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Google Stops Selling the Pixel C Android Tablet (androidpolice.com)

Google is no longer selling the Pixel C, its flagship Android tablet released about two years ago. "Google's commitment to Android on tablets wasn't strong even then, and now the Pixel C is gone from the Google Store -- the listing page redirects you to the Pixelbook," reports Android Police. From the report: The Pixel C was an odd device. By all accounts, the hardware was originally intended to run Chrome OS, but Google couldn't get the platform ready for an all-touch device in time. So, the Pixel C became an Android slate. Google has been selling the device continuously since late 2015. It even offered some discounts on the tablet via the Google Store, which it almost never does for other devices. The 32GB Pixel C was pulled a while back, but Google kept the 64GB variant around. At a whopping $599, I doubt many people were buying it. Now, the Pixel C is completely gone from the Google Store, and there's no new tablet to replace it.

48 comments

  1. Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Destined for the garbage can

    1. Re:Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Destined for the garbage can

      Yep. Because without updates, you don't get the security updates, fixes, updates to your apps, can't get other apps because they don't support your old crusty version of your OS, etc ....

      Had this happen to me with my old Motorola phone. For some idiotic reason, they wouldn't allow an install of anything above Android 2.2.2. It constantly getting infected.

      I went through the same with my iPad 2. The OS is stuck on 9.something. My apps are stuck on old versions. I can't install many apps. No security updates. Apps are discontinued and drop dead...

      These mobile devices are not worth their money to me.

      When I buy a piece of hardware or machinery, it needs to last 10 years or more. Otherwise, it's a piece of shit.

      Google fails. But what that's what you get from an advertising company.

    2. Re:Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Android is worse than hitler!

    3. Re:Another android without updates by mcl630 · · Score: 1

      Also, my Pixel phone from last year, only got one update and now support discontinued. The whole reason I bought that stupid piece of shit for development was because Google couldn't blame the carriers for not updating it. Turns out they don't update their shit either! Fuck Google, Android is worse abomination that Windows ever was. This shit fucking sucks.

      You're lying.

      Google has not discontinued support for the original Pixel phones. The OG Pixels will continue getting new Android versions until October 2018, and security updates until at least October 2019. Phone and online support also lasts until October 2019.

      https://support.google.com/nex...

    4. Re: Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The fuck you talking about? Original Pixels are still being updated. If yours isn't, it's because of some carrier crap.

    5. Re:Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You a little slow mentally or just blinded by fanboyism? A phone sold in 2017 that only gets updates until 2018 is one update. Maybe Pixel was announced in 2016, but by the time anyone got one it was 2017. Awesome, so my Pixel which cost about $800 (same as iPhone 8 which will get at least 5 years of updates) will stop getting updates in 1 year and be obsolete in 2!

      Read your own link dipshit:

      >Pixel (2016) phones get Android version updates for at least 2 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store.

    6. Re:Another android without updates by mcl630 · · Score: 1

      Umm... no. The OG Pixels released with Android 7.0... they've already been updated to 8.0 (and 8.1). They'll get 9.0 next year before full support ends. That's two major releases... plus an additional year of security updates.

    7. Re:Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A whole two releases. That's sure giving me a warm fuzzy feeling about putting down almost a thousand dollars on a phone.

    8. Re: Another android without updates by MachineShedFred · · Score: 2

      How is it that the carriers get any decision at all in who gets a software update on their hardware or not?

      This is why Android is a clusterfuck - even if you are lucky enough that the guys who created the god damn hardware and sold it to you make a new software version, you have to get some shithead Telco's permission first before installing it. Google should have fixed that shit contractually a long way back, especially with Google branded hardware.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    9. Re: Another android without updates by mikael · · Score: 2

      Even worse, if you do have an unlocked phone, every time you change telco with a new SIM card, they'll force you to update with some new crudware that may just brick your phone. Just crossing international borders is enough to do this the minute you turn off flight mode and the phone starts "ROAMing"

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    10. Re:Another android without updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Keep moving that goalpost

  2. If corporations were really people... by Aighearach · · Score: 1, Funny

    Google would be its 5th marriage!

