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http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/rehashplus/post.htm?id=63019568&scid=rvhm_ms
Gen 3 (Nexus One) came out mere weeks after the Milestone, using state-of-the-art technology not proven in the market. A shock to Motorola, certainly a shock to me, and I bought the Nexus One immediately when the specs were confirmed. How did it leapfrog Motorola's efforts? Probably because whoever made the Nexus One did not need to justify anything, project profits, etc. The only thing they needed to do was to make the Nexus COOL and to make it the bee's knees.
By all estimates, the Nexus One was a failure. Just because it had small sales numbers, limited distribution by telcos. But anyone who wanted it can buy it. For most people outside of the US, it's expensive like hell because it has none of the telco subsidy bull****. But it has no locks, no telco overlays, no badly customized custom user interfaces, it's easy to root, to hack, and to make it the phone of your dreams. It's the best handset I ever owned. Ever. Speaking of today, of course.
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The bolded really hit home.
I sincerely hope Google doesnt flat out give up on it. That they do have a sequel that will be available to all carriers. Nexus One pushed everything forward and back to back with the Droid legitimized Android as a premiere (and to many) THE premiere mobile OS. The amount of powerful handsets that have been dropped the last 7 months is ridiculous and only due to Android. Otherwise we'd still be stuck on Winmo 6.5 , an iPhone with no retina display or multitasking ,or a dead WebOS. Regardless of sales figures the Nexus one was the most important handset to drop this year.
Sadly because of those low sales figures Im not sure if we'll actually see a pure Google Nexus 2.
All these phones without colored trackballs have me worried too =-O.
p.s leave some comments...I tend to support bloggers/writers who can write without gross bias. This guy also happens to love N1.
Generally agree, except for the part of "By all estimates, the Nexus One was a failure". Low sales number don't equal failure. Look at PS3, they just broke even on that thing, and they sold A LOT.
Besides, google never planned to make money on phones. They are not htc. They don't make phones. They plan to make money on the OS and partnerships with manufacturers who want to run Android (+ google ads).
People forget that Nexus One, although branded as google phone, is actually an htc headset.
DarkDvr said:
Generally agree, except for the part of "By all estimates, the Nexus One was a failure". Low sales number don't equal failure. Look at PS3, they just broke even on that thing, and they sold A LOT.
Besides, google never planned to make money on phones. They are not htc. They don't make phones. They plan to make money on the OS and partnerships with manufacturers who want to run Android (+ google ads).
People forget that Nexus One, although branded as google phone, is actually an htc headset.
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It didnt shake anything up.
Most people have no Fn clue wth a Nexus One is.
Sales figures were laughable.
Thats what people will measure it by.
As a piece of technology it was massive success. Considering the BRUTAL bias and flat out bogus reviews it received , the 3g, wonky soft buttons , and MT problems you'd expect it to be a total dud.It was anything but.
xManMythLegend said:
It didnt shake anything up.
Most people have no Fn clue wth a Nexus One is.
Sales figures were laughable.
Thats what people will measure it by.
As a piece of technology it was massive success. Considering the BRUTAL bias and flat out bogus reviews it received , the 3g, wonky soft buttons , and MT problems you'd expect it to be a total dud.It was anything but.
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True, but I think we have to understand that goal was never to sell millions of Nexus Ones and make tons of money. N1 is kinda like a Android demo phone. Something that manufacturers and interested developers/users can try and see where Android is going, what it really is. That's the real goal, not to sell it as a regular money-making gizmo.
I think in that sense, N1 was a huge success. Think about it. Manuf. and developers tried it out, and loved it. Proof is that immediately manufacturers like htc, motorola and samsung (not even mentioning logitech, gm, cisco...) jumped on the bandwagon, seeing the potential in it.
I think the real hardware "money makers" were always intended to be Evo 4G, Galaxy S, some lower-end android phones that AT&T is launching.. Those are your standard gizmos whos success you can measure in sales numbers.
G1 -> Nexus One are special, their success is not to be measured in sales, but in exposure and future developments.
I have yet to handle any phone that feels as solid and expensive as my Nexus One.
I'd love to get my hands on a Nexus Two.
It doesn't even have spec rumors yet and I want it. I love the openness of it and that it's the one that gets Googles focus. Love it!
There won't be a nexus two.
Google is sitting on a pile of Nexus Ones and is trying to unload them anyway they can. It's painfully obvious retail hardware is not a business they want to further pursue.
Your best bet for another phone as open as the nexus will be the next developer phone, or something from Nokia's brand.
Google, give me a Nexus Two with the following:
4.3" Screen (720p-ish resolution)
Next-gen processor (hummingbird? or one of those duel-core cpus?)
768+ MB of RAM/ROM
Front Facing camera (VGA is fine)
8+ MP regular camera
Optical trackpad (see blackberry)
Hardware back, menu, home, search buttons
HDMI out
8GB internal storage (16 would be nice too )
Google have never actually said that the Nexus One was a failure right? They said that the Web Store is a failure as it didn't meet their expectations. The Nexus One not selling so many units is because it was only available on a failing web store. When Google announced they were closing the web store they said that Nexus One's will be sold in retail stores, they didn't say they are discontinuing the product like how Microsoft have with the Kin phones.
And Google have said that the reason the Nexus One didn't appear on Verizon and Sprint was because Google changed the sales model early on (choosing to close the web store but announcing it much later) and as the networks were going to get equivalent phones to the Nexus One, Google and the networks decided to pull out. I reckon the reason why the Nexus One was delayed so much on the Vodafone network was due to the fact that Google were changing their sales model.
However the Nexus One did achieve a goal of pushing manufactures to produce high quality phones. The Nexus One specs are now like a minimum for all future smartphones.
The nexus one was being produced at the same time as all the other HTC lineup, it's actually the lower end of HTC current snapdragon line.
Had google not bid on this specific model, we would proably be seeing this exact phone Labeled T-Mobile MyTouch HD or something without and unlockable bootloader.
do you guys honestly think google expected to sell millions of nexus one's when all they did is throw up a few ads on a few websites? they didnt do any primetime TV ads, nothing. you honestly think that google didnt do that on purpose? no way would they have expected huge sales with that kind of marketing platform (or lack thereof). they wanted a develper phone, and that's what they got. of course if they bought primetime TV space like apple does, then they would have sold a lot more. i dont see how people fail to see this logic.
JCopernicus said:
There won't be a nexus two.
Google is sitting on a pile of Nexus Ones and is trying to unload them anyway they can. It's painfully obvious retail hardware is not a business they want to further pursue.
Your best bet for another phone as open as the nexus will be the next developer phone, or something from Nokia's brand.
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If that'd be true in any way, u'd see discounted prices and specials for N1.
Do you? Cause if you find one, I'd love to be proven wrong (my friend wants nothing but N1 now).
DarkDvr said:
If that'd be true in any way, u'd see discounted prices and specials for N1.
Do you? Cause if you find one, I'd love to be proven wrong (my friend wants nothing but N1 now).
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They still have an investment in them, they're not going to willingly lose that money.
My comment was directed at their current strategy of selling them in "retail stores all over the place".
RogerPodacter said:
do you guys honestly think google expected to sell millions of nexus one's when all they did is throw up a few ads on a few websites? they didnt do any primetime TV ads, nothing. you honestly think that google didnt do that on purpose? no way would they have expected huge sales with that kind of marketing platform (or lack thereof). they wanted a develper phone, and that's what they got. of course if they bought primetime TV space like apple does, then they would have sold a lot more. i dont see how people fail to see this logic.
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EXACTLY. You guys are jumping on a bandwagon of "N1 was a fail". It's completely wrong. Stop believing stuff that some trolls write on a forum.
It's extremelly shallow to think that all things that are released are released to sell as many as possible. Or that pure "items sold" would give you an idea of how successfull item was.
There are many, many cases of special edition cars, stereo systems, you name it. Some items are designed and sold for a different purpose. To increase awareness, to hit a small portion of the market. To create a sense of "rarity" or "urgency", etc etc.
Want proof? Ok. Remember the GMAIL model. First year or two you could ONLY get gmail by INVITE. If you didn't know, google wrote a book on "Virus Marketing". Creating a sense of rareness, coolness and priviledge towards a certain item. It works, they're not idiots. They are doing the same thing with N1. Just enough marketing to sell them, but not enough to sate people with the idea. Think about it.
In a way, you're holding a rare (or soon to be), barely advertised, special edition Android 2 phone. Don't complain that not everyone bought one. It was never meant to be.
Besides.. don't be naive. If google (one of biggest web advertisers in the world) would want to REALLY advertise their phone... Trust you me, they'd advertise the BEJESUS out of it. They'd sell millions worldwide. That's just not their goal.
JCopernicus said:
They still have an investment in them, they're not going to willingly lose that money.
My comment was directed at their current strategy of selling them in "retail stores all over the place".
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Changing from online sales to store sales does NOT equal failed product.
Even if google indeed got dissapointed with online sale model, it doesn't mean that N1 is an epic fail, as quote from first post states.
I never said it was a failed product, they've already turned a profit on it.
Changing your primary business model shows your product wasn't a great success.
JCopernicus said:
I never said it was a failed product, they've already turned a profit on it.
Changing your primary business model shows your product wasn't a great success.
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Correct but the product that wasn't a success is the Google Web Store, not the Nexus One.
The Web Store failed, the Nexus One didn't.
Sarg92 said:
Correct but the product that wasn't a success is the Google Web Store, not the Nexus One.
The Web Store failed, the Nexus One didn't.
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This is more in general, and not directed specifically at you, Sarg, but at some of the similar comments along the same lines.
