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Google Unveils Pixel 2 Smartphone, Pixelbook, and Two New Google Home Speakers

Dydegu said:
Very impressive event. Google is giving Apple a run for their money.
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Google is chasing after Apple's money?


Actually, the bigger problem here is that they're giving Samsung, Huawei, LG, and everyone else in their Android ecosystem a run for their money. I don't get the strategy here. Is Android an open OS with a level playing field for all OEMs or is it a Google OS that they'll also provide to second tier OEMs?

While I'm also a bit mystified by Surface, it at least seemed like it was Microsoft's way to give their OEMs a kick in the pants and remind them that Windows could run on innovative hardware. Google doesn't seem to be using their first party hardware as an innovation showcase-- they just seem to be saying to their OEMs that they should make stuff more like Apple.
 
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Such a meh announcement. Nothing is new here except the fact that google officially sells the Pixel 2 in Singapore, the first time Google paid any attention to SE Asia.
The rest? Just a bunch of clones of other products (clones of amazon echo, MS Surface) and a rebadge of HTC U11 and LG G6. At $649 starting price for a phone with only 2 years of OS updates? I’ll take the Mi A1 anytime. Dual camera, same software support, for less than half the price.
 
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Surprised that Apple don't seem to have gone with an Always-on-Display for the iPhone X like this phone has. I use it all the time on my S7 Edge. At least it's an option you can turn off if you don't like it, but it's one of the nice things about an OLED display.
 
mi7chy said:
Coming from laptops that can multi-boot Windows, Linux, MacOS, ChromeOS, etc. I'm not 100% convinced being locked into one OS but for what it's worth the Chromebook experience is above all others like with browsing which is super snappy and smooth. Not ready to give up my laptop but if I was choosing between Pixelbook and iPad Pro it's no contest since the Pixelbook is superior and smarter.
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Hopefully you're referring to Chrome web apps that happen to fit your needs. Because if you're thinking of comparing Android tablet apps on a Chromebook to what's available on an iPad Pro... It's not even in the same league.
 
deanthedev said:
Last Pixel was a sales flop at 1 million sold. Wonder what this one will do for sales, and if Google changes anything this time around (like wider availability).
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The 1 million number is pure speculation, but considering that for most of the time you couldn't buy one for love or money, and it had a very limited release, I'd say it was the very opposite of a flop. Google evidently made far too little of them compared to the demand. That's a highly sought after product by definition.

I think the Pixel 2 will be even more desirable, especially that now their smartphone line is established as having the best camera you can get on a phone.

It remains to be seen if Google will produce anywhere near enough to satisfy demand.
 
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Xeyad said:
I'm okay with it all...but the one thing that really strikes me is what's with Google's obsession thinking we all talk to our phones with voice search and assistant?

I've rarely used voice features, and I almost never see people talking to their phone publicly. Google should have the data showing that the average consumer doesn't use it nor do they care about it.
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Out and about in a noisy public space isn't the primary use case for voice stuff (at least personally and as you've observed).

At home though, I find myself using my Google Home quite a bit. When your voice assistant isn't a dated piece of junk like Siri, it's pretty compelling.
 
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Camera bump, headphone jack-less, and price are three things I wished Google didn't copy from Apple.
Guess iPhone users or switchers aren't swayed by all this (unless you really want Google Assistant and unlimited photos, which are pretty good points).
 
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pika2000 said:
Such a meh announcement. Nothing is new here except the fact that google officially sells the Pixel 2 in Singapore, the first time Google paid any attention to SE Asia.
The rest? Just a bunch of clones of other products (clones of amazon echo, MS Surface) and a rebadge of HTC U11 and LG G6. At $649 starting price for a phone with only 2 years of OS updates? I’ll take the Mi A1 anytime. Dual camera, same software support, for less than half the price.
Click to expand...

LOL - can easily be applied to Apple's keynote too. You're a bit shortsighted if you see everything as just a clone.
 
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farewelwilliams said:
iPhone removes headphone jack
"AHAHAHH WTF ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
Pixel 2 removes headphone jack
"Makes sense"

Airpods 2 $159
"$159?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA"
Google Pixel Buds $159
"Cool!"

iPhone Rose Gold
"Ugly AF"
Pixel 2 Kinda Blue
"Ohhhh nice!"
Click to expand...

Apple Watch red crown: hideous monstrosity
Pixel XL red power button: kinda nice, I guess...

We will see...
 
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Analog Kid said:
Remember that the bank gives you unlimited deposits as well. It's because their business is built on profiting from the money you keep there....
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But you're forgetting that you'll also reap some of the benefits - i.e. earn interest on your deposits. In Google's case, you're 'interest' payment comes in the form of an improved AI service, enhancing your use of Google Photos and associated products. But yes, there's no such thing as a free lunch, it's more about what you're getting in return.
 
It's a real damn shame for users who are torn between beautiful design and useful software. iPhones are beautiful and incredibly well made. Pixel phones are ugly and look like they are for children.

HOWEVER, iOS has become stale, not feature heavy, and severely lacks any real cloud-based or on device intelligence. Google Pixel software, on the other hand, has WAYYYYYY more features to make your phone actually useful and provide better data/information.
 
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Analog Kid said:
Google is chasing after Apple's money?


Actually, the bigger problem here is that they're giving Samsung, Huawei, LG, and everyone else in their Android ecosystem a run for their money. I don't get the strategy here. Is Android an open OS with a level playing field for all OEMs or is it a Google OS that they'll also provide to second tier OEMs?

While I'm also a bit mystified by Surface, it at least seemed like it was Microsoft's way to give their OEMs a kick in the pants and remind them that Windows could run on innovative hardware. Google doesn't seem to be using their first party hardware as an innovation showcase-- they just seem to be saying to their OEMs that they should make stuff more like Apple.
Click to expand...
Meh, Microsoft OEMs were doing interesting things before Surface. I just see that as an excuse for Surfce not being a big seller. Oh it’s just a reference design blah blah blah. Maybe if it was just one product but not with a family of products.
 
Analog Kid said:
Remember that the bank gives you unlimited deposits as well. It's because their business is built on profiting from the money you keep there....
Click to expand...
I think the analogy is more like free unlimited overdraft.

But yes, if you're uncomfortable with Google's ML looking at your photos, I can see why you wouldn't want free unlimited storage for all your photos and videos, at original quality.

Nearly everyone else thinks this is a killer feature since it altogether removes the storage pressure, for free.

If you want to use that new iPhone's 4k video features, you're looking at $9.99/month added on top of very high initial device pricing. Quite a rip-off.
 
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