OT:Smart Phones

[dbdynsty25]

No one knew what a Nexus was either...outside of a few vocal people (like me, lol).

The things they are making Pixel exclusives, like the assistant, is already being ported to Nexus 6P/5X phones so there are always going to be ways to get the software. If you want the first software updates, you're going to need Google's phone, whatever phone it is, at whatever cost. They feel that if they are going to put premium software experiences (like live tech support) they need to make some money on them somewhere, so it's all built into the extra cost.

The only thing I'd worry about is why they didn't do front facing speakers or waterproofing which seems to be the standard for high end phones. Had they included those (especially waterproofing), then the complaints wouldn't be so loud.

[wco81]

Is there a lot of difference between Google Assistant and Google Now?

They want to tout AI but it's a way to data mine for better advertising.

Google is seeing Facebook make more money from mobile advertising. Since they couldn't succeed with Google Plus, they're going to try selling their own phones with the ability to collect data and produce targeted ads like FB has been doing with their app.

So they're going to advertise the Pixel far more than they advertised the Nexus. Odds are that they're not going to get the kind of profits Samsung and Apple have been getting with higher-priced phones so they're looking to boost mobile revenues.

[Gangrel]

Google has been mining for years! Pixel us just the latest device that enables them to do that.

[fletcher21]

Besides being pure Android, what advantages does the pixel have over the galaxy s7? Db especially, as you're giving up the s7 for the pixel. The specs are nice, but I'm wondering how those 2 phones compare head to head. Seems like a BMW vs Mercedes comparison where either one is a winner built with the top specs.

[dbdynsty25]

Seems like a BMW vs Mercedes comparison where either one is a winner built with the top specs.

Yes.

Only real difference is software. I just want a change after mostly using the S6 and S7 over the last year and a half (with a little 6P and OnePlus 3 mixed in).

And yes Google Mines...that's why their assistant is light years ahead of Siri. I'm willing to let them do that.

[10spro]

And yes Google Mines...that's why their assistant is light years ahead of Siri. I'm willing to let them do that.

From the video I watched, the google assistant works by tapping into the millions of points in googles' large knowledge network, and by learning your habits and preferences over time, sharing, to the point you start building your own personal Google.


Is all your data input safe from the prying eyes?

[RobVarak]

Is all your data input safe from the prying eyes?

I do not care. The value of a system like this far outweighs my personal privacy concerns. I understand others may feel differently, but it's an evaluation that I am free to make for myself.

[dbdynsty25]

Is all your data input safe from the prying eyes?

I do not care. The value of a system like this far outweighs my personal privacy concerns. I understand others may feel differently, but it's an evaluation that I am free to make for myself.

EXACTLY. I trust Google enough to take the chance.

[wco81]

Google hasn't been as intrusive as Facebook.

Yet.

[pk500]

I always chuckle at people who shut themselves from certain portions of the Internet or mobile ecosystem because of privacy concerns. Face the music: EVERY company online is trying to mine information from you, and most succeed.

Like Dan Patrick said during his "SportsCenter" heyday, you can't stop it; you can only hope to contain it.

Do any of you subscribe to email newsletters? Did you provide an email address and other personal information, such as your name, to that company? They have that information, and they're strip-mining it for all the data they can get on you.

Everyone acts as if Facebook and Google are the boogey men of privacy. Every company online wants a piece of your information, and nearly all succeed. We're most afraid of Facebook and Google because they're at the leading edge of innovation that us mere mortals outside of Silicon Valley can't comprehend and therefore fear.

Does anyone think the Apple "1984" commercial is on the cusp of becoming reality? Come on: Tech is a competitive environment. Any company found to be abusing customer data will lose market share quickly. That would be the exploding Samsung Note 7 battery of the Web, mobile and cloud world.

You can be a Luddite and shun tech advances because of privacy concerns. Just realize how far behind the cultural and digital curve you are when you scream, "GET OFF MY VIRTUAL LAWN," in a few years.

I'm 51. I work in PR. I started in an era in which we folded press releases and stuffed them into envelopes for mailing. We only had to worry about TV, radio and print.

