Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#181

Post by jiggawatts » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

tootie wrote: post #128

Hot take: I haven't seen a compelling new phone feature from any manufacturer in as long as I can remember. I spend 99% of my tapping time sending texts, using a browser and taking pictures with the rear camera. Same as I did on my Droid X which was my first smart phone circa 2011.

I thought the same, but the video quality on the iPhone 13 Pro is just absurdly good. I already had the X, but the upgrade is very significant.

Similarly several people have commented that the front facing camera makes me look noticeably sharper and clearer in video calls.

Some basics might not be changing much, but cameras still are.

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#182

Post by TheHypnotist » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

busymom0 wrote: post #160

ehsankia wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Not true, I see at least 2 [0] [1] 2. Even if it was true, welcome to not being included for once in your entire life. Now maybe you can start to begin to understand what others have experienced basically every day of their life. [0] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/s6bCli03aqnY_KvZoPaTgiFqCj... [1] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zq1FVWVv9GOCRJ3oHJg0PHzWgE...

> welcome to not being included for once in your entire life. Now maybe you can start to begin to understand what others have experienced basically every day of their life. Your examples are proving OP's point. Your snarky response is what's wrong with the world now a days. I am brown but this over-pandering by companies feels more patronizing and condescending than genuine care. It's like winning an award or being h…

Uh, there is a technical reason on demonstration as well. Don't try so hard to be that guy.

"Take authentic, accurate portraits with Real Tone. Portraits on Pixel represent the nuances of different skin tones for all people beautifully and authentically."

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#183

Post by marcellus23 » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

virgilp wrote: post #159

marcellus23 wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shared with You does not actually save the images to your photo library. It just surfaces them inside the Photos app. I will admit it's not very clear from the press release, but those are the facts. I was not being disingenuous, frankly. I said that Apple is scanning your cloud photos, i.e. they are scanning photos that are uploaded to the cloud. Photos not being uploaded to the cloud are not scanned. I made no clai…

You are thoroughly misrepresenting what Apple does. I initially thought you don't know what they do, but apparently you do very well. Still: they scan photos locally - those are not cloud photos, those are local photos. And they have deployed the technical capability. You can bet that once capability exists, they will bend to government demands - there's ample precedent for that. SO, yes, Apple, unlike all others, sc…

> Still: they scan photos locally - those are not cloud photos, those are local photos.

They are cloud photos. I say that because:

1. The photos are in the process of being uploaded to the cloud when they are scanned

2. The result of the scan is attached to the photo only when it is uploaded to the cloud. If the photo is deleted from the cloud, or the upload is canceled, the scan result is discarded

Practically, the system works precisely the same whether or not the scanning happens on device before the image reaches the cloud, or on the server after the image reaches the cloud.

The only well-intentioned argument about why on-device vs. on-server scanning matters is that "slippery slope" argument, which presupposes that:

1. Apple putting this scanning code in iOS not only somehow makes it easier/more tempting to use it for non-CSAM, but all but guarantees it will be used for non-CSAM.

2. Apple does not already have the ability to run whatever code they want, on any of your devices, without you ever knowing

3. Apple folds very easily to government demands, especially when it comes to privacy, their core differentiator

I don't think any of these are true. You might think they are, but then I'm not sure what point there is in discussing any more.

> or if they are forced to.

I'm not sure what this implies. If someone forces you to upload a photo to the cloud, surely that will get scanned regardless of whether the scanning is performed on-device or on-server?

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#184

Post by jbluepolarbear » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

eric_b wrote: post #89

This will get downvoted immediately but what the heck. I understand we need better representation for people of color in many places - but dang Google, not a single white guy on the Pixel 6 page [0]?? Dozens of photos of people, not one white male. Sort of jarring in the reverse if you ask me. [0] https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6?hl=en-US Edit: Because the common reply to mine seems to be "Well now you know h…

White people don’t count towards diversity. White people are the status quo. White people don’t need to be represented in every situation. White people are over represented in tech and seeing white people in the minority is refreshing. Would you have the same opinion if there were no people of color? Would you voice that concern?

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#185

Post by Rekombinat0r » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:42 PM UTC

ehsankia wrote: post #123

eric_b wrote: post #89

This will get downvoted immediately but what the heck. I understand we need better representation for people of color in many places - but dang Google, not a single white guy on the Pixel 6 page [0]?? Dozens of photos of people, not one white male. Sort of jarring in the reverse if you ask me. [0] https://store.google.com/product/pixel_6?hl=en-US Edit: Because the common reply to mine seems to be "Well now you know h…

1. Not true, I see at least 2 [0] [1] 2. Even if it was true, welcome to not being included for once in your entire life. Now maybe you can start to begin to understand what others have experienced basically every day of their life. [0] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/s6bCli03aqnY_KvZoPaTgiFqCj... [1] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zq1FVWVv9GOCRJ3oHJg0PHzWgE...

