Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

bloomberg.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

511–520 of 874 posts

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

#511

Post by s3bast0m »

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.

Rather try 2GB Redmi Note 3 for 145$ or 3GB version for 180$...

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

#512

Post by anderber »

AaronFriel wrote: post #506

I'm saddened by the continued fragmentation. "Google Assistant" replaces the Google search bar... but only on the Pixel? So this is yet another Android device that behaves differently from every other. The exclusive carrier is Verizon. Why not Google Fi? The default video app is Duo. Why not Hangouts? Does "Google Now On Tap" get replaced by the assistant for the Pixel? Is that just for the Pixel? I don't get it. I d…

The phones are available on Fi and at Google Store for full value or financing.

I think Google Now On Tap is gone.

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

#513

Post by kneel »

Features on phones seem to have plateaued.

I can't justify spending $650 on the newest phone for a slightly better camera.

My current iphone 6 is just fine, the battery is waning but not unbearably so.

Does the pixel offer anything that justifies the price? Or would a consumer be better off just purchasing an older generation smartphone?

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

#514

Post by kogepathic »

x0x0 wrote: post #437
jasonkostempski wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

If you aren't aware (I wasn't), xiaomi phones run miui which is somewhat different than stock android. Google miui before you buy. Or you have to be comfortable installing an android distribution.

Yes, the original firmware sucks massively and I wouldn't wish it even on my worst enemies.

That being said, it takes about 5 minutes to flash a custom recovery and the latest CM, so in the end it's a non-issue.

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

#515

Post by zyngaro »

adamweld wrote: post #29
mikestew wrote: post #13

And yet not a single hard detail in the article as to why the headline might be true. For going on ten years we've seen the "iPhone killers" come and go, and this article does nothing to tell me why this time it will be different. Perhaps because it won't be. Of what very few details the article outlines, they just go on about nifty hardware. Have we not learned by now that cool hardware still sucks when hamstrung by…

>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.

Stock Android is dumb, annoying.

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

#516

Post by tdkl »

cyphax wrote: post #492
anfogoat wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had the worst time since switching to the OnePlus 3 and from what I've read the OS on this phone is very close to stock Android. The only way to have a good experience with email, calendars and contacts is to use Google Apps – which I refuse to migrate to. The stock apps have no support for IMAP IDLE, CardDAV, or CalDAV. You have to resort to 3rd party apps for these and they are without fail either slow, buggy,…

I was very surprised to see Android lacking support for CalDav out-of-the-box. Seemed like an obvious feature for a calendar app, yet no provider. So while it might not be much; there are CardDav/CalDav-adapters on f-droid.org, they are free software and work very good in my experience. It integrates so it allows you to use the stock calendar app. In the end, though, I think the idea with phones like these is that th…

That seems to be an Apple specialty, because Windows software always lacked that as well.

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

#517

Post by Terribledactyl »

Sargos wrote: post #272
hyperbovine wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's crazy. $650 buy-in for what is for most people a somewhat risky wireless service proposition. Given their past track record of 86ing products this can't bode well.

The Pixel isn't locked to Fi. It can be used on any carrier. Fi is also pay as you go which means you can leave at any time. It's really not risky at all even if they shut it down tomorrow.

I think the parent was stating that Pixel phones will soon be the only way to actually get into Fi. For now, you can start service if you bring a 6p or 5x but who knows how long they'll support that.

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

#518

Post by st3v3r »

w1ntermute wrote: post #252
anfogoat wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had the worst time since switching to the OnePlus 3 and from what I've read the OS on this phone is very close to stock Android. The only way to have a good experience with email, calendars and contacts is to use Google Apps – which I refuse to migrate to. The stock apps have no support for IMAP IDLE, CardDAV, or CalDAV. You have to resort to 3rd party apps for these and they are without fail either slow, buggy,…

Have you tried using third party apps on the iPhone? You can't change the default browser, mail client, maps app, etc. on iOS. At least it's possible to switch the defaults to 3rd party apps on Android.

But it sounds like the core apps on iOS work the way they want them to, whereas the alternatives on Android are all lacking. So being able to change is a nice option, but if you don't use it, doesn't really add much.

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

#519

Post by gnarbarian »

supercoder wrote: post #440
erikpukinskis wrote: post #367

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly, in terms of staff UI design cred Android is in better place than iOS right now. With the Sidekick, PalmOS, and then Material Design, Matías Duarte has been consistently at the forefront of mobile UI design. Jony Ive is probably the most brilliant consumer electronics hardware designer in the world, but I have yet to see any indication that he has any idea how to lead a platform UI design project. I had issu…

Material design is like bootstrap for mobile. Good to give devs something they can't mess up too badly, but is pretty soulless.

>but is pretty soulless

What does that mean?

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

#520

Post by criddell »

atourgates wrote: post #496
criddell wrote: post #451

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might get what you are wishing for. I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple dump Intel chips.

I would - only because of the investment required. Over the past few years, Apple's been very involved in its iOS ecosystem, while investing comparatively little in its Mac lineup. Dumping Intel chips would take a ton of effort and resources, in an area where Apple isn't interested in making an effort or investing resources.

You're right, it would take a huge investment in effort and resources. You will know they are doing this when you see the Mac lineup sit unchanged for a long time...
Post reply on HN