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Google Unveils Pixel and Pixel XL, the First Phones It 'Designed Inside and Out' (www.bgr.in)

At an event on Tuesday, Google unveiled the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, the first phones "designed inside and out by Google." Focusing less on the hardware, the company says the biggest selling point of the phones is Google Assistant, which will be available to users wherever they go. Both Pixels have a quad-core 2.15GHz 64-bit processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB or 128GB of storage, a 12.3MP rear camera, an 8MP front camera, a fingerprint scanner on the back, and a USB-C port on the bottom. The major differences between the two are in size, display (5-inch vs 5.5-inch), and battery (2770mAh vs 3450mAh). The company says the rear camera on both phones is top-notch as well, scoring 89 on DxO, the highest ever for a smartphone. Both phones also come with "endless cloud storage," the company said. It will let users backup unlimited storage in full-resolution images and videos shot with the Pixel. Pricing starts at $649 for the smaller 5-inch Pixel, available for preorder today. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg shares the inside story of how these phones were conceived.

197 comments

  1. End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If Google is no longer shipping 'stock Android' on their own devices, will they let it rot like the AOSP browser, email client, and other bits that they don't care about anymore?

    1. Re:End of AOSP? by known_coward_69 · · Score: 4, Informative

      AOSP has been dead since Google Play Services became the good part of android

    2. Re:End of AOSP? by Higaran · · Score: 2

      This sucks, the whole point of buying the google is they didn't have anything on top of the stock android. Looks like I'm keeping my 5x for a good while.

    3. Re:End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But its camera scores 89! And I heard its speed is 30!

    4. Re:End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought that was just a fable.

    5. Re:End of AOSP? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yes and No. A good part of the benefit of AOSP was that Google Play Services wasn't included. Everyone was shouting they wanted a Google free Android phone.

    6. Re:End of AOSP? by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      the whole point of buying the google is they didn't have anything on top of the stock android.

      What is "stock android" if not the version that Google put out? Don't kid yourself, the "vanilla" version of Android has always been exactly what Google wanted it to be. The only difference is that now instead of other vendors saying "Ha I know better, I won't use feature x" they now longer have the choice.

    7. Re:End of AOSP? by xfizik · · Score: 1

      I thought the whole point of the nexus devices was that they were reasonably priced (at first at least). Clearly, it's not the case any more (some could say it hasn't been for at least a year).

    8. Re:End of AOSP? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am altering the deal.

      Pray I do not alter it any further.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    9. Re: End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I pray that you alter it _alot_ more.

      Yours Sincerely, all your competitors.

    10. Re: End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is not stock about it? What can't you turn off? It sounded like it was stock with additions.

    11. Re:End of AOSP? by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      Tin-foil aside, the benefit of AOSP is you can replace the firmware with a community ROM, long after Google has discontinued support for your Nexus device.

      I do use f-droid but all the 'popular' apps are on Play. So for me it's Google-lite rather than free. The stock firmware includes dozens of Google apps, most of which I'll never use that keep wanting to update and because they're baked into the image, difficult to remove.

    12. Re:End of AOSP? by Thumper_SVX · · Score: 1

      Google is changing. Well, in truth Alphabet is changing; they want to compete more directly with Apple with their own "Halo" device. The previous Nexus devices (I had a few that I loved) were cheap... but they were also cheap in the sense they were plastic and never top-tier hardware. These new devices are true flagship devices... though the memory is a bit smaller than I might expect in a modern flagship (4GB when many manufacturers are looking at 6)... though with a pretty fat CPU to keep up with it.

      For my part, I pre-ordered Pixels for myself and my girlfriend yesterday. My phone is getting pretty long in the tooth (first-gen Moto X) so it's time... and honestly the price while higher than I might've liked isn't too much of a hardship for someone who's been into unlocked phones for years. I haven't been on a contract with a carrier since my iPhone 3GS (long time ago now)... I'm much happier buying unlocked.

    13. Re: End of AOSP? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They segment the market. 700$ phone in the countries where people are ready to pay for it, 100$ phone where they are not

    14. Re:End of AOSP? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      I thought the whole point of the nexus devices was that they were reasonably priced (at first at least). Clearly, it's not the case any more (some could say it hasn't been for at least a year).

      Nexus is dead. It existed to show manufacturers how to sell good-enough phones for cheap. That's now a solved problem. There are dozens of manufacturers building good, cheap Android phones.

      Now the other side of problem. Manufacturers can't figure out how to compete on the high-end with the likes of Apple. Enter Pixel, a premium smart phone with a metal, glass body up to 128GB flash, high end processor and screen, eye popping design, and an industry leading camera. It also has 2 years free customer support (think: AppleCare). And the price tag to go along with all of that.

    15. Re:End of AOSP? by xfizik · · Score: 1

      eye popping design,

      You must be talking about some other phone :)

    16. Re:End of AOSP? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Agreed. I really meant that they put some effort into the design this time as opposed to the typical black slab of plastic. It's a good looking phone but doesn't differentiate between the tens of other good looking phones in its market segment.

  2. Yes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...does it have a 3,5 mm audio jack?

    1. Re:Yes but... by kav2k · · Score: 1

      Very much yes.

  3. #madebygoogle by sexconker · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's not made by Google, it's made by HTC. And they just rejiggered the HTC 10. http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10...

    1. Re:#madebygoogle by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      Couldn't they just say "Designed by Google", or did Apple already copyright that?

    2. Re:#madebygoogle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Designed by Google in California, USA
      Built by slaves in FoxConn, China

    3. Re:#madebygoogle by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 2

      Sounds like HTC did the design:

      Managed by Google Marketing Dolts in California, USA
      Designed by HTC in Taiwan
      Built by slaves in Foxconn

    4. Re:#madebygoogle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      bought by retarded sheep who want their jobs back from overseas

    5. Re:#madebygoogle by wbr1 · · Score: 2

      And apple phones are made by Foxconn. If by rejiggered HTC 10 you mean similar case with different cpu, different screen size, different screen technology, different camera, different camera software, etc, then you may as well say the LG G5 is a rejiggered Note 7

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
    6. Re:#madebygoogle by reanjr · · Score: 2

      Apple phones are made by Samsung and other mobile manufacturers. Qualcomm is one of the biggest mobile processor makers in the world, even though they are fabless. That's just the reality of modern, global industry.

    7. Re:#madebygoogle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Congrats to Google and HTC for finally making an iPhone.

      You want to make the best, you have to copy the best.

