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  • mg330

    Anyone here using Project Fi for their phone / data plan?

    • Just read about it 5min ago. Interedting, need to read more about it tho.Bennn
    • I've been on Fi for about a year and half.nb
  • yuekit0

    I have to agree with his point that the border around the screen doesn't look great compared with Samsung phones.

    • Yeah, they are a little behind on the overall design. All so close, though, I'd have to see in person, might not make a difference.formed
    • The case on my S8+ makes a border (please, please stop making all glass phones!)formed
    • Phone bevel size is impressive to me like a really big DVD collection is.monospaced
    • I dont understand the bezel-less hype... i really dont care about bezel.Bennn
    • And no bezels means unintented pressing many times for people with lbig hands like meBennn
    • Yea i think it's fine. Similar to my LG G6 which I'm massively impressed with. Not a big fan of the Samsung screens that curve round the edge..set
    • Yeah down to personal taste I guess. I really like the edge to edge design, even the S7 Edge which was kind of ridiculous :)yuekit
    • ugly front. I like the back though.inteliboy
    • His review are banal and rote. He reads the spec sheet, takes some photos, and... that’s it. Using RED cameras in 4K. Pointless.face_melter
    • Ordered the pixel 2 xl last night. It was that or the note 8 and I wanted software updates more frequently loltrooperbill
  • mg330

    More Google / Android questions:

    When you take photos, are they viewed in an app related to the camera, or do they go straight to Google Photos?

    I'm currently copying over my iCloud photos library to Google Photos, trying to get most of my stuff situated before the phone comes later this month.

    • Android apps work via permissions - you will be asked to allow your camera access to Google Photos, Contacts, Gmail etc.face_melter
    • You can tailor where you want the pics to go - I guess with a Pixel they will go direct to Google Photos with the originals stored on the device.face_melter
    • There normally a DCIM (?) folder which contains everything the camera takes. Android uses a folder structure so you can easily copy/move files around.face_melter
    • If you're on a pixel then Google photos will be your default gallery app. Any other phone will have its own default appset
    • I use the LG/Sony whatever phone I'm using's gallery app but download Google photos and have it back up every image I take/saveset
    • That way I can delete stuff on my phone to keep it clean, save storage, wipe the OS etc but Google photos has everything backed upset
    • You'll be able to 'delete from device' while still having it available on the cloudset
    • Another great thing is that your phone shows up as a USB hard drive when plugged in to your computer, so you can just drag and drop stuff in and outset
    • Without fucking with something like iTunes or the apple photo software I forget what it's called but remember how awful it wasset
    • Recommend uploading your iTunes library to Google play tooset
    • And import all your notes to Google Keepset
    • I like the idea of drag and dropping files into a file structure on my phone. Old school and convenient.monospaced
    • Yup, plugging in and getting immediate access is great. I can't do anything with my old ipad without updating and there's no space left.formed
    • Which did you go for, XL or standard?craigatkinson
    • Standard.mg33
    • Dropping iTunes was the most complicated thing for me when I turned to Android. Now that I subscribed to Google Play Music, everything is A1Bennn
  • trooperbill0

    @mg33

  • craigatkinson0

    Here's my twopenn'orth on the pixel / Google / Apple...You could stop reading now...

    Pixel is the best phone I've ever used. All iPhones inc except the most recent. Very functional, AI works, OK Google works in most situations. Googles 'data harvesting' works well — the alerts it gives you are things you'd never have considered but work as good reminders and heads ups. Camera is outstanding, for a phone. Nothing really to fault. To my mind, price is fine, especially when you think what you would spend on a phone / sat nav / mp3 player / camera...

    Google photos is a great backup but not as good as Apple photos for editing...Which almost replaces LR for me now.

    Using a mac though...iPhones work better with macs. The phones aren't as good, in almost every way as the pixel, but as a group of things - tablet, phone, mac; Apple works best together.

    Shame Google don't make a decent laptop, or at least one that runs Adobe.

    Still stuck between iPhone / pixel, however.

    • I don't have a single issue using my android device with my mac... What are yours?set
    • No issue as such, just things are easier with apple. iMessage / music // podcasts / photo editing /craigatkinson
    • worse w/apple though, general functionality, siri, battery, camera,craigatkinson
    • Just a case of getting used to the new environment and it won't be any more difficultset
    • yep - I am 100% mac when it comes to computers but Android for many years phone wise - never an issue. As opposed to my partner who is iphone and has endlessfadein11
    • issues :)fadein11
    • does their phone also have issues?craigatkinson
  • Bennn2

    Can't wait to receive it Friday or next Monday! :)

    • < new full review of the Pixel2 by The VergeBennn
    • Me too!mg33
  • Bennn1

    Google PIXEL 2 camera is gonna be even better in the next months!

