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Google Pixel 10 series review

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#61

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

jotux wrote: post #10
dtagames wrote: post #3

My older Pixel got the UI updates and I hate them. The look is inelegant, even childish, and like Apple they've decided to hide things under extra button presses. The insistence on adding AI just makes startup slower. I have not had a single use for AI on my phone ever, though I'm a big fan of it for software dev.

I've used nova launcher on my pixel phones for maybe 6 years now. I specifically switched to it because I didn't like UI updates that moved things around -- I like to customize my UI and have it stay there after an update.

Yep, same. But mostly because I didn't want a Google search bar on the screen all the time. And I use DDG anyway for that.

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#62

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

dtagames wrote: post #3

My older Pixel got the UI updates and I hate them. The look is inelegant, even childish, and like Apple they've decided to hide things under extra button presses. The insistence on adding AI just makes startup slower. I have not had a single use for AI on my phone ever, though I'm a big fan of it for software dev.

Yeah, just got them too and I also dislike them. Everything got really big and ugly and I couldn't figure out how to do what seemed like obvious things.

I don't get what they are trying to do with it; previous updates were mostly fine, but really don't like this one.

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#63

Post by throawayonthe »

notpushkin wrote: post #26
sho_hn wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like this point very much. That the term "sideloading" has normalized treating this as a special case is a problem. It's unlikely the terminology can be rolled back at this point, but occasionally reflecting on this is useful.

It sure can. I’m installing most of my stuff from F-Droid nowadays and I’m sure as hell confused why would anybody call this “sideloading”.

perhaps because that's installing from a store, not sideloading? however poor (security-wise) the offering may be, you're still using the intended install flow

in this sense i do actually agree about the misuse of 'sideloading' - the planned change would not impact just sideloading, but also 'third party' stores

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#66

Post by detritus »

thanhhaimai wrote: post #54
SirMaster wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s special about spam screening on Pixel? I don’t get any spam calls or texts on my iPhone.

Depending on the information Google knows about the incoming phone call: - If Google is confident the source is spam (e.g. known spam center). The call is blocked outright. It still has a log that a call from this has been blocked. - If it only suspects spam, Google will answer the call using AI bot, something like "Hi, I'm Google Assistant on behalf of XYZ, what's the call for?". The phone shows that it's screening…

Given how many times Google has warned me that existing or potential clients phoning me are Spam, your second bullet there sounds terrifying.

I'd be turning that 'feature' off first.

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#67

Post by detritus »

dtagames wrote: post #3

My older Pixel got the UI updates and I hate them. The look is inelegant, even childish, and like Apple they've decided to hide things under extra button presses. The insistence on adding AI just makes startup slower. I have not had a single use for AI on my phone ever, though I'm a big fan of it for software dev.

Is this the one that very cleverly removed the full contact list from the Phone 'app', changed the Take/Deny call orientation, and made everything 200% bigger? Because I [expletive] hate it and don't see how in any way it's better.

Now I have to open up the contact list, a completely seperate 'app' to call someone if i can't quite remember who they are, so can't use the Phone's search functionality. So dumb. Well, it's trying to be smart, but I want it to stay dumb.

I wish we could preview these things and decide if we want them or not, rather than waking up to find the phone's decided to wear a new change of clothes and we have to tickle it differently to get it to do what we need (not want, NEED).

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#68

Post by lostmsu »

miyuru wrote: post #47
raincole wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an extremely weird way to look at price. My family use the same dining table for more than two decades. So it's about 5,000 ~ 10,000 hours. But it doesn't make it somehow worth a few thousands of bucks.

Flagship devices are also faster, which saves time.

The difference to the few gen back flagships is not as significant as between the tiers in the same gen.

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#69

Post by Yizahi »

Google Pixel line is nice in theory over past several generations, but unfortunately in some regions of the world their pricing makes no sense. For example one of the EU countries:

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 256Gb - 1560 USD (converted to USD for easier comparison)

Samsung S25 Plus 256Gb - 1095 USD (lowest price in reputable shop, there are even lower listing at grey market ones)

Samsung S25 Ultra 256Gb - 1370 USD

Apple 16 Pro Max 256Gb - 1500 USD

Oneplus 13 256Gb - 1015 USD

Prices shown are lowest ones in the big retail shops only, for better comparison.

In no universe Pixel would win against those. Apple is more advanced and more perceived "prestige". Samsung is a staple top of the line and respectable in reputation, definitely on par with features. Chinese phones are not far off in features too (and in some areas are ages ahead, BBK's corporation 100W fast charging beats all western competitions fair and square).

Re: Google Pixel 10 series review

#70

Post by Yizahi »

kotaKat wrote: post #65

Why did we have to make every single phone the same generic looking piece of glass-and-metal? I'm tired.

Maximizing screen size while keeping structural integrity so it won't fold in a pocket. And our hands can't really grow longer to operate wider phones. So the exterior hit hard limits until folding tech improves. Anything not a glass slab is really a fashion statement nowadays or a professional tool (like CAT phone) and is priced accordingly.
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