    8. Re:#madebygoogle by terjeber · · Score: 1

      Yeah, rejiggered in the same way that the iPhone is just a rejiggered Blackberry (to exaggerate just a tad).

    9. Re:#madebygoogle by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      It's not made by Google, it's made by HTC. And they just rejiggered the HTC 10. http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_10... [gsmarena.com]

      It's designed by Google and manufactured by HTC. Just because it looks sort of similar to another HTC phones means nothing. The specs are different. The internals are different. It shares about as much w/ the HTC 10 as it does with any recent generation smart phone.

  4. "unlimited" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    When you read "unlimited" or any variation thereof, you should replace it in your mind with "a mystery amount of".

    "a mystery amount of cloud storage"

  5. SLASHVERTISEMENT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what a great DEAL this is some real NEWS

    mod down as troll because the moderation system is fixed

    1. Re:SLASHVERTISEMENT by fbobraga · · Score: 1

      +1 informative

  6. do people really talk to their phones? by known_coward_69 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    because i never see it and don't know anyone who does. other than doing it for safety reasons while driving this sounds like the most stupid thing ever. and i've tried Siri and Google Now and hate both

    1. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by kwerle · · Score: 1

      Yup, I do.

    2. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by bano · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Everyone I know who does it, does it for stupid trivial shit and it still fails. It seems to be ineffective and greatly annoys those around them, but they don't seem to care when people are angrily looking at them for yelling "set timer for 10 minutes" 7 times.
      Happens to android and iOS users

    3. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by richy+freeway · · Score: 1

      Maybe it's an accent problem? I "OK Google" stuff all the time, including when I'm driving in my less than silent car, and have very little problem with it.

    4. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by blind+biker · · Score: 1

      I do that all the time - I am actually quite amazed and amused at how well "my phone understand me". It perfectly interpreted terms such as reverse osmosis, peristalsis, electrospray ionization... so yeah, I do speak to my phone because I can't be assed to type on it when it understands 99% of my words, even the ones most people don't know what they are.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    5. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by blind+biker · · Score: 3, Funny

      How the fuck is that possible? "Everyone"? Really? I am not a native English speaker - in fact, I have a Hungarian accent, and yet my phone understands nearly every single thing I tell it, including isotropic, peristalsis, tandem mass spec(trometry), atmospheric pressure photoionizatin, ICP plasma....

      Fuck me, if I can get my phone to recognize ICP plasma, and NONE of your friends get to be understood at all... I am at a lack of words. Unless you're full of shit. Are you? Because that would be the simplest explanation.

      --
      "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
    6. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Driving, the big key thing is driving.

      Yes yes people actually talk to their phones, and when their not driving it looks and sounds quite stupid.

    7. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How the fuck is that possible? "Everyone"? Really? I am not a native English speaker - in fact, I have a Hungarian accent, and yet my phone understands nearly every single thing I tell it, including isotropic, peristalsis, tandem mass spec(trometry), atmospheric pressure photoionizatin, ICP plasma....

      I'm sorry. Would you mind repeating that?

    8. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by rgbscan · · Score: 1

      The one and only thing I use Siri for is "Siri, take me home" at the end of an Uber shift when I'm somewhere I have no idea what the best route out of it is. Instantly navigates me home, which I usually only need for the first few turns until I'm back on the highway or whatever. For anything, it's pointless. It never plays the music I ask for, never interprets my commands to text someone correctly (Like say the pax I'm on the way to pickup). Siri sucks. Hard. To the point I get fed up and yell at her :-)

    9. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by h4ck7h3p14n37 · · Score: 1

      A friend of mine talks to his phone when sending text messages. I must admit that it's much more efficient than trying to type on a tiny soft-keyboard.

    10. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by telchine · · Score: 1

      [do people really talk to their phones] because i never see it and don't know anyone who does. other than doing it for safety reasons while driving this sounds like the most stupid thing ever. and i've tried Siri and Google Now and hate both

      It used to be a useless gimmick, but the tech has come on massively recently. I use it a lot for certain specific tasks on my phones and tablets

      I haven't used Siri in a while, but Google Now and Cortana especially work really well for me. If I want to call somewhgere that isn't in my contacts then I use voice. "Call the Apple store on Regents Street, London" is quicker than googling for a number and dialling it. Also, for playing music, it's a ton quicker, just tell the device what you want to play and it does it almost instantly. Much quicker than opening up the music app, and searchging for the song before pressing play: You can also do it across the room with Cortana and Google Now if you don't have the phone in your hand.

    11. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by number17 · · Score: 1

      Now imagine stepping into a Google driverless car and telling it where to go.

    12. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      You probably have more interesting conversations with your phone than most people have with their cow orkers. Be nice to the poor sods.

      Besides, Kardashian is really hard to pronounce correctly.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    13. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People still do that, yes, but nobody does it twice except for comedic value.
       
      Source: tried Siri for the first time today. LOL.

    14. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      maybe you're the stupid one

    15. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Something about wheels and handicrafts, I think.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    16. Re: do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      She can do math, so if you are trying to do a calculation while driving you can get the answer without wrecking. She can call contacts by name, and navigate you to any place you previously saved (she can in theory do better with navigation, but you usually end up having to dick around on the screen, and fuck that). She can set reminders pretty easily, and turn on and off alarms.

    17. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      Besides, Kardashian is really hard to pronounce correctly.

      I was searching for information about Ensign Harry Kim and dealings with the Cardassians and Google returned me information about some cosmetically-enhanced American chick.

    18. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have a cow-orker who uses the speech to text feature constantly. It is really funny to observe him talking to his phone so that it will send a text message for him...

    19. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've been known to talk to mine when using this little known feature called making phone calls.

    20. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You probably have more interesting conversations with your phone than most people have with their cow orkers.

      I wouldn't know what to say to someone who orks cows for a living.

    21. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by NoZart · · Score: 1

      Fun anecdote: it has a detection rate of my non-native english of about 90%. For everyday tasks like setting timers and such it has yet to fail me.
      But the damn thing understands me saying "ok, google" about 2 in 100 times. :D

    22. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Same here. I've never ever seen anyone use this is day to situations. At work, home on the bus or train, at McDonalds, even in the Apple Store, not once.
      I just asked my teenage kids and got the same response. I'm not sure who thinks this is such a great idea, but I've seen zero demand in the real world. And since finger input is physiologically faster and more accurate than voice, I can't see the point.

    23. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by Gussington · · Score: 1

      How the fuck is that possible? "Everyone"? Really? I am not a native English speaker - in fact, I have a Hungarian accent, and yet my phone understands nearly every single thing I tell it.