    "Surprise! Google hid a custom-built image processor inside the Pixel 2"

    https://www.dpreview.com/news/60…

    • not worrying at all!mugwart
    • what do you mean?Bennn
    • no optical zoom, thoughGnash
    • optical zoom on such a thin object makes no sense anywayBennn
    • You would be posting about optical zoom if it had it.monospaced
    • ^ yup! :)Gnash
    • if they manage to put a working and useful one, of courseBennn
  • Bennn0

    mg33, let us know if you survive the switch ;-)

    I received my PIXEL2 today! Setting it up atm

    • with the free Google Home Mini :D :D :D Cant wait to install itBennn
    • Was supposed to come today but going to be tomorrow.mg33
    • So many settings Ben! So many! You can customize for days. Even weeks!monospaced
    • @Benn hows the screen?trooperbill
    • Enjoy Benn - if its anything like Pixel1 you won't be disappointed. hands down best phone I have ever had.fadein11
    • I love it! :D No complain yetBennn
    • The camera is amazing, the stabilization is super effective. and the portrait mode blurring thing works better than expectedBennn
    • Cool. I will be getting soonfadein11
  • face_melter1

    Trigger warning.

    • The moral of this story is do not take a stanley knife to your phone, or try to bend it with all your might. I'll remember this.set
    • Take note everyoneset
    • lol at the DVsGnash
    • The finger sensor being so easy to scratch is bad... esp if it renders it useless.zarkonite
    • So everything Human build should be made of diamondBennn
    • You can destroy pratically EVERYTHING around you with a cutter and your hand. Those videos are clickbaits.Bennn
    • Why is there a 50p coin there if this guy is American? Or is that some generated voice?detritus
    • As someone who hates to see waste, this was painful to watch.detritus
    • Too right. Though at half a million views already he's making good money from it..set
    • It may just be possible that one American lives in Englandset
    • inconceivableimbecile
    • I don't.

      There's at least 40-odd.
      detritus
    • lol at Bennnnn. The sensor should be able to withstand punishment, esp. if it’s on the rear. They fucked it by not using ceramics.face_melter
  • detritus1
  • mg330

    Alright.

    Got the phone yesterday. Did the setup process. It didn't transfer from my iPhone properly because it ran out of power, but I thought I'd play around with it for a while. Currently doing another fresh transfer after resetting the phone.

    At first, I was really resistant to even considering liking it. I've been using an iPhone since probably 2009 - old habits die REALLY HARD and though I like Material Design, to use it in action is odd. It takes some getting used to. Within an hour I told myself "this isn't for me" and was prepared to box it up and send it back.

    But I spent more time last night playing around with it, adding some apps that didn't transfer, learning about the screens, control center, etc.

    I'm coming around and after waking up thinking about it this morning, I'm definitely coming around on it.

    There's one nagging issue I'm trying to resolve, and that's restricting my work gmail (with an @companydomain.com address) to the Gmail app, and not having it show up in Inbox, which I use for my work email. They have been seperate on my iPhone forever and it's just the way I do things. I'm having trouble setting one email as the phone's primary account. For example, my personal email is the primary, obviously. But when I went to buy an app, it only showed my work email as the purchase email. I do not want this at all.

    Aside from that, I think I will come around on it. I really like the portrait mode on the camera. Made some photos of my daughter look really fantastic.

    • settings > change account > email address. any other email accounts you use with gmail will work fine if set up on desktop before. never had this issue - I havefadein11
    • about 4 diff addresses coming into gmail. Android doesn't control that - just your google account you are signed in as. Unless I have misunderstood your issue.fadein11
    • It's more like email accounts are added to the phone, not to individual apps. Both my work email and personal email are available in Inbox and Gmailmg33
    • Sorry I think I understand the issue now. I use K9 mail app for one work address - it's separate from Gmail - that's how I do that for similar reasonsfadein11
    • Just turn off which account syncs what in the account settings... I have multiple work and personal emails and have zero issuesset
    • Yep - that's not what he asked - I thought he did at 1st. I have multiple email accounts in gmail. He wants to keep one separate from gmail. Which I also dofadein11
    • with 1 account only for various reasons. I use a different email app for that - K9 - which keeps it separate.fadein11
    • I think that's what he meant anyway, Gmail is great at accessing numerous emails so don't see the issue if not.fadein11
    • It's really that I want to mirror how I use my iPhone. Two different email apps with two different accounts means I'm getting 2x the notification for everythingmg33
    • Notification settings...set
    • yeah turn off notification settings like you can for any app.fadein11
    • notifications in*fadein11
  • Gnash0

    https://www.tomsguide.com/us/iph…

    iPhone 8 Plus vs. Google Pixel 2 Camera Shootout:

