4G Android phone megathread
- Thread starter Foulkey Reese
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Same here until this week, but I really like the slide up/slide over on the homescreen and they haven't added it in non-beta Nova yet. I might just join the beta when I get home.
Thanks, Jayhoz. I'm good. I've got Ambient Display going, and it's going to do what I want it to do. I miss being able to wave my have over the phone to get the time, but Ambient Display is close enough.
I saw something on Reddit that said that knock to wake was coming soon. I used this all the time on my LG G3. Two taps to the screen and there are your lock screen notifications. Makes even more sense on the Pixel given that the fingerprint scanner is on the back and likely pointed at your desk.
Edit - Here is the rumor: http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/10/double-tap-wake-arriving-pixel-phones-soon.html
I totally agree. Which is why it's so frustrating that they're trying to kill it off and seperate out those things into single function apps.
Probably my single most used thing in the whole Google ecosystem is Hangouts. Jumping from work laptop to phone to home laptop and having all the chats/texts synchronized and available is something I take for granted now.
Problem is that almost nobody on ios is using Hangouts so that doesn't really solve the problem of somebody who wanted to jump over.
Yea I should have said for video chatting. That is the ONE thing that made me waiver slightly and think about iPhone. FB Messenger is good enough for my needs though.
They've confirmed like 8 zillion times that they're not killing Hangouts.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/05/18/google-not-killing-hangouts-for-allo/
http://www.thecountrycaller.com/67068-alphabet-inc-googl-will-google-get-rid-of-hangouts/
Since those stories, in May, there's been more indications that they're deemphasizing Hangouts by removing it from the core Google Mobile Services, and pushing it to Optional.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/10/07/google-is-demoting-hangouts-to-optional-in-the-google-apps-package-for-android-to-be-replaced-by-duo/
It's not a confirmation by any stretch of the imagination, and they could continue going down the multiple strategy path ad infinitum (a single-function app path with Allo/Duo, and a "one app to rule them all" path with Hangouts). But the tea leaves don't look great for Hangouts. At the least, I worry about it not getting the support it needs to continue getting better.
Are any of you Pixel owners using sRGB video mode?
Takes some of the punch out of the screen, but photos are much more accurate and the white balance seems better if a bit warmer.
Takes some of the punch out of the screen, but photos are much more accurate and the white balance seems better if a bit warmer.
I got the Pixel. Now - what is the best app for listening to podcasts? I always used the Apple app and I'm so lost now.
Yea there is no close second really. Pocket Casts is an A+ app worth whatever the small fee is.
I use podcast addict and it's perfectly adequate. The only thing that is missing is a 30 second jump back /forward. What makes pocket casts superior?
Podcast Addict was my 2nd favorite when I settled on Pocket Casts. It's the best free option, but if you use it much I'd much rather drop $4 for Pocket Casts than $3 for the ad-free Podcast Addict.
No jump is a big deal if you listen to many podcasts that have commercials in them.
Pocket Casts' syncing is also far superior--get a new phone, your whole downloaded library is just there. Listen to part of a podcast on your phone in the car, then jump onto your desktop and it continues playing from where you were in the car. Other podcast apps have partial syncing but nothing as comprehensive that just works all the time in my experience.
The searching/discovery of new podcasts is a lot better in Pocket Casts--not a big deal if you know what you want to listen too, but Pocket Casts has smarter recommendations and "if you like this, you might like that" algorithms.
The UI on Pocket Casts is also just nicer looking and slicker, IMO.
Jump forward/back are configurable (I have 30 second forward/10 second back) in Pocket Casts. I can't remember what they are out of the box but you could set 30/30 if you wanted.
When you're in vibrate mode, press Volume Down, and it should take you to silence, just like on the pre-Lollipop phones.
Agreed - that's silly. The quickest why to do change the volumes, I think, is to press the volume rocker in either direction, and then the dropdown arrow on the right side of the ring adjustment. That will allow you to adjust the volume for alarms and media.
I'd like to not actually adjust any of the volume levels. I'd like to be able to toggle between vibrate and the sound levels that I have set to my liking. This has been a standard part of all my previous phones. The only toggle on the quick settings is do not disturb and that does not mute anything but calls and notifications.
So, my girlfriend's Note 4 is pretty much dead. Is the Pixel the better phone compared to the Galaxy S7 Edge?
Not on a Pixel but thank you. Got a new droid and have been struggling to figure this out for a week
I would say yes, but it depends on whether or not she likes that Edged screen.
Yes, unequivocally yes. I had the S7 edge. The Pixel is faster, easier to hold, easier to type on, has a better camera, and a better screen. I can't think of a single thing the Edge was better at, other than the notification light.
This is my biggest issue as I look for a new phone. Samsung pay is awesome and even gives rewards for use (just got a $5 gift card for using it 5 times this week). I would have been going Note 7 without question coming from a Note 5 but without that option, I'm unsure what I want to do. I like the size of the Note which would point me toward the Pixel XL but the S7 is a damn fine phone and I could keep my Samsung pay. If Fi was an option in my area that might tilt the scales toward the pixel, but Google's own coverage page tells me I'd only get 2g anywhere near my neighborhood as well as at least half of my drive to work.
