 9 also says satellite emergency support ("Satellite SOS"). Search for info gets you to https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15254448?hl=en&... It looks like it's coming "later this year". Lots of chatter about it, see a few details at https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-9-satellite-sos-34676... * apparently coming with android 15, but they are shipping android 14 * turning on satellite sos later, but…

TBF that’s what Apple did, basically.

It wasn’t in the initial release. Needed a software update 2 months later or so.

You were only supposed to get 1 year (?) of service. But they extended that by a year.

Because of that everyone with a qualifying phone is still in the “free” stage so we still don’t know what it will cost. Or when that will start.

If ever.

I’ve never used it but I like that my iPhone has it. I would never carry a Garmin (city/suburb life, no point) but I know the satellite is there if needed.

I think Apple is expanding it to iMessage this year (text only) though for all we know that will cost extra.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#394

Post by atrus » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

DataDive wrote: post #251

spankalee wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The front camera is a big upgrade: 10.5 MP to 42 MP from the 8 Pro to 9 Pro. The rear wide camera looks the same, but the rear ultrawide seems like it has a small upgrade. Better aperture at least.

> The front camera is a big upgrade: 10.5 MP to 42 MP from the 8 Pro to 9 Pro. 42MP??? Wouldn't that just rapidly fill up the storage for most of their users with little if any other tangible benefit ... maybe that is part of the plan :-) ... the profit

Front Camera though, so mostly for video chats.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#395

Post by DebtDeflation » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:55 PM UTC

S201 wrote: post #277

NotSammyHagar wrote: post #197

Pixel 9 also says satellite emergency support ("Satellite SOS"). Search for info gets you to https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15254448?hl=en&... It looks like it's coming "later this year". Lots of chatter about it, see a few details at https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-9-satellite-sos-34676... * apparently coming with android 15, but they are shipping android 14 * turning on satellite sos later, but…

Plus Garmin devices use the Iridium network which has truly global coverage (as opposed to Globalstar which is only in select areas of the world) as well as other features useful for non-emergency backcountry travel. I won't be dropping my Garmin InReach any time soon.

Correct. Globalstar is a "bent pipe analog repeater" network. They have ground gateway stations that provide connectivity from their satellites to the public switched telephone network and internet. In order for your handheld to work, you need a satellite in view and that satellite must have a ground gateway station in view. Iridium doesn't have that latter requirement. I won't be getting rid of my InReach Mini anytime soon.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#396

Post by fsckboy » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:55 PM UTC

delecti wrote: post #308

fsckboy wrote: post #175

Bit of advice I'm looking for, if my question resonates for you: I've had Pixels in the past (pretty distant past at this stage) but I generally found the experience to be too "beta" or "experimental", in that various features would not carry over to a new Pixel, and I'd have to get used to something entirely different all over again. In contrast, I've enjoyed the Samsung approach, and I love the Fold. (I also carry…

I'm not sure why you think you'd like the Pixel fold more than the Samsung Fold. Their dimensions are similar, but you've already said you dislike the software experience. I had the Nexus 5, Pixel 1, 3a, and now 7a, with a couple other phones in between which each time drove me back to Google hardware and their flavor of Android. If you didn't like the software in the early days of Pixel, or even in the Nexus days be…

>I'm not sure why you think you'd like the Pixel fold more than the Samsung Fold.

a hypothetical answer to my question could be: "yes, worth trying the Pixel experience again, but stay away from the Fold." my question had two dimensions.

but thank you! very informative. yes, I had most of the Nexuses, then into the Pixels

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#397

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:55 PM UTC

nblgbg wrote: post #158

One of the big problems with Pixel phones is their lack of thorough testing. You upgrade and suddenly you encounter strange Bluetooth issues, call problems, or other features that were working fine before but suddenly stop functioning. Tons of people will be complaining about this in forums, and you won't receive any updates to fix them for months. IMHO all Pixel phones are just developer devices and you can't seriou…

[deleted]

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#398

Post by freedomben » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:55 PM UTC

jsheard wrote: post #96

zzleeper wrote: post #83

I'm still salty about my Pixel 8 dying out because of the "green screen" bug (basically, screen just progressively turns greener until it stops working). Very common according to reddit, and the ubreakitifixit guy acknowledged it's a common problem as well. My Pixel 5a also had some shenanigans and my dad's pixel 6 as well No idea why they don't do proper Q&A. Looks like a good phone but yet fails in ways my work iph…

It's still a running theme that their in-display fingerprint readers are uniquely terrible for many people, even 3 (now 4) generations after they started using them instead of rear-mounted capacitive sensors. I don't know why they struggle so much with that compared to every other manufacturer using exactly the same sensors from the same handful of suppliers.

I held on to my Pixel 5a for as long as I could, primarily for that rear-mounted fingerprint reader. Such a wonderful implementation. Fast, accurate, and fingers just fell naturally into place when picking it up. I'm still dreaming that someday they'll return to that.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#399

Post by MBCook » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:56 PM UTC

eBombzor wrote: post #315

pdxandi wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I broke my iPhone 12 mini and part of me died that day. A tired dad moment – set the phone on the trunk lid when getting my kid in the car and then later opened the trunk. It slid down and crunched in the hinge. I could replace it with another mini but have been holding out hope for another updated version. I love the small form factor, even at the expense of battery life and camera quality. I just want a reasonable…

Didn't they basically confirm that they're discontinuing the mini series? The 15 is still your best bet.

They never say. The 13 mini was the last one. Maybe there will be a 17 mini, maybe never again.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#400

Post by H1Supreme » Tue, Aug 13, 2024, 7:56 PM UTC

I was initially excited at the announcement of the "fold" phone, but then I saw it's effectively two phone screens, instead of one folded in half. Sigh...

I have a Pixel 3a, and it's still larger than I'd like. I realize that the market for folks who would prefer something smaller is, well, small. But, I look at the phone landscape, and I hate every one of them. I like the Pixel, because it's stock Android. I wish they would release a Pixel "Basic" or something. 5.5" screen, basic camera, no AI bullshit. Just a no-frills basic phone.