    Apple Wins

    • Is mark writing for Tom's Guide again?dbloc
    • They're both good cameras. I like the fact that Pixel2 does well in low light.dbloc
    • iPhone Portrait mode is pretty bad ass!dbloc
    • I posted mainly to annoy Benn (love u, benn!). I really have no opinion hereGnash
  • mg331

    Holy hell... I'm breathing a sigh of relief after making the decision to not keep the Pixel 2. Realized tonight that my entire weekend has been filled with an insane level of bipolar-type debating on whether this phone was for me or not. And it's not. Took a couple days to figure it out, but that's how it goes.

    Ultimately, I just don't have the f'ing time to wrap my head around something that felt like a radically different device. I tried to ask myself "will this all feel normal in a month?" and realized that no, it won't. However cliche or tween of me this sounds, being an iPhone user since 2008, the phone and it's OS practically feels like an extension of my hand at this point. It's amazing to see how engrained we can become in a daily process like using a phone.

    Among the things I did not like about it:

    - The interspersing of work and personal email addresses across the phone. It resulted in notifications going off for Gmail and Inbox for the same messages being received in both phones.
    - Various apps did not have an Android version. I did my research before buying it to see what really wasn't available, but two apps were not: 1) The Fuji camera WiFi transfer tool. 2) An app like TagsDock to manage hashtags and easily insert them into Instagram. Nothing but garbage in the Android store. I can't believe the shit some people put out as apps.
    - I thought I'd be able to export my Apple Health data to Google Fit, but either it requires some dev-level approach or it's just not possible. If it is, I'm sure it will take way too long and that's the point I decided to give up on it.
    - Chrome SUCKS on Android compared to Safari on iOS. I did not like that it was so easy to see regular tabs and Incognito tabs if you were adding a new one of either. iOS's ability to shift to Private Tabs and remain there until you switch back is great.
    - The notifications stuff just seemed too wild compared to iOS. Annoying more than anything, it just felt too busy.
    - I did not like that sharing something from certain apps pulled up a list of contacts to "Share With" before it listed apps you can share to. And there was no way to manage this without getting some ugly app that, when you share something, pops up and asks you if you want to share with that app (where you can restrict what/who to share to) or use the phone's regular sharing tools.

    Oh... and if that's all not enough, I dropped the damn thing without a case on it and slightly dinged one of the bottom corners. Screen is fine, once it's got a case on it you'd obviously never know. So now I don't want it, can't return it. Anyone want to offer a reasonable but lower amount than $750 for it and buy it off me? It's an unlocked black Pixel 2, 128GB. I can't believe I dropped it the first day I had it, I was beyond pissed so I've seriously just blocked it all out of my mind.

    Might try for the iPhone X this week, otherwise still using my iPhone 7 with iOS 10.

    • You had me at 'Holy hell'
      I'm not going near that phone :)
      PonyBoy
    • I get why people like Android, I really do. I like Material Design quite a bit. It felt weird to see it in action for the first time on a phone in my hand.mg33
    • where is benn? BENN! someone doesn't like android!pango
    • Something else that drove me crazy: all the extra clicks. In iOS if you have to enter your passcode, the device opens as you enter the last number.mg33
    • On Android, you have to click a checkmark after entering the passcode. Not a big deal, but pretty annoying.mg33
    • Lol at chrome sucks compared to safari. Fucking hell. It's better in almost every single way. Nevermind, each to their own I guess..set
    • Also it's not hard to turn specific notifications off, lol...set
    • There's a definitely a case of being completely used to something though. Android does everything I need it to almost perfectly...set
    • ... and using my ipad pro which I have for illustration, aside from the brilliant few apps, is a horrible, poorly designed unintuitive experience in comparisonset
    • Pattern swipe requires no extra clicks and is much quicker than a pass code, or just touch (not even click) your finger on the fingerprint sensor to unlock...set
    • ... in zero clicksset
    • The only real issue I can see of yours is the lack of the few apps you were used to. I don't have that issue on my phone but definitely had to buy an iPad..set
    • .. rather than android tablet for illustration and music productionset
    • thanks for the comments set. The lack of certain apps is a bigger problem than I thought it would be. Music-making apps, specifically.mg33
    • Yea it's a shameset
    • hey mg33 the Fuji transfer is there! I have it!Bennn
  • ben_0

    I'm in the converted camp.

