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Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

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Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#281

Post by kefka_p »

cholantesh wrote: post #71
adamweld wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Now, Google is no Samsung, but they're a long way from Apple or even Microsoft on the UX front. Not sure I agree with this. I've been on android for a while, so I'm sure I'm biased, but stock AOSP Android is pretty much perfect for me. Very minimal and aesthetically beautiful, but still powerful and customizable.

Agreed, and I personally like Cyanogenmod and OxygenOS a lot, too. In fact, I think Touchwiz is the only (major) Android iteration that I haven't enjoyed using. Frankly, I don't get all the hype about iOS' user experience - every time I've had to use an Apple device, I've found just about every task much more cumbersome.

Frankly a lot of people don't get the hype about having to install custom ROMs to make their phones behave in a tolerable way.

People are always going to find computing on devices they don't normally use to be more difficult than computing on devices they normally use, yet to you this is proof Android is better?

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#282

Post by Veratyr »

Unklejoe wrote: post #85

Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask, but has there been any information released regarding whether the bootloader can be unlocked or not? I guess what I'm really asking is if I will be able to flash a custom "ROM" and kernel to this. I've heard rumors of Google taking a more aggressive stance on locking down their hardware, so I'd like to know if there's been any new information regarding this. If I can't flas…

No information has been released that I'm aware of.

But the Pixel C is also a Pixel device and also Android so there's definitely precedent for them allowing unlocks.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#283

Post by pasbesoin »

archiepeach wrote: post #186
pasbesoin wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't heard/read about this aspect, yet. Pixels are more locked down?

One of the things that makes a phone developer-friendly is how accessible it is from a price perspective, i.e. not a £599 price tag.

Ah. I did think a bit of that. Agree.

Not that I'm defending it, but it looks like Google is moving from being a platform provider to a (for profit) device provider.

Given the endless bullshit surrounding third party vendor foot dragging, abandonment, etc., I'm not sure they had any other choice. For my part, I'm done with anything Android that isn't directly from Google (or maybe Samsung, for a phone). And even Google, I distrust, after they left Motorola and my Moto X to "rust" before I was even done with its contract/payments term.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#284

Post by ocdtrekkie »

snowwrestler wrote: post #179

The corporate structure of Alphabet does not make sense to me. Nest was broken out as a peer to Google, but now apparently hardware is using Nest staff and expertise, but hardware is part of Google. And apparently this new hardware team is going whole-hog after the smartphone market, which is WAY larger than thermostats and web cams. But Nest is an Alphabet sub, and hardware is under Google. And Android needs a "fire…

I recall news that many of the developers at Nest were basically moving to Google Hardware. There's a valid question on whether or not Nest will even produce anything going forward, or if they're legacy support for products that eventually will be replaced by Google Home equivalents.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#285

Post by stonemetal »

neals wrote: post #208

I don't like Google because they're gonna use my data against me. I don't like Apple because it's a walled garden and millions other reasons. I don't like Samsung because they bloat Android. I don't like Huawei because I don't trust the Chinese government to not do stuff to it. I don't like LG and HTC because the smartphone market is slipping away from them. Am I just getting old?

If you don't like LG and HTC simply because of popularity metrics then perhaps you are getting too young rather than too old.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#286

Post by spankalee »

ljf wrote: post #34
spankalee wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To turn this around: why did the old phones insist that the hardware buttons take up valuable face space that could be used for more screen, where the buttons could be dynamically drawn and repositioned based on the content and orientation of the phone.

But is the giant black bar across the bottom of this screen a good use of screen> https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d1FGcK-lOXmwvt9UR7OYJwaOSTg... ?

Would it be more useful as non-screen with hardware buttons?

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#287

Post by kogepathic »

jasonkostempski wrote: post #265
kogepathic wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've been on android for a while, so I'm sure I'm biased, but stock AOSP Android is pretty much perfect for me. Very minimal and aesthetically beautiful, but still powerful and customizable. You can get AOSP on a lot of phones, you just have to be comfortable flashing a custom ROM. I don't understand why anyone would pay iPhone prices for an Android phone. Even if the hardware quality is similar (which it won't be,…

That Xiaomi Redmi 2 seems to be exactly what I've been looking for. Maybe a little big but I'll take it if it means CM support, replaceable battery and swappable SD card. Any idea if it works on Project Fi? I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

> Any idea if it works on Project Fi? I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

I am not in the US, so I don't know, sorry.

I have the 2014813 model, which supports the same LTE bands used in Europe. I also had 4G service in Japan, Korea, and China on a recent trip to Asia.

Overall I would definitely recommend the phone as a solid mid-range handset. The only thing that sometimes annoys me is lack of 5GHz WiFi.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#288

Post by mastax »

wmeredith wrote: post #5

I'd like someone to save me from Apple's garbage cloud services, but I just can't get away from their hardware. It's just too good. So... Can anyone convince me that this thing is going to be different from the iPhone killers that are reported on every year in these regurgitated press releases?

What about the iPhone hardware do you think is missing in high end Android phones nowadays? Legitimately curious.

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#289

Post by 2almalki »

seanmccann wrote: post #55
wnevets wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

considering just how small the iphone global market share is, I'm not sure being an iphone killer is even a thing anymore.

Apple earns about 94% of the smartphone industry profit with just 14% of the market. It's a thing.

although i like iOS, but I can't help think it may end the way of BlackBerry. Those guys made a ton off hardware..

Re: Behind the Pixel: Google’s First Real Threat to Apple’s iPhone

#290

Post by tptacek »

dman wrote: post #178
rayiner wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recently, Apple has been about a year ahead. Compare the A9 (which shipped in the 6s in fall 2015) with the Snapdragon 810 (which shipped in the Nexus 6p at the same time). http://www.anandtech.com/show/9837/snapdragon-820-preview/2 http://www.anandtech.com/show/9686/the-apple-iphone-6s-and-i... . Heck, in many cases the A9 leaves the Snapdragon 820 behind, and that hasn't even shipped in a Nexus phone yet (the Pixel…

Wish apple was as enthusiastic about processor specs for the mac lineup as they are for the iphone lineup.

They have a lot more control over the mobile processors. The laptop processors have to maintain compatibility with all the software that people run on their laptops; effectively, that means they're stuck with other people's processors.
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