  3. Nexus 10 by markdavis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    >"At a whopping $599, I doubt many people were buying it. Now, the Pixel C is completely gone from the Google Store, and there's no new tablet to replace it. "

    And here I sit, still waiting for something worthy to replace my Nexus 10. The Nexus 10 was expensive enough- but at least it was a nice, quality, dual-front speaker, 10", widescreen tablet running plain Android. Nothing like it has come since. Samsung's offerings all have "contaminated" Android that I just couldn't swallow, and everything else has been narrow aspect ratio, too small, too poor quality, or no front stereo (or combinations of those).

    The Nexus 10 has held up well for the 5 years, but its days are numbered. Waiting for Google now seems hopeless.

    1. Re:Nexus 10 by Streetlight · · Score: 2

      I'd like a new Nexus 7 (or 8) Wi-Fi only - latest Snap Dragon processor and Android version, high quality screen, headphone jack, and more. The size is right for me, better than a phone for sure. I use my Nexus 7 2012 to check on news, listen to music, and read books. Our library district has over 50,000 e books and seems to be adding them faster than paper books and, again, the size is just right for e book reading. But the 2012 N7 is pretty slow when moving around and reading Flipboard. Samsung has some nice tablets, but i'd like pure Android.

      --
      In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
    2. Re:Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is exactly the quest I had for a solid performer in the used tablet arena. Nothing seemed to be 'better' from a base level perspective than the Nexus 10 in the past few years. Sure, when folks are looking at processor speed or some other pixel-peeping stat things look better, but from a simple 'functional tablet' perspective nothing seemed to hit the marks.

    3. Re:Nexus 10 by nine-times · · Score: 1

      Does anyone just sell a stock Android tablet with good hardware, that can be updated to the latest Android as it's released? Whenever I've looked into it, it's always like, every manufacturer has their own Android tweaks that some people think are decent and some people think are terrible, and you have to wait for the manufacturer to port those tweaks to the new version of Android before you can upgrade. I don't really get why tablets can't be more like desktops/laptops. I don't need Dell to make a special version of Windows or Linux for each laptop model in order to upgrade to the latest version.

      Does anyone make a nice 7" tablet running stock Android, pretty much guaranteed to get the latest updates as long as the hardware is capable of running it?

    4. Re:Nexus 10 by MachineShedFred · · Score: 2

      What I don't understand is why Android seems to treat tablets like the adopted kid nobody likes - they've been around forever and you still find apps that are just expanded phone versions that don't work in landscape mode, as well as other oddities that make no sense that only occur on Android tablets.

      I've had two iPads and two Android tablets now, and the iPad was a more complete and polished experience 4+ years ago than the latest version of Android on a tablet is today. The only reason I haven't gone back to an iPad is because Apple seems to have forgotten that the iPad Mini still is a thing, so they are selling it with a CPU that they introduced in 2014 at the same price. No thanks.

      It's really too bad, too - I love the performance of the tablet I've got, and I do enjoy some of the software features Android is sporting that still elude Apple. I just wish it was more consistent. And apparently that won't be happening because Google has decided to eject from yet another product leaving customers in the lurch.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    5. Re:Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm in almost the exact same boat, re nexus 7 2013 (replaced a 2012 that took a bad fall). It's starting to get a little flaky, a little slow, and I'd like to replace it with a new pure android device in roughly the same form factor. I've looked around a bit, but haven't seen anything that really fits the bill, so I'm still waiting...

    6. Re:Nexus 10 by Pulzar · · Score: 1

      The Nexus 10 has held up well for the 5 years, but its days are numbered. Waiting for Google now seems hopeless.

      Galaxy Tab S2/S3 9.7 is a good replacement. I'm quite happy with my S2... I'm starting to get used to Samsung hardware now that Google no longer makes stuff like Nexus 5, 7, and 10 that I've been very happy with. I finally switched to a Samsung phone, too, after the disappointment that Nexus 6 was.

