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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

#411

Post by joshstrange »

geodel wrote: post #86

I think it is just me but I find this 'book me a concert and fancy dinner' schtick rather boring. May be well off people are so busy and book these things so often that these virtual assistant really save time if price is of no concern to them.

I use Siri for 3 things:

* Quick conversions "How many Tablespoons are in a Cup"

* Setting Reminders "Remind me at 9:30am today to pay my rent"

* Setting Timers "Set a time for 10 minutes"

Anything else and I can normally do it faster. That's not to say Siri couldn't beat me at doing something but that I have to repeat myself or I get the dreaded "I search the web and found this..." Not only are the results normally shit but it's Bing.... Need I say more? Timers, conversions, and reminders are the only thing she can consistently beat me on. Also I RARELY use her in public as it's distracting/annoying to the people around me. Reminders in the only thing I will use in public and only if I need to enter it in fast. If I have the time I'll manually enter it.

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

#412

Post by radiorental »

livingparadox wrote: post #299
FussyZeus wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. This is the go-to line for every Android fan. How many devices out there run stock Android? Is it possible to buy a device with stock Android? How much comp-sci experience are you going to need to ma…

I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default. This new pixel phone will probably also do so, being a direct (ish) google phone. I think its because if the cruft 3rd party OEMs have been adding that google has been making these phones. So, yes, you can buy a device with stock android. It just has to be a google phone, not a 3rd party for the most part.

> I use the Nexus, which runs stock android by default.

Is this strictly true if google bakes their apps in (play music etc.)

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

#413

Post by endisukaj »

FussyZeus wrote: post #270
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.

> 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. This is the go-to line for every Android fan. How many devices out there run stock Android? Is it possible to buy a device with stock Android? How much comp-sci experience are you going to need to ma…

Other than Nexus/Pixel phones there are plenty of manufacturers that use flavours of Android that are very similar to stock. It's unfortunate that for many people the go-to alternative to the iPhone are Galaxy phones which only helps to tarnish the experience and overall impression most people have for Android.

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

#414

Post by x0x0 »

tdkl wrote: post #369
x0x0 wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is absolutely true -- I'm on a nexus 5/android 6. There's no native caldav. I use a paid client called caldav-sync which is mediocre. For a while on android 5/lollipop, you had to install a second app (free from the same author) to prevent settings being wiped during OS upgrades/patches. When I upgraded to android 6 I couldn't figure out why calendars weren't syncing until I discovered caldav-sync decided to syn…

I used Aquamail & Davdroid (paid on Play,free on F-droid) for that combo (before my hosting got ActiveSync, for which I another excellent client app called Nine), was working without issues you write about.

The problem with ActiveSync -- which you may be aware of? -- is it gives the server the rights to remote wipe your phone! Great if you control the server and are really (really really really) sure it will never be hacked...

Thanks for the Davdroid recommendation!

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

#416

Post by Grazester »

djhworld wrote: post #210

The price makes me a bit sad tbh One of the best things about the Nexus range was they offered the Google vision of android at a reasonable price. The Nexus 4, 5 and 6 were affordable. I purchased my Nexus 5 for a shade below £300 when it came out, which I thought was excellent value for money in comparison to how much I had paid for a Samsung previously. This Pixel line seems to have abandoned that ideal to compete…

The Nexus 6 was $649, the same price as the Pixel

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

#417

Post by winter_blue »

kogepathic wrote: post #65
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.

> 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,…

I picked up a used Nexus 6 (in excellent condition) recently, and it is an incredible device. I'm also on the bleeding edge OS-wise, as I get Android Beta/Preview releases.

My primary device is an iPhone 6 Plus, and I have to say, Nexus 6 and Android N is really impressive from both a hardware and software perspective.

That being, I wish Google decoupled device drivers from the Android image.

If they adopted the Windows on PC device driver model, it would be so great for users, especially those with older and less supported phones.

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

#418

Post by bcarrell »

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?

Same problem here.

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

#419

Post by losteverything »

IMcD23 wrote: post #406
losteverything wrote: post #395

Probably the wrong time to say but. Is or has there been any way I could purchase a new phone assign it my number and have 2 phones ringing at same time? I would have a side by side comparison in each pocket? Like I buy pants. But 4 at the store and return 3

I am sure there is a way to do that using VOIP or something to receive calls on both phones. But for most test cases, you don't need an active phone number on the phone, no? You can just buy the phone unlocked with no contract and test it out.

And text?

I assume I need a service provider.

In reading this I like my current phone but it would be cool to try this.

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

#420

Post by yathern »

joshstrange wrote: post #392

The graphic showing rating of camera's is super disingenuous [0] The gap from 88-92 is actually shorter than the gap between 86-89. [0] https://www.dropbox.com/s/ehp0sn8w04fpf2q/Screenshot%202016-...

I really think this is grasping at straws. So you think they placed the 'Pixel' data point a little too far to the right? I didn't really get the impression that this was supposed to be super accurate and quantitative chart of their comparative performances - just a little graphic showing which phones it scored ahead of.
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