      Maybe Hungarian accents are its easier to decode? I have an Australian accent and one of the many fun arguments I have with my teenage Apple fan-kids is which is better Android or Apple (since I prefer the former and they the latter). The running joke between us is that Google Voice or Siri are both equally shit. You can get them to work if you speak unnaturally slowly, but the error rate is so high it is unusable.

      .. I am at a lack of words. Unless you're full of shit. Are you? Because that would be the simplest explanation.

      I would've thought that the simplest explanation is that accents are so vast and varied that machine deciphering of every single nuance of every single accent is extremely difficult, hence it gets it wrong quite often.

    24. Re:do people really talk to their phones? by cas2000 · · Score: 1

      The people who think this are a good idea are those who want hundreds of millions of portable microphones recording everything around them and uploading the time-stamped and GPS-located recordings to their servers.

  7. Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The first phone designed inside and out by Google... ... with a piece of tracing paper over an iPhone 6

    1. Re:Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first phone designed inside and out by Google... ... with a piece of tracing paper over an iPhone 6

      HERETIC!!!!

    2. Re:Design by unixisc · · Score: 1

      First Motorola, then Nexus, now Pixel.... is Google another Microsoft when it comes to launching a successful phone line? (Not counting any Android vs Windows Phone comparisons)

    3. Re:Design by Higaran · · Score: 1

      Yes, I totally see that, it's actually kind of fugly.

  8. The Google Pixel... by macs4all · · Score: 1, Funny

    Now with Unlimited Datamining!

    1. Re:The Google Pixel... by DaHat · · Score: 1

      Fine Print: Offer applies only to those with unlimited data, constant WiFi connections or don't mind high cellular bills.

  9. Price... by Espectr0 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Let's see what happens when sales remain flat. Nexus had good prices (except for the nexus 6) with decent hardware. Selling the pixels starting at 649$ seems arrogant at best. For that price most people will choose the iPhone and get a faster phone to boot (1 year old iPhone 6S even beats the Note 7)

    I just hope the Nexus program lives on. If android is about choice, we should be able to have a phone with google-provided updates for 350$. I don't want to switch to Samsung, LG, or even custom roms

    1. Re:Price... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The price is very disappointing, as is the spec really. Doesn't seem to have optical image stabilization, the Achilles' heel of the 5X and 6P. No wireless charging, no SD card slot... Might as well wait for the 6P to go on sale as it is discontinued.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Price... by raburton · · Score: 1

      Agreed. I paid £240 for my Nexus 4, which was an excellent price at the time and the main factor in my purchase. Turned out to be a good investment too, as I'm still using it now almost 4 years later, and it still does everything I need and want a phone to do. Lack of 4G isn't a problem because I don't want to stream HD movies to my phone (who does this?) and I don't play fancy games which I suspect might be a little slow on a 4 year old GPU. I don't anticipate needing an upgrade for the next year or two even, but if these new phones had been at the right price they would probably have tempted me.

      Were the old nexus devices subsidised? Or are they just trying to make money out of the hardware now when they didn't before? If so I think that's the wrong strategy from a software / data / search / whatever company. If they want people to use these services give them a well priced phone and they will come.

    3. Re:Price... by wbr1 · · Score: 5, Informative

      The video showed stabilization. They said the software sampled the gyros and the position of the rolling shutter to compensate for movement. They showed video with two cameras mounted side by side with stabilization off and on. It seemed very effective.

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
    4. Re:Price... by CrashNBrn · · Score: 1

      The Pixel's have a bunch of new VR-related sensors, as well as quick charge - supposedly 7hrs of battery life with a 15 min charge.
      Still outrageously expensive, and I definitely wont be buying any portable device without a micro-sd slot.

    5. Re:Price... by ahabswhale · · Score: 1

      It's even worse than all that. The new phones are exclusive to Verizon. WTF??

      How does this jive with Project Fi. It's like they completely abandoned the Nexus phone ideology.

      --
      Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?
    6. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But it has many features. For example, google will read all your contact information and upload to server and you have no choice. With iPhone, you have a choice of not using iCloud for contacts. It will read all your chats if you are defaulting to built in chats that it will archive for life (I had a hangout and I wanted to clean up chat history, I contacted google and they told me that I should have started chat in off-record mode. now you can't delete it). It will also read your mails for data mining purpose so that it can suggest you things you like (advertise). What more do you need? OIS, wireless charging, SD card?

      Although battery life is good on paper, I have to see in real life. My Nexus 5 if I factory reset, it used to give me charge for 2 days. But in real use, it barely lasted from morning to evening (even when it was new) with minimal use. I moved to Iphone 6+ and my 2 year old phone gives me 2 days of battery in real use. Nexus had significant battery drain if you don't force close apps (if you forget co close GPS app, it will drain battery in few hours). On iPhone, I never have to close apps explicitly.

    7. Re:Price... by MirthScout · · Score: 1

      ... also available, unlocked, on the Google Store.

    8. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It sounds like you would have been fine with any phone at all. Honestly, 240 sounds like you got ripped off for your usage type.

    9. Re:Price... by CastrTroy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't know who's paying $600+ for their phones, but it seems that there's a lot of people doing it. Because manufacturers keep producing phones at this price. The most I've ever spent on a phone was $300, and my last one was $200. For $200 I think I'm getting a pretty good experience from my phone. Certainly things couldn't really be 3 times better with a $600 phone. I only see myself spending less and less in the future as low end phones become more powerful. I paid $600 for my last desktop computer, and it sure does a lot more than my phone. No only that, but it's easily repairable, so I'll probably have the majority of the components for a decade. I'm currently replacing cell phones about every 2 years. At that rate, who can afford $600 phones. Even if it lasts 3 years it still isn't worth it to me.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    10. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you're a dipshit.

    11. Re:Price... by ckaminski · · Score: 1

      The Note and the Edge are better all around phones just from what I've seen so far.

      Especially at that price.

    12. Re:Price... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      For that price most people will choose the iPhone

      Some how I think the people who chose iPhones over Androids flagship phones, and vis-versa couldn't give a rats ass about the price.

    13. Re: Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is an easy workaround. Don't use the contacts app, and look into DavDroid and radicale

    14. Re:Price... by raburton · · Score: 1

      Not in 2012, but now yes probably. The Elephone Trunk I bought my dad recently for £50 (near enough same spec as the current Moto G) would do me perfectly well right now. Same would probably apply to 90% of people out there buying £600 phones on contracts though, mobile phones ran out of innovation a couple of years ago, now the biggest feature of this new phone is supposedly is Google Assistant, which would run perfectly well on that £50 phone.