Pixel owners can now be wizards.
http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/11/harry-potter-spells-control-google-phone.html
http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/11/harry-potter-spells-control-google-phone.html
20% off code for the pixel?
The code itself is “SAVE20”, and is applied at checkout on the carrier’s website. This will cut the price of the Google Pixel with 32GB of storage down to to $519.99 without a contract. That’s large $130 discount off its normal price. The promo code can also cut down the phone’s monthly payment plan down to $21.66 a month for customers who decide to go that route. The price of the Pixel XL 32GB goes down to $615.99, a bigger $154 discount, or $25.66 a month, with the promo code applied. Verizon is already offering up to $300 off the Pixel phones for current customers who turn in their older smartphones, or up to $400 off for new customers.
The code itself is “SAVE20”, and is applied at checkout on the carrier’s website. This will cut the price of the Google Pixel with 32GB of storage down to to $519.99 without a contract. That’s large $130 discount off its normal price. The promo code can also cut down the phone’s monthly payment plan down to $21.66 a month for customers who decide to go that route. The price of the Pixel XL 32GB goes down to $615.99, a bigger $154 discount, or $25.66 a month, with the promo code applied. Verizon is already offering up to $300 off the Pixel phones for current customers who turn in their older smartphones, or up to $400 off for new customers.
How much crap is on the Pixel? I've found 32GB to be more than enough on my current phone and I can't imagine having many more apps. I don't use it for music really. So pictures with the better camera would be about the only reason to get the bigger model. But that seems unnecessary? Have you all been okay with the 32?
Part of me says the 32 is fine. The other part says you'll have this phone for 3-4 years and it's $100, take your lunch to work a few days. Then the first part says you should do that anyway. Then the second part says why do we always fight on vacation? And the first part says this is about that time in Maine isn't it? And, well, you know how it is.
Part of me says the 32 is fine. The other part says you'll have this phone for 3-4 years and it's $100, take your lunch to work a few days. Then the first part says you should do that anyway. Then the second part says why do we always fight on vacation? And the first part says this is about that time in Maine isn't it? And, well, you know how it is.
I have the 32 GB Pixel XL. I've taken maybe 2 dozen pictures and downloaded a dozen apps and a half dozen podcasts and I'm currently using 9.56 out of 29.70 GB.
And if pictures are the concern, it's worth noting that Google provides unlimited full resolution cloud storage of photos and video for free with the Pixel.
All that said, I still prefer my iPhone for the simple reason that the Android alternatives to the apps I use most frequently (e.g., Tweetbot, Overcast) are just not as good.
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So I've had my Pixel XL for almost two weeks, and I am absolutely loving it. Combined with Nova Launcher, it's the best phone I've ever had. I cannot tell you how much I love this thing.
* The camera is great, and if you're coming from the Moto world, it's night and day.
* Battery life is better than advertised. It's even better than the Droid Turbo's, believe it or not. This has been a revelation.
* This is more a Nougat thing, but I love being able to customize notifications for each app, and most important, remove the heads up notifications (set your notification level to 3)
* Voice quality is good
* System is snappy and responsive
* Zero bloat on Verizon
This is just a wonderful phone, and I'm happy I got it.
* The camera is great, and if you're coming from the Moto world, it's night and day.
* Battery life is better than advertised. It's even better than the Droid Turbo's, believe it or not. This has been a revelation.
* This is more a Nougat thing, but I love being able to customize notifications for each app, and most important, remove the heads up notifications (set your notification level to 3)
* Voice quality is good
* System is snappy and responsive
* Zero bloat on Verizon
This is just a wonderful phone, and I'm happy I got it.
I'll second Frat's comments. This phone is a revelation. I've never been this happy with a smart phone, across the board.
Mine arrives tomorrow 
I haven't used a case in about 5 years and am planning on just doing a screen protector again. Also ordered a 3-pack of USB-C adaptors for all of my chargers. Anything else I should be thinking about getting?
I haven't used a case in about 5 years and am planning on just doing a screen protector again. Also ordered a 3-pack of USB-C adaptors for all of my chargers. Anything else I should be thinking about getting?
Yea I'm as happy as possible too.
The most surprising thing is the battery life I've been getting. I work at home so I am a heavy, heavy user and this thing still gives me a full day on max brightness even when I watch videos or listen to podcasts all day.
I think this is the best smart phone on the market right now.
The most surprising thing is the battery life I've been getting. I work at home so I am a heavy, heavy user and this thing still gives me a full day on max brightness even when I watch videos or listen to podcasts all day.
I think this is the best smart phone on the market right now.
I wanted to wait until the price came down, but you guys are making it very hard for me to wait.
I covered the battery topic earlier. It's really hard to believe it lasts as long as it does. It is awesome to only have to charge every 3 days. A revelation, even.
This phone makes us the best people clearly. Imagine not having it and having to look at yourself in the mirror?
That is a world I don't want to live in. I'm fine being right in this instance.