I'm pretty sure Google was aware of these things prior to selling the N1:
1 - Most people in the states buy phones subsidized from the carriers
2 - Most people don't want to shell out almost $600 for a phone
3 - The economy kinda sucks
Why would they proceed, knowing the above, if they intended the N1 to be as successful as the iPhone?
Perhaps, just perhaps, Google is aware of a small but serious community of people who love technology and want the latest and greatest. Perhaps Google's goal all along was to target a select few and push the development of the OS, the apps, and the general market for Android devices.
To me, the N1 is really like phase 2 or 3 in a lengthy strategic plan that is, in all aspects, going rather well.
1 - Secure an OS (Purchase of Android)
2 - Develop and market and OS (Release of G1)
3 - Grow the base
a - Advertise Androidb - Put out more Android devicesc - Release a killer device to spur OS, app, and marketshare development4 - Drop more serious Android devices (and we're seeing a ton now)
5 - World domination
The indent feature on 3a, b, and c didn't work quite like planned, but c'est la vie. You get the idea.
th0r615 said:
Google, give me a Nexus Two with the following:
4.3" Screen (720p-ish resolution)
Next-gen processor (hummingbird? or one of those duel-core cpus?)
768+ MB of RAM/ROM
Front Facing camera (VGA is fine)
8+ MP regular camera
Optical trackpad (see blackberry)
Hardware back, menu, home, search buttons
HDMI out
8GB internal storage (16 would be nice too )
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Click to collapse
I could imagine with Gingerbread coming in October, and the fact that the Dev 2 phone (myTouch) doesn't fit any of the requirements, that we'll see a pretty updated Dev 3 phone designed specifically for Gingerbread.
That's would make logical sense to me anyway.
I wish nexus one had more storage (4GB or higher) because it can't rely on memory card as it may fail. In addition, more storage can let me store more music on the phone itself and free the memory card for video.
Generally I am happy with nexus one and I think the migration from WM is a right decision.
Er.. So, Why did amazon bother to not add the android market, if they aren't going to block loading APKs, or actively try to prevent root?
My mom who knows nothing about android could be walked through that process...
Try asking B&N the same thing?
Amazon thought it through perfectly. They aren't selling or attempting to actually sell a mobile computing device (tablet). They are selling a next gen Kindle (PMP). Have a look at the Nook Color and the iPod Touch, then compare against a Galaxy Tab, Xoom, Thrive, iPad 2, and Transformer. See the difference?
If they wanted the Android Market, Google has strict requirements that would keep amazon from doing all the data mining they want to sell ad data to partners. If you have the Google Android Market on a device you make Google gets all the info..
I think....
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
cos they just made so you buy from amazon.com they make a $10 loss on each one, they hope to gain that from selling stuff via amazon.com
natand12342010 said:
cos they just made so you buy from amazon.com they make a $10 loss on each one, they hope to gain that from selling stuff via amazon.com
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It doesn't look like they are taking much of a loss at all according to this study: http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=212876 Making a profit actually.
Mama Luigi said:
Try asking B&N the same thing?
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I've been curious about the nook as well.
On the other hand, even if not a lot, I figured they were making a bit more money off of their product than amazon who is potentially using their tablet as a loss leader.
Snow_fox said:
I've been curious about the nook as well.
On the other hand, even if not a lot, I figured they were making a bit more money off of their product than amazon who is potentially using their tablet as a loss leader.
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It's all about "branding" the consumer. The earlier a company can get you to like/use their product the more likely it is you will continue to use them. The AF, by trying to restrict content and funnel only to their "approved" providers they can make dollars on volume. Apple does the same thing by getting their products into schools. Get 'em while their young! lol McDonald's does the same thing. What parent doesn't relent (often enough) to the protestations of their kid lamenting for the latest Happy Meal toy?
Downsides are galore. If a high school senior only knows Apple..they are severely limited in the marketplace (like it as not it's still a MS Business World). McDonald's? Fat kids with poor eating habits...Amazon Only Contest? One loses the richness of choice. See what I mean?
(I just might be a little cynical? lol)
skeeterpro said:
It's all about "branding" the consumer. The earlier a company can get you to like/use their product the more likely it is you will continue to use them. The AF, by trying to restrict content and funnel only to their "approved" providers they can make dollars on volume. Apple does the same thing by getting their products into schools. Get 'em while their young! lol McDonald's does the same thing. What parent doesn't relent (often enough) to the protestations of their kid lamenting for the latest Happy Meal toy?
Downsides are galore. If a high school senior only knows Apple..they are severely limited in the marketplace (like it as not it's still a MS Business World). McDonald's? Fat kids with poor eating habits...Amazon Only Contest? One loses the richness of choice. See what I mean?
(I just might be a little cynical? lol)
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You're dead on actually. This is a proven marketing method that works so well that various companies are banned from using it (tobacco, alcohol, etc). Apple's variant has been particularly successful because they didn't just get their product out to the kids. They also worked hard to convince the kids that without an Apple product, you weren't cool. Once this took hold, all Apple needed to do was continue to play upon that theme with each later device, as the "cool factor" propagates on its own, both forward and backward across generations. The older crowd by nature wants to appear to be young and hip, and the very young crowd want to appear older and cool. So, Apple wins across the board, from the elementary school almost all the way up to the retirees.
Cobey_S said:
You're dead on actually. This is a proven marketing method that works so well that various companies are banned from using it (tobacco, alcohol, etc). Apple's variant has been particularly successful because they didn't just get their product out to the kids. They also worked hard to convince the kids that without an Apple product, you weren't cool. Once this took hold, all Apple needed to do was continue to play upon that theme with each later device, as the "cool factor" propagates on its own, both forward and backward across generations. The older crowd by nature wants to appear to be young and hip, and the very young crowd want to appear older and cool. So, Apple wins across the board, from the elementary school almost all the way up to the retirees.
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The iPhone 4S is a failure in the sense that it looks like and has the same appearance as the iPhone 4. No discernable COOL factor here. Buyers will have to wear a pin "This Is The 4S"
1215kids said:
The iPhone 4S is a failure in the sense that it looks like and has the same appearance as the iPhone 4. No discernable COOL factor here. Buyers will have to wear a pin "This Is The 4S"
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iPhone 1G, 3G, and 3GS all looked identical as well, but that didn't stop shoppers, nor the "cool" effect brought of having an "in" product. The appearance and technical excellence have little to nothing to do with it. "I have an iPhone," on the other hand does, and that's the brilliance behind Apple's variant on the "capture the hearts and minds of the young" marketing approach.
Er. Guys.
Let me say the iphone 4s may have failed in a few ways.
1. People expected an iphone 5. Even if it would have the exact same hardware.. people wanted to hear "iphone 5". Apple failed at marketing.. which is big since it is almost more of a marketing company than anything else.
2. A lot of people *were* hoping to see changes. Being totally honest.. the iphone design is tired in a lot of ways. The 3.5" screen is small despite the iphone being almost the same size as a 4" device. The problem is if they raise the size to 4" then it is just going to look gigantic..
Apple is in a bad situation honestly. If they change it, they alienate a lot of fans.
If they don't, the design just keeps looking older and older..
Snow_fox said:
Er. Guys.
Let me say the iphone 4s may have failed in a few ways.
1. People expected an iphone 5. Even if it would have the exact same hardware.. people wanted to hear "iphone 5". Apple failed at marketing.. which is big since it is almost more of a marketing company than anything else.
2. A lot of people *were* hoping to see changes. Being totally honest.. the iphone design is tired in a lot of ways. The 3.5" screen is small despite the iphone being almost the same size as a 4" device. The problem is if they raise the size to 4" then it is just going to look gigantic..
Apple is in a bad situation honestly. If they change it, they alienate a lot of fans.
If they don't, the design just keeps looking older and older..
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Myself, and the others that I know that are technically inclined are in complete agreement with you. On the flip side, not one of my friends or customers, that use their iPhones as status symbols more than anything else, feel that way. To them, it's a new iPhone, and they want it. Sadly, that bunch easily outnumbers the technically inclined. I feel that is pretty accurate for the market as a whole as well - those that know better are the minority by a long shot.
They thought it through, but with their own concept on reality
No Google market, the low storage and no microsd slot are all by design to force a bunch of lemmings (they appear to think we all are) into their revenue cloud.
Just wait till folks get on the road with these things and find out the cloud only hovers around a wifi connection
IMO, the Flyer is the current best 7" device for price and features. Compared to the Fire:
1. 8gb more storage
2. 512mb more ram
3. The SoC per Anandtech and my own practical tests performs better with Flash, games, video and everything else in between (I also have a Droid 3, which has 512mb ram and 4430 SoC to compare in a practical manner).
4. Microsd slot
5. GPS
6. BOTH markets
7. Install from other sources
8. Camera
9. Better build
The extra $100 seems a very sound investment for most folks.
The Fire IMO is a low end, second rate iPad wannabe, with a UI and storefront model to support it. CrabApple.
Cobey_S said:
On the flip side, not one of my friends or customers, that use their iPhones as status symbols more than anything else, feel that way. To them, it's a new iPhone, and they want it.
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But it looks exactly the same as last year's model. Now in order to feel superior, they have to ask everyone holding one if they have the 4 or 4s. That's a lot of work.
thatdude90210 said:
But it looks exactly the same as last year's model. Now in order to feel superior, they have to ask everyone holding one if they have the 4 or 4s. That's a lot of work.
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Who cares? The 4S is released as a mid-range device. Apple has no high-end devices now... They're failing on this release.
thatdude90210 said:
But it looks exactly the same as last year's model. Now in order to feel superior, they have to ask everyone holding one if they have the 4 or 4s. That's a lot of work.