    15. Re:Price... by xfizik · · Score: 1

      It's not a choice between the iPhone and the Pixel, it's a choice between the Pixel and a cheaper Android phone, e.g. OnePlus3.

    16. Re:Price... by danbert8 · · Score: 1

      Or the OnePlus 4 when it debuts because it will likely have better specs and a lower price than the new Pixel.

      --
      Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
    17. Re:Price... by lexman098 · · Score: 1

      The 5.5" QHD version with a decent amount of storage (no SD slot) is > $850. The camera can't be that compelling. There's nothing else about it that every other manufacturer hasn't done already a year ago for much cheaper.

    18. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Until Samsung fucks you over for security and OS updates just so they can confirm their poitless Touchwhiz crapware still works... Nice hardware from Samsung but once they have your money they're not going to do anything else for you until you're ready to buy a new device, which comes quickly because you get so sick of waiting for the damn updates. If Samsung could address that issue - I would consider them in the future but so far I'm unimpressed by their efforts.

    19. Re:Price... by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      "7 hours of battery with a 15 minute charge"

      Sorry, but that's bullshit marketing at it's finest. My Note will last over 110 hours on a single charge with the battery saving features enabled, so 7 hours of battery life is like 6% of the capacity. OTOH, typical screen-on-time for even good AMOLED phones using apps with light colored backgrounds is rarely over 5-6 hours without special settings to save power. That would imply up to a 140% charge in just 15 minutes. They may as well have said it will charge up to 5 libraries of Congress in just 15 minutes - it would be just as useful a metric.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    20. Re:Price... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      I'll wait for independent reviews. They showed similar demos of the software stabilisation for the 5x/6p and it looked good, but the results people actually get are pretty poor.

      It's not just video. They have massive pixels for good low light performance, but if the camera is moving when you take a shot it can't really unblur the image.

      OiS is popular for a reason.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    21. Re: Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait, OP was serious? The default contacts ships your shit to the cloud with no way to turn it off? Apple doesn't do that shit, how does Google get away with it? I mean, I get that you proposed alternative contact apps, but it shouldn't ship with malware by default!

    22. Re:Price... by painandgreed · · Score: 2

      The most I've ever spent on a phone was $300... I'm currently replacing cell phones about every 2 years. At that rate, who can afford $600 phones.

      People like you that buy a new phone every 4 years.

    23. Re:Price... by wbr1 · · Score: 1

      True enough. I still have a Moto Nexus 6, and it is fair but very slow. Not a major photographer here though, all I need the phone for is snapshots. I do some product photography for my web sales, and I use an alder DSLR for that if I need macro.

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
    24. Re:Price... by guacamole · · Score: 1

      To be honest, you're exaggerating the importance of the performance in the smartphones. A three year old Nexus 5 has enough power to provide smooth web browsing, video playback, and so on. I think the only demographic that really cares about the SoC power is the mobile gamers.

      Given the same price, I personally will still choose Google phone over LG, Samsung, etc (and don't get me started on the iPhone). Why? Google phones come with a relatively lean software setup. A typical Nexus phone had something like 50-60 apps preinstalled. A typical LG, Samsung, etc has well over one hundred. The Google phones are also free from carrier junk, carrier lock-in, or limited bands. For these reason, I don't think I will ever buy a carrier branded smartphone.

      But yes, the pricing kind of sucks. We're going to see more people now buying the likes of Oneplus Three or the 2015 Nexus smartphones.

    25. Re:Price... by Espectr0 · · Score: 1

      at these prices, seems that after next year when i get the last android OS, i will have to resort to custom roms to get the latest versions. I only upgrade phones to get the latest OS anyway. For my use (texting, calls and some browsing) the 5X will serve me good for a while

    26. Re:Price... by non0score · · Score: 1

      Like, the very people who buy Galaxy S7/iPhone 7 and make them successful phones? Yeah, those.

    27. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      50-60?!

      I may have deleted a few from the home screen, but I count 28 built-in apps on iOS 10. No way I deleted 20.

    28. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I just hope the Nexus program lives on. If android is about choice, we should be able to have a phone with google-provided updates for 350$. I don't want to switch to Samsung, LG, or even custom roms"

      Not looking likely:

      http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/google-no-plans-for-future-nexus-devices/

    29. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think most of the people getting these $600+ phones are getting them with a plan/contract and either getting them for "free" or discounted with monthly payments. That said, I agree with your speculation that they aren't 3 times as good as a $200 phone. My girlfriend and some of my family members have these expensive phones and they all come with their fair share of problems, including software/hardware glitches, poor memory management, poor battery life, poor update support... it seems the price tag comes mostly from marketing it as the best thing since sliced bread.

      The last phone my girlfriend had, a Galaxy S5 (I think), had to be replaced multiple times because after a few months it would inevitably develop some sort of hardware issue that caused the battery to drain super fast. I'm talking 80% gone in an hour with the screen off, battery saving on, and no apps running. Each time it was replaced, the same thing would happen after a few months. She was finally able to upgrade to a Galaxy S7 Edge, which is a lot better, but still not without issue.

      Me? I prefer to pay for my phones outright, because the last thing I need is another monthly payment. My latest phone is a Moto G3 I got new for about $150 and I have had very few issues with it, certainly no major issues. The hardware might not be as great as a $600 phone, but it's not like we're running Witcher 3 on these things so who cares? I get a phone for a quarter of the price with fewer problems and I own it outright. I suspect I'll be keeping this phone for at least another year or two to come, depending on what kind of new budget phones come out and whether the upgrade is worth spending another $100-$200.

    30. Re:Price... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      vice versa*

    31. Re:Price... by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't seem to have optical image stabilization

      They spent around 5 minutes talking about the OIS and showing examples of it in the keynote.

    32. Re:Price... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      For that price most people will choose the iPhone and get a faster phone to boot (1 year old iPhone 6S even beats the Note 7)

      Because the first thing people look for when choosing a phone is how fast it boots...

    33. Re:Price... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      They have massive pixels for good low light performance, but if the camera is moving when you take a shot it can't really unblur the image.

      OiS is popular for a reason.

      Agree 100%. I have a Sony Alpha with an APS sensor. This is about 20 times the size of sensor found in most mobile phones and even it sucks in low light with no OIS. You need an expensive lens with OIS and/or and expensive flash to get great pics in low light.

