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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

#661

Post by Crisco »

agumonkey wrote: post #456
throwaway41597 wrote: post #446

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't its bootloader locked? Last time I checked you needed to go to Motorola's website to download a key specific to your phone so you could unlock it, but it voided the warranty.

1 year goes fast, I'm still using 1st gen Moto G, and unlocked it.

My entire family uses different Moto G versions. I have the G4, one of my sisters has a G3, and my parents and my other sister have G1s. They just seem to work and are very good first-time smartphones for my parents. It has been several years since they got them, and I don't even have to provide technical support. Honestly, I see very little reason to unlock the phone.

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

#662

Post by JohnTHaller »

Fej wrote: post #95

What is the draw here? I have been running my Nexus 5 into the ground (soldered on a new power button when the original broke) in anticipation of the next Nexus phone. Pixel is no Nexus. Seriously, what does this have that the year-old Nexus 6P and 5X don't, other than incremental hardware improvements? And a massive price hike? Why should I buy this? (Seriously, Google? You want $650 for a phone with a 1080p screen?…

> Seriously, Google? You want $650 for a phone with a 1080p screen?

Apple wants $650 for a phone with a ~720p screen.

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

#663

Post by massysett »

woodpanel wrote: post #545
twblalock wrote: post #530

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I just can't see the justification to spending this much money on a phone Google will drop support for after 2 years, in addition to never fixing some issues that are present at launch (look up the Nexus 4 camera reset issue, which Google never fixed). Plus, you can't just walk into a local Google Store and use the accidental damage insurance to replace your phone on the spot (or repair it within an hour or so) if…

> I don't want to mail my phone in to a repair center and be without a phone for a few days. FYI: I've been a long time Android user and can tell you that the process works different. And is actually not as bad as you think. 1) You call the hotline, they send you a link via mail 2) Clicking this link will place you in their shop with a promo-code 3) You buy the replacement phone 4) Once you've got the replacement you…

I had an HTC One with a defective camera and HTC had no process like this. I would have had to send them the phone and wait.

Verizon helped me out and sent a refurb phone without me having to return my phone first. The refurb camera was even worse.

After that I went iPhone. No reason to pay the same price for Android and get crappy service, especially when the iPhone has resale value. A used Android has no resale value whatsoever.

However, if the Pixel is like other Androids the list price is a joke and carriers will be discounting it shortly.

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

#664

Post by ferongr »

rayalez wrote: post #402
zepto wrote: post #344

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it's not new technology.

Oh, come on! A new good looking android phone with a cool camera, vr, and super advanced AI assistant is not good enough for you? How revolutionary was the last project that you have developed? What qualifies as "new technology" by your high standards? Do you expect it to be able to mine uranium while giving you a blowjob? I'm pretty sure it'll be able to do the later thing when new cool VR apps come around =) Creati…

No OIS. No MicroSD card. No waterproofing. No stereo speakers. Huge bezels without any function. Derivative design. It's not anything special.

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

#665

Post by JohnTHaller »

bluehawk wrote: post #51
kentosi wrote: post #46

With the trend of bigger smartphones I'm really surprised by the sizes of 5" and 5.5".

I'm not. My nexus 6 was fun when it was new, but I've kinda grown tired of how enormous it is. I feel like 5.5 would be perfect for me.

I'm not looking forward to stepping down from a Nexus 6 to a smaller screen. But then I'm a 6'3" dude. Phones under 5" screens feel like toys to me now.

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

#666

Post by [deleted] »

hyperbovine wrote: post #75
JshWright wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's going to be the only phone in replacement of the 6P and 5X. It seems they aren't interested in mid-range devices anymore.

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.

[deleted]

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

#667

Post by pcurve »

dingaling wrote: post #468
saddestcatever wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good note. Funny how many users are mentioning price as their main reason for dismissing the Pixel

> Funny how many users are mentioning price as their main reason for dismissing the Pixel It's easy to make an excellent phone to retail for $700. It's much less easy to make a good phone to retail for $300. This means that a lot of people, probably the majority, have to make-do with sub-par, or second-previous-generation from eBay, or order something from the Chinese market. Hence the cynicism when Google unveiled y…

I think Google is forced to charge $649 because of their relative experience in hardware, which exacerbates their already high labor cost. Perhaps they could've charged $499, but it would've resulted in an accounting loss.

Perhaps the next iteration of Pixel will be cheaper as they ramp up on hardware expertise and reign in on cost.

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

#668

Post by pcurve »

LandoCalrissian wrote: post #536
sandis wrote: post #337

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Specs page [1] states 2 years for OS updates and 3 for security patches, so not even close. [1] https://store.google.com/product/pixel_phone

That's really weak.

It's weak but i think it's probably there to cover their ass. In reality, support will probably continue for much longer period.

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

#669

Post by _ea1k »

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…

Yep, this doesn't meaningfully change the equation, except for making the Nexus-quality phones even more expensive.

If you liked Android before, this will look great to you (though very expensive). If you didn't like it so much before, nothing has really changed with this specific device to change your mind.

The article headline is just clickbait.

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

#670

Post by gotthemwmds »

dpark wrote: post #504
gotthemwmds wrote: post #381

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just want a phone that works. All of those words are confusing. Seriously though I showed up at Apple with a credit card and a SIM card 48 hours ago and they were not able to sell me a phone. To make it even weirder, I had the (unopened) phone I wanted in a bag, but it is a "locked" one from TMobile. I thought that was ancient history. One day Apple will want my money!

What carrier do you want to use the phone with? If, say, you want to use it with AT&T, just go in and buy an AT&T phone. It will be unlocked. Just swap out the SIM card in the phone with the one you already have if you don't want to activate the provided SIM card for some reason.

I thought I could do that but s/AT&T/TMobile. 3 TMobile retail stores have refused to unlock my phone. It's still unopened in a box. I paid full retail price for it and have never had a TMobile account, which is where they get confused.
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