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One would think, right? Not the case. So far, I have but one iPhone lover that isn't budging on the update to the 4S, 30-40 that are getting it because it's new, and 8 that are converting from Android to iOS and are rather excited to get it.
rushless said:
They thought it through, but with their own concept on reality
No Google market, the low storage and no microsd slot are all by design to force a bunch of lemmings (they appear to think we all are) into their revenue cloud.
Just wait till folks get on the road with these things and find out the cloud only hovers around a wifi connection
IMO, the Flyer is the current best 7" device for price and features. Compared to the Fire:
1. 8gb more storage
2. 512mb more ram
3. The SoC per Anandtech and my own practical tests performs better with Flash, games, video and everything else in between (I also have a Droid 3, which has 512mb ram and 4430 SoC to compare in a practical manner).
4. Microsd slot
5. GPS
6. BOTH markets
7. Install from other sources
8. Camera
9. Better build
The extra $100 seems a very sound investment for most folks.
The Fire IMO is a low end, second rate iPad wannabe, with a UI and storefront model to support it. CrabApple.
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Click to collapse
Being totally honest, I must admit I am considering the Kindle fire, but I am waiting to see what else comes out first.
If I *only* wanted a tablet, spending 100$ more on a flyer would be ok.. But, I also have a few other things on my "christmas list" A few ps3 games (infamous2 and resistance3), a new comp case.. (obsidian 650d) and I would like a tablet so I can read manga somewhere besides at my computer screen.
So for me, it becomes an issue of practicality.. How much can I really afford to spend on a tablet in the near future?
I mean sure it *is* limited to the cloud.. however without the internet most devices become borderline useless anyway.
Snow_fox said:
Being totally honest, I must admit I am considering the Kindle fire, but I am waiting to see what else comes out first.
If I *only* wanted a tablet, spending 100$ more on a flyer would be ok.. But, I also have a few other things on my "christmas list" A few ps3 games (infamous2 and resistance3), a new comp case.. (obsidian 650d) and I would like a tablet so I can read manga somewhere besides at my computer screen.
So for me, it becomes an issue of practicality.. How much can I really afford to spend on a tablet in the near future?
I mean sure it *is* limited to the cloud.. however without the internet most devices become borderline useless anyway.
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Click to collapse
For what you say, Snow, the AF might well be ideal for what you seek. The again, let's all keep in mind that as of right now, the AF cannot really be considered an "android tablet" but more a "dedicated e-reader running android". That is if/until it is rooted by some of the marvelous devs on XDA.
My money's on the devs. lol
Snow_fox said:
Being totally honest, I must admit I am considering the Kindle fire, but I am waiting to see what else comes out first.
If I *only* wanted a tablet, spending 100$ more on a flyer would be ok.. But, I also have a few other things on my "christmas list" A few ps3 games (infamous2 and resistance3), a new comp case.. (obsidian 650d) and I would like a tablet so I can read manga somewhere besides at my computer screen.
So for me, it becomes an issue of practicality.. How much can I really afford to spend on a tablet in the near future?
I mean sure it *is* limited to the cloud.. however without the internet most devices become borderline useless anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on what you use. I have tons of games, videos and emulator roms. Use them while traveling and other area where wifi is no open or available.
This device is as limited as you could get.
As far as rooting, why? There is no space to do anything with it. Breach the Amazon cloud and the functionality is even less. Assuming inflation for my contract manufacturing days for connectors (buyer), the total cost for a sd slot port is 75 cents to add to design (components circuit bridge). This means probably $1.50 applied to sellers to maintain margin.
Could argue that is money they save, but I suggest the lack of one is FAR more costly, since it will sell well until people are savvy to no card expansion and the "forced" cloud use. They should have added the slot, but it is not there by design- they want cloud usage so they can data mine and also get revenue linked to their B class iTunes effort.
For someone not constrained on an extra $100, the Flyer is FAR better for reasons mentioned above (at least). Added: Heck, even my very non-tech wife does not want the Fire, due to no microsd slot. A key reason she also did not want an iPad either.
---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:41 PM ----------
Snow_fox said:
Er. Guys.
Let me say the iphone 4s may have failed in a few ways.
1. People expected an iphone 5. Even if it would have the exact same hardware.. people wanted to hear "iphone 5". Apple failed at marketing.. which is big since it is almost more of a marketing company than anything else.
2. A lot of people *were* hoping to see changes. Being totally honest.. the iphone design is tired in a lot of ways. The 3.5" screen is small despite the iphone being almost the same size as a 4" device. The problem is if they raise the size to 4" then it is just going to look gigantic..
Apple is in a bad situation honestly. If they change it, they alienate a lot of fans.
If they don't, the design just keeps looking older and older..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an iPod 4 64gb and like it a lot, but would not have a iPhone, since too constrained for me (ditto on an iPad). Still, the new models have the dual core and a 64gb option. Not too shabby for iPhone lovers who are media and game freaks.
The problem is the "retina display". If they increase the size, ditto on the display res. Probably too costly and not reliable enough for efficient yields from production. Cost curve for a 4" retina is probably evil (for now).
I've seen a ton of Android users bashing "iSheep" over the years for their undying loyalty and "sheepism" (if there is such a word) for the way that they foam at the mouth for every new Apple product that gets released. It seems that no matter what the reviews or competing products show them, they run out and buy that new iProduct as soon as it hits the shelves.
I've started to wonder if us Nexus fans aren't exactly the same.. here we have a brand new Nexus 4 coming out, and let's be honest most of the reviews are not on the positive side. I've seen the numerous justifications about how the test phones weren't running the most "optimized" software, how the reviewer(s) were Apple fan boys, how the final product won't be anything like the test phones..
However, when I started recounting my experiences with the Nexus brand, I have to say I think we are putting our blinders on due to the excitement of having a new Nexus with decent specs. Case point:
When I decided to buy the Galaxy Nexus I was extremely excited to finally get my hands on the "Pure Android Experience". Coming from the Galaxy SII, I had some high expectations of what I top notch smart phone should be - but I also had high hopes given the Gnex specs. When the day my Gnex arrived, I couldn't get the box open fast enough! Then low and behold - the phone was DOA. Wouldn't even power on, nothing. No long press, multiple press, extended charging, nada. Quickly called Google and was sent a replacement two days later.
When the replacement arrived, it powered up just fine (thank God..) and I began getting it all set up. Almost immediately I noticed it didn't seem as responsive as my Galaxy SII. The touch screen lacked the sensitivity of the SII, but I thought to myself, I can deal with that - hey, it's a Nexus! The colors seems a bit off to me, but I thought "it's probably just the auto-brightness". It was only after setting the phone up completely that I noticed the urine-colored whites and the muted colors. I thought to myself, "well, everyone says the Galaxy SII is over saturated anyway.." although I wasn't too convinced. It just didn't seem to have the "WOW" factor the SII had. Still, I carried on - after all.. it's a Nexus!
Three weeks later and I'm starting to get pissy about the Gnex. Reception just wasn't as good, seemed to run things slightly slower than my SII, DL speeds were slower than my SII, the touch screen responsiveness (or lack thereof) had simply become annoying. That coupled with the so-so screen quality and everything started to get to me. Dissatisfaction was growing at this point..
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. Sold my Gnex on XDA for $350 shipped and guess what? The very next day it drops to $350 in the Play Store. Felt really bad for the guy who bought mine, but since I keep my phones pristine I'm sure he was OK with it. Plus he saved tax + shipping.
So I immediately went out and bought the Galaxy SIII on release day. OH. MY. GOD. I had my phone back. It was like the SII only bigger. Better. Faster. Touch screen responsiveness and screen was simply amazing. Everything flew on this phone, no matter what I threw at it. Fell in love with Android all over again.
Three weeks ago I went and bought the Nexus 7. I thought, surely the reports of the QC issues are slightly exaggerated since XDA is such a small portion of the consumer population.. they're just a little more anal, a little more OCD about their devices (at least this is what I am reading by the members aggressively defending the Nexus 7). I'm sure it will be fine!
My first Nexus 7 has such bad light bleed I immediately returned it. Bad luck, I thought. I'm sure this isn't the norm. After all, I didn't have any screen lift.. right? My 2nd Nexus 7 - Ahh, perfection. No light bleed, no screen lift, everything looks great. Well, except for the slightly washed out colors and over saturated whites. But hey, it's LCD so what do I expect right? Besides... it's a Nexus!
Sure enough, here I am three weeks later, and the same light bleed in the lower left corner has manifested, along with a slight screen lift on the upper left hand side. I haven't removed the back to check for missing screws yet, but I am sure I will find it is the same as others have reported.. I won't be returning this one as I have decided to live with it even though it aggravates me every time I see it.
So here I am at the impasse.. I have the Galaxy SIII, which is what I consider the best phone on the market (besides perhaps the Note 2) running CM10 Jellybean 4.1.2 flawlessly.. and yet the Nexus name is calling to me again.
WHY IN THE WORLD should I expect things to be different this time? Why would I choose to ignore the reviews and believe other Nexus fan boys who say it's the "test phones" and software that is "not optimized", and that it's not the "final product"?
There's only ONE reason I can think of. Because I am a God damn Google fanatic that keeps ignoring reality in the hopes that everyone is wrong and this will be the best Android phone ever. But we all know that it won't... don't we?
I'm giving Google one last chance to impress the hell outta me. After this, if things turn out like they have in the past, I'm sorry to say it but... I will be a Samsung fan from now on. Yes, they did make the Gnex.. and it was inferior.. but honestly it's probably because they were putting everything into their Galaxy S line to steal the show, which IMO they have done quite successfully.
Don't let me down Google. Make me a Nexus believer again.
Anyone agree with me?
TL;DR, lol.
Nexus 4 will be made by Samsung. Should've called it the SGS4.
I disagree.
SGS2 owner.
locsplitter said:
Nexus 4 will be made by Samsung. Should've called it the SGS4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh... OK.
