Google event 2016 Oct 4

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#1643322 30-Sep-2016 14:05

bbunnys:

I for one not worried about phone but hoping the 4K Chromecast is real. Ill be all over that.

Looks like the 4k Chromecast is a given, as is Google Home.

I'm also interested in the rumoured Andromeda - the new operating system combining both ChromeOS and Android - with a (again rumoured) Pixel 3 tablet arriving early next year running it.

ajobbins

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#1645270 4-Oct-2016 15:36

Some more details of the Pixel and Pixel XL leaked yesterday when Carphone Warehouse put their listing up too soon. Listing is down down, but the page has specs which have now been updated on GSM Arena

I currently have a Nexus 6P, but find it a little big, so the (smaller) Pixel appeals somewhat. However, there is still no wireless charging, and if rumors are true, pricing will start at US$649 for the 32GB Pixel (and upwards for the XL and larger memory). The iPhone 7 32GB is also US$649, so if the pricing rumor is true, they are wanting an iPhone price premium for a device I (unfortunately) don't think is as good hardware wise.

The iPhone 7 is waterproof, for example, and the Pixel phones are not. Build quality is hard to tell at this point, but the Nexus phones got better over the years and the 6P is a pretty premium device, so hopefully there too are at least iPhone build quality.

I really want a smaller screen, but I don't want to pay that much for a device that really doesn't have a lot going for it.

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dafman

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#1645292 4-Oct-2016 16:28

ajobbins:

Some more details of the Pixel and Pixel XL leaked yesterday when Carphone Warehouse put their listing up too soon. Listing is down down, but the page has specs which have now been updated on GSM Arena

I currently have a Nexus 6P, but find it a little big, so the (smaller) Pixel appeals somewhat. However, there is still no wireless charging, and if rumors are true, pricing will start at US$649 for the 32GB Pixel (and upwards for the XL and larger memory). The iPhone 7 32GB is also US$649, so if the pricing rumor is true, they are wanting an iPhone price premium for a device I (unfortunately) don't think is as good hardware wise.

The iPhone 7 is waterproof, for example, and the Pixel phones are not. Build quality is hard to tell at this point, but the Nexus phones got better over the years and the 6P is a pretty premium device, so hopefully there too are at least iPhone build quality.

I really want a smaller screen, but I don't want to pay that much for a device that really doesn't have a lot going for it.

Off the top of my head, 6 areas where Pixel hardware will be superior to iPhone 7:

1. 3.5mm audio jack vs none

2. Super amoled screen vs LCD

3. High resolution screen vs 720p

4. Fast charging vs none

5. USB C vs lightning

6. NFC vs none

Krishant007

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#1645301 4-Oct-2016 16:50

12 hours to go. Quite excited by this one - more than I was for the iPhone announcement. Very interested in seeing the pricing of the device. Have to be honest, the bigger iPhone plus range is quite a handful (literally).

dafman

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#1645339 4-Oct-2016 17:33

Krishant007:

12 hours to go. Quite excited by this one - more than I was for the iPhone announcement. Very interested in seeing the pricing of the device. Have to be honest, the bigger iPhone plus range is quite a handful (literally).

If as expected the Pixel prices the same as the iphone, I will probably pass on this first iteration as it's just too much money to consider swapping out from my S7.

If rumoured hardware specs are true, compared with the S7, the Pixel:

will be a slightly bigger and thicker handset with a slightly smaller, lower res screen.
have no waterproofing
have no wireless charging
have no SD expandable storage.

So, as much as I would like to get onto the 'Phone by Google' wagon, I can't justify stumping up the cash to lose so much hardware utility compared with S7.

That said, compared to iphone 7, the Pixel looks like a pretty good device on a spec to spec comparison.

So I'm hoping that the new Google tablet materialises to compensate for having to pass on the phone.

ajobbins

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#1645351 4-Oct-2016 17:45

dafman:

Off the top of my head, 6 areas where Pixel hardware will be superior to iPhone 7:

1. 3.5mm audio jack vs none

2. Super amoled screen vs LCD

3. High resolution screen vs 720p

4. Fast charging vs none

5. USB C vs lightning

6. NFC vs none

Not that I am defending Apple here (I am a big Nexus fan), but some of your points I don't think are quite right.

1. True, but for many of us this isn't an issue. I never use the 3.5mm jack anyway, I have bluetooth headphones

2. My Nexus 6P is my second AMOLED screen (First was Galaxy S3) and I have to say I am not a fan. I see an obvious flicker on these screens, and I find them way harder to read in bright sunlight than other LCDs.

3. Yes, the iPhone is at a slight disadvantage here in terms of PPI, but it's still a pretty high res ("Retina") screen. While 1080P is better, I could probably live with less (The iPhone 7 is 750x1334, so a touch over 720P). Viewport sizes in browsers will be about the same per inch anyway, so you're not getting more screen real estate when doing certain things by having a higher PPI anyway.

4. iPhones will draw 2.1A off a compatible charger, so not quite as fast as the 3A (I think) from USB PD, but iPhone also gets by with a smaller batter, so probably not too much in this.

