New Google Pixel 2 does not let you save contacts to device

[DesertTwang]

If I had spent $1,000 on a device that retails for $649, me thinks I'd have have bigger problems than where to save my contacts...

 

[9900Boldfan]

This is not a troll. Most smartphones on the market give you the option to save to device or save to Gmail. Those that wish to back up their contacts to the cloud should have the "OPTION" to do so and not be forced to do so. There is a difference between having the "OPTION" to do so and being "FORCED" to do so.

For those that would like to save everything on a cloud can do so but those that wish to save to their device should also have this option and right to do so. It's about privacy. This thread does not need to be closed. If you do not like it or like to engage in a debate that discusses end user option then you can choose to ignore it. Then down the road end users will have no options to choose from.

 

[9900Boldfan]

If you have ever used WeChat you can tell that making device switches is not all that hard. It allows you to make switches to new phones very easily by placing the two devices next to each other and then over a wifi network you can easily transfer all contacts and chats over to the new device. Smartphone manufacturers have actually made switching over for new users very easy over the years.

One can also backup to an external storage device via third party storage since this option to have this storage via memory card was not a feature on this phone.

Apple for example could do the same if they wanted to as well. On the iPhones you save to device but if you want you can turn on iCloud backup and backup to the iCloud. This is how it should be. One should have the option. Not have no option and be forced to like the no option method. On the iPhone one actually has another option and that is to sync to iTunes on your own computer. Apple actually gives users 3 options while with the new Pixel 2 one has no "OPTIONS".

I wanted to own both devices so I bought the Pixel 2 XL as well but I can see that I went from 3 options to no "OPTION" now. Google just wants everyone to save all their info on their servers so they can know more about everyone since they are a search engine.

 

[chanchan05]

This is not a troll. Most smartphones on the market give you the option to save to device or save to Gmail. Those that wish to back up their contacts to the cloud should have the "OPTION" to do so and not be forced to do so. There is a difference between having the "OPTION" to do so and being "FORCED" to do so.

For those that would like to save everything on a cloud can do so but those that wish to save to their device should also have this option and right to do so. It's about privacy. This thread does not need to be closed. If you do not like it or like to engage in a debate that discusses end user option then you can choose to ignore it. Then down the road end users will have no options to choose from.

Actually no, saving to device doesn't mean that it's not saving to cloud. It just means it's saving to a different cloud compared to Google. For example, saving to device on a Samsung phone would back it up to Samsung Cloud.

Also, we are talking about a Pixel here. While Android is about options, the Pixel stands not as developer devices like Nexus were, but as an example of what Google's vision of Android is. And that vision has everyone backing up to Google.

There is nothing wrong with the device or Google's decision because there is no functional difference between saving to device and saving to cloud. The whole point of this thread is that you do not agree with Google's vision and wish to keep your data off Google, which makes your decision to purchase Google branded product questionable.

I would advise you to just return the Pixel and do not consider buying a Pixel again if you have qualms about your data on Google because that's the point of the Pixel in the first place: Google's desired future, with all your data on their cloud.

 

[9900Boldfan]

I did not get the cheapest one from Google A 128GB Pixel 2 XL from Google is $949 and with tax it is over $1000. I bought the best they had to offer and was expecting the best options out of it too.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...om/us/category/phones?hl=en-US&token=3fgFcd51

 

[Almeuit]

I did not get the cheapest one from Google A 128GB Pixel 2 XL from Google is $949 and with tax it is over $1000. I bought the best they had to offer and was expecting the best options out of it too.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...om/us/category/phones?hl=en-US&token=TwaGS1tA

Yeah idk. I never cared about syncing to my Google account (I actually prefer it for easily moving from phone to phone). I guess this isn't the phone for you then?

 

[e30ernest]

You can choose what to sync or what not to sync. Go to Users & Accounts, click on your device Google account, tap on account sync and you'll see a list of items you can sync or turn off. You can turn off Contacts sync there.

 

[9900Boldfan]

Samsung actually gives quite a few options to save. You could save to device, gmail and to the Samsung Cloud.

You are right on functionality wise, it is about privacy wise. Not everyone wants all their contacts on an external server. I am not saying that it should not exist because it should exist as an "OPTION" for people to choose from.

Computer manufacturers could do the same thing down the road too. Laptop manufacturers could say we do not need so much storage on our computers and force us to save all our contacts and pictures on their servers as well. Down the road in the future all our info is on some cloud server. Again, fine for those that want and like this option but I do not think people should lose their right to save to their own computer, tablet or smartphone and be forced to save everything on their could server. My $.02..

 

[9900Boldfan]

The first time you have to click on sync. After you have clicked on sync you can then choose to turn/toggle it off. With each new update it restores settings back to default so if you do any updates then the settings go back to default and all your contacts are back on the server again.

Their option to sync is actually backwards for a reason. We should have the option to sync/backup if we wanted to but they give you the option to turn off sync after the sync. With each Gmail or Google update settings go back to default and all contacts are synced again.

