Google Event - Oct 9th

[epicrayban]

Aside from the Pixel 3, anybody else excited about any of the other products predicted to be announced?

Pixelbook 2 and the Pixel Slate interests me. I would love to finally see a good tablet competitor running stock Android.

Here's a breakdown from Verge:

9 things to expect from the Google Pixel 3 event next week
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/5/17936388/google-event-2018-preview-pixel-3

 

[Aneres11]

I REALLY hope they don't unveil a Pixelbook 2 as I will 100% want to buy it.
Had my Pixelbook for a year this Christmas and it remains one of my absolute favourite tech purchasers in a loooong time.

It's so good. So a refined version that fixes some annoyances of the other one (clicky track pad even when the screen / lid is shut, smaller bezels, included pen or somewhere to fix the pen) would be mighty tempting.
I'm trying to be good with not spending so much on tech!

 

[tbayrgs]

I’d like to be genuinely surprised by something but nothing I’m really eagerly anticipating. And I have $150 Google Store credit ‘burning a hole in my pocket’ with nothing I’m presently dying to get. Maybe a new and improved set of earbuds/headphones.

 

[The Game 161]

Think they missed a trick not having a pixel watch...shame

 

[epicrayban]

I REALLY hope they don't unveil a Pixelbook 2 as I will 100% want to buy it.
Had my Pixelbook for a year this Christmas and it remains one of my absolute favourite tech purchasers in a loooong time.

It's so good. So a refined version that fixes some annoyances of the other one (clicky track pad even when the screen / lid is shut, smaller bezels, included pen or somewhere to fix the pen) would be mighty tempting.
I'm trying to be good with not spending so much on tech!

How is it as a tablet?
[doublepost=1538760513][/doublepost]

Think they missed a trick not having a pixel watch...shame

Big time.

Pun intended.

Not sure why/how Google wasn't able to pool their resources to produce a watch this year. In the past couple of years, they've been able to make a variety of smart home speakers, laptops, earbuds, mini-cameras, etc., but aren't able to put together a watch with any manufacturer or partner?

And didn't Wear OS or the first iteration of it come out two years before the Apple Watch? How did Google drop the ball on this so badly and let this slip so far behind, especially now with the Series 4 watch being a runaway hit?

The missing Pixel Watch is definitely a gaping hole in their lineup.

 

[Aneres11]

How is it as a tablet?
[doublepost=1538760513][/doublepost]

I never use it as a tablet.
Ever.

I tried every so often to utilise it in that way but it just doesn't work for me. It's slightly too bulky and heavy and feeling the keyboard behind is really jarring.

I do like using it in 'tent' mode though and letting it stand on the arm of the sofa whilst I'm watching a YouTube vid etc.

 

[tbayrgs]

How is it as a tablet?
[doublepost=1538760513][/doublepost]

Big time.

Pun intended.

Not sure why/how Google wasn't able to pool their resources to produce a watch this year. In the past couple of years, they've been able to make a variety of smart home speakers, laptops, earbuds, mini-cameras, etc., but aren't able to put together a watch with any manufacturer or partner?

And didn't Wear OS or the first iteration of it come out two years before the Apple Watch? How did Google drop the ball on this so badly and let this slip so far behind, especially now with the Series 4 watch being a runaway hit?

The missing Pixel Watch is definitely a gaping hole in their lineup.

I think a big part of the problems, and a huge disadvantage for Google and its Android Wear partners, is their reliance on Qualcomm for watch CPUs. The latest iteration, the 3100, that was just announced is a huge handicap—it’s basically a mildly iterated version of the 2100 which in itself is a slight update of the snapdragon 400 from 4-5 years ago. IIRC it’s fabbed on a 28nm process—Apple’s A12 is 7 nm. That’s likely why we don’t see a Pixel Watch—because it would already be running what basically an outdated processor.

Apple and Samsung don’t have this limitation and it’s a big part of why they’re leading the smart watch industry.

 

[epicrayban]

I think a big part of the problems, and a huge disadvantage for Google and its Android Wear partners, is their reliance on Qualcomm for watch CPUs. The latest iteration, the 3100, that was just announced is a huge handicap—it’s basically a mildly iterated version of the 2100 which in itself is a slight update of the snapdragon 400 from 4-5 years ago. IIRC it’s fabbed on a 28nm process—Apple’s A12 is 7 nm. That’s likely why we don’t see a Pixel Watch—because it would already be running what basically an outdated processor.

Apple and Samsung don’t have this limitation and it’s a big part of why they’re leading the smart watch industry.

I think you're right. That does explain a lot.

 

[epicrayban]

Google Slate leaks: https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5go...el-slate-leaked-images-hardware-keyboard/amp/

 

[5105973]

I’m always excited for a good tech dog and pony show. I’ll be there with my popcorn.

Not my wallet though. I’m lucky to be getting an iPhone XR and I really want an iPhone with an upgraded camera and stereo audio recording.

 

[Vegastouch]

Pretty sure there's going to be nothing I'm excited about since I don't really need anything. Can use another Laptop but think I'm going to one day get a Surface Pro for that.
Isn't a Pixel book and bigger tablet with a keyboard? Does it have any ports?

 

[The Game 161]

Wonder what new Chromecast will be...might hold off buying one til the event.

