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Google Announces Pixel 3 Smartphone, 'Home Hub' Smart Speaker, and Pixel Slate Tablet
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There are so many great Android phones under $300 nowadays, some even have more RAM and storage (and look better too) than the Pixel 3.
While the Google Pixel 3 are very good phones, the price borders on silly. US$899 for the Pixel 3 and US$999 for the Pixel 3 XL in 128 GB versions? 
If you want a decent pure-Android experience phone, get Nokia's new 7.1 model, which sells for US$349 for the 4 GB RAM/64 GB local storage model. Four around $414, you can get a Nokia 7.1 with a 256 GB Micro SD flash drive, and Android 8.1 ("Oreo") and later takes full advantage of that memory expansion.
If you want a decent pure-Android experience phone, get Nokia's new 7.1 model, which sells for US$349 for the 4 GB RAM/64 GB local storage model. Four around $414, you can get a Nokia 7.1 with a 256 GB Micro SD flash drive, and Android 8.1 ("Oreo") and later takes full advantage of that memory expansion.
I posted after watching MKBHD’s hands on with the Pixel 3. He says he asked google directly and they said all the headline software features are exclusive to the Pixel 3
“According to google because I asked : Everything (except for shush mode) that I just talked about is exclusive to pixel 3, not coming to pixel 2 or pixel 1. So even though it’s just software it’s technically a pixel 3 only feature”- MKBHD
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Same boring design. Same specs. Low ram for android. Instead of dual rear cameras for optical zoom, they put dual front for wide selfies. Wtf was google thinking?? Is their target audience 14-18 year old girls??? Ugly notch and chin. Ugh. I expected better from google. Well, maybe I didn’t. LOL
Looking at the Pixel 3 you suddenly realise that Apple got the notch design right!! What have we been complaining about.
The two things that make it interesting to me:
1) Having the ability to use different user accounts so my kids don’t have access to all of my stuff
2) Being able to dock it with a real keyboard, monitor and mouse.
True, ChromeOS doesn’t have all the major desktop apps (like Photoshop) but it’s gotten a lot more capable in the past few years. They’re getting close to the balance between desktop and tablet OS. The MS Surface still feels too “desktop” like, even in tablet mode, and the iPad Pro still feels very much like a tablet (or blown up phone) without mouse support.
Of course I’m typing this on my iPad Pro right now, and I hope Apple will “borrow / claim to invent” some of these ideas in the future. With Google’s track record on these devices, I don’t know if we can count on a Pixel Slate 2 coming out next year, or if they’ll try out yet another new concept.
There is only so many practical ways to input or interact with data on these devices at a reasonable cost, hardware requirements and package without being complicated for the end users understanding.
Touch screens existed before the introduction of the iPhone, however Apple simplified the gesture and interactive elements.
At present the practical methods at a fair cost is a keyboard, mouse, tablet/touch, stylus/pencil. Finger/hand/limb/eyes/voice gestures and commands are nice to have for most and a necessity for those with accessibility issues. AR/VR uses gesture tracking to interact in a virtual space. If mind control is available at a consumer friendly cost with the ease of what Apple introduces with touch UI/UX I look forward to it.
Apple is not making technology for a specific group, as profits and market share matter to a companies growth and sustainability. I am not saying Apple cannot do better by their loyal customers, I am saying the alternative solutions have not been as well accepted or understood by the general public.
Case in point I see many users lost in AndroidOS UX/UI, their use it as it was either an affordable price or free compared to iOS with the look and functionality being similar.
I find far few people lost in iOS, there are a few however not many. Please don’t compare with a technology savvy demograph, as every generation has its go to tech enthusiasts.
Users from those very same tech forums also say they don't notice it after 5 minutes. I'm surprise they haven't add notches to their TVs, picture frames, or windshields. When something interrupts your content you notice it, you may not say anything, but you notice it. None of the current notch design in screens serves any form or function. The notch design doesn't enable Face Id functionality, or front camera functionality and the content form is a rectangle presented on screen that interrupts part of it. But I wont be the one saying that my $$$$ purchase is not very practical or good looking.
Anyway, Apple designed it, is beautiful, they love it
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Funny fact: the notch design is not what enables FaceId and the screen is not edge to edge (because of the notch)
You are spot on. It is the light measuring system (exists on any camera) but on the smartphones is set to work automatically. However, if you tap on the bright part of the photo is gonna assume that composure is overexposed and it will lower the exposure making it dark. So yeah. it is a photo taken with the iPhone Xs, but they made sure to make it look as dark as possible. Cheeky bastards!
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Oh please! TV's and Photo frames and windshields are things you don't interact with. You only stare at them. With the smartphone, you get lost in content doing things. With the exception of watching videos on it (which I rarely do, use iPad for that) I get focused on things I am doing in the phone and I have no time to think about the notch. Yes, I would rather have no notch and just edge to edge screen. But does it bother me that much? Absolutely not.
That being said, with this Google pixel thing, we are seeing the notch on steroids! I mean WTF!! That super thick chin and super thick notch combined together? Just why? Why make a notch at all if your device does have that thick chin? Just add a full bezel and call it a day? If they were trying to design the ugliest device on the planet, I think they have succeeded.
No shhht. You have to go out of the way and alter the photo to achieve that Xs pic. Who are they trying to fool?
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What? It houses the components necessary for Face ID. How else were they suppose to implimet the tech in the screen. By making a forehead or bigger bezels? The notch is temporary until Apple figures out a way to implement face is behind pixels (which the files a patent for)..l.l.l Don’t be that guy.Users from those very same tech forums also say they don't notice it after 5 minutes. I'm surprise they haven't add notches to their TVs, picture frames, or windshields. When something interrupts your content you notice it, you may not say anything, but you notice it. None of the current notch design in screens serves any form or function. The notch design doesn't enable Face Id functionality, or front camera functionality and the content form is a rectangle presented on screen that interrupts part of it. But I wont be the one saying that my $$$$ purchase is not very practical or good looking.
Anyway, Apple designed it, is beautiful, they love it
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Funny fact: the notch design is not what enables FaceId and the screen is not edge to edge (because of the notch)
I really like Call Screen feature. I hope Apple can implement something like this in the near future, hopefully either iOS 12.5 or iOS 13.
Every time I get random calls, I added to "Spam" contact list that have massive phone numbers in there (approx. 50). I know it's a waste of time. There is no "Block" button on the calling screen but would be nice to have that.
So next time, I get a call, I can easily tell it's "Spam" or not. See screenshot:
Every time I get random calls, I added to "Spam" contact list that have massive phone numbers in there (approx. 50). I know it's a waste of time. There is no "Block" button on the calling screen but would be nice to have that.
So next time, I get a call, I can easily tell it's "Spam" or not. See screenshot:
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I realize (think?) Google sniffs at more of my information (email contents, etc.) more than Apple - but when it comes to privacy - Is there a difference in an app vendor - say Facebook - using your data if you have their app installed on an an iOS device or an Android device?
Is there some site dedicated to a thorough discussion of privacy issues between platforms and apps running on those platforms? (and preferably not a thread on Apple or Google based forums)
If its made by Google or Facebook you don't want it on your device, and stuff like YouTube you can access via a browser. There are other data gatherers like Yahoo.
The problem with Android is that the whole OS is made by Google so you never know whats going on in the background. It was discovered that Google does record your location on Android even if you disable Location tracking in the settings. You just can't trust a company like that.