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Google Pixel 9 Pro

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Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#511
post #183

I'm kind of sad that the world seems to have given up on the smaller phones. The marketing of the masculine hand holding the larger phone is amusing to me, and I can understand wanting to have a larger screen. I do not like the amount of space these things take in my pocket, though.

I'm curious about those Samsung flip phones that, instead of flipping open like a book, flip shut into a square like a 90s flip phone. I don't really want to buy one, but I like the idea a lot.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#512
post #102

I was waiting for this to figure out if i want this phone. The answer is, I'm not willing to pay $1000 CAD. I would like a phone with 7 years of updates, that's the reality. This is so annoying because I would go to LineageOS since it keeps getting updates, contrary to manufacturers roms.

If those are your only criteria, the Pixel 8a is $400 and has guaranteed updates until May 2031 (same 7 years, but released three months ago).

The upcoming 9a is where Google has to make some tough business decisions whether it's going to have all the AI features of the main line, at half the price.

It's rumored that Apple's new SE will have the full suite of Apple AI features, and that might put some pressure on Google to match.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#513

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not cheap, about $12/month is cheapest plan, https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461 . Pay 0.10c for tracking points, you have 10 text messages a month. If you use it a lot, you'll start to increase your fees, I'm on the next higher plan which I think is $35/m. I should revisit that, it's a lot over a year ;-) They have the basic devices (connect with phone, or emergency button), I have the one with maps built in.…

I assume you meant 10c and not 0.1c. (See https://verizonmath.blogspot.com/ )

yes, sorry

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#514

I'm surprised that no media outlet is seriously talking about its on-device inference capability, which is the biggest next thing for LLM. Apple did a better job on its PR here, but they didn't also get all the attention that it deserves. On-device inference improves not just its latency, this also removes a huge chunk of LLM's economical constraints from software companies. The biggest advantage of software is its m…

For years, Google has been promising me a high-performance voice assistant. I find that in 2024 it still can't understand "call mom" and "call my wife's name" unless I'm in a perfectly silent environment. And it usually takes several tries.

I'm not going to get carried away with technical announcements.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#515

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since there's no public reporting of AI revenue, what would be the point of artificially inflating it?

Some VP of AI wants to become an SVP? And some marketing director on phones wants a "SAVE $250" sticker on all the new phones and is happy to play along?

No, the CEO wants to present progress in "AI" (TM) growth within the company to shareholders

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#516

I'm an iPhone guy, but - there _are_ other designs for phones, right? The squircle corners, the shiny metal band surrounding the matte back, the aqua-pill-shaped buttons, the colors - Google is a $2T company, there's gotta be an industrial designer somewhere in the building or some process for phone design that doesn't take place in Cupertino, right?

It could be worse, it could be TV where back rarely seen and only gimmick after maximum bezel thinness is display thinness until samsung decided to add a frame. At some point design gets optimized to death. Have to look towards niche segments like gaming phones with extra buttons, ventilation, ports etc.

That said, I just want a phone with a modernized 5 way switch rocker to scroll with thumb.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#517
post #41

I love Google Pixel phones because of Google Fi for traveling; unfortunately Google Fi is facing major service downgrades/outages for travelers (including me) who go on 3+ month trips out of the US. Google Support tells me the Google Pixel 9 Pro has the same limitation. For comparison my iPhone works fine on Verizon. The issue is now described in the Google Pixel T&C, and I hope Google will eventually offer a way to…

fwiw, T-Mobile also have the 90 days restriction. I'm not entirely sure it's a company policy vs a US policy.

It's just an anecdote, but from my one-time experience the 90 days restriction isn't a hard restriction with TMobile. Service worked fine for 5 months for a family member abroad (in a single country) with no issues or messaging from TMobile about an overstay - although this was on a family plan with other phones in the US for the majority of that time.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#518
post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 anyti…

On the other hand, that "bent pipe" nature is what allowed Globalstar to support a (presumably) completely new type of protocol and modulation over existing, decades-old satellites!

Apple has also been adding new ground stations as part of their agreement with Globalstar, which has, among other things, added coverage to Hawaii. I'm pretty sure they have much larger plans for this than just emergency texting.

Re: Google Pixel 9 Pro

#520
post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regulations don't much care about what's technically possible.

Apple was able to make it work in most "developed" countries (do we have a better term for these countries now?). I guess they're just better at the regulatory game?

It's available in 17 countries so far. That's a long shot from "all developed countries" by most metrics.

And this really does seem to be largely due to regulations (and probably also integration with local emergency services), as there is no geographic pattern to availability.

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