      --
      Never underestimate the bandwidth of a 747 filled with CD-ROMs.
    7. Re:Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This, Google. We want a $299 Pixel 7 or 8.

    8. Re:Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When I went looking for replacements for my Nexus 7 tablets in my house, I ended up finding the only good solution was the Samsung T813 and T713 tablets. These are Tab S2s. These are available in both 9.7" and 8" versions. Both of these though, have official Lineage support, and are well supported in the development community. Note there are several versions of the Tab S2, so make sure you get the T813 or T713, as these are the ones to get. Both of these will continue to get updates, and already have Android Oreo thanks to development community. Granted this isn't official Samsung updates, but if you're on Slashdot, I'm going to assume you won't mind unlocking a device, and loading a custom recovery to something.

    9. Re:Nexus 10 by markdavis · · Score: 1

      I just do not want a narrow screen. 16:9-ish is what is needed for reasonably sized video playback- one of the primary purposes I use a tablet. That means only the Tab A, which is cheap, slow, no front speakers, only 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage, and sold with Android that is 2 versions behind. :(

    10. Re: Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Check out the Lenovo Tab 4 10 plus.

    11. Re: Nexus 10 by markdavis · · Score: 1

      Low end, slow, cheap, only 2GB RAM, only 16GB storage, rear-only speakers, and 2 versions of Android behind.

    12. Re:Nexus 10 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Android apps on ChromeOS have made this largely redundant. I upgraded from my N10 to a Samsung Chromebook Pro and the performance difference is incredible. Since its release they've improved the integration of Android apps a lot, including some new multitasking improvements in version 64. I suspect Google will be killing the Android tablet in favor of ChromeOS convertibles/tablets with Android app support. I wouldn't be surprised if this has been their plan since killing the tablet UI from Android 3.x and 4.x.

      The nice thing, though, is that you now have a ton of choices and they'll be updated for a long time!

    13. Re:Nexus 10 by markdavis · · Score: 2

      I suspect you are right about abandoning true tablets. And I would be OK with that as long as the "tablet" part of the convertible:

      1) Isn't any more expensive
      2) Isn't any heavier or bulkier
      3) Has no less battery life
      4) Can really run ALL Android apps correctly
      5) Is really a tablet with no forced keyboard or hinge

      So far, I don't think any of those has been achieved except maybe #5, but it looks like it is getting better in all of those each year. Meanwhile, those of us who really only want a tablet seems to be stuck with under-powered, under-speced, narrow-screened choices, which sucks.

      5 years from the Nexus 10 and you would think one could buy a fast, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, widescreen tablet for no more than what the N10 cost. Note that is just doubling all the major specs over *5 years* which should be normal at this point.

      (The Samsung Chromebook Pro isn't a tablet because it has a hinged keyboard, making it unsuitable for my use case)

  4. Convertible Chromebooks make great Android tablets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > Now, the Pixel C is completely gone from the Google Store, and there's no new tablet to replace it.

    Chromebooks are more versatile than Android tablets, and all modern Chromebooks support running Android apps. There are still some apps that don't quite work, but the situation has rapidly been improving in the last few months. And it probably is roughly on par with how well Android apps work on pure Android tablets, as those had their own (different) compatibility issues as well.

    At less than $350, convertible Chromebooks such as the Samsung Chromebook Plus make great tablets. And there are several upcoming devices that allow you remove the keyboard and turn the device into a pure tablet, if you so choose. I honestly don't see any reason why anybody would still need an Android tablet.

  5. Very fond of my Nexus 9 by steveha · · Score: 2

    I never bought a Pixel C because I was basically content with my old Nexus 9.

    IMHO the Nexus 9 is the perfect size for a tablet. Any bigger and it would be bulkier and heavier; and the screen is just big enough to read technical books (including pages with tables or charts). I used to carry a Nexus 7 and that screen wasn't big enough.