I am not against options but am against not being given a proper option to choose from. Default should always be device whether it be smartphone, tablet,laptop or desktop. Option then could be external storage device or cloud. For tablets and smartphones a laptop computer or desktop computer should also be an option of backup.

What do business travelers do when/where Gmail and Google are blocked in countries like "China"?

 

[Almeuit]

What do business travelers do when/where Gmail and Google are blocked in countries like "China"?

They have the contacts synced to the phone before they go so no issue. It isn't streaming the contacts from the cloud . It just stores it to the cloud but it is still technically "on the phone" once synced.

 

[9900Boldfan]

You are right, once it is synced it is technically "on the phone" once synced, so why then is it that when the device is brand new you can save to device but once you log in you lose that option?

 

[e30ernest]

At this point, I do not think this device is for you. The Pixel devices are first and foremost devices meant to push Google's ecosystem and services to you. If you do not wish to make use of Google's cloud services, then that's your decision so it would be best not to use a device centered around said services to start with.

 

[Almeuit]

You are right, once it is synced it is technically "on the phone" once synced, so why then is it that when the device is brand new you can save to device but once you log in you lose that option?

Easy. Google is saving people from themselves. I have seen countless times people swapping phones and not realizing the contacts were "on device" instead of sync'd.

As I said .. If this is that big of a deal for you simply return it and grab an Android phone that does work for you. That is the joy of Android -- choices versus just 1 phone.

We can't truly tell you Googles thoughts but I really believe it is to save people from themselves since most people don't understand "device" versus "sync" and such.

 

[Almeuit]

One of my mods ( @LeoRex ) had a good suggestion. Try downloading a 3rd party contact app and see if it allows you to save to the device.

 

[9900Boldfan]

I agree with you, there are definitely those kinds of people out there. I know of quite a few myself but it is sad for those that are more knowledgeable to lose their options. I can see those self driving cars in the future based on that same idea. They will tell you that you forget to look, forget to honk, forget to turn on lights, forget to signal so we will drive for you from now on. Those that know how to drive will be given cars that drive for them because not everyone knows how to drive.

 

[e30ernest]

Also, for the people really concerned about their privacy, I think it is worth reading through Google's Privacy Policy (https://privacy.google.com/your-data.html). It gives you a better idea on how your data is used, and what controls you can impose on the data Google collects from you.

In my personal opinion, there really isn't much value left over privacy concerns in terms of what companies like Google, Facebook, Samsung or Apple collects from you at this point. At worst, you get served ads which you can ignore or block via third party means. At best, you get more convenience and a better user experience overall.

Unless one is hiding a truly valuable secret (like those that work in government, or hold confidential data), or keeping secrets that may be illicit or compromising, then there really isn't anything to be worried about IMO. To these companies, your just one in millions of users. They don't really care about you enough to scrounge through your data as an individual of particular interest.

 

[9900Boldfan]

That is kind of you, I checked but did not find one that was good and safe. Quite a few also save contacts to their server as well and have ridiculous permissions to actually work.

I really was looking forward to getting this device when I ordered it.Had high hopes for it and was so happy when it arrived. Was even more happy when I took it out of the box and booted it on. Thought I was going to be keeping for quite some time. I then downloaded all my apps from the App store. After downloading the apps I went back to contacts to start adding my contacts and when I saw that the save to device option vanished is when I got disappointed. I thought it was some mistake and contacted Google for help. Technician assured me it was a device issue and bug in the hardware. He offered to send me a new device and sent me a new device. Upon getting second device I found that I had the same issue (in my heart I new that this was not a hardware issue but rather a software issue built into the system as it allowed to save to device but then switched to save to Gmail which is not usually a hardware issue. Someone would have needed to program this into the software its self.) After going back and forth with Google's tech they offered me a full refund on both devices and apologized to me. I ordered this device because I wanted to keep it and was really looking forward to having it but in the end the most basic function of even the cheapest basic Nokia phone allows one to save to device where such a high end smartphone did not allow this was disappointing.

 

[Ca_lvn]

I have a vCard saved to my computer for my contacts that I used to use to upload contacts to my phones but now that would be outdated some of my numbers would be obsolete because it hasn't been synced in a long time

I went online to look at my Google account to see if there was an option to download contacts or save another vCard and I could not find that option, I remember a couple years ago when I switched from iPhone to Android that I had to go into the iCloud and download that v card and upload it to Google somehow

Switching to the pixel I've surrendered to Google part of letting big brother take over I guess, for years I wanted to control my personal information, in this day and age that's just the way it works now, hopefully Google servers are never compromised by Cyber attack but definitely a possibility

 

[KillerQ]

I hope you don't visit other places online (like Reddit) if you think something like this is that bad .

Haha. Right..... After I'm full to the brim with annoying stuff, there's usually one comment that does me in.

 

[gabbott]

Just disable synching for contacts in settings.