Google hardware event 2019

[Funk]

AJB88 said:

I feel the same for me Pixel and iPhone are really the only options. But iPhone is never a consideration when it comes to getting a new phone. Had a play with my mates Samsung the other week (newest Flagship cant remember the name) and yeh the phone is nice but their version of Android is far too skinned.

I've got a Nexus 4 running UBports (formely Ubuntu Touch) shame that the OS never really took off as its so clean. Mobian (Debian for mobile) has better app support but still a long way off mainsteam.

I set my mum's new S20 up the other day for her and hated how much pointless duplication there is with 'Samsung This' and 'Samsung That' when there are better versions already baked into Android.

I know why it is - Samsung have seen how Apple have tied in customers to their entire ecosystem which is not even to do with hardware (Apple Pay, Apple Music etc) which has resulted in them being the first $2Tn company. Samsung want users of their phones using Samsung Pay, a Samsung account with Samsung apps - but without having to build an entire OS.

They know that people want access to the Play Store etc and setting up their own OS/app store etc would be a non-starter (ironically what Huawei now finds itself having to do due to the US sanctions). Bottom line is that selling handsets is just the way to try and hook people into using your services which is where the regular revenue stream will come from, however it results in what feels like a bodge of a UI. I don't want to put all my stuff into Samsung's apps/services etc - I would rather keep them with Google as it means easy movement between ecosystems - including hardware - which is what Samsung are trying to discourage.

The number of things that pushed me to log in using Samsung all the time was really irritating. At least you can now disable that fking Bixby though, that's a good start.

[AJB88]

flight147z said:

For years I only bought phones with "stock" software (originally iOS, then I moved to Motorola then OnePlus)

I switched to Huawei at the start of this year as the deals on the P30 Pro were too good to ignore. My OnePlus 6T was only a year old at that point

I have found that I have got used to the custom software really easily and for the most part you don't even notice it. I use Nova Launcher and the only obvious place where you see the Huawei skin is within settings and other menus like that

The significantly improved hardware over the stock Google phones is worth the minor compromises on software in my opinion. I also know I won't have the phone for more than 2 years so I don't care about future updates outside of that window

I used to spend a lot of time flashing custom roms on Samsung years ago, the problem I find is certain apps, particularly Barclays are very funny about what they let their app run on. LineageOS for example can be a bit tricky with apps like Barclays.

[Funk]

I think the introduction of things like KNOX stopped a lot of that - as I understand it, unlocking and flashing stuff breaks the 'chain of trust' between hardware and software which means that the authentication provided by hardware sensors such as fingerprint readers etc can't 100% be trusted as authentic (ie. there could be a MitM attack by a malicious bootloader/ROM etc) which is why banking apps don't like it. It's not an unreasonable objection for them to have to be fair.

I used to flash ROMs to my older handsets back when I had HTCs etc but security restrictions have tightened up and moved on since those days.

[AJB88]

Yeh, my favourite flash was when I converted my HTC One M8 from HTC firmware to be an official "Google Play Edition" which meant it correctly got the GPE updates OTA. Made the phone even better, and lets face it, the One M8 was a top phone already. Wish they made them like that now.

[Funk]

Yeah, the One M8 was a fantastic device.

[stevoknevo]

The Pixel 5 5G (black and green) due to be launched on September 30th alongside 4a 5G (Black , with 4a 5g (white) in October? Makes sense to launch them with Android 11 out the box. (this guy got the dates for the 4a bang on)
https://mobile.twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1296...

If the 5 is any good I'll maybe go for it at black Friday.

Edit - fixed link.

Edited by stevoknevo on Saturday 22 August 19:42

[AJB88]

post has gone.

[stevoknevo]

Interesting?

https://9to5google.com/2020/08/21/pixel-5-renders/

And another saying the 5 will possibly have a 6" 90hz screen, 8gb/128gb, SD765G as expected, 15w wireless charging/5w reverse charging, and an ultrawide instead of a telephoto!
4a 5G supposedly 6.2"?

https://9to5google.com/2020/08/21/pixel-5-specs-le...

Edited by stevoknevo on Friday 21st August 22:04

[untakenname]

The lack of a telephoto lens makes it a non starter for me.

It's such a shame that Googles own brand Android has fallen so far, had a Nexus 5 and 7 and every new have dware release used to add something to the mobile ecosystem for a decent price.

[stevoknevo]

AJB88 said:

post has gone.

It was a tweet saying basically what I typed - same guy was bang on about the 4a launch date.

[Funk]

stevoknevo said:

AJB88 said:

post has gone.

It was a tweet saying basically what I typed - same guy was bang on about the 4a launch date.

The link got cut short, it's still there: https://mobile.twitter.com/jon_prosser/status/1296...

[Corso Marche]

untakenname said:

The lack of a telephoto lens makes it a non starter for me.

Same here - I'd have use for a good telephoto, but not an ultrawide. Simple fact is I should be due to move from my P2XL and the 5 would be the obvious upgrade, but if there's no telephoto then it definitely won't be.

[stevoknevo]

Leaked picture of the 5 and 4a 5G - https://www.xda-developers.com/google-pixel-4a-5g-...

[stevoknevo]

Chromecast ultra replacement has popped up on an FCC filing - could very well be interested in one of these if it's capable of sideloading apps like Vanced etc.
https://www.techradar.com/amp/news/googles-android...