I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report • Hacker News Board

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#311

Post by tomduncalf » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:20 PM UTC

microtonal wrote: post #229

kossae wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow. As an iPhone user I actually wasn't aware of how easy LastPass is on Android. I, too, hate all of the steps (leave browser to open the app, search for your site, copy password, go back to the browser, paste password). Hopefully I'm missing something? Re: Google. Their apps are certainly subpar as opposed to Android, which is to be expected. They are getting better, though. And Google Photos is a must for me as a…

leave browser to open the app, search for your site, copy password, go back to the browser, paste password In the browser, you can tap the share icon and choose 1Password, this will open 1Password and you can confirm the entry to log in.

Same for Lastpass

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#312

Post by dh2424 » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:20 PM UTC

wilsonnb wrote: post #269

dspillett wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that people want a headphone jack. More stereos and cars don't have BT than do (significantly many more in my experience). Bluetooth pairing is a faf compared to just plugging in a jack, and many devices still only remember pairing with two devices or just one so your friend may have to repair when you are done. Double adaptors (I still see people sharing a single audio source on headphones that way) a…

The real answer here is to use the lightning -> 3.5mm adapter which comes with the iPhone, I believe.

But then I cannot plug my headphones into my brand new laptop...

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

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Post by patja » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:21 PM UTC

The iPhone walled garden is what gets my goat, particularly when it comes to the impact it's had on my children. Combined with an observation that there is a distinct subset of people who buy iPhones who seem uninterested in how technology works or engaging deeply in solving technology interop problems when things go wrong. I get that's part of the feedback loop -- you buy an iPhone because "ack, technology! I just want things to work" and Apple has done an excellent job of capturing this market, extracting a price premium for it, and delivering on this hope.

Regarding the children, what I see in my community is many of the iPhone-using parents upgrade phones immediately when a new model comes out, and the old phone goes to the kids. You get a bunch of 10 to 14 years olds packing iPhones, many without a SIM, all "texting" with one another. Except mostly they aren't really texting in the SMS sense, they are iMessaging. And they have no clue or interest in figuring out why iMessage doesn't always work very well across the iPhone Android border. This is exacerbated by the fact that kids get new phone numbers, some of which are still registered to the former owner's iMessage account (have fun explaining all that). It creates cliques and exclusionary behavior ensues, and boy let me tell you when you are not in the cool kids' group text because your dad won't pay the Apple tax and bought you an Android phone, it can make for some sadness and frustration.

All this probably says as much about the school culture my kids are immersed in as it does about the technology.

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#314

Post by josefresco » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:24 PM UTC

no1youknowz wrote: post #156

josefresco wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like you just needed to buy Mom an Android device with decent storage - and/or maybe a "flagship" device that isn't left hung out to dry. I too have family with shitty Androids. My Mom runs an iPhone 5 that is so far behind she's afraid to update it at this point (holding out for new iPhone) I also have family with flagship Android devices - completely different exp.

> and/or maybe a "flagship" device that isn't left hung out to dry. I think you are missing the point there. She's on a fixed income. The iPhone 6 is on contract. When she got it, it was £0 down and £17.99 a month. Compared that to a much higher costs per month for a flagship phone. Not only that, once the 2 years has been up. She'll just get another contract and an iPhone 8. Rinse and repeat and she'll always have a…

The iPhone 6 was a flasgship device when it was launched. I meant find a comparable Android flagship device.

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#315

Post by nvarsj » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:24 PM UTC

dalore wrote: post #205

nvarsj wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, as you point out, you pretty much have to use Google apps to make Android worthwhile. And you're basically opting into massive invasion of your personal privacy by doing that, turning your life into an ad-targeted money tree for Google and the other dozen pre-loaded apps on your typical Android phone. I don't think it's worth it one bit. Similarly, a lot of the inconveniences you point out (e.g. LastPa…

And with Apple you use Apple services which no doubt do the same invasion of privacy. And if you don't want to see ads it's pretty easy, buy apps without ads rather than using ad supported apps. > Similarly, a lot of the inconveniences you point out (e.g. LastPass), are also a way of protecting you from rogue apps (e.g. Facebook) from tracking everything you do on your phone. That level of integration means that any…

https://thehackernews.com/2018/03/android-botnet-malware.htm...

This malware was installed on vanilla phones including those from Samsung, out of the factory.

Regarding LastPass, it used the accessibility option, which as far as I know basically let's it watch your screen - aka it's a full on screen logger.

On top of this most Android devices are way out of date (Samsung in particular is terrible about updating their phones), and vulnerable to security exploits, malware, adware, who knows what.