    34. Re:Price... by Gussington · · Score: 1

      I don't know who's paying $600+ for their phones,

      In the US the median salary is $51k and these phones cost $600
      I was in New Zealand recently, their median salary is $45k NZD with the top iPhone selling for $1800NZD and they are selling. When it comes to shiny, never underestimate how much someone is willing to pay.

    35. Re:Price... by Espectr0 · · Score: 1

      I didn't mean actual boot time. " to boot" is an english expression to highlight some affirmation.

      Basically iPhones run app after, either because the app developers optimize them more or because the OS/Platform allows you.

      We know Java code isn't known for launching fast.

  10. How it was conceived? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No thanks. I don't want to know how anything was conceived.

    1. Re:How it was conceived? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      When a mommy phone and a daddy phone love each other very much...

    2. Re:How it was conceived? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ooooooo! I know that one! They love each other very much and one day the daddy phone gives the mommy phone a special kiss...

  11. Google Page? by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

    Where's the Google page for this? I don't see it in the store or at /pixel.

    I'm assuming it has no SD card slot, CDMA reception, or a battery that can be quickly removed for security, but I'd like to at least look. I'm really surprised it has no more RAM than my four year old phone, though.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    1. Re:Google Page? by Krojack · · Score: 1

      It supports Project FI thus both CDMA and GSM bands. Also Verizon is selling this in their stores.

      How much RAM do you want or expect in a phone? What do you use that needs more than 4gigs of RAM?

    2. Re:Google Page? by nmb3000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Where's the Google page for this? I don't see it in the store or at /pixel.

      It's at the adorable madeby.google subdomain. Because of course that makes sense.

      I'd also like to know why it's so difficult for Slashdot editors to include a link to the Google page. Shitty link farms like BGR obviously don't link back to Google but it would be nice if Slashdot would hold itself to a higher standard.

      --
      "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
      /)
    3. Re:Google Page? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://www.google.com/pixel redirects to https://madeby.google.com/phone/

    4. Re:Google Page? by swb · · Score: 1

      More RAM would be useful for switching between apps so the app and its state stay in RAM, avoiding a swap out penalty for those that save their state, a swap in penalty for reloading that state, and worse, going to the network when the state isn't saved completely, or worse yet, those that just reset to a "just launched" mode whenever they get swapped out.

    5. Re:Google Page? by Zanadou · · Score: 1

      Also, more overtly, its store page: http://store.google.com/produc...

    6. Re:Google Page? by Krojack · · Score: 1

      Sounds like the app needs better optimization if you ask me. I got 3gigs in my Nexus 6P and it's pretty smooth with app switching for most things. I swap between Google Maps while navigating and Google Play Music all the time while driving and it's fine.

  12. What happened? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My AdBlock must be broken...

  13. $650, all the way up to $770? by _KiTA_ · · Score: 1

    Pricing starts at $649 for the smaller 5-inch Pixel, available for preorder today. That number scales up to $749 with 128GB of onboard storage, $769 for the larger Pixel XL with 32GB, or $869 for the XL with 128GB. Google gives a choice between black or silver for color, with an exclusive "really blue" option in some markets, such as with Verizon in the US.

    Holy crap, $650? Did I miss a memo, or is that outrageously high?

    1. Re:$650, all the way up to $770? by ausekilis · · Score: 1

      I know! you'd think with all the ads they would be throwing in my face with my phone browsing they'd have a way to subsidize the cost a little bit.

      I'm also a little skeptical about this "google assistant". It sounds one step removed from Clippy "It looks like you're trying to buy IED supplies, would you like me to find some local wholesalers and notify local authorities?"

  14. Psh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame.

  15. Don't understand justfication for Pixel by JoeyRox · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The live stream started with a Google rep talking about how important it is for Google to be involved in both the hardware and software of the phone. I suppose the parallel being how Apple benefits from having control over both hardware and software. Yet everything in the stream after that was all about software that can run on any Android device, not just Pixel.

  16. Project Fi by _KiTA_ · · Score: 1

    Did they mention any possibility of Project Fi support with these new phones, or is it time to look at the older 5x / 6p models once they go on sale?

    1. Re:Project Fi by wbr1 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes it supports Fi.

      --
      Silence is a state of mime.
  17. Image score of 89 (highest ever) seems suspect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I find it odd that this unreleased phone has received a higher rating from dxomark.com than the iPhone 7, which has not been reviewed even though it has been available for a couple of weeks now.

    Wonder how much Google paid them to NOT review the iPhone 7 until the Pixel had been announced.

    1. Re:Image score of 89 (highest ever) seems suspect by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

      The iPhone 7 review has been out for a week now. It scored an 86, placing it in a 4 way tie for 8th place along with flagships from LG, Samsung and HTC which were released 12-18 months ago.

      I'm pretty sure DxO is happy to test any phone that a manufacturer sends them, but I'm somewhat concerned that it wasn't a "off the assembly line" version, and that Google could have easily sent them a handset that was picked for best performance from a larger batch.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  18. 89 by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The company says the rear camera on both phones is top-notch as well, scoring 89, the highest ever for a smartphone.

    "89? 89 what?"
    "I don't know, but you have to admit, it sounds like a lot of them."

    1. Re:89 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      http://dxomark.com/

      who has mysteriously NOT reviewed the iPhone 7 yet, even though it has been released.

    2. Re:89 by Albanach · · Score: 4, Informative

      who has mysteriously NOT reviewed the iPhone 7 yet, even though it has been released.

      Strange, since they gave it an 86.

    3. Re:89 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mystery averted: https://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Apple-iPhone-7-camera-review-better-than-ever

    4. Re:89 by pranay · · Score: 1

      iPhone 7 was reviewed by them earlier, and it scored 86. https://www.dxomark.com/Mobile...

    5. Re:89 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Which may not sound bad, but note that an 86 is still far enough below other smartphone cameras that it wouldn't even make a top 10 list:

      1. Google Pixel
      2. HTC 10
      2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
      2. Sony Xperia X Performance
      5. Moto Z Force Droid
      5. Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
      5. Sony Xperia Z5
      8. LG G5
      8. Samsung Galaxy Note V
      8. Samsung S6 Edge

      So, yeah. Apple's been out of the running for "best smartphone camera" for ages at this point.

    6. Re:89 by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      89 Kelvin, it's out of 273. 89/273.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    7. Re:89 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's 89 out of Douglas Adams' infamous 42.
      So therefore more than TWICE as good!

    8. Re:89 by kd8bny · · Score: 1

      The company says the rear camera on both phones is top-notch as well, scoring 89, the highest ever for a smartphone.

      "89? 89 what?" "I don't know, but you have to admit, it sounds like a lot of them."