The Nexus 4 is made by LG. Not Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Thats a lot of writing man, my eyes hurt
johnbyebye said:
TL;DR, lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
Some things can't be properly conveyed in a short paragraph.
Not that I expected any actual responses in a Nexus forum.
I'm not saying that I'm not all in on the Nexus 4.. just saying I don't hold high hopes that it will be everything Google claims..
I read it and here's my take on the Nexus 4.
I may not be as technical as most people on XDA, but I try to read up as much as I can. I think what makes MOST (not all) Android users different from MOST (not all) iPhone users is that we actually take the time to research a product before be buy it. They buy their products because it says "Apple" on the box. We have countless different devices to choose from. We HAVE to do the research before we buy. This isn't just about buying a Nexus, this is about buying a new Android phone and having to choose between what's currently on the market.
For me, I'm over my current phone (T-Mobile G2x) and want to get a new one, but I'm still on contract. I don't make enough money to drop $600+ on a new phone. Hell, even if I did make enough money, I wouldn't be comfortable dropping that much money on a phone. Buying a phone from Google means I can buy a nice phone at an affordable price without forcing me to extend a contract that I never wanted to be on in the first place (I originally only switched from Virgin Mobile to T-Mobile because I wanted a better phone at a decent price and signing a contract used to be the only way to do that). My original plan was actually to buy the Galaxy Nexus to hold me over until my upgrade was available and then, from there, decide if I wanted to stick with Android or try out Windows Phone 8.
Then the Nexus 4 was announced and for the same exact price as the Galaxy Nexus. It's a better phone, at a better price.
Like I said, I may not be as technical as the rest of you, but what I see is a phone that is equivalent to each heavy hitter currently on the market (Galaxy SIII, One X, iPhone 5, the various upcoming offerings from Windows Phone 8). The only difference is that this phone is half the price of all of those. That's what I see when I look at the Nexus 4. I see an affordable upgrade for my current phone that is cheaper to every other comparable phone on the market and that's why I'm going to buy it (after consumer reviews of course, but it's almost certain that I will be ordering this phone before the month is over).
Now, the thing I do not understand is why people with the above mentioned phones would seriously consider this. Yes, it's a Nexus. Yes, it will get updates faster. But why should that all matter? All of us here on XDA are probably running rooted phones and we've all probably flashed multiple ROMs. My G2x is currently running Jellybean 4.1. It may not be 4.2, but I'm sure a clever dev will make it happen at some point. If not my phone, all of the above mentioned phones (minus the iPhone and Windows Phone 8 obviously) will get it at some point. Our vanilla Android experience isn't going to be vanilla for too long out of the box.
Maybe it's because I'm not made of money, but I wouldn't be able to justify dropping another $350 if I already had a $600+ phone. I don't buy into brands (part of the reason why I refuse to use Apple products). I'm happy to be a future owner of a Nexus phone, but I'm not buying it because it's Nexus (although that is nice). I'm buying it because it's cheap and, to my untrained eyes, more or less equal to the best phones on the market.
To each their own. To me, Nexus 4. All there is to it
I agree. I am buying the nexus 4 strictly for these reasons:
1) I need a new phone, currently using Samsung captivate on aokp jb milestone 1.
2) don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a new phone
3) want a phone that will be supported with software updates immediately
4) Want a phone that has great specs so that it can support future software updates down the road
I am not expecting this phone to be a savior. As the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true it usually is. To buy the most powerful "best" phone and only pay 359$ for it brand new? That seems too good to be true IMO. I just need a huge upgrade from my captivate and the nexus is more than that.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
Obagleyfreer said:
The Nexus 4 is made by LG. Not Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not according to this retailer. http://www.popularelect.com/LG-Nexus-4-Unlocked-Smartphone-p/Nexus4.htm?gclid=CKm_ksGpu7MCFcaDQgodClkAow
Source discussion http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1977196
I can see your point though I don't agree with some of your reasoning. At times there are levels of excitement that are disproportionate to reality, but I don't think this is representative of the majority of users.
As for the "negative reviews" take a look at the screenshots that show kernel and baseband versions - on at least three of the sites they are different versions. It is highly likely that software improvements will address these issues. The fact that many of the reviews did not make note that the software on their review device is a pre-release version is either disingenuous or ignorant. Making note of this as a consumer does not denote fanboyism.
All products will have build quality issues, this is just how things are. I returned my first Galaxy S2 because of problems with the screen and my first Nexus 7 as well. I know people who have had problems with iPhones and other Android devices which required RMA. Does that mean that an LG product will now have flaws because it has Google branding on it? Hardly. There probably will be issues and we'll hear all the whining and moaning, we wait and see.
tl;dr - it's just a phone, people need to chill the **** out. Only time will tell if it's a great phone or not.
comminus said:
I can see your point though I don't agree with some of your reasoning. At times there are levels of excitement that are disproportionate to reality, but I don't think this is representative of the majority of users.
As for the "negative reviews" take a look at the screenshots that show kernel and baseband versions - on at least three of the sites they are different versions. It is highly likely that software improvements will address these issues. The fact that many of the reviews did not make note that the software on their review device is a pre-release version is either disingenuous or ignorant. Making note of this as a consumer does not denote fanboyism.
All products will have build quality issues, this is just how things are. I returned my first Galaxy S2 because of problems with the screen and my first Nexus 7 as well. I know people who have had problems with iPhones and other Android devices which required RMA. Does that mean that an LG product will now have flaws because it has Google branding on it? Hardly. There probably will be issues and we'll hear all the whining and moaning, we wait and see.
tl;dr - it's just a phone, people need to chill the **** out. Only time will tell if it's a great phone or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why, when other phones are reviewed, are they not on some sort of "pre-release" software?
I don't remember reading reviews of other high end Android phones and seeing people say they were "misleading" or that the "software wasn't optimized"
I mean c'mon, all of the sudden reviews are completely bogus and software isn't up to par?
I don't care of they were running GB, the phone either flies or it doesn't.
OP, I'm really glad you made this thread. I've never had a Nexus and I also am over my current device (myTouch 4G) and chomping at the bit to get a new one. I had no idea there were that many problems with either the gnex or the N7. This worries me. I have some thinking to do...
Also, have a thanks.
ingenious247 said:
Why, when other phones are reviewed, are they not on some sort of "pre-release" software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the software is not released or finished, then they are by definition running 'pre-release' software.
ingenious247 said:
I don't remember reading reviews of other high end Android phones and seeing people say they were "misleading" or that the "software wasn't optimized"
I mean c'mon, all of the sudden reviews are completely bogus and software isn't up to par?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never said the reviews were completely bogus, in fact I mentioned how it was obvious that there was different software on at least three review devices and that It is highly likely that software improvements will address the issues. Note - I am acknowledging that there are issues
Again, it's just a phone. If you are concerned it wont meet your expectations wait until it's been out for a while to see what happens; some people will love it, others will call it a flop.
Other top phones (SIII, etc.) aren't reviewed with pre-release software because they use an established version of Android, aka SIII shipping with ICS, whereas the Nexus 4 is shipping with a brand new version of Android, 4.2, which has not been as widely tested and established, and which Google is probably still working on. If 4.2 were completely ready today, the Nexus 4 would probably be released today, rather than the 13th.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
To me it is a matter of price. I'm stuck with Xperia mini, and I want to upgrade. At the same time the Nexus 4 is released, and it is insanely cheap, at least from foreign countries like Germany (which use the same power plug as Sweden). The price is what makes this phone so very interesting, if it weren't for that there would have been a lot of other phones in question. In Sweden the Nexus 4 isn't something out of the ordinary, when you can buy a Galaxy S3 for about the same price. But if I import this phone from Germany, I save about 150 euros, that is why I'm very interested.
The fact that it is a Nexus is positive, but not the main factor. I've read some bad reviews, but for this price, it isn't a dealbreaker. The same criticism at swedish prices would be a dealbreaker however.
Regards,
rodstrom
I need a new phone, I have always preferred vanilla android, and I've had two nexus phones before my current non-nexus phone.
I am ready to be back on a nexus phone, between the quick updates, and being free from a contract, the nexus 4 is extremely enticing, AND at an amazing pricepoint.
I agree with the OP on many counts. Even though I myself have had no problems with my GNex and felt that it was THE most beautiful phone I have owned (maybe second to the LG Prada), the whites were jaundiced and sickly looking. And even though kernels like Trinity fixed it to a certain extent, Google needs to realize one thing - the phone needs to be working without problems out of the box. I think what is happening is an over dependency on devs and a complacency thinking that people will overlook glitches in nexus devices because, hey! after all this is android. The devs can fix everything, right?!
A trend I am seeing with the N4 is that no matter what the issue is, many people go, 'well its just 350, so its ok'! No its not! Its not like we asked Google to make an inexpensive device, so they were compelled and thus had to resort to faulty and low quality hardware to cut costs. The price was their decision. I as a consumer want my phone problem free - $350 or $650
That said, I hope as much as the next guy that the problems so far are indeed related to pre-release firmwares and kernels. But then, it was absolutely ridiculous and insane of Google to send those devices for review. Might as well have no reviews than have tons of negative ones. Sure, people here on XDA are 'techy' enough to know that the test firmware is not final and most of the issues might be wrinkled out by release date. But a common man sees the review and goes 'oh crap! i don't want a headache, lemme just get something that everyone says works i.e. iPhone'.
-end rant-
Hello Note 10.1 users.
As stated, this is for my younger sister who just got out of college.
She's considering a tablet and I have a Note II which I love. I've always been an android user, since the nexus one (which she uses since i got the galaxy nexus).
When I'm reading online, even android websites say that android tablets are not on par w/ the iPad. I see that it's about the apps, but I feel like all the big apps are on android too, so I'm just confused.
Has anyone here had significant experience w/ one of the "new" ipads (3rd or 4th) that can offer their thoughts?
The reason I'm considering the Note 10.1 is because the only other 10 inch android tablet that seems good is the transformer infinity and their forums are just RIDDLED with problems, which I don't see Note 10.1 users having. So it seems to be the most stable 10 inch tablet on android.
There's two ipads in my home. My step sons and my wife's. My wife just got the 10.1 after seeing mine and gave her other son the ipad. Just go to a store a try all your options and see what you like best.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
ksc6000 said:
Hello Note 10.1 users.
As stated, this is for my younger sister who just got out of college.
She's considering a tablet and I have a Note II which I love. I've always been an android user, since the nexus one (which she uses since i got the galaxy nexus).
When I'm reading online, even android websites say that android tablets are not on par w/ the iPad. I see that it's about the apps, but I feel like all the big apps are on android too, so I'm just confused.
Has anyone here had significant experience w/ one of the "new" ipads (3rd or 4th) that can offer their thoughts?
The reason I'm considering the Note 10.1 is because the only other 10 inch android tablet that seems good is the transformer infinity and their forums are just RIDDLED with problems, which I don't see Note 10.1 users having. So it seems to be the most stable 10 inch tablet on android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on what she wants, does she want high resolution screen/media consumption device or a device more geared toward productivity?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
You need to consider what your Sister wants to do with it.
What does she do for a living, what brand of phone does she have, will she be a casual user or a power user.
Would she be happy with a plain Jane iPad as far as customizing goes?
Will she enjoy the artistic aspect of the Note 10.1's S-Pen.
As far as apps go... both android and ios have a wide range of quality apps. that would satisfy user of any age or profession
I have used iPod, iPad, Blackberry Playbook, Kindle fire, and a Note 10.1
My favorite device is the Note 10.1 here are some of the reasons why
The S-Pen, muti-window & dual view, air view, easy clip, smart stay, buddy photo share, live video w/ chapter preview, smart remote, formula match and pop up play.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is truly The New Way
.
.
kkretch said:
...muti-window ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you get used to that you never wanna have something other. I tell you, two aspects of the note are essential: as mentioned the multiwindow feature and the spen (including all the hardware). I use my note for studying and all i have to carry to university is this tablet. I do ALL my work on it with lecture notes but thats another long story... you can find a lot here in this forum.
Back to the multiwindow thing. I promise you, once tried you ll get addicted to it. The feeling is "pretty close" to working on a desktop/laptop machine. I owned the p7500 before i moved on to the note and that was a whole new experience. But to be honest you have to be rooted to REALLY use multiwindow in nearly every app. out of the box it just supports a couple of stock apps and that really sucked.
The Note is the best tablet on the market with one glaring deficiency: it's 147PPI display. Nothing competes with S Pen, S Note, multiview, airview, and all the additional features Samsung packs in to it. For someone that values those features (I do) the 147PPI display is the price you have to pay to get them.
For someone who just wants consumption, the two best tablets are the Xperia Z or Samsung P5200 (their version of the Nexus 10). The first was just announced and I'm not sure of when it goes on sale in the U.S. The second was leaked with no detail yet on features (other than the display resolution), price or availability. The N10 has a ton of issues and because it's "pure Google" missing a lot of features in other tablets. If you have a Costco near you buy her a Note there and, if she doesn't like it or something new comes along, you can return it within 90 days no-questions asked.
BarryH_GEG said:
The Note is the best tablet on the market with one glaring deficiency: it's 147PPI display. Nothing competes with S Pen, S Note, multiview, airview, and all the additional features Samsung packs in to it. For someone that values those features (I do) the 147PPI display is the price you have to pay to get them.
For someone who just wants consumption, the two best tablets are the Xperia Z or Samsung P5200 (their version of the Nexus 10). The first was just announced and I'm not sure of when it goes on sale in the U.S. The second was leaked with no detail yet on features (other than the display resolution), price or availability. The N10 has a ton of issues and because it's "pure Google" missing a lot of features in other tablets. If you have a Costco near you buy her a Note there and, if she doesn't like it or something new comes along, you can return it within 90 days no-questions asked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it looks like I can get a refurbished one for 380 on ebay. I think I'm going to do that. The Xperia Z looks like a VERY premium tablet, so I'm sure it'll carry a premium price too, and she can barely afford the $380. I would've got her the nexus 10 as I love my nexus 7, but after reading through xda, and seeing that it has nothing but random reboot problems...I said f that.
ksc6000 said:
When I'm reading online, even android websites say that android tablets are not on par w/ the iPad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What android website writes such nonsense?
The Nexus 10 is better then the Ipad in EVERYTHING.
The Note 10 is better then the Nexus 10 because it has the s-pen, s-note, a sd-card slot and so on.
You seem not to know that the question "Android or Apple" is a religious, political question (seriously).
How dare you come to a Android forum and ask about an Apple product? You heretic! hehe (joke).
Now seriously again:
Most of us would never buy an Ipad, whatever specs it has, because it is an Apple product.
All apple products have the apple philosophy of being closed, limited.
Apple makes easy products, suited for your grandma.
To do this they have to RESTRICT your freedom to do things with the device. This limits what you can do with the device and limits your control on even your own data, but it limits also your chances to damage your device by doing something wrong.
A elderly person should buy an apple product because it is easy and an elderly person does not need advanced features.
A smart, young person should buy an android because it gives him the freedom to modify/customize everything and lets him do whatever he wants.
It is a political question:
Do you prefer the former "Soviet Union" (Apple) or the USA (Android)?
Soviet union (Apple): Easy life, the state gives you a job, a home but you have no freedom. (Apple Ipad: easy to use, but limited freedom.)
USA (Android): You have the freedom to become a billionaire like bill gates or fail and land homeless in the streets. How good or bad your life is, is in your hands. (Android Note 10.1: You can do whatever your want and can do many things an Ipad can not. But, you can also root your device, do some error and brick it.)
The Ipad does not have a Pen!
Try to use a Note 10.1 with the Pen for a week and then tell us whether you can continue to live with a device without a Pen.
Get her the Ipad, if you get her the note 10.1 and see what its like she won't end up with a new tablet or you'll have to get another one...:laugh:
I use my note 10.1 for everything. It does everything the ipad does and more. You can customise it to how you like it and change the rom if it doesn't suit you or you aren't getting updates. Modding is easy and throw in the s-pen and you have a brilliant tablet. So I say, get your sister the Ipad or you'll end up with a new tablet and she'll be disappointed....:good:
legion1911 said:
It is a political question:
Do you prefer the former "Soviet Union" (Apple) or the USA (Android)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Iran's nuclear ambitions are a political question. As is Palestine vs. Israel and Pyongyang's lunacy du jour. Android vs. iOS is a practical question. Do you want your tablet experience to be easy, consistent and well defined out of the box with content spoon fed to you and in return give up some flexibility? If so, pick iOS. Do you want your tablet experience to allow for a high degree of customization and configuration with more content flexibility and in return you have to have a higher degree of technical knowledge and need to invest more time? Pick Android.
I'm committed to Android personally but consistently recommend iOS to my non-technical friends because for people that just want to do stuff without having to think about it iOS is a better choice. If someone asks me whether they should go with Android or iOS I hand them my phone or tablet and tell them to play with it. If after a few minutes they look totally confused I recommend iOS. If they get in to the menus and apps and start asking decent questions I recommend Android. Just because we personally enjoy and support Android doesn’t mean iOS isn’t a viable solution for quite a few people.
And the N10 is a train wreck. There are a ton of h/w and QC issues along with it using a barren AOSP interface designed for a phone. 4.2 still has tons of issues that haven’t been resolved yet. The number of people unhappy with the N10 is the highest I’ve seen for an Android tablet to date which is saying something because Asus’ tablets are no walk in the park. The N4’s got more than its share of issues including a rather serious thermal throttling problem when under extended load. Just because a Google device is “pure” and/or says “Nexus” on it doesn’t automatically make it good.
If your sister has any intention of using the tablet for just playing "games" or watching stuff online, you're better off getting her an iPad. You won't have to field any questions because she won't have this bias that the device is hard to use.
If your sister is the kind of person who likes to tweak her devices, do digital art, maybe take notes, you can't lose with the Note 10.1.
If I were you, I'd just stick them with the iPad because I hate getting complaints based on people's preconceived notion on how hard Android devices are to use.
BarryH_GEG said:
Iran's nuclear ambitions are a political question. As is Palestine vs. Israel and Pyongyang's lunacy du jour. Android vs. iOS is a practical question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are wrong.
"I do not want a device that restricts my freedom and does not respect my privacy", "I do not want to give money to a company that produces devices that restrict freedom and do not respect privacy", "I do not want to buy products from a company that gets rich by exploiting poor Chinese workers" ARE political and ethical choices.
Just like "buying fair trade products", "not buying meat, because you do not want to kill animals", "not buying north-Korean/Iranian/Israeli" are political and ethical choices. Understand?
BarryH_GEG said:
Do you want your tablet experience to be easy, consistent and well defined out of the box with content spoon fed to you and in return give up some flexibility? If so, pick iOS. Do you want your tablet experience to allow for a high degree of customization and configuration with more content flexibility and in return you have to have a higher degree of technical knowledge and need to invest more time? Pick Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wrote almost the same.
But...
The amount of technical knowledge required to use STOCK samsung/android is not much higher then with an Ipad and your CAN invest time to do advanced stuff, but you do not have to. One can live fine also without root, cwm, overclocking, side-loading, ROM-flashing. My 70 year old "non technical" mother lives fine with a stock samsung android phone. She does not need an Iphone.