 

[Michael Goff]

Pretty sure there's going to be nothing I'm excited about since I don't really need anything. Can use another Laptop but think I'm going to one day get a Surface Pro for that.
Isn't a Pixel book and bigger tablet with a keyboard? Does it have any ports?

If it's anything like my Pixel book, two USB C (one of which is used for charging). I don't know if I'd refer to is as a tablet with a keyboard, though. Now, they are supposedly coming out with a tablet w/ a keyboard as well.

 

[epicrayban]

If it's anything like my Pixel book, two USB C (one of which is used for charging). I don't know if I'd refer to is as a tablet with a keyboard, though. Now, they are supposedly coming out with a tablet w/ a keyboard as well.

What can you tell me about chrome OS?

 

[Michael Goff]

What can you tell me about chrome OS?

I could tell you a lot. But do you have anything specific you want to know about?

 

[epicrayban]

I could tell you a lot. But do you have anything specific you want to know about?

Any major deal breakers or issues? Interested in a new tablet.

 

[Michael Goff]

Any major deal breakers or issues? Interested in a new tablet.

Unless the slate turns out to be good, I wouldn't recommend. The Pixel book I have is not exactly thin and light in terms of tablets. You're taking a laptop and folding it back, so hardly expected to be.

The OS is ... They're working on it. I've noticed the gestures are hit and miss in terms of sensitivity. I've noticed that the Android apps occasionally flicker when you're in laptop mode and hover over the bottom bar.

Some of these issues might be fixed by the time it rolls out to stable, but I'm doubting it. Also, current Pixelbooks have a problem keeping connected to BT speakers.

 

[epicrayban]

Unless the slate turns out to be good, I wouldn't recommend. The Pixel book I have is not exactly thin and light in terms of tablets. You're taking a laptop and folding it back, so hardly expected to be.

The OS is ... They're working on it. I've noticed the gestures are hit and miss in terms of sensitivity. I've noticed that the Android apps occasionally flicker when you're in laptop mode and hover over the bottom bar.

Some of these issues might be fixed by the time it rolls out to stable, but I'm doubting it. Also, current Pixelbooks have a problem keeping connected to BT speakers.

Good to know. We'll see how I feel when the details are made clear.Thanks!

 

[Michael Goff]

Good to know. We'll see how I feel when the details are made clear.Thanks!

No problem. If you really want a tablet and iPads are out, though, I'd recommend the Surface Pro 6 or maybe the Surface Go.

 

[epicrayban]

No problem. If you really want a tablet and iPads are out, though, I'd recommend the Surface Pro 6 or maybe the Surface Go.

Yeah, or I may update my iPad.

Just thinking it'll be cool to have a tablet with a little more freedom, so keeping an open mind.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yeah, or I may update my iPad.

Just thinking it'll be cool to have a tablet with a little more freedom, so keeping an open mind.

That is true, and a ChromeOS tablet could run Linux and Android apps. So that's a huge amount of freedom.

 

[Ralfi]

Oh how I hope Google shocks the world with a third model, in the vein of the X last year, which showcased their near full-screen future direction.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Wonder what new Chromecast will be...might hold off buying one til the event.

I’ve already got two. I’m going to watch it and hope I managed to keep my purse closed!!
[doublepost=1538992119][/doublepost]

Oh how I hope Google shocks the world with a third model, in the vein of the X last year, which showcased their near full-screen future direction.

Apparently it’s a budget model and the whole drama was about design teams competing.
I still hope there is a final twist though.

[doublepost=1538992191][/doublepost]What time is the event tomorrow?

 

[JaySoul]

I’ve already got two. I’m going to watch it and hope I managed to keep my purse closed!!
[doublepost=1538992119][/doublepost]
Apparently it’s a budget model and the whole drama was about design teams competing.
I still hope there is a final twist though.

[doublepost=1538992191][/doublepost]What time is the event tomorrow?

I think it's 11am Eastern Time which in the UK means 4pm for us.

I'm excited. I know practically everything has leaked but there should be a lot to take in and things we don't know.

 

[5105973]

I’ve already got two. I’m going to watch it and hope I managed to keep my purse closed!!
[doublepost=1538992119][/doublepost]
Apparently it’s a budget model and the whole drama was about design teams competing.
I still hope there is a final twist though.

[doublepost=1538992191][/doublepost]What time is the event tomorrow?

There has to be a final twist. There just has to be. This is just too unpalatable otherwise.

While Jon Prosser is giving them props for this fiasco, I am thinking if this is the way they really make a decision between two design teams, they lack real insightful and wise leadership and I am disgusted.

It should NOT take a leak, intentional or otherwise, and a massive stink eye reaction from the public to know a horrible design when it comes up and kicks management in the shins.

It really should not take the second coming of Steve Jobs to look at the preliminary design prototypes to know one design is wretched.

An entire product release cycle should NOT be wasted on dreck.

As if my respect and interest could not get any lower right now, especially in consideration of my reading and participation on another thread about their appalling lack of ethics in their data mining schemes. If what Jon Prosser is saying proves to be the actual truth, it might help me find even deeper depths for my regard to sink.

Snowball has my affection because of HTC and their hand in its design. The aspects of Snowball that I do not like, aside from the camera, are largely due to Google’s mis-steps in leadership. (Though it would be interesting to discover that it was in fact HTC’s design team that was responsible for the notchy mess of the 3XL. I do not know what to think anymore.)