What In The World Is Google Doing? (Headphone Jack, Pixel 2, Again)

[PhiPsi32]

Millennials will animoji the heck out this phone . . .

 

[modifier]

Millennials will animoji the heck out this phone . . .

Especially the dog p**p and unicorn.

 

[AustinIllini]

What in particular amazes you about it compared to every other smartphone slab out there? Genuine question. I want to see what in your mind justifies paying the Google Tax for this phone?

Three things matter in a phone

1. Great Software
2. Excllent Hardware
3. Timely Updates

Typically, you get two of three with Android. Pixel (and iPhone) is the only model that does all three.

 

[Ry]

Three things matter in a phone

1. Great Software
2. Excllent Hardware
3. Timely Updates

Typically, you get two of three with Android. Pixel (and iPhone) is the only model that does all three.

To you.

Others, probably a majority, will place things like a great camera ahead of your list.

 

[dejanh]

Just curious, what device are you currently using?

Currently, Samsung S8+.

What premium? My Pixel 2 XL costs just as much as .. a Note 8. So how am I paying more? I guess I could go pay for Samsung to get Samsung stuff but the only thing I truly use that is Samsung only is Samsung Pay. It is awesome but not worth me keeping Samsung just to have. Also with Google I get updates and bug fixes. Things that I can only dream about on my Samsung phone. Hell I just got an update on my S8+ the other night from Verizon .. it was the August security patch .. in October .. lol.

I think that the fact that I pointed a finger at Apple, Samsung, and now Google completely escaped you. Note8 is overpriced, as is the Pixel 2 XL, grossly. Apple is also grossly overpriced, and the upcoming iPhone X will be the worst of the lot. None, not one, of them are worth it. Heck, the Note8 adds a stylus and an extra camera for several hundred dollars more than the S8+...price gouging is price gouging. The market will speak in sales figures. Just sit back and watch the next couple of years. At lest in Apple's and Samsung's case they have market-share they can give up. Pixel barely has any to start and this will do nothing to increase adoption. Sales will be lower than before.

Three things matter in a phone

1. Great Software
2. Excllent Hardware
3. Timely Updates

Typically, you get two of three with Android. Pixel (and iPhone) is the only model that does all three.

Those are all good things, agreed. I don't believe that they are worth the premium these brands are now trying to charge. I guess this is the perceived value.

 

[AustinIllini]

To you.

Others, probably a majority, will place things like a great camera ahead of your list.

That kind of came out wrong, but is there a flagship with a particularly bad camera anymore?

And is a camera not hardware?

 

[dsignori]

How about animojis?... LMAO? You're selling thousand dollar phones and you think hard working adults will have time to play with animojis? What adult is buying a thousand dollar phone for their kids to use animojis?

I don't know , it looks like fun. I actually feel like young adults of today (18-23) act more like teenagers of past, so I think they would love this stuff. Plus, so many actual teenagers have iPhones that it caters perfectly to them.

Its not for me, but I can see the lure for a younger crowd for sure.

 

[Almeuit]

I think that the fact that I pointed a finger at Apple, Samsung, and now Google completely escaped you.

Escaped me? Nope. I think you're simply reading way too far into my reply. You asked a question and I answered it. That was the entire point of my post. I simply answered why (for me) the "premium" of Google is worth it. Great phone, great camera, updates, bug fixes, etc. are worth the $$ I pull out of my pocket.

 

[Mike Dee]

These days a camera including professional cameras are hardware that is very software reliant.

 

[cbreze]

Just missed the HTC One M7 (Beats Audio) and M8 (Boom Sound) front facing speakers. My dreams have been answered. I like to watch TV and watch a YouTube video from my phone as well. Front Facing speakers work great for phone conversations or showing friends a video. Thank you Google.

Yeah, I've been spoiled by front dual speakers. The big reason I passed on first gen pixel, crappy external speaker. Hope pixel 2's are good.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

If true, that changes things a bit for me. The cheap dongles aren't going to cut it then and I'd have to pay a bit for "good" dongles with DACs to be able to use my existing headphones.. Not thrilled at all if this is true ..