Stock samsung/android is very similar to iOS. We all know why.... because Android/Samsung copied it from Apple.
Just like Windows is a copy of the Apple Macintosh. So you recommend your "non technical friends" to buy Macintosh (iMac as they call them now) and not a Windows pc?
The comparison iOS/Android is exactly the same as Macintosh/Windows.
I do not underestimate the intelligence of my friends/family.
ksc6000 said:
Hello Note 10.1 users.
As stated, this is for my younger sister who just got out of college.
She's considering a tablet and I have a Note II which I love. I've always been an android user, since the nexus one (which she uses since i got the galaxy nexus).
When I'm reading online, even android websites say that android tablets are not on par w/ the iPad. I see that it's about the apps, but I feel like all the big apps are on android too, so I'm just confused.
Has anyone here had significant experience w/ one of the "new" ipads (3rd or 4th) that can offer their thoughts?
The reason I'm considering the Note 10.1 is because the only other 10 inch android tablet that seems good is the transformer infinity and their forums are just RIDDLED with problems, which I don't see Note 10.1 users having. So it seems to be the most stable 10 inch tablet on android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have owned Note 10.1 for 5 months since it came to my country. screen is ****! real ****! u know it has the same screen as the first galaxy tab 10.1? YEAH! go for iPad 4! i will get the iPad 5 when it comes out, my first ever iOS device that i would own. i have used iPad 4 of my friend and it is really really great. my only grudge is that there is no file browser and everything has to be transferred through the iTunes. thats it! nothing else! go for iPad 4 it has the best screen and the best app support and the best of all, it has a great battery life and as a bonus a great resale value... hope u got my point
I gotta tell you, I've used Android and iOS for a long time. Still have an iPad 2 in the house and had an original iPad. I truly and honestly don't get why people continue to perpetuate this myth that Android is "hard to use" and "requires technical knowledge" as well as all the other comments about it that imply difficulty. I've actually found it to be the opposite. Android seems to just make sense to me. In iOS everything I try to do is a monumental pain in the ass. It seems even the most basic activities require going to all kinds of different places.
As for your sister, also consider "total cost of ownership" which goes way beyond the cost of the tablet itself. It seems to me that comparable iOS apps are generally more expensive...not to mention that if you get sucked into the iOS world you usually have to buy a tablet app and a phone app separately. Lots of Android apps work perfectly on a tablet and phone and look great so you really don't need 2 of the same app.
I would also suggest, unless she needs a stylus because she likes to draw or whatever, there are much less expensive and equally good options out there for far less money than the Note 10.1 or the iFad.
^^^ this. Replaced my wife's iphone 4 with a note 2. She asked me how to put her music on it. I told her to plug it into her laptop make a music folder on her sd card and drag her music into it. Her mouth dropped and said that's it?! I always had to work her iTunes for her and it annoyed the crap out of me. Glad she took my advice this time when she upgraded.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
I haven't ever owned an Apple device, but it's definitely not "easier to use" when I tried my friends' phones. I mean, the way people talk about Android stuff like you have to be a techie to use it.. Sure, you COULD geek out to do a lot of other stuff, but it's completely unnecessary. The only reason I know a little bit about geeking out is because I found the XDA forums for my first Android tablet and I wanted to do more than just browsing.
Take the note 10, about the interface of apple and how it is easy, you could install a launcher that will make it like the ipad or even windows phone
Done !!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
With the Note 10.1 I was able to download a pdf, import it to SNote, fill out the pdf, exported the edited pdf to pdf and email it to the company that wanted me to print it out, write on it then scan it and after all that, email it back to them..
I'm not sure this can be done or not on an iPad for I have never owned an Apple product nor do I even want to own one
This is reason enough for me to say, purchase the Note 10.1
Got the note and my sister loves it! Thanks to you all
I've been talking a lot with my friends about this who are also Android users. I know there are a lot of opinions about the Pixel, so I thought it would be interesting to make a thread to check back on in 6 months from launch to see how things panned out. At the end of the day either Google is correct with this phone, or the community was right in predicting the change. I figured 6 months is enough time to get the phone in the pipeline and where a price cut would be susceptible if one were to occur.
Here's my analysis:
Existing problems:
1. Pixel phone contains basic vanilla Android at the same price as an iPhone and Samsung with feature filled software skins.
2. Apple and Samsung both have established their product in the marketplace, unlike the Pixel. Samsung didn't get any real traction until the Galaxy S3/Note 3.........three generations in.....this is Pixel's first.
3. The biggest competitor (Galaxy/Note 7), both have expandable SD card storage and water resistance that the Pixel does not.
4. Only exclusive on Verizon, which allows only a small population to get it subsidized. (Both Apple/Samsung sell contract subsidized phones for BOTH Verizon and Sprint which creates a lower barrier to entry).
5. Google assistant which is one of its selling points, I don't see a huge immediate use for it unlike a better camera, or water resistance. There is a variant of this type of technology already out. It's called "SIRI" for iPhone and "S-Voice" for Samsung. It's been out for years and I don't know anyone personally who uses either on a daily basis. (or at all)
6. There are no "frills" to this phone. I keep saying that, however; the typically buyer of iPhone/Samsung do not know anything about the internals or the hardware. (How else would Apple get people to buy $3,000 laptops ? It's not the hardware they are buying). The phone is just too plain for mainstream appeal. Next time you see someone with a Samsung ask them if their bootloader is locked........then ask it in Japanese....you'll get the same response.
Pixel is taking aim at "mainstream", yet offering very little in terms of "frills" that mainstream typically likes yet charging flagship pricing. There is already a significant conflict in this strategy.
It's obvious based on the chart I uploaded Google's competency is not hardware unlike Apple......which would explain a lot. While I love Android, it's a small revenue of their overall revenue. Most likely, they are looking to diversify from just search and add to the bottom line as well from the smartphone market. It's very bold to try and compete against Apple that gets 53% of their overall revenue from iPhone alone, when Google has very little experience in that area (hardware).
Prediction:
In 6 months (or less), the Pixel phones will get price cuts to the same price as the 5x ($379) and 6p ($499). The phone won't be a flop and Google will keep it, but the price point was set too high. I don't think the phone is a total bust, but I do think with 99% certainty that this was priced too high to be competitive........Google just doesn't know it yet
Google right now can't even manage a proper messenger app (messenger, hangouts, allo.....seriously which one am I supposed to use Google ?), canceled Project Ara, canceled Google Glass, etc.......there's a lack of direction with the company needless to say.
Edit: Google search for Pixel compared to iPhone and Galaxy S7 (I left out Note 7 due to exploding battery interest) which has fallen off a cliff since the Pixel debut.
great post =) I agree with you
Well written. Very clear.
For me there is also a design problem.
The material design is too white and hurts my eyes especially in the evening. A dark theme is needed. So I am using Aquamail and not Gmail and apps with a dark theme. And black layers.
Maybe the Chinese will produce a better and cheaper phone. Who knows.
Maybe G is heading to a closed system ?
Or it could be the repeat of Google Pixel C with temporary "developer" discounts before the price goes back to list price. They don't seem to be too bothered about shifting stock.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
According to The Verge websites interview with Google's hardware chief, Google knows the first generation Pixel phone won't sale in volumes and expects to gain little market share, apparently there is long term strategy behind the scenes with the release of these first Pixel phones. Here's a quote from that article.
"We certainly arent going to have enormous volumes out of this product. This is very first innings for us." Googles metric of success for Pixel wont be whether it picks up significant market share, but whether it can garner customer satisfaction and form retail and carrier partnerships that Google can leverage for years to come."
http://www.theverge.com/a/google-pixel-phone-new-hardware-interview-2016
As for the cancellation of Google Glass and other Google hardware, that was done by the recently hired Google hardware chief so he could bring all the hardware teams together to focus on same objectives, so it appears Google now has a sense of direction, thanks to this new hardware chief aka ex-Motorola president. Here's a quote from another interview, just for reference.
"When Osterloh, 44, came on board in mid-April, he brought Google hardware groups into one division, shuttering projects he didn't see contributing to Googles future. Now the engineers and designers from Google Glass, Chromecast and Pixel all work together. Keeping them separate, he says, made it hard to drive toward the goal of portfolio strategy and focus."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-google-s-first-real-threat-to-apple-s-iphone
In order to gain customer satisfaction they need to have customers, and the feedback everywhere I look is that they've already caused dissatisfaction with their prices and therefore won't have a solid customer base - especially after alienating so many Nexus owners with the ludicrous six-week Nougat delay and the dropping of the Nexus line.
dahawthorne said:
In order to gain customer satisfaction they need to have customers, and the feedback everywhere I look is that they've already caused dissatisfaction with their prices and therefore won't have a solid customer base - especially after alienating so many Nexus owners with the ludicrous six-week Nougat delay and the dropping of the Nexus line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As much as I love the Nexus and it's contributing users, they probably don't make up enough market share for Google to care. Most Nexus owners are phone enthusiasts, who make up a very small percentage of the smartphone market.
Some Pixel phones are already sold out in the Google Store, so people are buying them. It remains to be seen if it will be enough for their "Customer Satisfaction" goal but from their interview, they don't seem to feel the need to sell a whole lot in order to make that goal, at least initially.
mikeprius said:
I've been talking a lot with my friends about this who are also Android users. I know there are a lot of opinions about the Pixel, so I thought it would be interesting to make a thread to check back on in 6 months from launch to see how things panned out. At the end of the day either Google is correct with this phone, or the community was right in predicting the change. I figured 6 months is enough time to get the phone in the pipeline and where a price cut would be susceptible if one were to occur.
Here's my analysis:
Existing problems:
1. Pixel phone contains basic vanilla Android at the same price as an iPhone and Samsung with feature filled software skins.
