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Google's Pixel 2 To Feature Improved Camera, CPU and Higher Price, Says Report (9to5google.com)
Google's Pixel smartphone was released in October last year, but we're already starting to hear about the "Pixel 2" successor. The "reliable" source told 9to5Google that the next Google flagship will feature an improved camera, faster CPU and higher price tag. Interestingly, the source notes a "budget" Pixel is in the works. 9to5Google reports: We're also now being told, however, that Google is once again focusing intensely on the camera with Pixel 2, that the device is currently being tested with improved chipsets from two different manufacturers, and that it will bring a higher price. Finally, the same source says Google has lately been testing lower-end Pixel devices which would bring lesser specs and a much lower price tag. As for waterproofing, this is a slight change in tone today from this same source that before told us the feature would "definitely" be coming with the next Pixel. Now we're told that the feature is "still on the table," which would suggest a less firm position from Google on the feature. More interestingly, we're now told that -- just like with last year's model -- the Pixel 2's camera will be a major focus for the Mountain View company. Our source says that, specifically, Google is aiming to master low light photography with the next-generation device. We're further told that the phone's camera will "not have large MP size," but will rather "compensate in extra features." Our source says that multiple Pixel 2 models are being tested now with improved chipsets: "some with Snapdragon 83X chips, others with Intel chips." We're also told that MediaTek was at one point collaborating with Google on the Pixel 2, but isn't any longer. Finally, our source has indicated to us that Google is internally testing a "few" prototypes of a device they referred to as "Pixel 2B" which would purportedly be released either "alongside or shortly after Pixel 2." This phone would bring with it a lower-price point and less powerful hardware, and would be "aimed at different markets," our source says. As for the price of the next Pixel, we're told that -- as of the time of this writing at least -- Google is expecting that there will be "eat least" a $50 USD increase in price.
They are following the Apple model. In every way except software support. A Pixel gets 24 months of software updates, followed by 12 months after that of pure security updates.
Granted, 3 years of support is extraordinary for Android (Nexus gets 18 months from end of sale), but compared to iPhones, it's starting to be a bit... short. Apple's software support is somewhat legendary even though in later versions you really just get security updates and it does get bloated down, but Apple seems to provide a good 5 years.
A Pixel gets 24 months of software updates, followed by 12 months after that of pure security updates.
That's the minimum. Since the Pixel has only been out since October, you don't know how much support it will continue to get. Based on support for older Nexus devices, it looks likely that they will get feature updates for more than 24 months.
We need a better way of evaluating Apple's updates too. Sure, technically you can update that old iPhone 5S, but it's going to be so unusably slow they might as well have remote bricked it for you. Not upgrading means no security updates at all, unlike Google who continue to support everything back to 4.0 via Play patches to mitigate issues.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC