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Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
I agree that RCS adoption by Apple is a preemptive move to further keep their lockin and make RCS as poor an experience as possible and then claim the superiority of iMessage.

They also know the EU has Apple in it's sights. So they either make as minimal a change as possible and be in some control and be able to say they are acting in good faith then have regulations force their hand.

We will see what happens. If things get better between Apple and Android it will make me a happier Mac and iPad user then feel like I am ostracized for not using an iPhone.

I am sorry but using a Pixel phone right now means I can do things I just can't do on an iPhone yet and those things are actually really useful. Once Apple catches up and I have enough money to buy an iPhone then I may go back or if an up to date affordable iPhone is available I will be waiting.
Been that way for years. Apple might want to catch up. They lose sales because of it. It's a reason i havent had one in 11 years. I mean, who go back to less and spend more money doing it?
 

Heat_Fan89

macrumors 68030
Feb 23, 2016
2,936
3,830
I have the Google Hazel case and it's very good. No slippage at all. I really like it.
I can’t believe I said Hazel. It was the Coral case which is a Google Store exclusive. I have both the Mint and Bay cases on the way from Amazon and the Coral from Google.
 

Heat_Fan89

macrumors 68030
Feb 23, 2016
2,936
3,830
Been that way for years. Apple might want to catch up. They lose sales because of it. It's a reason i havent had one in 11 years. I mean, who go back to less and spend more money doing it?
Apple had the advantage With the Blue bubbles are superior to green bubbles crowd and threw that advantage away. During last year’s Apple event, Tim Cook addressed that debate with the RCS crowd and told them to buy an iPhone if they want to be a part of iMessage. He gave that away.
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
View attachment 2313636 View attachment 2313637 View attachment 2313634 Mous case fail 😬 short drop to the concrete and 3 of the edges of the aluminum frame were damaged pretty good. Debating on getting it fixed or just buying a new one with the black Friday discounts and my Google store credit.
That stinks. But you know, those Mous cases not only are over priced, that corner isn't even a solid piece with the split in it which didn't help your drop get protected. The Google cases imo are better.
 
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Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
Apple had the advantage With the Blue bubbles are superior to green bubbles crowd and threw that advantage away. During last year’s Apple event, Tim Cook addressed that debate with the RCS crowd and told them to buy an iPhone if they want to be a part of iMessage. He gave that away.
Idk I just don't get that blue/ green bubble argument. I used to change the bubble colors when i had a jail broken iPhone....because I could.
 

robvalentine

macrumors 6502a
Nov 21, 2014
548
1,220

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Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,853
8,080
Hec a better deal than pre order. I should of waited.

It's not a general Black Friday deal, it's because I can use a military discount (10%) and combine it with the current Black Friday deal where Google give £100 in store credit.
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
It's not a general Black Friday deal, it's because I can use a military discount (10%) and combine it with the current Black Friday deal where Google give £100 in store credit.
It's a better deal for those in the USA. For a Pixel 8 they would give $150 off ($200 for Pixel Pro)and will give $280 for my Pixel 7 ( which I already traded in)
It would be a better deal than pre order for me.
 
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Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
Hec a better deal than pre order. I should of waited.
Both Black Friday and pre order are the best deals depending on what you want.

If absolute cheapest price on the phone only is most important then the Black Friday deals are good but if you prefer the overall best deal then the pre order is still best.

If you consider the trade in value at the time of the pre order vs now it is about $150 better during the pre order for trade in value. You get a free Pixel watch 2 which is easily worth $300 which you can sell or keep. If you don't care about the buds/watch and are not going to sell or use them then the holiday sales are best.

But if you add the trade in value for pre order and value of the buds/watch then the price is a lot better for pre order.

It all depends what matters most. During the Christmas sale last year they bumped up the trade in value to pre order levels and gave sale price so maybe they will do it again this year?

I am glad I went with the pre order. If rumors are true about the Tensor G4 being a minor bump I may keep this phone until the Pixel 10. So far the Pixel 8 is a much better experience overall than the Pixel 7 was last year.
 
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Harthag

macrumors 68020
Jun 20, 2009
2,014
2,567
U.S.
Been playing with my P8 Pro since yesterday, really enjoy it so far. The "summarize" command using Assistant doesn't work with Firefox, bummer. I love Dark Reader and it seems Firefox is the only browser on Android that works with it, so that's why I stick with it.

The haptics- wow, very nice and strong! I never turn haptic feedback on while typing but I'm leaving it on on this phone 😂.

I've got Beeper up and running, it works with Android Auto now which is really nice. Also installed Re-vanced patcher and am running patched versions of YT and YT music 😎.

For some reason notebookcheck articles about the Pixel pop up in my feed, they make it seem as if the Pixel 8/Pro is the worst phone of 2023, really bash it. I never game on my phones, so couldn't care less about benchmarks.

T-Mobile scam shield + Pixel spam tools have prevented 100% of spam so far this weekend.

Haven't played with camera yet and can't wait to use the editing tools. My next project is to get all of my iCloud photos and videos into Google photos.

Can I just copy all of my photos in my iPhone (which are uploaded to iCloud) to the Google photos app? Or is it best to use copytrans and download my iCloud library full res files, and then transfer to Google?
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
Been playing with my P8 Pro since yesterday, really enjoy it so far. The "summarize" command using Assistant doesn't work with Firefox, bummer. I love Dark Reader and it seems Firefox is the only browser on Android that works with it, so that's why I stick with it.

The haptics- wow, very nice and strong! I never turn haptic feedback on while typing but I'm leaving it on on this phone 😂.

I've got Beeper up and running, it works with Android Auto now which is really nice. Also installed Re-vanced patcher and am running patched versions of YT and YT music 😎.

For some reason notebookcheck articles about the Pixel pop up in my feed, they make it seem as if the Pixel 8/Pro is the worst phone of 2023, really bash it. I never game on my phones, so couldn't care less about benchmarks.

T-Mobile scam shield + Pixel spam tools have prevented 100% of spam so far this weekend.

Haven't played with camera yet and can't wait to use the editing tools. My next project is to get all of my iCloud photos and videos into Google photos.

Can I just copy all of my photos in my iPhone (which are uploaded to iCloud) to the Google photos app? Or is it best to use copytrans and download my iCloud library full res files, and then transfer to Google?
Apple doesn't make it easy. I believe you have to download all of your photos from iCloud and then upload them to Google. I could be wrong and there should be an easier way but I believe this is the official way to transfer your photos.

Personally I would just leave iCloud alone. If you have a Mac or iPad then you have access to the entire photo library. Then you can just use Google from this point on. Keeps everything simple. You are never going to get away without paying Apple for cloud storage? Might as well just use it and move on. Also if you ever get another iPhone you can just pick up where you left off.

If you read some of the articles it is like the Tensor G3 is already outdated in AI yet they are testing against theoretical advantages that need to be leveraged by the right software. The SD 8 G 3 might be amazing but the supposed AI advantage needs to be utilized by an AI software that can use it and work.

The Pixel has a long track record with AI both on device and in the cloud. The Tensor TPU is much better in the G3 and still compares favorably to the SD 8 gen 2. We still have yet to see multiple phones with 8 G 3 and if the OEM's can compete with Google Pixel AI even if SD 8 G 3 has any advantages.

I think a lot of people just love to hate anything that isn't made by TSMC and isn't Apple or Qualcomm. I would think that more competition the better. If Samsung can eventually produce a really good chip at a good price then why not use them? Same with Mediatek. The more competitive foundries that produce cutting edge density chips is good for consumers and prices overall. One foundry to rule them all is bad for everyone. This mentality that anything that isn't TSMC made is crap is just that. Sure the Tensor G3 is no speed demon but it doesn't throttle unless extremely pushed and runs well under load with decent battery life. A huge improvement. So if I am getting the best AI experience in any phone available and longest software support on any Android phone ever why would I complain about it because the very reason I have 7 years software updates and great AI is because of Tensor in the first place.
 
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Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,853
8,080
Both Black Friday and pre order are the best deals depending on what you want.

If absolute cheapest price on the phone only is most important then the Black Friday deals are good but if you prefer the overall best deal then the pre order is still best.

If you consider the trade in value at the time of the pre order vs now it is about $150 better during the pre order for trade in value. You get a free Pixel watch 2 which is easily worth $300 which you can sell or keep. If you don't care about the buds/watch and are not going to sell or use them then the holiday sales are best.

But if you add the trade in value for pre order and value of the buds/watch then the price is a lot better for pre order.

It all depends what matters most. During the Christmas sale last year they bumped up the trade in value to pre order levels and gave sale price so maybe they will do it again this year?