5. While I like that USB-C is a 'standard', it's still annoyingly uncommon right now. That will change and things will get better, but Apple (IMO) won this in terms of the best connector. A lightning connector (M) is far easier to use than the (F) USB-C connector. It's done now, so no point worrying about it, but I do wish that USB-C has gotten in with a Lightning shaped connector first.

6. To be fair to Apple, they do have NFC for Apple Pay - it's just restricted to Apple approved use. I do like the openness of Android, including NFC - but not quite right to say none.

I am quite disappointed in this phone (assuming all well spread rumors to date are true). All the points you note above are true for the Nexus 5X and 6P too. So what does this new phone offer for the higher price?

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dafman

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#1645355 4-Oct-2016 17:53

ajobbins:

dafman:

Off the top of my head, 6 areas where Pixel hardware will be superior to iPhone 7:

1. 3.5mm audio jack vs none

2. Super amoled screen vs LCD

3. High resolution screen vs 720p

4. Fast charging vs none

5. USB C vs lightning

6. NFC vs none

Not that I am defending Apple here (I am a big Nexus fan), but some of your points I don't think are quite right.

1. True, but for many of us this isn't an issue. I never use the 3.5mm jack anyway, I have bluetooth headphones

2. My Nexus 6P is my second AMOLED screen (First was Galaxy S3) and I have to say I am not a fan. I see an obvious flicker on these screens, and I find them way harder to read in bright sunlight than other LCDs.

3. Yes, the iPhone is at a slight disadvantage here in terms of PPI, but it's still a pretty high res ("Retina") screen. While 1080P is better, I could probably live with less (The iPhone 7 is 750x1334, so a touch over 720P). Viewport sizes in browsers will be about the same per inch anyway, so you're not getting more screen real estate when doing certain things by having a higher PPI anyway.

4. iPhones will draw 2.1A off a compatible charger, so not quite as fast as the 3A (I think) from USB PD, but iPhone also gets by with a smaller batter, so probably not too much in this.

5. While I like that USB-C is a 'standard', it's still annoyingly uncommon right now. That will change and things will get better, but Apple (IMO) won this in terms of the best connector. A lightning connector (M) is far easier to use than the (F) USB-C connector. It's done now, so no point worrying about it, but I do wish that USB-C has gotten in with a Lightning shaped connector first.

6. To be fair to Apple, they do have NFC for Apple Pay - it's just restricted to Apple approved use. I do like the openness of Android, including NFC - but not quite right to say none.

I am quite disappointed in this phone (assuming all well spread rumors to date are true). All the points you note above are true for the Nexus 5X and 6P too. So what does this new phone offer for the higher price?

The 5X was a plastic phone with not much aesthetic appeal, compared with what looks like a beautiful metal flagship body with the Pixel. So worth the trade up me thinks.

The 6p came with a beautiful metal flagship body (except for the visor - but that's in the eye of the beholder), so I agree, probably little benefit in trading the 6P for this first iteration of Pixel. Next year will be the year for 6P owners.

I really like the look of the Pixel launcher, so hopefully Google will make this available to other devices through the Play store - but maybe not if they want to push the Pixel. We'll need to wait and see.

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ajobbins

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#1645469 4-Oct-2016 21:20

I'm still holding out for a killer feature that hasn't leaked yet, but suspect I may end up with one anyway. I picked the 6P over the 5x because its specs were better and it was a more premium device....but it's too big.

Will likely wait until I've seen a Pixel in person before I decide, though

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tieke

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#1645522 4-Oct-2016 23:36

I'm just waiting for the Google Home unit to finally be available. I've held off getting the Echo dots to complement my Amazon Echo as I suspect I will prefer the Google ecosystem, as thanks to the lack of an open apk my Google Play Music subscription isn't too much use with the Echo, and I already have multiroom audio working via multiple ChromeCast Audio units so the Google Home connectivity to these should work well.

Finch

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#1645533 5-Oct-2016 00:41

What time is the unveil?

ajobbins

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#1645537 5-Oct-2016 01:09

Finch:

What time is the unveil?

Stream goes live 5am NZDT

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tripp

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#1645542 5-Oct-2016 06:23

So phones start at 649 US

Pre-order in AU, US, CAN, UK (however i notice that the nexus 6p and 5x are marked "no longer available" in the NZ store

New 4k Chrome cast

tripp

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#1645545 5-Oct-2016 06:33

Update:

Our store no longer has a "phone" option however the ultra chromecast is in the store for $109

tripp

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#1645555 5-Oct-2016 06:39

The phones are really not cheap

VPN to AU

Price in AU

32 = $1079

128 = $1229

5.5"

32 = $1269

128 = $1419

Colours = Black, White

No Blue

dafman

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#1645594 5-Oct-2016 08:02

What Google claim for new Pixel phones:

Automatic OS updates
Highest rated smartphone camera ever
Unlimited cloud storage for full resolution photo and video (4K!) – exclusive for Pixel users
7 hours use from 15 mins charge

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