    So what I really want is a tablet the same size and weight as my Nexus 9, with USB C and a fingerprint reader. That's it.

    The Pixel C tablet is bigger than the Nexus 9 and 81 grams heavier. It does have USB C but does not have a fingerprint reader. So I never spent the money on it.

    My Nexus 9 is getting kind of flaky and Google is no longer offering security updates so it's probably time to find something new to replace it. The only thing I have found that looks good is the Samsug Galaxy Tab S3. Similar size (about a half-inch taller and wider, I can deal) and weight (only 2 grams more!) to my Nexus 9, has a slightly bigger screen (9.7 inch diagonal vs. 8.9 inch), has USB C, has a fingerprint reader.

    https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/03/galaxy-tab-s3-review-the-high-price-of-a-well-rounded-android-tablet/

    --
    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
    1. Re:Very fond of my Nexus 9 by Zocalo · · Score: 2

      I picked up an S3 at almost 20% off in the post-Christmas sales (YMMV on discount availability, obviously) and it seems to fit your needs to a T. Personally, even with the discount, I think it's still slightly overpriced, but easily the nicest Android Nougat tablet on the market at the moment, although it will almost certainly be getting an update to Oreo at some point in 2018. There's surprising little bloatware pre-installed by Samsung - mostly MS Office and a few other popular tools - which can easily be disabled, although it's definitely not 100% stock due to Samsung's UI tweaks. Performance is great, the 9.7" AMOLED screen is amazingly clear and bright, and as you'll already be aware it's light (429g vs. 517g for the Pixel C), has USB-C, fingerprint reader, and the mSD slot that the Pixel didn't (mine has a 64GB card in it). I'm also finding the S-pen surprisingly useful, and combined with a BlueTooth keyboard [1] it's effectively a laptop replacement for general purpose computing. Highly recommended, despite the price.

      [1] Like the RRP of the tablet, Samsung's keyboard cover is also ridiculously overpriced and (AFAIK) still has the design flaw of not including a cut-out for the tablet's rear-facing camera, so be sure to check that if you're considering it. I got a third party cover that included a removable keyboard with a built in trackpad that essentially turns it into a laptop replacement as long as you don't need to do anything too complicated.

      --
      UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
    2. Re:Very fond of my Nexus 9 by steveha · · Score: 1

      Thank you for this information. I hadn't paid attention to the microSD slot... that's a plus.

      I already have a Bluetooth keyboard, and I'll be using that. It folds in half, so it's conveniently full-sized when you are using it. Important to me: all the keys are where my fingers expect them to be, including things like square braces and the Escape key.

      Also important: it has a built-in rechargeable battery instead of using disposable AAA cells.

      https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIBOARD-805L-Bluetooth-Folding-Keyboard/dp/B00JXI94IE

      I specifically recommend this exact keyboard. The same manufacturer also makes some similar keyboards where the keys are subtly in the wrong places, which is maddening. I'm glad they finally got it right and I hope all new keyboards they make will continue to get it right.

      With the ConnectBot SSH client, I can do actual work (software development or sysadmin stuff) on my Android tablet.

      P.S. There is a seemingly cool new technology called TextBlade. However, it has been vapor for, let's see, about three years now. If it ever does ship and works as advertised I'd spend $100 and get one.

      https://waytools.com/

      --
      lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
  6. Not available in all market by denisbergeron · · Score: 1

    It really hard for me to upgrade my very (3 year) old Samsung Note Pro 12.2
      And this computer (pixelbook ) are not available to order from Google here in Québec.Canada... but is available for purchase in other Canada provinces.
    Maybe, because Québec have more agressive laws again bad quality hardware /s

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une Signature !
  7. Yawn, why should we miss it? by guacamole · · Score: 1

    This tablet was released TWO YEARS ago. Since then there were several replacement available, but none from Google (Galaxy Tab S3, Huawei Mediapad M3, etc)

    1. Re:Yawn, why should we miss it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The replacements aren't as good. Samsung designed the Tab3 like a giant phone, just look at it, why have physical navigation buttons on a tablet? Physical navigation buttons are ok on a phone, that you'll mostly be using in portrait mode, but doesn't work so well for a tablet. The Mediapad is simply under powered.