This is called Bloat to me basic vanilla Android is a huge plus
2. Apple and Samsung both have established their product in the marketplace, unlike the Pixel. Samsung didn't get any real traction until the Galaxy S3/Note 3.........three generations in.....this is Pixel's first.
Even though Samsungs are some of the most bloated locked down devices and iPhones are not Android devices Google with Pixel branding I just a continuation. I do agree more Samsung Devices and iPhones will be sold but so what?
3. The biggest competitor (Galaxy/Note 7), both have expandable SD card storage and water resistance that the Pixel does not.
My new phone will have 128Gig do I really need more, unlimited cloud storage for photos will help too
4. Only exclusive on Verizon, which allows only a small population to get it subsidized. (Both Apple/Samsung sell contract subsidized phones for BOTH Verizon and Sprint which creates a lower barrier to entry).
I am not American but they do sell SIM unlocked devices in the States do they not?
5. Google assistant which is one of its selling points, I don't see a huge immediate use for it unlike a better camera, or water resistance. There is a variant of this type of technology already out. It's called "SIRI" for iPhone and "S-Voice" for Samsung. It's been out for years and I don't know anyone personally who uses either on a daily basis. (or at all)
I owned 16 smartphones since the iPhone and not once did lack of water resistance bother me and I had zero devices with water damage. Google Assist can not see me using it often but only time will tell
6. There are no "frills" to this phone. I keep saying that, however; the typically buyer of iPhone/Samsung do not know anything about the internals or the hardware. (How else would Apple get people to buy $3,000 laptops ? It's not the hardware they are buying). The phone is just too plain for mainstream appeal. Next time you see someone with a Samsung ask them if their bootloader is locked........then ask it in Japanese....you'll get the same response.
First to get Android updates, first device with Qualcomm 821, first with official daydream support, and yes at least some say this will have the best camera
Pixel is taking aim at "mainstream", yet offering very little in terms of "frills" that mainstream typically likes yet charging flagship pricing. There is already a significant conflict in this strategy.
Why do you think they are gearing this for the mainstream, they never had in the past?
It's obvious based on the chart I uploaded Google's competency is not hardware unlike Apple......which would explain a lot. While I love Android, it's a small revenue of their overall revenue. Most likely, they are looking to diversify from just search and add to the bottom line as well from the smartphone market. It's very bold to try and compete against Apple that gets 53% of their overall revenue from iPhone alone, when Google has very little experience in that area (hardware).
Google builds nothing they are contracting HTC to build the Pixel, Pixel XL. Nobody expects them every to sell more of the current Pixel phones than Apple sells
Prediction:
In 6 months (or less), the Pixel phones will get price cuts to the same price as the 5x ($379) and 6p ($499). The phone won't be a flop and Google will keep it, but the price point was set too high. I don't think the phone is a total bust, but I do think with 99% certainty that this was priced too high to be competitive........Google just doesn't know it yet
Google right now can't even manage a proper messenger app (messenger, hangouts, allo.....seriously which one am I supposed to use Google ?), canceled Project Ara, canceled Google Glass, etc.......there's a lack of direction with the company needless to say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who knows about the price I do know the 32 Gig Nexus 6p was selling for $600 Canadian (I do not know what American pay) and in 6 months I can not see Google pricing the Pixel XL 32Gig lower. Sell more than Samsung and Apple no not believes this will every happen but different people by Samsung and Apple. People that generally never visit XDA and they are happy with whatever bloat Samsung and Apple gives them.
Maybe they are trying to create the equivalent of surface devices like Microsoft? I have no clue how that helps either of the companies. Maybe the idea is to just create a premium brand Google running Android even if every device sold loses money. Kind of like what Acura has to do with the NSX. It's an attempt to push the brand into a premium device discussion.
However, I definitely don't see anything that premium in the device. I don't see anything that premium in an iPhone either except that the lemmings have decided it is a premium product so like the unreliable Mercedes Benz cars out there, they retain resale value. At some point it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
To achieve a perception of being a premium product like Apple products, Google probably has to fire most of the tech guys running the hardware division and hire a real marketing team. The Oct 4 presentation was astonishingly lackluster. Same amount of glamour as a BlackBerry presentation. Bunch of geeks thinking just because they have a search engine cash cow, they must know everything else there is to know about the business world.
Honestly what the Nexus/pixel and allo/duo/messenger/hangouts mess should teach us is that these guys like going back to the drawing board way too often. This is not a mature company and will abandon loyal customers without hesitation if someone decides that's the cool thing to do. Project Fi customers, you will be next.
So in a nutshell don't over analyze Google, it's just a bunch of high school kids doing experiments in a Chemistry Lab. At some point there will be purple foam and a few explosions.
And there is no point hitching yourself to this wagon. Don't buy anything Google tries to market as premium. They don't have the discipline to maintain a message. Eventually everything they sell will be priced like a commodity.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA-Developers mobile app
might want to modify the thread title's date. It's currently "10/5/16-4/5/16"; I'm pretty sure you meant "10/5/16-4/5/17"
First device with SD821? Not.
Google/Nexus phones were successful, because they targeted a specific niche that no one else did; devs/enthusiasts/folks who wanted to tinker and modify their phones completely and without restrictions.
Pixel phones have NOTHING that is "niche" driven; they are just like Apple/Samsung/who ever, with nothing really unique(S Pen, etc) to attract anyone really..
Sure, they will get the curious newbie/Iphone/Samsung lovers, but, those folks already have alot of choices, and those choices have alot more "features" that those folks want.
So, I cant fathom how this device will be anything more than a novelty, especially at that ridiculous price point..
mikeprius said:
I've been talking a lot with my friends about this who are also Android users. I know there are a lot of opinions about the Pixel, so I thought it would be interesting to make a thread to check back on in 6 months from launch to see how things panned out. At the end of the day either Google is correct with this phone, or the community was right in predicting the change. I figured 6 months is enough time to get the phone in the pipeline and where a price cut would be susceptible if one were to occur.
Yadda, yadda, yadda............................................[emoji23]
.
Google right now can't even manage a proper messenger app (messenger, hangouts, allo.....seriously which one am I supposed to use Google ?), canceled Project Ara, canceled Google Glass, etc.......there's a lack of direction with the company needless to say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post! Lots of info there. [SARCASM] You might have a bit too much time on your hands though. [emoji1] [/SARCASM]
khanam said:
Honestly what the Nexus/pixel and allo/duo/messenger/hangouts mess should teach us is that these guys like going back to the drawing board way too often. This is not a mature company and will abandon loyal customers without hesitation if someone decides that's the cool thing to do. Project Fi customers, you will be next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO, Nexus/Pixel is not a mess, they are simply trying to gain market share other than the developer/techie community. I would bet that they will end up partnering with all of the major carriers to sell the phones subsidized, Verizon just got the nod for release day because it is the biggest. The pixels will also come down in price from the play store as well.
As far as the Duo/allo/hangouts/messenger thing, from what I've been reading they are trying to market hangouts to the enterprise side of the mobile market. I never really used it for anything other than video calls now and again. Duo is much more convenient for video calls, although I wish they would have just incorporated it into the dialer kind of how FaceTime is on iphone. I don't know what to think about allo. It doesn't handle sms, and it doesn't do anything that other already established apps do as good or better.
I'm just going to wait it out to see if the price comes down, or if my carrier gets it. If not, oh well, I will explore other options at that time. After all I'm still paying for my N6 through January...
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
mikeprius said:
1. Pixel phone contains basic vanilla Android at the same price as an iPhone and Samsung with feature filled software skins.
2. Apple and Samsung both have established their product in the marketplace, unlike the Pixel. Samsung didn't get any real traction until the Galaxy S3/Note 3.........three generations in.....this is Pixel's first.
3. The biggest competitor (Galaxy/Note 7), both have expandable SD card storage and water resistance that the Pixel does not.
4. Only exclusive on Verizon, which allows only a small population to get it subsidized. (Both Apple/Samsung sell contract subsidized phones for BOTH Verizon and Sprint which creates a lower barrier to entry).
5. Google assistant which is one of its selling points, I don't see a huge immediate use for it unlike a better camera, or water resistance. There is a variant of this type of technology already out. It's called "SIRI" for iPhone and "S-Voice" for Samsung. It's been out for years and I don't know anyone personally who uses either on a daily basis. (or at all)
6. There are no "frills" to this phone. I keep saying that, however; the typically buyer of iPhone/Samsung do not know anything about the internals or the hardware. (How else would Apple get people to buy $3,000 laptops ? It's not the hardware they are buying). The phone is just too plain for mainstream appeal. Next time you see someone with a Samsung ask them if their bootloader is locked........then ask it in Japanese....you'll get the same response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you asked a user what was the difference between Touchwiz and vanilla Android, until Material Design the only thing they said was: Samsung looks nicer. Because Holo was ugly. But Material design changed that, so now basic Android is not ugly anymore. As for the gimmicks, a casual user will only use a fraction of the TouchWiz "features", and a vanilla Android user will not be missing any of those "features".
Pixel ha nice round icons, and a praised camera. You can consider it sold.
2. From the above linked interview this is the first step to establish Pixel as a product for the masses and not just for the techies. The are planning to sell 3-4 million units (good look with that). But even that's at least one order or magnitude below of the quantity Samsung and Apple sell. Google never bragged how many units they sold, you can't find official statistics, but it's obviously "not a damn lot", that's for sure.
3. And the iPhone does not have an SD card slot. The Galaxy S6 was a mistake for Samsung in every aspect, because they took away three things in one step: SD card, removable battery and custom roms. So there was a huge uproar, much bigger if they only played with these feature one at a time.