    I was on apple for 3 years after my nexus 5 bit the dust and setting up the p2, it really shows how far android has come.

    Google assistant is so far ahead of siri it's maybe a bit unfair to even bring up, here's an example: My wife's name is (I guess) hard for computers to pronounce. With Siri, I would have to go through a dumb amount of steps to correct this just so that car play would allow me to use voice commands to call her instead of remembering some obscure pronunciation. Don't even get me started on friends who's names are in any way considered ethnic.

    Using assistant, the pronunciation was figured out on it's own in what I can only imagine is a ridiculously complicated algorithm, but one that seems simple and intuitive to me, the end user. The future of that AI looks pretty incredible.

    Transferring data from the iphone to the pixel was pretty seamless as well, thought that it would be choppier - I've got gmail, google business and exchange accounts to deal with. Only a couple apps weren't available on android, none of which I care too much about fortunately.

    I can still understand the argument that Apple's ui is cleaner and simpler, but most of that seemingly comes with a lack of choice around what you can do with the phone in the first place.

    To each their own and all that, but overall I'm impressed.

    • See that's the thing - I can't think of a single time I felt limited by a lack of choice. Lack of choice as in what? Customizing it?mg33
    • I mean it's the last thing on my list here, but in that instance, yeah it's the customization that sets it apart for me - both on the phone and per app.ben_
  • imbecile1

    that screen burn though... :(

  • trooperbill0

    anyone got the google pixel 2 xl yet? (mine arrives 15th nov) want to know from a trusted source if things are as bad as people are saying?

  • trooperbill0

    also dont forget to to turn off srgb in firefox for high saturation colours (its an in app setting)

  • Bennn0

    mg33, it's ok if you didnt like Android. It's not easy going from iOS after so many years. When I switched from iOS to Android, it took me a good month or two before getting use to it. Lots of things annoyed me at first, like you. Its all a question of habits and you can't change habits in 2 days.

    The best is to have a friend who gives you a Android crash course the first day and show you all the tricks and tips. A coworker helped me and it made the switch go better. If you were on your own trying to figure everything by yourself, I can understand you got frustrated with some things.

    personally, I switch my tablet first, from iPad to Samsung tablet, thats where I got in touch with Android for the first time. I was still using my iPhone. So I got use to Android slowly since I dont use my tablet as much as my phone. I guess switching your main device (phone) is kind of a big sudden change to face since you're using it all the time.

    many of the problems you faced have a solution tho.