Yeah, but if this is the way it's gonna be in the future, might as well get used to it, I guess...

I discovered that the Essential is the same way. Their adapters have a chipset inside the USB end. A passive adapter from Motorola wouldn't work with my PH-1. The adapter Google is including with the 2/XL looks similar to Essential's adapter in both size and shape. Assuming both adapters are made by Foxconn, the internals might be identical.

If what you're saying about the 2/XL having no analog pass-through then my Motorola adapter won't work but my Essential adapter might work. My 2 XL should be here in a couple weeks and I can answer this hypothesis with more authority.

I have the Moto adapter as well. Strangely, does not work on my Note8.

 

[modifier]

I have the Moto adapter as well. Strangely, does not work on my Note8.

Interesting. Maybe it's the Moto adapter? I thought it was pass-through. Now I'm really curious...

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Interesting. Maybe it's the Moto adapter? I thought it was pass-through. Now I'm really curious...

This is why I'm REALLY skeptical on the whole USB-C headphone thing. There should be a proper standard that's already widely utilized before every OEM jumps in. I think Google is able to push for it.

To add insult to injury, the Moto dongle also doesn't work on my laptop.

 

[modifier]

This is why I'm REALLY skeptical on the whole USB-C headphone thing. There should be a proper standard that's already widely utilized before every OEM jumps in. I think Google is able to push for it.

Agreed. If both the Google and Essential adapters end up working on my 2 XL then maybe we can say there's some standard involved. But, if even these are proprietary then we'll be far less forgiving over the change. It should be standard regardless. Dongles are enough of a pain. Proprietary dongles are far worse.

To add insult to injury, the Moto dongle also doesn't work on my laptop.

That makes me think there's a reason why the Essential adapters have a chipset inside. Currently I don't have a laptop with USB-C to test it on its own.

 

[JLD94]

So the part that bugs me is.....your not going to include any ear buds in the box?? So I'm paying a higher premium than Apple, for half the storage (128 vs 256 $949) and your not going to include any kind of ear buds. I like the phone and would like to consider it, but I won't pay $949 for the 128GB which is what I want since there is no SD slot.

 

[libra89]

So the part that bugs me is.....your not going to include any ear buds in the box?? So I'm paying a higher premium than Apple, for half the storage (128 vs 256 $949) and your not going to include any kind of ear buds. I like the phone and would like to consider it, but I won't pay $949 for the 128GB which is what I want since there is no SD slot.

I'm with you on the ear buds. Even Apple has been doing that since removing the headphone jack.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

That makes me think there's a reason why the Essential adapters have a chipset inside. Currently I don't have a laptop with USB-C to test it on its own.

That chip could very well be the DAC.

My hypothesis is that the Note, Pixel and Essential Phone along with my laptop don't utilize analog passthrough.

 

[dejanh]

So the part that bugs me is.....your not going to include any ear buds in the box?? So I'm paying a higher premium than Apple, for half the storage (128 vs 256 $949) and your not going to include any kind of ear buds. I like the phone and would like to consider it, but I won't pay $949 for the 128GB which is what I want since there is no SD slot.

Exactly the point I made earlier. They're keeping costs as low as possible while jacking the price as high as possible, like Apple, but even worse because they are offering less for more money. So far, the 128GB XL is not selling in Canada, or selling very little. I have had it in my cart for 3 days now, and every day I check the shipping/delivery time-frame is exactly the same. Then again, I wouldn't expect it to sell much. At this price point it's a niche of an already niche product.

 

[Aquila]

Not including a pair of wired headphones in the box at these prices just seem dirty!

Why? They include the adapter so your wired ones still work.

 

[modifier]

That chip could very well be the DAC.

My hypothesis is that the Note, Pixel and Essential Phone along with my laptop don't utilize analog passthrough.

Indeed. Using a separate chipset would explain why the Motorola adapter didn't function on your notebook. There's no host DAC wired to USB for the pass-through to work. Chances are actually quite good that the Google/Essential adapters work as a standalone unit.

Handling it this way would likely conform better to USB specs since the adapters would (if the hypothesis proves true) work on any USB-C device and not just phones. This might not be so bad after all.