Google Pixel and Pixel XL

@photoshop

"Why couldn't they just design a phone from scratch and get some one to build it for them??? I appreciate it would be expensive but if they going into hardware then the cost will be absorbed going into the future."

I appreciate your depth of despair, and those of many here. As you know I bought my Pixel two days ago.

I think you misunderstand one thing with what Google has done with Pixel. With Nexus, Google took a phone that was 90% developed and added its tweaks. Google saw Nexus as a reference model for other Android manufacturers. It then "developed" the remaining 10%.

With Pixel they took a completely different approach. They chose HTC to act as an ODM. Google has stated they designed this phone from scratch, knowing what their ODM partner was capable of manufacturing for them. Apple designs its phone from scratch and asks ODMs like Foxconn to manufacture for them. Google now owns the components that are held at HTC and is responsible end to end for the Pixel HTC assembles to order from Google.

Google is taking the entire risk on this phone, advertising heavily to promote its design and what services they include, some of which are currently proprietary to the Pixel (such as Google Assistant, built in customer 24/7 support, unlimited and free back up of full-res photos and videos (iCloud still costs money)and Smart Storage, the Quick Switch Adapter to capture iPhone switchers, Pixel's camera which is tied to the hardware and lets you shoot 4K video and get special modes like Smartburst which lets you shoot photos in rapid succession, a Sensor Hub processor with tightly integrated sensors and connectivity (i.e., Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS), etc.

Currently Google Assistant is not offered on the upgraded Android 7.1. How long this stays proprietary to Pixel is open to debate of course. It would make sense in my view to offer Assistant more widely but Google is clearly concerned that other Android partners, esp Samsung, may not place Assistant in the same front and centre location as the Pixel or may implement it in a way that is not satisfactory to Google. In other words, expect it when Google is satisfied it will be properly highlighted on phones from its partners.

Guess we will have to wait and see how this all works out for Google but I appreciate how real your anger is about the pricing!
 
For the first time in the longest of years, I am totally uninterested in getting a new phone.
The Oneplus X I have looks loads more modern than wither of the new devices, and even though it's not the quickest thing in the world, the new features add nothing of use to me at all so I'm happy to continue using it. Bit of a damp squib
 
I was really looking forward to this phone, and have been waiting for months for the announcement. Due to the price (not the looks or lack of functionality) I have purchased a SIM FREE One Plus 3, at nearly half the price for near enough the same performance.
 
sesevans said:
Currently Google Assistant is not offered on the upgraded Android 7.1. How long this stays proprietary to Pixel is open to debate of course. It would make sense in my view to offer Assistant more widely but Google is clearly concerned that other Android partners, esp Samsung, may not place Assistant in the same front and centre location as the Pixel or may implement it in a way that is not satisfactory to Google. In other words, expect it when Google is satisfied it will be properly highlighted on phones from its partners.

Guess we will have to wait and see how this all works out for Google but I appreciate how real your anger is about the pricing!
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Google controls android, they can say what is used and how prevalent it is in the os.
 
I have a feeling the Pixel phones might now push Samsung to start using Tizen in it's flagship smartphones within the next couple of years.
 
I'm not that fond of Samsung for some reason, but I wouldn't be adverse to that - there's room for a 3rd OS now that Blackberry is dead and Windows is on life support (for consumers at least).
 
i'd have gone as high as £700 for a 128gb pixelxl. They reached the trigger point though where it seems like they're just taking the p*ss so it's a no sale for me. I'm also unsure about paying Google to spy on everything i do with my phone, the AI assistant doesn't work otherwise.
 
Damn, sad to hear the back of the phone is covered in a glass panel.

Because the iPhone 4 was so awesome in this regard, said no one, ever.

Awaiting hands on to make a final call on a purchase.
 
kona786 said:
Tbh they can keep that fluff tbh. Not interested in it anyway. As long as they update the core OS I'm content.
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Haha it is fluff!

Core will be updated no doubt. Think it will be up to the OEMs to step up and give those who don't want the Pixel experience to deliver to the end user.