    • Social Hashtags and AutoHash do the work for the # in Instagram, for exampleBennn
    • there's also HashTag OrganizerBennn
    • it gets bettermonospaced
    • Yep, I don't mean to rude, for once, but almost ecru point mg33 made was due to lack of understanding how to address it, rather than being real issuesset
    • every *set
    • And the Fuji transfer app is there, I have it, you probably missed itBennn
    • https://play.google.…Bennn
    • Thanks Bennnnnn. I spent more time with it yesterday, used it during the day. Switched back to my iPhone last night.mg33
    • The email account problems are probably the deal breaker for me. I don't understand how I can't isolate email addresses per app.mg33
    • The other thing that I honestly don't like, realizing I could get used it, sure - are the various processes that take an extra step vs. an iPhone.mg33
    • Ex: the lock screen, entering pin code. On iPhone, entry of the last number opens the phone. On Android, I have to click a checkmark. Why?mg33
    • There are numerous instances of this throughout different apps. Reddit is an example. Switching accounts, have to select the acct. then click OK.mg33
    • Kind of a poor way to do something so simple. I don't see anything in Material Design that lends to not taking you somewhere based on the selection you make.mg33
    • I checked out those hashtag apps while I was using the phone. I use this for my iPhone: https://tagsdock.com…mg33
    • All the Android apps are tedious to use - rely on copy/pasting going from app to app from what I can tell. Lame.mg33
    • There's one called Magnify that requires you to enter things like "magnify_[hashtag group name]" on IG to pull from a custom list. Also tedious.mg33
    • You're not using your fingers to unlock your phone??Bennn
    • i mean the sensor on the backBennn
    • tagsdock seems nice indeed, but I can live easily with the apps on Android for that, but I can understand you'd like the same app since you're used to itBennn
    • for your email problem, i'm not sure I totally understand, so i can't help here. You want to use emailA in Gmail and emailB in another apps?Bennn
    • For email, I have a work gmail account with @company.com email address. For personal, I have an @gmail address.mg33
    • On my iPhone I use Inbox for personal email, Gmail for work. Same for desktop. For very clear reasons; I use labels for work email religiously.mg33
    • I use most Inbox features for organizing personal email. I don't want to switch how I do this.mg33
    • On Android, you add email accounts at the phone level, not at app level. So, work and personal email are available in Inbox and Gmail.mg33
    • I don't want this. I don't want to adjust, I don't want to change my habits. It's never clear when I click an email notification which app will open.mg33
    • You cannot remove an account from either app because of the accounts living at the phone level.mg33
    • I'm curious i will try it. I have a work gmail @company too. I'll get back to you this evening maybeBennn
    • I've made the test, I see what you mean. I'm receiving notification for the same emails in Gmail and InBox... annoying yes. I'll check it out online.Bennn
    • at least you can turn off notification on one account in Inbox. Its Gmail the problem here.Bennn
    • Got it mg33, its pretty easy actually. > https://android.stac…Bennn
    • Just turn off notification for the account of your choice in both Inbox and Gmail. Works #1 here.Bennn
    • Inbox
      Hamburger menu > Settings > Select the accound > Notifications: OFF
      Bennn
    • Gmail
      hamburger menu > scroll down the left menu > Settings > Select the account > Notifications: OFF
      Bennn
    • Voilà! :) You'll receive one notification per account, not two.Bennn
    • For the extra clicks you're talking about, think about all the time you'll save by using the awesome BACK BUTTON! Seriously.Bennn
    • For the hashtags, you'll get use to the apps on Android, they're effective. You problems are almost all fixed :)Bennn
    • I appreciate it, but I'm sticking with iOS. In fact, I'm trying to get my company to buy the Pixel 2 from me so we can start having devices on hand for testing.mg33
    • Not sure why we don't, but sounds like there's a desire to do so soon.mg33
    • np, I totally understand. I didnt told you but I switched to Android two times before adopting it.Bennn
    • Went from iPad > Android tablet, totally hated it (a lot) Then 2 years later got back from iPad to Android tablet again cuz i needed an SD slot.Bennn
    • its not an easy switch. We're on those lil machine ALL the time.Bennn
    • You see, now I can't stand iOS, each time I use my gf's iPad I want to destroy it. Its all a question of habits. :)Bennn
    • You're still making points that are simply you not understand how to use it properly. The passcode is such a moot point...set
    • Use pattern swipe or fingerprint, it's much faster and doesn't require any extra taps... Odd thing to focus onset
    • Not sure why you chose a whole new ecosystem if you 'don't want to adjust your habits' to be fairset
    • I get it set... I had honestly never used one before. I just don't care for the way numerous habits must change. I'm too busy to bother with it.mg33
    • Furry muffset
    • mg33 getting gang banged by the android fanboysinteliboy
    • Apple fanboys still trying to use the name allocated to them on anyone who doesn't totally worship their productsset
    • ;)set
    • lolmonospaced
    • more like a floppy finger banging, intelliboy.Gnash
    • I use an ipad and a mac by the way. But I still suck an android phone's cockset
    • It's got the GURFset
    • I hate Apple OS's, sue me.Bennn
  • Bennn0

    For your information

    A bunch of tips and tricks for the Pixel 2 >

    http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/…

    'teresting. Learned a few very useful things

    • Damn, that's pretty comprehensive. Thanks.mg33
    • Ben just for the record, no one shortens interesting to 'terestingset
    • =pset
    • ^ that's true. it should just be; 'tingGnash
    • thanks set, i'll try to say it as much as possible from now on ;-PBennn
    • Yea you can say 'ting or 'restyset
    • or interestiballsset
  • sarahfailin0

    https://gizmodo.com/report-googl…
    People are stealing hundreds of Google's campus bikes per week. Some are going as far as Mexico.

    • Better get that wall up fast!inv
    • they can supposedly index every webpage on the net but can't even keep track of 900 bikes?PonyBoy
    • they know where they're at, which you would know if you'd cared to read potardimbecile
    • No... their bikes are stolen regularly meaning they do not keep track of them/ know where they’re at... What article did you read, idiot?PonyBoy
    • Im surprised they don’t use a simple gps app to track them like recent bike sharing companies that are popping up in major citiesPonyBoy
    • https://www.google.c…PonyBoy
    • Edit: I’m surprised the gps doesn’t work as well a deterrent as the bike shares popping up (they do use gps of cour$e)PonyBoy
    • the comments in the article tell you everything you need to know anyway... locals treat Goggle like shitPonyBoy
    • Perhaps they’re aware and aren’t actually pursuing them actively.monospaced