      89 arbitrary marketing units direct conversion to 11/10 engineering units

    9. Re:89 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh... *all* those phones have a fingerprint scanner. It's basically impossible to find a phone without a fingerprint scanner these days, and has been so for a year, maybe two now.

      And dxomark is just a camera/image sensor/lens testing and rating site, nothing to do with mobile phones anyway.

    10. Re:89 by descubes · · Score: 1

      It's a score of 89 on the DxO Mark Mobile, which is presently the highest for a smartphone. See complete review here: https://www.dxomark.com/Mobile....

      --
      -- Did you try Tao3D? http://tao3d.sourceforge.net
  19. This is why Pixels will fail by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The features you'll get:
    • The biggest bezel to dollar ratio in the industry
    • Insane prices only rivaled by Apple which actually has a premium status
    • Very strange nerdy names, much much worse than Nexus
    • Look too much like iPhone 5(s)

    Now at the same price bracket as Note 7/SGS7 here's the list of features you will not get:

    • Wireless charging
    • Dual front speakers
    • Dual lens cameras
    • Optical image stabilization
    • Rapid laser focus/Dual Pixel autofocus
    • Hardware HDR
    • Dual SIM slot
    • SD card slot
    • Meaningful support of any kind: a phone line, brick and mortar stores to examine the device before buying, etc.

    Updates to new major Android versions will be ceased just 24 months after the release. Google is out of their minds.

    1. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 5, Informative
      Here's an incomplete list of devices which our-Androided Google who used to say, "Nexus is the benchmark for Android at an affordable price". Nope, this is not a benchmark, this is pure greed which will fail just like Nexus 6 failed (it was introduced for $650 and proved to be wildly meh for people who wanted to buy a pure Android phablet).
      • OnePlus 3, $400
      • ZTE Axon 7, $400
      • Lenovo ZUK Z2 Pro, $389
    2. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by ShooterNeo · · Score: 1

      Heh. I picked up a moto G4 for $130 with sales tax from that deal that Amazon is offering. It came with ads/bloatware but I was able to remove them with a readily available tool.

      It technically does have a 5.5" 1920x1080 screen, a large battery, 2 gigs of RAM, and a quad core processor. It's also technically slow as a snail compared to the phones you listed, equivalent to a good phone probably at least 2 years old. ...But it works fine. You can browse the web. Use maps. Send texts. Answer phone calls. None of these basic tasks, save loading the more bloated web pages, are particular slow...

      So from my perspective, spending another $270, or triple what I spent, for a phone that's only distinguishing advantage is snappier app opening, the ability to play demanding mobile games I don't play, and better camera performance at night is questionable...

    3. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here are other things you don't get with the Google device that Samsung provides:
      * Exploding phone technology
      * Confusion and return problems
      * Samsung's patented one bug to ruin a product technology. (every samsung product has a defect!)
      * Samsung pay (thank god)
      * A smug attitude

      Seriously, I've been thinking about jumping ship on the iOS bandwagon after seeing the iPhone 7. This phone is the second device on the android side that has me even remotely excited. It feels like a real iPhone alternative.

    4. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Remove that bit about Hardware HDR and if you're comparing it to a Note 7/SGS7 it's good to mention you can't use the Pixel as a grenade in tactical situations, while driving or when the phone is in your pants pocket.

    5. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google has already started the planned obsolescence. They abandoned the older phones just before Pixel's launch, last "update" to Nexus 5 devices pushed even more useless Googles crapware applications and some extreme spyware edition of Google Play services, which made it the most battery eating component in the device. Do they really believe, that after pissing their existing customers they would jump into Google store and pay double price for last year technology?

    6. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Compared to the Note 7 you'll also have to give up on explosive performance

    7. Re:This is why Pixels will fail by Gussington · · Score: 1

      Now at the same price bracket as Note 7/SGS7 here's the list of features you will not get:

      Waterproof

      Updates to new major Android versions will be ceased just 24 months after the release. Google is out of their minds.

      Yep. They have no clue on how retailing works and will learn the hard way that as the market ignores them.

  20. Well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Underwhelming, but don't take my word for it /levarburton.

  21. water resistant? by slashkitty · · Score: 1

    I couldn't find anything on that. That's why you take out the headphone jack.. and also, cause you don't need it.

    --
    -- these are only opinions and they might not be mine.
    1. Re:water resistant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you're taking out the headphone jack just to make the phone water resistant, it sounds like you need to hire better engineers. Or hell, half the phone is already made by Samsung anyway. Just have them use the same water resistant jack they've been using in the Galaxy line for the last few years.

  22. Let me guess... by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 1

    Since this is Google we're talking about, can we assume there is no microSD? Overpriced internal storage and small capacities on the cheapest models, with no external storage, was the biggest failure of the Nexus line, and the main thing that turned me off. Google continued to push slow, cumbersome cloud storage while people bought scads of Samsung and other phones with expandable storage. Is this Google as usual, or have they seen the light? These new phones sound amazing, but I can't get by with 32GB and I bet the premium for the 128GB models will be high. And are these expected to be SIM-unlocked and have unlocked boot loaders, or is that changing as they kill the Nexus name?

    --
    This is a hacked account, for which the owner can not be held responsible.
  23. Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless ... by blind+biker · · Score: 0

    unless it has a user-replaceable battery and a fucking stereo jack.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  24. That's some giant Pixels by Daetrin · · Score: 1

    I'd like to think if they're going to go with the "smallest addressable display element" as the name of the thing that one of the versions would actually be small, but i guess not.

    It seems that i'll have to go with one of Sony's Xperia Compact phones if i actually want small size with decent hardware, but despite owning a PS4 the notion of getting computer hardware from Sony makes me a little uneasy.

    --
    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
  25. It's the apps by irrational_design · · Score: 1

    I've been using iPhones since 2008 since my work pays for them. At this point I have tons of apps that I've purchased (and that I use) that I would not want to repurchase if I moved to Android. If google was to say "if you purchase a Pixel, and if the iOS apps you own also exist in the play store, we will pay for the apps, this is a one time deal between this date and this date" then I'd jump on over.

    1. Re:It's the apps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They would never, and honestly on android most of the app's are free and most of the apps you had to purchase on apple you don't need on android because the feature is built in.

    2. Re:It's the apps by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      So you just admitted you vendor locked-in yourself. You are the only one to blame.

    3. Re:It's the apps by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Speaking purely financially: A top of the line Apple you can find similar specs on Androids frequently for $200 less. If anyone has $200 worth of apps then they have other problems!