So now my biggest fear is digital irrelevance, especially when competition for my job consists of kids who grew up in a world of constant Internet, mobile devices, apps and the Web. So please, walk all over my lawn. I'll learn something and avoid becoming the anachronistic crank no one wants to employ.

[pk500]

Google hasn't been as intrusive as Facebook.

Yet.

Are you kidding? Google knows exactly what you browse on the Web and what you read in Gmail and tailors ads to match that exactly.

You probably use an ad-blocker, as I do, so you don't notice it as much. But Google is just as intrusive, if not more, than Facebook. Google mines information from everywhere you visit on the Web, especially if you use the Chrome browser. I'm pretty sure Facebook only devises your tendencies based on posts, likes and views within its ecosystem.

[dbdynsty25]

I'm pretty sure Facebook only devises your tendencies based on posts, likes and views within its ecosystem.

Ever go to a site to look at a product, then see it show up in your facebook feed? Yeah, they are grabbing sh*t from everywhere...not just it's ecosystem. They all do it. Like you said, it's part of life.

[pk500]

I'm pretty sure Facebook only devises your tendencies based on posts, likes and views within its ecosystem.

Ever go to a site to look at a product, then see it show up in your facebook feed? Yeah, they are grabbing sh*t from everywhere...not just it's ecosystem. They all do it. Like you said, it's part of life.

Good point.

[wco81]

People have different tolerance when it comes to privacy.

I don't like Amazon recommendations or the emails they send several times a day touting products they think I want but some might like them.

Or if I book a hotel in NY say, Google will detect it and then put the dates of the reservation on Google Maps. Again, some people might like this kind of thing.

A lot of companies do it but not all. The type of companies which are most interested in knowing about you -- your income, age, family size, interests, etc. -- are primarily advertisers and companies which run platforms for advertising.

If you won't volunteer that info., they have to determine it by tracking your behavior and one way is what you do online, another way is to track your physical movements. If you only go online from home or the office, they have one data point about where you live or work. But if you're using Google services or the FB Messenger app. on your phone, they get more data points about your routine.

Again, a lot of people have no problem with this kind of tracking.

But what is this tracking leading to? It's not just targeted advertising. Google and FB tout all the investments they've made in AI, machine learning, neural networks, like they're advancing technology. However, all this is so they can make it easier to sell you products, not necessarily to bring innovation.

Some of the ideas tossed around are things like digital shopping assistants or something that will book plane tickets for you.

I have stock in all these companies so if all this tracking and investments lead to more profits, great. But they push the envelope when it comes to wanting to track people, often using the devices that you pay for, with sketchy policies like having to opt-out, not enabling end-to-end encryption on messaging by default, etc.

I liked it when Google left China rather than cave into demands by the Chinese govt. Or when FB was used to organize political protests against undemocratic governments and actions. But there are downsides to some of the things these companies do, for some people.

[grtwhtsk]

I'm pretty sure Facebook only devises your tendencies based on posts, likes and views within its ecosystem.

Ever go to a site to look at a product, then see it show up in your facebook feed? Yeah, they are grabbing sh*t from everywhere...not just it's ecosystem. They all do it. Like you said, it's part of life.

I received an email from an electronics retailer....I took a look at a particular TV on their site that was listed on the email.....and a few hours later I had another email from that retailer telling me not to forget that TV that I had been looking at. Felt like I was in that store being followed by a salesman!

[fletcher21]

How's the pixel?

[dbdynsty25]

How's the pixel?

Mine's on the truck for delivery today. Stay tuned.

[RobVarak]

How's the pixel?

Mine's on the truck for delivery today. Stay tuned.

Same. I'm taking my Note 7 out for the afternoon. We're going to have lunch, shoot some photos...maybe play a game or two. Then it's off in the cardboard, flame-retardant box for an easy trip to a farm out in the country. </sniff>

[dbdynsty25]

Same. I'm taking my Note 7 out for the afternoon. We're going to have lunch, shoot some photos...maybe play a game or two. Then it's off in the cardboard, flame-retardant box for an easy trip to a farm out in the country. </sniff>

I'm sure the fluid that you're about to cover it with will protect it in case of flames.

[RobVarak]

I'm sure the fluid that you're about to cover it with will protect it in case of flames.

I won't let your vulgarity ruin a beautiful moment.