Good luck to anyone that owns an Android phone. It's like the Windows 95 of mobile devices.

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

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Post by wilsonnb » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:26 PM UTC

tjoff wrote: post #295

wilsonnb wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is true of the iPhone adapters but a USB C adapter with a DAC inside will work with any laptop that has a USB C port.

So that draws power and does that work with all phones? That's quite the "workaround".

It will work with any phone or PC with a USB C port as long as the OS supports USB audio devices. As far as I know, all the major OS's support those. Even iOS if you have a lightning -> USB adapter.

Technically it draws power but it's not going to use more power than an internal headphone jack does. They are both just a DAC and a small headphone amp. The only difference is that one is inside the device and one is outside the device.

In a few years, once the idea of having a device without a USB C port seems strange, headphones and AUX cables will probably just come with a DAC/amp built in to them and nobody except audio enthusiasts will care about not having a 3.5mm port on their device. That is, if Apple decides to embrace USB C on iOS devices which I think they will.

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#317

Post by moogleii » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

uhhhhhhh wrote: post #277

YouKnowBetter wrote: post #136

My whole family (parents, sister & her kids, wife & our kids) have switched to iPhones (and macos devices) years ago. Result: 1. no "technical" issues anymore. As the go to IT guy in the family this alone is worth the supposed premium price one pays for the Apple logo. 2. Everything is updated, at all times. 3. "Facebook logs my sms" are a none issues 4. All devices die of old age (even the devices that have since lo…

I've got to say I have the exact opposite experience. It got to the point I now don't do apple/iphone support for family. The number of itunes issues, osx keystore issues, technical issues with phones was taking a lot of time, and user issues with the iphone never ended. My parents, sisters, and any aunts/uncles nearby that I support are all on windows 10 with android phones. My results. 1. Time spend supporting fami…

Strange. My 2012 iMac and MBA are humming along just fine. And they're refurbs. My "bought as new" stuff has been just fine as well. I still have an iPhone 5s that, save for the old battery, works normally.

I haven't encountered a bricked phone via an updated iOS, but I have had android folks who weren't running flagships try to get the latest OS, and brick their phones.

Lastly, when I do have an issue, the apple customer service has just been too good to me over the years. My friend dropped my phone recently, and unluckily for me, it landed on a metal rail, damaging the sleep button. But Apple replaced the phone for free. As well as a wireless keyboard my coworker had me bring in. I had no receipt for that one, but it took too long for them to locate a buyable replacement of that particular model, so the CSR just gave me a newer model, for free. YMMV of course, but they seem empowered to do far more than typical companies.

But this is all pointless; we can go round and round with anecdotes all day.

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#318

Post by kup0 » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

rusk wrote: post #80

rusk wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. Frustrating and clunky as the iPhone might be at times, it's relatively reliable and stable. I'm quite happy to use Android on a tablet. It's far closer to a "traditional" operating system in terms of the amount of control you get over everything.

Although I've got to say, the headphone jack might be the last straw for me ... my iPhone SE could be my last iPhone if a reasonable alternative materialises ...

Yep. Trying to hold onto my SE as long as I can and I'm really stumped at where to go next...

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#319

Post by openIce » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:33 PM UTC

no1youknowz wrote: post #120

I know a lot of this is anecdotal... My Mom who is 77, has had a few Androids. Always calling her Sons to help fix her phone. She bought cheap phones for a couple of hundred dollars, but always limited the Ram, but had plenty of storage. WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook would constantly fill it up and many times you'd have to clear out all the apps, clear the storage on the phone, etc, etc. Then I would have to explain to h…

It's always funny to read these stories because I also got tired of the cheap android phones that filled up instantly. Bought a 400€ Nokia and everything just works meanwhile all my friends iphones have all kinds of problems with the hardware

Re: I switched from iPhone to the Pixel 2: One-week report

#320

Post by mrep » Tue, May 01, 2018, 2:36 PM UTC

grepthisab wrote: post #186

I use both, got a free Pixel XL and my work phone is the iPhone 8 or something, not the X for sure. I have owned both Google and Apple phones in my personal life for years each, and now carry both side-by-side daily. I'll say I generally prefer the Pixel to the iPhone. Many things are easier, I can use my yubikey with the Pixel, the less locked down nature means I have more control (and I'm no heavy customizer by any…

> Apple keeps trying to shove Apple Maps down my throat when I navigate, annoying.

I hate this so much. I just want to use Google maps with Apple auto but it won't let you. This is alone is making me consider the switch.