      If you prefer Apple it doesn't really matter if you could switch to Android for less though.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    4. Re:It's the apps by irrational_design · · Score: 1

      Why would having $200 worth of apps be a problem? Just a really good dictionary app (with great etymologies) can cost $30. I have a great personal wiki app that cost $6. I use anki, and while I can't recall the cost it was somewhere in the $30 range. I have tons of boardgame apps and each of those costs around $5. Getting up to the $200 range after nearly 10 years of having a smartphone is very easy.

    5. Re:It's the apps by irrational_design · · Score: 1

      The have board games like stone age, castles of mad king ludwig, carcassonne, ticket to ride, pandemic, agricola, san juan, splendor, galaxy trucker, tsuro, patchwork, paperback, AACBAS, etc. built in? Cool! I put out $30 for a dictionary that has wonderful etymologies. I'm thrilled to learn that that same dictionary is built into android. I have tons of apps that I happily paid money for that aren't the types of things that are built into any OS.

    6. Re:It's the apps by irrational_design · · Score: 1

      Well, since I'm not the one paying for my smartphones or my data plan I'm not really too worried about it. My only outlay is the apps I purchase.

    7. Re:It's the apps by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      I guess I just misunderstood how expensive apps were in the apple walled garden.

      Almost everything is free on Android, and $5 is considered an expensive app.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    8. Re:It's the apps by irrational_design · · Score: 1

      I just checked some of the apps I own, and they are the same price in the google play store. Though I've heard its really easy to steal and side load apps on android, so maybe that is what you are referring to.

  26. You gave up the ARA for this!? by shadowp157 · · Score: 1

    The only phone that would've provided everything anyone could want in a phone was killed off to make room for this? I know there were technical/organizational troubles with the ARA. But come on.

  27. Root? by jenningsthecat · · Score: 1

    I wonder if the phones will be rootable. And if they can be rooted, I wonder, (given that they're made by HTC), if users will be able to truly root them.

    I rooted the last HTC phone I had, then proceeded to delete Facebook, Twitter, and the rest of the shovelware I had no use for. On the next hard reset, all the crap was back. Repeatedly. I never could find the file(s) from which they restored it - I suspect it was in an unaccessible boot location. Also, custom ROM's weren't available, because on this particular HTC phone, (among others), it wasn't possible to gain a state called "S-Off". So yes, I could do things like run a firewall that I could control, and look at system files; but I couldn't do the rest of the things normally associated with root.

    That state of affairs strikes me as something Google would love. Then they could say, "Yes, you can root our phones" while extending their middle fingers behind their backs.

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
    1. Re:Root? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What do you mean by "next reset"? If you root it, I hope you don't proceed to install even more crap from the manufacturer, right? Because that sounds like the most stupid thing to do...

  28. Smaller screen by dubidub · · Score: 1

    Why is the screen .2 inch smaller than the 6P?

    1. Re:Smaller screen by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      Because no one is going to buy an iPhone to get a larger screen.

    2. Re:Smaller screen by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Because it isn't a 6P.

      Phones come in all sorts of sizes. There are no rules stating all phones should be the same size as the 6P

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    3. Re:Smaller screen by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      There are no rules stating all phones should be the same size as the 6P

      Madness! Surely every manufacture slavishly copies Apple.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  29. O don't read that... by fbobraga · · Score: 1
    From summary:

    Focusing less on the hardware

    Both Pixels have a quad-core 2.15GHz 64-bit processor, 4GB of RAM what a lack of focus! * does it has an earphone jack?

    1. Re:O don't read that... by fbobraga · · Score: 1
      misspelled "blockquote" - the correct: From summary:

      Focusing less on the hardware

      Both Pixels have a quad-core 2.15GHz 64-bit processor, 4GB of RAM

      what a lack of focus! * does it has an earphone jack?

  30. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by CrashNBrn · · Score: 1

    It has a headphone jack and Quick Charge obviates the need for a user replaceable battery (mostly) - Get 7hrs of battery from a 15 min charge.

  31. Nope. by DrYak · · Score: 1

    The whole point of buying google was that their boot loader was unlocked, and the hardware was documented and relatively open, and you could install whatever the shit you wanted.

    (Even full blown GNU/Linux, Open WebOS, SailfishOS... even some hacked embed Windows for shit and giggles).

    If Google isn't locking the new phones, a sizeable portion of their consumer base will still buy them.

    If the non-AOSP parts aren't excessively intrusive and destroying the experience, a lot of the remaining portion will keep buying them.

    If they manage to paint a white fruit on it, call it "iPixel" instead and add an extra "0" at the end of the price, they'll see a giant inrush of new customer and earn more fucktons of money they've ever dreamed of, even if counting the settlement for trademark infringement.

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
    1. Re:Nope. by chihowa · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If the non-AOSP parts aren't excessively intrusive and destroying the experience

      The non-AOSP parts are the parts that define the Google "experience" of being excessively intrusive and datamining the shit out of you. Seriously, how do you think that this "assistant" works without being excessively intrusive?

      ...the company says the biggest selling point of the phones is Google Assistant, which will be available to users wherever they go.

      --
      If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
    2. Re:Nope. by AvitarX · · Score: 2

      I love that there's 3 different whole points to buying from google.

      Clearly everyone had different reasons.

      For me it was:
      1) Stock Android
      2) Price
      3) root for the early versions, but adding screenshot to the OS reduced that for me
      4) Custom ROMs

      In that order.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    3. Re:Nope. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If they manage to paint a white fruit on it, call it "iPixel" instead and add an extra "0" at the end of the price, they'll see a giant inrush of new customer and earn more fucktons of money they've ever dreamed of, even if counting the settlement for trademark infringement.

      Right, because it's not exactly the same price as the iPhone 7 - 32GB for $649, 128GB for $749. iPhone 7s - 32GB for $769, 128 GB for $869.

      Everybody knows that Android is magically cheaper, because Google says so!

      I hope you're talking about tacking an extra "0" on after the decimal point?

  32. Drill it! by DrYak · · Score: 1

    You can still drill one into it, if it misses a jack.

    (Just don't forget to put the phone in the Microwave to recharge it's battery if it stops working while the drilling is in progress).

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  33. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has the stereo jack. User swappable batteries are a functional feature, not a "premium" feature, so it lacks that.

  34. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    Don't want no 'fucking stereo jack', thankyouverymuch. I put my phone in my pants pocket. I want it to stay there.

    Quietly.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  35. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by h4ck7h3p14n37 · · Score: 1

    The issue is not how fast the battery can be charged, the issue is that I can't remove it and be sure the phone is powered down.

