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Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

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Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#251

Post by rumori »

macNchz wrote: post #200
harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

I broke my 12 Mini, replaced it with a 17, then went so far as to return the 17 and buy a used 13 Mini. It was totally annoying to me to not be able to operate the phone with one hand without feeling like I was about to drop it. I kept the 17 for most of the return window thinking I’d get used to it, but I just kept finding more situations where it bothered me. Battery life on the mini is not amazing, but a slim mags…

How long did you use the new phone for? I was a mini advocate for a very long time, then changed to a 17 pro for work, it took me around solid 2 months to get used to it. Now the mini feels comically small. iOS26 did a lot to eliminate the need to reach for the top in most places, but there’s still a lot to improve.

Edit: as others have pointed out it’s extremely hard to go back to the lightning connector too.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#252

Post by spawrks »

harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

Maybe they're running out of ideas. I'm also a fan of one hand theory, and this seems cyclic. Back in the day phone manufacturers also tried to expand this concept, so maybe it won't be long before they try to make the back of the phone be a screen again too, then realize people were fine with that. Not knocking a foldable if you like it just one hand preferred club representing here ;)

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#253

Post by m463 »

harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

I think of the mini is like firefly, cancelled prematurely.

Apple cancelled it because sales weren't that strong, but I wonder if they can now collect enough data to see they are kept in use longer? (Or are all iphones passed down, forever)

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#254

Post by ksala_ »

the__alchemist wrote: post #211
harrouet wrote: post #104

I remain an irreductible fan of the one-hand theory, and therefore stick with an iPhone 13 mini. I might be late at the folding-phone revolution. Alas it seems we won't see any such phone that fits in a pant's pocket and that can be operated single-handedly. I am afraid that the 13 mini is the last of its kind. Yet many reports of people dropping their gigantic phones. Maybe that's a business model after all.

I'm with you brother/sister. It is a tragedy that even with the diaspora of Android makers and models, we can't get anything like it. I hung onto my Pixel 4 for years; bought a new Pixel 4 after too many screen cracks and battery deterioration; used that until it stopped working for mobile payments (security reasons or something), then finally caved and bought a 10. I don't need a Pixel. An iPhone would be fine. Or a…

The Pixel 4 is basically the same size as a standard iPhone (Pixel 4: 147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2 mm, iPhone 17: 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm, iPhone 17e: 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm).

I don't think most people realize that. The iPhone mini was essentially a category on it's own (iPhone mini 13: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.65 mm)

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#255

Post by preg_match »

eahm wrote: post #133

I think everyone lost their damn mind, possibly during Covid. New iPhones used to be $199 and when they went to $299 the decision was seriously questionable. Now they cost like a used car, everyone buys $1000+ iPhones without batting an eye, insane. This one is $2000, I wouldn't get it if I had a billion on principle.

Surprise! Used cars are no longer 1000 dollars. If you want something that's not an absolute beater, as in ~150,000 miles, that's three grand baby. You can probably find something for 1000 dollars at 200,000+ miles with body damage but... probably shouldn't buy that.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#256

Post by preg_match »

NoidFonsense wrote: post #243
haburka wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You do know the modern smartphone is the most technologically advanced consumer good that has ever existed? Like at no point in history has there ever been something so small, complex and intricate in the hands of so many people. The new iPhone is going to be very expensive - it’s a luxury item and marketed like that. They can definitely make phones for $300 and you can buy a smartphone that is more powerful than the…

It fundamentally has the same capabilities as the original iphone. You can browse the web, check your emails, watch movies, play simple games. The only difference is that now you can play graphicially intense desktop-style games, but no one really does that. And also it has some sattelite phone functionality. The cameras are also better, the battery life is better, but it all doesnt fundamentally change the way you u…

You're correct. Ultimately 99% of the stuff you do on a phone is identical to 10 years ago. I know exactly 0 zero phone gamers. I do know some who play, like, the pokemon trading card game.

Cameras have improved, but less than you think. Most of the improvement is in low-light, but in well lit scenes we actually sort of peaked 10 years ago. It's gotten slightly worse now, believe it nor not.

But you can't legitimately run a phone from 10 years ago, because while everything is the same, the software uses 100x as many resources. That sort of tricks people into thinking "oh it must be doing so much more!"

But... is it? Think back. Instagram 10 years ago, YouTube 10 years ago. Yeah... it's basically the same. Some argue they've regressed. I'm sure we've more than 10x the code size, but nobody sees that.

Web browsers have also gotten much more complex, but again, you won't notice it. We have a lot more fringe web APIs like webusb but like... the regular web browsing experience for 99% of tasks is identical.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#257

Post by preg_match »

Archer6621 wrote: post #103

The crease makes it look cheap and fragile, like with many of the foldable phones. I'm curious what people need the huge screens for on phones? Is it mostly for watching videos?

No, these are shockingly bad at watching video. The video output is only slightly bigger than a regular phone due to the form factor. Big ole black bars on everything, and movies are worse.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#258

Post by milkytron »

preg_match wrote: post #255
eahm wrote: post #133

I think everyone lost their damn mind, possibly during Covid. New iPhones used to be $199 and when they went to $299 the decision was seriously questionable. Now they cost like a used car, everyone buys $1000+ iPhones without batting an eye, insane. This one is $2000, I wouldn't get it if I had a billion on principle.

Surprise! Used cars are no longer 1000 dollars. If you want something that's not an absolute beater, as in ~150,000 miles, that's three grand baby. You can probably find something for 1000 dollars at 200,000+ miles with body damage but... probably shouldn't buy that.

I think if towns and cities want to be more economically resilient (both privately and publicly) they really need to think about reducing car dependency.

Although, implementing such changes are generally unpopular for those that are already car dependent.

Re: Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era

#259

Post by preg_match »

frollogaston wrote: post #71
Dylan16807 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a shallow way to judge a device. Especially when bad bubbles are Apple's fault.

Texting is the single most important feature on a phone. Also it's not Apple's fault that MMS was terrible for years and now RCS is still terrible. Google also tried to make their own proprietary chat and failed... like 10 times. But more importantly, I don't care, this is not my battle. I'd use WhatsApp if that's what people did here, not that I like it any better.

It is 100% Apple's fault.

You're correct that SMS is straight ass and needs to be deleted from the world. And you're also correct that RCS sucks (seriously? No end-to-end encryption built into the protocol? Jesus Christ is it 1998?)

But many companies build protocols all the time and then open them up. iMessage only works on Apple because Apple is greedmaxxing. Not because of any technical or cultural constraint. They know the value proposition for an iPhone will drop significantly if they open up iMessage, so they don't. This is on the record, by the way, not speculation.

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