Lots of people jumping on the OP3 bandwagon and quite rightly so...great device with near Nexus experience albeit with a lot more scope for customisation.
 
stoosh said:
Haha it is fluff!

Core will be updated no doubt. Think it will be up to the OEMs to step up and give those who don't want the Pixel experience to deliver to the end user.

Lots of people jumping on the OP3 bandwagon and quite rightly so...great device with near Nexus experience albeit with a lot more scope for customisation.
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Nothing left to do know but to wait for next year's phone that cone out around Feb time. I'm ok with that tbh, if you picked the right phone from a year or 2 ago they should still be good now. Still happy with the Nexus 6, just want a fingerprint sensor mainly.

I showed a mate my OP3 yesterday and he was mightily impressed with the whole package. Pictures don't do it justice, you have to have a proper play with.
 
Ixon said:
I have a feeling the Pixel phones might now push Samsung to start using Tizen in it's flagship smartphones within the next couple of years.
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I think that would be a mistake by Samsung in smartphones because they are really not a software driven company to their core like Apple or Google. They have already introduced a few low end Tizen phones in places like India but I would be surprised if they gained any traction. The world and his wife want Android and the Google Play Store and the word is out also in emerging markets. They are really a day late and a dollar short when it comes to a new OS for smartphones. That ship has sailed. Android global market share is 86% last time I looked at charts. And with Google rumoured to be combining Android and Chrome into Andromeda next year, I believe they will be limited in areas like laptops and tablets too.

However I believe they will try to introduce their own software in other areas such as the Internet of Things---fridges, doorbells, etc. Note their recent acquisition of Viv Labs for example:

http://www.alphr.com/samsung/1004472/samsung-joins-the-ai-big-leagues-with-purchase-of-viv-labs

But with Google Home at the ready, I suggest their room to be a major player there too is perhaps somewhat limited.
 
smilertoo said:
i'd have gone as high as £700 for a 128gb pixelxl. They reached the trigger point though where it seems like they're just taking the p*ss so it's a no sale for me. I'm also unsure about paying Google to spy on everything i do with my phone, the AI assistant doesn't work otherwise.
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I assume you considered the exchange rate weakness since the last batch of new high end smartphones have been released? The Pound has fallen 16% vs the US dollar since June so your £ 700 maximum would translate to £ 812 in today's value as far as the seller is concerned. Google, like Apple, sources its components in US dollars and to maintain its profit margins it passes along the currency weakness to the buyer. Same with airfares, etc.

Please don't read the comment as giving any sort of advice. It is not intended to be read this way. I merely was asking if your maximum factored in today's reality on the Pound?
 
kona786 said:
Tbh they can keep that fluff tbh. Not interested in it anyway. As long as they update the core OS I'm content.
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I read the following from Google yesterday: "Our goal is to make the Google Assistant widely available to users and we'll continue to launch new surfaces over the course of the next year."

I thought this also meant that they are launching more phones and tablets over the next year. Do you agree?

We do know that Android 7.1 will come with a few new features. This includes, Night Light with hardware acceleration support, touch and display performance improvements, Moves (the new fingerprint gesture to open and close the notification shade), Daydream VR mode and new APIs for devs like the app shortcut manager APIs and circular app icons support.

Expect a Dev Preview of 7.1 later this month.
 
Who knows what they're planning sesevans. We can only wait and see.

The Nexus/Pixel is usually the last flagship phone to be introduced in the year so it looks as though we'll have to wait for next year for some new handsets.

I'm also disappointed with the route Moto have taken this year. They had shown soo much potential a couple of years ago. :(
 
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thep02 said:
I thought moto had carved themselves a niche but it looks like managerial maddness has struck again.
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Agreed. The Moto Z is an abomination.

Now LG are building a massive OLED factory they should have a Phone with OLED next year so lets hope they learn from the G5 mess.

Sony are always half asleep and have no direction.

Samsung should be pulling out all the stops next year to get over the Note 7 disaster and hold their lead.

Oneplus phone next summer as is the Moto line up.
 
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