  8. Re:Mueller stops buying Republican bullshit treaso by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Two have already plead guilty you illiterate nazi faggot.

    I see what you did there. Oh wait, it wasn't deliberate? Lol @u niggor!

  9. Insanity by jabberw0k · · Score: 4, Informative

    The real question is: Why would any person with even the slightest technical understanding, pay for, and then give brain-space, to a computer (even if euphemistically and misleadingly called a "telephone") they cannot control? And if you aren't controlling it, does no-one wonder: Who is, and what are their motives? ... Has the whole world become zombie sheep?

    1. Re:Insanity by lucasnate1 · · Score: 0

      By definition, you cant FULLY control a computer. That is the dark side of turing completeness.

  10. Ridiculous price for a disposable device... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One thing that a lot of people don't realize is that the prices charged for some of the high end mobile stuff is outrageous for a device designed to essentially be abandoned in a couple years. Considering some of the crap Google has in mind for the Play Store for users of old versions, the fact that upgrades simply stop after a year or two for many devices, and the battery that is almost impossible to replace, it boggles the mind that people are surprised a $600 machine designed to become useless in a couple years won't sell well. Higher end phones often get partially subsidized by the phone companies, but tablets get no such buffer much of the time.

    I think there's a market for an affordable tablet built to last for a while with more versatility built in for the user, but I suspect it will be a long time coming, if ever, and assuming the low end laptop market hasn't eaten it already.

  11. Burned out on Google devices by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 1

    I had a Nexus 7 and really liked it, until Google stopped updating the OS. Eventually, it god slower and slower, until it was pretty much unusable. Maybe Google was taking a page out of Apple's playbook, who knows!

    Still, I would have bought the latest generation of the Nexus because the price point was right, and the quality was good. But Google quit making them.

    Now they've quit making the Pixel C (which I never bought because of the price).

    I bought a Moto G phone and really liked it too, and Google also abandoned that line. Fortunately, Lenovo bought it and seems to be continuing Google's tradition of loading it with a stock OS and providing upgrades.

    I'm becoming wary of Google devices, I just don't know whether they'll keep making and supporting them.

    1. Re:Burned out on Google devices by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Still, I would have bought the latest generation of the Nexus because the price point was right, and the quality was good. But Google quit making them.

      They didn't support them any better than anyone else did their phones, anyway. I had a Nexus 4, it didn't get any more OS updates than my Moto G.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Burned out on Google devices by Tony+Isaac · · Score: 1

      Interesting. The Nexus 7 did get several OS updates. Mine started with KitKat, and it was upgraded to Lollipop and several minor updates.

      My Moto G (G4) was upgraded from Lollipop to Marshmallow and then Nugat by T-Mobile, so I'm pretty happy with that.

  12. Google is unreliable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How many products and services have they just "dropped" now?
    Their software is crap and they have no thought for long term release planning. Hitching yourself to Googls is like staying with an abusive boyfriend *with a bad reputation.*

  13. Tablets with stock Android by hankwang · · Score: 2

    Lenovo announced in August that they would move to stock Android. I tried out a new Lenovo TAB 4 10 (low end device; they have a higher end "plus" as well) for a few hours and it looked pretty much stock to me, especially compared to Samsung. Can't say whether it will get major updates, though. Out of the box it did immediately get an OTA point update on Android 7.x.

  14. Just isn't a lot of market there by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    The tablet market is shrinking. What there is of it is almost entirely Apple, Samsung, and Amazon. (A Fire HD8 or HD10 with Google Play sideloaded is a quite functional tablet. They're lower end than a lot of the people commenting here have in mind but the price is certainly right.) There just aren't enough customers out there for anybody else to bother; Lenovo is the only other major company that is still trying.