Those pictures don't show up on my browser when I view the page. The only pictures that show up are a white woman, an Asian man, and then 11 African people. But to address your examples, wherever you found them: the first one is swarthy Middle Eastern-looking guy who is very far away, way up in a building, and then one other guy guy who whose face is covered by the arm of a black guy. And who knows where and how you even managed to find those pictures.

It would serve your (our (humanity's)) cause better to address the issue instead of lying and pretending it doesn't exist. You are just going to add fuel to the fire of reactionary populism which wastes more of humanity's time.

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#186

Post by gremIin » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:42 PM UTC

eric_b wrote: post #129

wffurr wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How interesting that this clearly made made you uncomfortable. I imagine it's similar to how people of color feel when seeing seas of white faces on product pages past.

That was my point. It's ridiculous whichever extreme they choose. In 2021 when everything is about race and equity, I find it telling who its OK to exclude. Why couldn't they just have it be equal across the board?

Is it really that ridiculous to put minorities in the spotlight for a few years? Try watching a "popular" movie from the 70s, 80s, 90s, or early 00s (e.g. Star Wars or Lords of the Rings). It is very depressing how blatantly they are excluded.

Featuring minorities for a while isn't that big of a deal. It would be an incredible moral failing if we pretended racial representation is all fine now.

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#187

Post by acomjean » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:43 PM UTC

kisamoto wrote: post #57

I think normally I'd look for the Pixel or the iPhone but my next purchase will be supporting FairPhone. When I think about how powerful I need my phone to be I don't need the best. I want something I can fix and update myself; something that's supported for more than a couple of years; something that is a little "better" for the planet. Does anybody use all of the new power of these incredible devices?

>Does anybody use all of the new power of these incredible devices?

As someone with an years old iPhone 6, I haven't once said, I wish this phone was faster. Maybe a better camera would be nice, but that's about it.

Maybe with the ability to plug a phone into a screen and keyboard and use it as a computer (As is starting to happen) I'd want more power but right now I'm good as long as my battery is holding.

I just wish more of these phones still had headphone jacks...

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#188

Post by deadmutex » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:43 PM UTC

tootie wrote: post #128

Hot take: I haven't seen a compelling new phone feature from any manufacturer in as long as I can remember. I spend 99% of my tapping time sending texts, using a browser and taking pictures with the rear camera. Same as I did on my Droid X which was my first smart phone circa 2011.

> taking pictures with the rear camera.

I think taking better pictures in low light, etc. can be thought of being a "new phone feature" (for any phone).

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#189

Post by Leherenn » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:43 PM UTC

ChemSpider wrote: post #45

bobviolier wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Security updates, I am afraid. At least that's what the launch video said.

Security updates (only) is fine. Except a few geeks, nobody I know cares what Android version she has.

Especially since lots of components are updated outside Android updates. The browser and many other things will keep on being updated independently.

Re: Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

#190

Post by DCKing » Tue, Oct 19, 2021, 7:43 PM UTC

wvenable wrote: post #30

DCKing wrote: post #20

Thanks Google. Think I’ll be buying this. I want as little to do with Google’s services as possible in my life, but they really deserve credits for making a modern usable smartphone that is reasonably open. There is just one single feature I will be buying this for - the 5 years of software updates. While good image processing is definitely a pro, all of these software you’re presenting features I really don’t give a…

Samsung announced 5 years of Android updates months ago. Before that, it was 4 years of updates.

Unless you have more recent info (please correct me in that case), that's not quite correct. Last I heard was that Samsung's promise has been 4 years of updates [1].

I recognize Samsung as being well clear of the rest of the pack of Android vendors. Other Android vendors are outright negligent, whereas Samsung seems to generally try to fight their bad incentives and come up with some decency.

Where I think Samsung falls short is execution. Samsung is fundamentally a hardware company and their software has always been mediocre in my view, even to this day. In terms of security updates they promise less than Google, they promise fewer and slower updates than Google (quarterly software updates for some devices / late in the lifecycle still makes older devices an afterthought!), and I trust their promise to execute on their promise less than Google.

Finally, Samsung devices don't have nearly the same support for third party privacy friendly OSes than Pixel devices do - you're stuck with Samsung's (warning: personal opinion) rather tasteless take on what Android should be, and have no real other options.

[1]: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-takes-galaxy-securit...