Looking forward to the Pixel reveal. It has been suggested that pricing will be more in line with that of the iPhone - if that's the case, Google are going to have to deliver a phone unlike any Nexus (RIP) before, in that there are no compromises. Things like build quality, camera quality (software as much as hardware) and battery life are going to have to be second to none in order to justify that price tag.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

"Made by Google". 

Interesting. 

Maybe this thread should be renamed Pixel & Pixel XL announcements & owners thread

Linuxluver:

 

"Made by Google". 

Interesting. 

 

Interesting indeed, given that everyone knows they're actually being made by HTC 

From recent leaks, the new Pixel phones look very iPhone. Pity about the large bezels, I would have liked to have seen Google push the boat out with design - esp with the launch of the new brand.

This will be the 1st of their own so they will want to leave some room for improvement in a follow up version

Google better have some stellar surprises up their sleeve for this reveal. based on what has been leaked so far it looks like I will have my first iOS device since the 3GS...

lagbort:

 

Google better have some stellar surprises up their sleeve for this reveal. based on what has been leaked so far it looks like I will have my first iOS device since the 3GS...

 

The leaked devices simply look like anyone/everyone else's. They could be from any of the large or small manufacturers. There's certainly not a whole lot of outward design ingenuity there. I'm not saying that every new phone has to have a 'gimmick' or 'feature' that expresses themselves as different, but at least aesthetically, the Pixel devices leave plenty to be desired. The hardware specs will have to really stand out to come close to justifying a potential price increase.

Is it just me, or does it feel like Google are jumping from one idea (Nexus, Hangouts, Wallet) to the next (Pixel, Duo, Allo) without ever really finishing any of the ones prior?

lagbort:

 

Google better have some stellar surprises up their sleeve for this reveal. based on what has been leaked so far it looks like I will have my first iOS device since the 3GS...

 

Here's the new pixel side by side with iphone 7 (size comparison not accurate). Spec differences not yet known, but not too much difference in physical handset appearance.

What's disappointing you so far? 

dafman:

 

lagbort:

 

Google better have some stellar surprises up their sleeve for this reveal. based on what has been leaked so far it looks like I will have my first iOS device since the 3GS...

 

 

Here's the new pixel side by side with iphone 7 (size comparison not accurate). Spec differences not yet known, but not too much difference in physical handset appearance.

 

What's disappointing you so far? 

 

 

I currently have a Nexus 6P and will probably grab an iPhone 7+.

The aesthetic of the new Google/Nexus/Pixel launcher seems like a big step backwards (seen below); the awful icons scaled down to fit within a white circle for no real reason, the big ugly pull out search bar launcher thing at the top, I realize these can be changed with an updated launcher but they are indicative of Google's general move toward abandoning the overall design language (Material Design) that they have been using for the last couple of Android releases, without any clear unified replacement.

Google seems to be trying to become more like Apple, but is doing it in such a half-assed way it is unbelievable.

Hangouts had the potential to become the android version of iMessage (unified messaging across pc and android with both sms and messaging functionality), then Google removed sms functionality. Now we have Allo, yet another stand alone messaging app only this time no web support and still no sms support. This seems to be a running theme with Google, get an application almost to the functionality level it should be at then just abandon it for something newer and shinier.

I am also concerned that the new Google assistant (as seen in Allo) is now going to draw development time away from Google Now and we will be left in the situation of having 2 60% functional applications until such time as Google decides to abandon one to the wind.

Qualcomm is also holding everything back by just dribbling out minor performance increases every year, falling further and further behind Apple in performance stakes, leading to the absurd position we are in now where even this years flagship devices are being out performed in the real world by iPhone 2+ years old.

Don't get me wrong, I have had Android devices since the Nexus 1, I love the customization and the general ethos of allowing the user to do almost anything, even if the functionality is not polished or even barely functional but Google needs some focus in their development teams, some clear goals to work towards instead of the scattershot approach they seem to be taking now.

Google should partner up with 1 company (or just buy them), put some real development dollars into doing what Apple has done and develop their own SOC solution, sell it to other Android OEMs as well, but really double down on producing a "Google Phone" of sufficient build quality and performance that it can directly compete across the board with iPhone, polish android in its core functionality but retain the "wild west" edge where users can go beyond the pre-defined limits of the system and truly customize the device to their own use-case. Finally, sort out updates, iOS 10 has already gained majority install share on Apple devices, only a few weeks after launch, most Android phone users would be lucky to see an update within a year of the actual Google release (outside of Nexus devices).

I realize a lot of this wont matter to most people and I have probably rambled a bit much, but it really has been a 'death by 1000 cuts' that has finally pushed me over the edge to leave Android until either Google sorts it out or Apple screws up even worse. 

Here is a 3D render of what the Pixel XL will apparently look like.

https://youtu.be/C6V1AYP8F-0

lagbort:

 

 

 

Google seems to be trying to become more like Apple, but is doing it in such a half-assed way it is unbelievable.

 

Hangouts had the potential to become the android version of iMessage (unified messaging across pc and android with both sms and messaging functionality), then Google removed sms functionality. Now we have Allo, yet another stand alone messaging app only this time no web support and still no sms support. This seems to be a running theme with Google, get an application almost to the functionality level it should be at then just abandon it for something newer and shinier.

 

 

 

I was going to write a similar reply, but you have said exactly what I've been saying for a while now.

If Google do not turn Allo into a true cross-platform iMessage competitor, they may as well not bother with the Pixel IMO.

profrink:

 

lagbort:

 

 

 

Google seems to be trying to become more like Apple, but is doing it in such a half-assed way it is unbelievable.

 

Hangouts had the potential to become the android version of iMessage (unified messaging across pc and android with both sms and messaging functionality), then Google removed sms functionality. Now we have Allo, yet another stand alone messaging app only this time no web support and still no sms support. This seems to be a running theme with Google, get an application almost to the functionality level it should be at then just abandon it for something newer and shinier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was going to write a similar reply, but you have said exactly what I've been saying for a while now.

 

If Google do not turn Allo into a true cross-platform iMessage competitor, they may as well not bother with the Pixel IMO.

 

Yeah. Allo and Duo seem to be replicating portions of Hangouts. Hangouts is crossplatform and is a single integrated messaging, video, audio solution. I can't figure out what their strategy is...

lagbort:

 

 

 

 

 

Google should partner up with 1 company (or just buy them), put some real development dollars into doing what Apple has done and develop their own SOC solution, sell it to other Android OEMs as well, but really double down on producing a "Google Phone" of sufficient build quality and performance that it can directly compete across the board with iPhone

 

I think this is exactly what Google intend for Pixel. Premium build quality, with uniform design across varying screen size options. This year is initial launch under the Google brand, then build brand awareness - I agree with an earlier comment that next year will be the one to look out for. And I expect the Pixel OS upgrade cycle will be similar to iOS.

As for the aesthetic of the new launcher, I love it. And I think it still fits with the material design ethos.

On the software front, it is a little harder to work out what is happening. I can only assume there is a longer run game that we are unaware of that incorporates both Duo and Allo. In the meantime, I'm happy with what Whatsapp and Google messenger provide on android - esp. when compared with the inane childish functionality that now bloats iMessage after iOS10.

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