I am glad I went with the pre order. If rumors are true about the Tensor G4 being a minor bump I may keep this phone until the Pixel 10. So far the Pixel 8 is a much better experience overall than the Pixel 7 was last year.

I bet there’s no chance they will offer the same pre-order deals again, ie the Pixel Watch 2. I should have gone for that deal instead of waiting.
I’m not saying it’s a bad deal. With that discount code (through Blue Light Card) I get nearly £100 off and then £100 store credit.

I was just waiting to see what Samsung are going to do with the S24 Ultra, there are rumours of big AI integration, similar to the Pixel. If I’m not mistaken Samsungs devices will also have some Google features anyway since they work together, ie the new Bard assistant.
 
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Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
I bet there’s no chance they will offer the same pre-order deals again, ie the Pixel Watch 2. I should have gone for that deal instead of waiting.
I’m not saying it’s a bad deal. With that discount code (through Blue Light Card) I get nearly £100 off and then £100 store credit.
The initial preorder deal was brilliant IMO, not sure why you didn't go with that? You obviously want one if your still considering buying one now? 🙂
 
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Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,853
8,080
The initial preorder deal was brilliant IMO, not sure why you didn't go with that? You obviously want one if your still considering buying one now? 🙂

I'm an iPhone user since the 3GS days, however I've gotten a little disheartened with Apple over the last couple of years. It now feels like Apple are just not trying, price increases with not only iPhone but across the board even on services. I look at the competition like Samsung and Google and see more changes, more exciting things. I don't know if it's Apple that's changed or just me :oops:

I've been looking at the Pixel 8 Pro since before it was announced (via rumours) but I'm unsure. I like Samsung, even the Watch 6 is appealing and certainly appeals more than the Pixel Watch 2.

There are strong rumours and leaks that the S24 range will be announced early, in January of next year. I think I'll see what Samsung are doing and then decide to either get the Pixel 8 Pro or go with Samsung S24 Ultra. I'm a tech lover and can see the potential of most, it's more about what I'm going to get along with.
 

Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
I'm an iPhone user since the 3GS days, however I've gotten a little disheartened with Apple over the last couple of years. It now feels like Apple are just not trying, price increases with not only iPhone but across the board even on services. I look at the competition like Samsung and Google and see more changes, more exciting things. I don't know if it's Apple that's changed or just me :oops:

I've been looking at the Pixel 8 Pro since before it was announced (via rumours) but I'm unsure. I like Samsung, even the Watch 6 is appealing and certainly appeals more than the Pixel Watch 2.

There are strong rumours and leaks that the S24 range will be announced early, in January of next year. I think I'll see what Samsung are doing and then decide to either get the Pixel 8 Pro or go with Samsung S24 Ultra. I'm a tech lover and can see the potential of most, it's more about what I'm going to get along with.
Yeah Samsung flagships are always announced in Jan I believe.
Thankfully my wallet gets a break as Samsung phones aren't my bag, outside of the Flip series 😁.
Probably wise to weigh it all up then. One good thing about Samsung is they also offer great preorder deals and trade in deals too. So you could get a bargain. 👌🏼
 

Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,853
8,080
Yeah Samsung flagships are always announced in Jan I believe.
Thankfully my wallet gets a break as Samsung phones aren't my bag, outside of the Flip series 😁.
Probably wise to weigh it all up then. One good thing about Samsung is they also offer great preorder deals and trade in deals too. So you could get a bargain. 👌🏼

Yea and there's no time limit on when I can use the code, it's from a Blue Light Card (the services) discount which gives me 10% off. The only thing I miss out on is the pre-order deal of the Pixel Watch or the buds.

The Pixel Tablet is currently £100 off and that's very tempting. I'm guessing you have the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro? how are you finding it? battery life and cameras? I'm currently using an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
 

Aneres11

macrumors 601
Oct 2, 2011
4,353
9,551
Yea and there's no time limit on when I can use the code, it's from a Blue Light Card (the services) discount which gives me 10% off. The only thing I miss out on is the pre-order deal of the Pixel Watch or the buds.

The Pixel Tablet is currently £100 off and that's very tempting. I'm guessing you have the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro? how are you finding it? battery life and cameras? I'm currently using an iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Yeah I have an 8 Pro.
I like it. I do find the camera disappointing in low light. I've posted about that in here before and won't tread old ground as one individual gets quite upset about it god love him. 😅.

Battery life is stellar. Can't fault it at all.
 
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