I too prefer an SD card, coming from Samsung phones, it was given, yet after one year using a mere 32GB phone I still live. So it's not a make/brake condition for me when buying a new phone.
5. It's a gimmick like Samsung's air gestures, keep awake when reading, knock twice on top to scroll to the top. You use it once then forget it. I bet for a week or two everybody will play with the assistant then forget it.
Compared to that Google Now cards are very useful, I use the Time to work, Time home card every day, and it helps avoiding the construction that kills the city, and to decide when it's totally beyond reason to leave home.
6. There are no real "frills". There are only those that some marketing think tank succeeds in convincing you that you actually need it. The camera is a frill enough to sell it, so it's the speed. Having the hardware from the start Google could optimize it a little to be better than the other manufacturers.
It is a mess. I compare it to the failures Apple had right after the Lisa, nonsense sales prediction with a exorbitant price point.
They can partner with as many carriers as they want over there (America, the world isn't just that) or try to subsidise phones.
Worldwide subsidisation of phones is impractical. And outside America the prices are even worse.
Highway 55 said:
IMO, Nexus/Pixel is not a mess, they are simply trying to gain market share other than the developer/techie community. I would bet that they will end up partnering with all of the major carriers to sell the phones subsidized, Verizon just got the nod for release day because it is the biggest. The pixels will also come down in price from the play store as well.
As far as the Duo/allo/hangouts/messenger thing, from what I've been reading they are trying to market hangouts to the enterprise side of the mobile market. I never really used it for anything other than video calls now and again. Duo is much more convenient for video calls, although I wish they would have just incorporated it into the dialer kind of how FaceTime is on iphone. I don't know what to think about allo. It doesn't handle sms, and it doesn't do anything that other already established apps do as good or better.
I'm just going to wait it out to see if the price comes down, or if my carrier gets it. If not, oh well, I will explore other options at that time. After all I'm still paying for my N6 through January...
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure why they abandoned hangouts for consumers - it was quite an all encompassing product for most of us between everything it handled - it just needed some tightening and polish but we finally had SMS, Voicemail, Video calling, IM, IP Calling all in 1. Now i have too many apps - when i instead want to simplify my life. No one likes to have something they were finding useful suddenly lose features - that just reeks of big brotherism - someone else deciding whats best for me instead of considering my own inputs.
On the pixel/nexus thing though - the way they should have done it is kept the nexus line alive and added a pixel or 2 phones with slightly more premium features but at a slightly higher price, then next generation a little higher price and so on.
That would have given all of us time to adjust and experiment. You do not just increase prices and abandon the nexus line without warning. That feels like them deciding what is best for us - like apple does. Give consumers choice, price products appropriately and allow them to cross bridges on price, features etc.
This abandoning nexus and replacing it with a non vanilla high priced pixel move is too sudden. That is why it feels like they do not listen to consumers and instead impose their vision on us. Who would like that? I chose to abandon iOS to have freedom - but the more they take those away from me - the more i look at Google and say, well this is not what i wanted. Locked bootloaders - does that not go against the very foundation of Android?
Another point - this AI push through Allo/Assistant is slowly going to convert you into a data contribution toward an engine - do you actually need to pay extra to lose your privacy - should that not happen in such a way that you get a discount on other products (i.e. your phone for example) which act as the conduit for your revealing your choices to the central database/skynet?
unfortunately, the mopes who sit in the production/sales meeting, only care about looking good to their bosses/making their bosses look good, and raise profits for shareholders..
They talk about how much Apple/Samsung charge for their phones, and sell 20 times more than Google does, so they figure, hey, lets just copy their business model, and we will look like heros.
Customers needs/wants get pushed to the back of the list, and market share/greater profits are all that matters..
And yeah, it sucks that we can now pay more for another "me too" phone, and, at the same time, surrender even more of our privacy, while paying through the nose for another Apple Clone..
No thanks, never a Pixel phone for me, at ANY price..
mixedguy said:
As much as I love the Nexus and it's contributing users, they probably don't make up enough market share for Google to care. Most Nexus owners are phone enthusiasts, who make up a very small percentage of the smartphone market.
Some Pixel phones are already sold out in the Google Store, so people are buying them. It remains to be seen if it will be enough for their "Customer Satisfaction" goal but from their interview, they don't seem to feel the need to sell a whole lot in order to make that goal, at least initially.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus no..it's a small segment. Android as a whole for Google is a very small amount of their revenue. Clearly the release of the Pixel is designed to make it a more considerable source of revenue for Google. They are not very diversified at the moment. All their money is in search.
AstroDigital said:
Who knows about the price I do know the 32 Gig Nexus 6p was selling for $600 Canadian (I do not know what American pay) and in 6 months I can not see Google pricing the Pixel XL 32Gig lower. Sell more than Samsung and Apple no not believes this will every happen but different people by Samsung and Apple. People that generally never visit XDA and they are happy with whatever bloat Samsung and Apple gives them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The United States there are 4 primary carriers (there are others, but the big 4 are AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile). Before all 4 carriers did this, but 2 still do and that is offer 24 month contracts to be signed for a subsidized phone. So for example a $800 iPhone can be bought at Verizon or Sprint for $200-$300 depending on the model, current or past, etc, etc. That's how iPhone was able to be made available in mass. There's no way the people in the US could buy these phones outright at their current cost in large populations. It's outside many people's affordability.
All these products full price are out of the affordability for nearly everyone, so either they use the contract or use payments. With exclusive Verizon, everyone will do payments or buy outright (smaller population)......many people still use the contract that I know, taking this off the table for one carrier reduces accessibility.
Also, 2 of the 4 carriers in the US are CMDA technology not GSM so unlocked phones are limited. My carrier is CMDA so I cannot buy Xperia, One plus 3, or Axon 7. If I could, I'd have bought the One plus 3. Instead I'm stuck with the Nexus or some "whitelisted" device.
istperson said:
1. If you asked a user what was the difference between Touchwiz and vanilla Android, until Material Design the only thing they said was: Samsung looks nicer. Because Holo was ugly. But Material design changed that, so now basic Android is not ugly anymore. As for the gimmicks, a casual user will only use a fraction of the TouchWiz "features", and a vanilla Android user will not be missing any of those "features".
Pixel ha nice round icons, and a praised camera. You can consider it sold.
2. From the above linked interview this is the first step to establish Pixel as a product for the masses and not just for the techies. The are planning to sell 3-4 million units (good look with that). But even that's at least one order or magnitude below of the quantity Samsung and Apple sell. Google never bragged how many units they sold, you can't find official statistics, but it's obviously "not a damn lot", that's for sure.
3. And the iPhone does not have an SD card slot. The Galaxy S6 was a mistake for Samsung in every aspect, because they took away three things in one step: SD card, removable battery and custom roms. So there was a huge uproar, much bigger if they only played with these feature one at a time.
I too prefer an SD card, coming from Samsung phones, it was given, yet after one year using a mere 32GB phone I still live. So it's not a make/brake condition for me when buying a new phone.
5. It's a gimmick like Samsung's air gestures, keep awake when reading, knock twice on top to scroll to the top. You use it once then forget it. I bet for a week or two everybody will play with the assistant then forget it.
Compared to that Google Now cards are very useful, I use the Time to work, Time home card every day, and it helps avoiding the construction that kills the city, and to decide when it's totally beyond reason to leave home.
6. There are no real "frills". There are only those that some marketing think tank succeeds in convincing you that you actually need it. The camera is a frill enough to sell it, so it's the speed. Having the hardware from the start Google could optimize it a little to be better than the other manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I can laugh at most people who become enamored with gimmicks, that's what sells. The stupid air gestures, and whatever toggles Samsung has that people flock to. They have no idea what chip is in their phone. Same goes for iPhone.
Everything else you are saying are your own personal preferences, not what mainstream people want. Majority of society is easily distracted by shiny gimmicks, engages in herd mentality buying decisions, and want instant gratification........these people are not "astute buyers" by any means, but they are the people who open their wallets and purses to buy these products.............it's pathetic but that's how the market is. Samsung and iPhone meet all these "needs". Pixel does not.
mixedguy said:
According to The Verge websites interview with Google's hardware chief, Google knows the first generation Pixel phone won't sale in volumes and expects to gain little market share, apparently there is long term strategy behind the scenes with the release of these first Pixel phones. Here's a quote from that article.
"We certainly arent going to have enormous volumes out of this product. This is very first innings for us." Googles metric of success for Pixel wont be whether it picks up significant market share, but whether it can garner customer satisfaction and form retail and carrier partnerships that Google can leverage for years to come."
http://www.theverge.com/a/google-pixel-phone-new-hardware-interview-2016
As for the cancellation of Google Glass and other Google hardware, that was done by the recently hired Google hardware chief so he could bring all the hardware teams together to focus on same objectives, so it appears Google now has a sense of direction, thanks to this new hardware chief aka ex-Motorola president. Here's a quote from another interview, just for reference.
"When Osterloh, 44, came on board in mid-April, he brought Google hardware groups into one division, shuttering projects he didn't see contributing to Googles future. Now the engineers and designers from Google Glass, Chromecast and Pixel all work together. Keeping them separate, he says, made it hard to drive toward the goal of portfolio strategy and focus."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-google-s-first-real-threat-to-apple-s-iphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Google glass and other hardware that they were experimenting with does make sense b/c it was untested and they were looking at pioneering a new potential product. There's no existing prior benchmark. That has more leeway including cancellation which I understand. I think long-term it is a good idea Google has more control over the hardware and not just software because there has been too much fragmentation across the board in devices and with other Google products.
With that said, smartphones have been out for many years now, with the saturation really beginning to take hold in 2009 and forward (where more and more people were rapidly buying smartphones). There's enough data they could have made a more intelligent analysis on how to price the product (which I suspect is way too high).