  36. Not in public... by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    That would be weird. But I use it all the time for general searches if I'm not going to disturb other people because it's significantly faster than typing.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  37. Yes, I use Siri often by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Siri, remind me when I get home/to the office to...

    Siri, text my wife that....

    Siri, take me to home/whatever

    Siri, set an alarm for 8:00am

    Those are the things I do multiple times per week, there are other less common uses but those I find are the most useful and they work pretty much 100% of the time.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: Yes, I use Siri often by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Change your alarm to a reacurring one. Then you don't have to set it multiple times a week ;)

  38. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by Overzeetop · · Score: 1

    If your primary concern is to make sure your phone can't track things you do then the last company you want to buy it from is Google. Your issue has nothing to do with batteries.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  39. A feature you will *not* get by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TouchWhiz

  40. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Quick Charge does nothing to solve the problem of not having a user replaceable battery.

    Never in my life have I swapped a battery out in the middle of the day because my first one was low. On the other hand, I'm on my third battery for my Galaxy S4 that otherwise runs perfectly. If the battery wasn't easily swappable, my 800 dollar pocket computer would be a paperweight.

  41. From TFA by Red_Chaos1 · · Score: 1

    "Though manufactured by HTC, both smartphones feature the âGâ(TM) logo and are touted as âMade by Googleâ(TM)."

    As if this were any different from "though manufactured by Samsung, the phones feature the Apple logo and are touted as 'made by Apple'."

    Asshats.

  42. Conceived by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Mark Gurman of Bloomberg shares the inside story of how these phones were conceived."

    It was January 9, 2007 and I was watching Steve Jobs at Macworld....

  43. qualcomm by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    G designed it inside and out, except it's just another Snapdragon platform. G didn't make their own ARM SoC, which is the heart of any Android device.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    1. Re:qualcomm by guacamole · · Score: 1

      Google's arrogance is incredible. They are the last to release their 2016 smartphone based on SD820/821, and a very long while after the releases of spec-by-spec pretty similar products from Samsung, LG, HTC, Oneplus, etc. They advertise this as something new and revolutionary and demand a premium price.

    2. Re:qualcomm by non0score · · Score: 1

      Sorry, but they're one of the first ones to release on 821. If you're going to lump 821 with 820, you may as well say Google is the last to release a phone on the 800s.

    3. Re:qualcomm by guacamole · · Score: 1

      We can safely lump those 821 and 820 together. 821 is using the same "Kryo" compute cores and the same Adreno GPU as 820, clocked slightly higher. Nothing revolutionary there AT ALL.

      Of course, we can't lump all the 800s together. However, the situation is quite similar to say the relationship between Snapdragon 800 and 801. The same cores, core count, and GPU. The 800 came out first, and then 801 came out with a slightly higher clocked CPU and GPU. I had phones based on 800 and 801, and there was practically no difference there.

    4. Re:qualcomm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not even designed by Google anyway. They just took the HTC A9 and massaged it a bit to look even more like a two generation old iPhone.

      Google really blew it this time. When the time comes to replace my Nexus 6 I will look elsewhere.

    5. Re:qualcomm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      820/821 are basically the same package, tweaked slightly. 830 is just around the coner and that will be the real improvement both in CPU/GPU and power consumption. So yes, Google is just a johnny-come-lately.

  44. Nope. Will still use the Nexus 5 and wait. by markdavis · · Score: 1

    So much closer to anything they have offered since the Nexus 5, but still not a suitable replacement for my Nexus 5 because of the first two negatives.

    - I want wireless charging option.
    - I want a reasonable price- this is too high.

    I could even overlook the price if it has wireless charging. I just do not want to give up that incredibly convenient feature. Here are the positives and don't cares:

    + I want lots of battery life. This has it.
    + I want a freaking 3.5mm headphone jack. This has it.
    + I want a decent camera. This has it.
    + I want a full-powered smaller version. FINALLY, they offer it.
    + I want power/volume buttons on sides. This has it.
    + I want as pure/minimal Android as possible. This has it.
    + I want longest updates life. This will have it.

    * I don't care about resolution, anything modern is good enough.
    * I don't care about fashion, it will be in a case.
    * I don't care about a fingerprint sensor.
    * I don't care about waterproof.

  45. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by blind+biker · · Score: 1

    Quick Charge obviates the need for a user replaceable battery

    No, it really doesn't.

    --
    "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
  46. Android hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As someone who's used to the Apple/iOS world where your phone isn't owned by the carriers and infected with non-uninstallable bullshit, what are the options for a stock/"clean" Android phone that actually gets security updates for more than a month? That used to be the Nexus, but now it sounds like Google is doubling down on the built-in spying. Are there other choices out there? Preferably something that I don't have to root and then become a phone sysadmin.

    1. Re:Android hardware by Blaskowicz · · Score: 1

      Does Ubuntu run Android apps? That's what I'm wondering about.

  47. Re:Nope. Will still use the Nexus 5 and wait. by guacamole · · Score: 1

    With such a long list of deal-breaking requirements, I don't think you will ever buy a new smartphone. Meanwhile the prices for 32GB Nexus 5X have dropped to well below 300USD since this summer, and I suspect the 6P will also drop down by the holidays.

  48. Re:Nope. Will still use the Nexus 5 and wait. by msevior · · Score: 1

    "- I want wireless charging option."

    yeah, me too. I have a great wireless charger in my car. I drop in my phone and drive. It is just so convenient. I don't know why they dropped the wireless charging feature. Looks like I'll be keeping my Nexus 5 a for another year or two.

  49. EoL for Lastest Nexus Devices? by Zanadou · · Score: 1

    So... the Nexus 5x and Nexus 6P are deleted? EoL? Just like that?? They're only *just* one year old, and even their cases and accessories have vanished from the Play Store along with the old Nexus devices...

  50. Re:Nope. Will still use the Nexus 5 and wait. by Blaskowicz · · Score: 1

    Get a standalone wireless charger, and plug it on the USB port. Problem solved!

  51. Apple iPhone by Google by jay+age · · Score: 1

    Also, Google Tax is much worse, since they've got no USP over all the other Android cell phones manufacturers.

  52. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  53. Non-rootable, expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It would appear that not only have they abandoned the Nexus name, they've abandoned its philosophy of being a cheap, no-frills, hacker-friendly device. The new pixel phones will cost a minimum of $649 and be next to impossible to root.

  54. Re:Nice features, but they mean fuck-all unless .. by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    No, it really doesn't.

    Yes it does. This is fun isn't it?