In all seriousness, looking forward to the Pixel. It's not a beauty, but I really like everything I've seen from the early reviews.

[fletcher21]

From some of the initial impressions I've read, it sounds like the pixel is a really good phone, and the xl is an amazing phone. The 132 gig xl is priced so high, I'll be curious to hear how well it does. My guess is the lower storage model xl will be the one to own.

A lot of people don't like how the phone isn't waterproof. I don't see why this is so important. I've had phones since the Nokia Brock phone days where the best game was snake, and I've never had water damage. I'd be FAR more concerned about bending and cracking screens than being able to submerge my phone.

The pixel xl sounds like the best phone available, but the price is just too high for a lot of us. Some people will finance the phone over several years, but I'm against that personally. It sounds like the xl is much better than the pixel, but the regular pixel is smaller, so it'll appeal to more women. All in all, it sounds like it you can afford it you should pick one up. It most likely isn't THAT superior performance wise to my op3, so I'll wait for the iPhone 8. Camera sounds like it's also on another level, which is important for the snapchat kids. It also sounds perfect for VR.


Looking forward to hearing reviews from you guys

[dbdynsty25]

So far so good. Few advantages to the S7, and a few disadvantages.

+screen is on par...top of the line, very good
+fast fast fast (faster than the S7...quite a bit actually) - amazing OS
+full RGB led notification light (I love these for differentiating between alerts)
+build quality is good (lighter than the S7, tho a bit thicker)
+camera is as fast as S7 (quality TBD...so far so good)

-chin is kind of hindering function for me, just because I'm coming from the S7 w/ real buttons (not on screen), so I am making a lot of typing errors (my issue, not the phone, but still a - overall)
-power button in a weird spot...too high on the side of the phone
-buttons are really stiff
-glass panel is kind of stupid looking in person, but not as bad as in pics

That's all I've got so far...so far so good, goods outweigh the bad, so it looks like a winner. Nougat is fantastic.

[fletcher21]

If your buddy asked what the overall best phone is would you go galaxy s7 or pixel, or is it too soon to call it

[RobVarak]

So far so good. Few advantages to the S7, and a few disadvantages.

+screen is on par...top of the line, very good
+fast fast fast (faster than the S7...quite a bit actually) - amazing OS
+full RGB led notification light (I love these for differentiating between alerts)
+build quality is good (lighter than the S7, tho a bit thicker)
+camera is as fast as S7 (quality TBD...so far so good)

-chin is kind of hindering function for me, just because I'm coming from the S7 w/ real buttons (not on screen), so I am making a lot of typing errors (my issue, not the phone, but still a - overall)
-power button in a weird spot...too high on the side of the phone
-buttons are really stiff
-glass panel is kind of stupid looking in person, but not as bad as in pics

That's all I've got so far...so far so good, goods outweigh the bad, so it looks like a winner. Nougat is fantastic.

Agree with almost all of this. I thought I was crazy about the power button location.

I was flummoxed by the LED thing for a minute. I've never had a phone where it wasn't enabled by default.

Comparable in every way to the Note 7, save 2 things that are going to take awhile. Having bezels and that giant top/bottom bit really give the phone a "flat" look. I thought the edge gimmick on the S7 was just that, but on the Note the Edge apps and the general appearance of the phone overall were greatly enhanced. When it's on, it feels like the screen on the Pixel has significantly less real estate. When they're both off, it just make the Pixel look so much less elegant and so much more utilitarian than the Note.



Secondly, I didn't realize how much I'd come to enjoy the always-on display. Configured to show my daily agenda, it was so convenient to glance at it and confirm the current time or the time of my next meeting or kid's event. It's odd to pick up the phone and see a blank screen. It's amazing how quickly we adjust to these little thins and take them for granted.

All in all, delighted so far though. I actually like the glass on the back enough that I'm going with a clear case for the time being.

[dbdynsty25]

Yeah, kind of miss the always on display even though Samsung borked it on the S7...it was much more functional on the N7 because you could see notifications from other apps, not just the built in crap ones Samsung uses.

The chin on the smaller pixel isn't nearly as daunting as the XL, so cosmetically it doesn't bother me at all. Just a weird size/feel difference between it and the S7. I'll get used to it.