Nexus-N/Pixel XL ( 2016 )

[Technarchy]

It's funny how perceptions changed on the Pixel so quickly.

Seems as if opinions were heavily negative at the launch presentation, but have now switched to mostly enthusiastic.

Personally I think it looks like a rock solid offering from Google, and gives up little to nothing compared to other flagship devices from all device makers.

 

[epicrayban]

It's funny how perceptions changed on the Pixel so quickly.

Seems as if opinions were heavily negative at the launch presentation, but have now switched to mostly enthusiastic.

Personally I think it looks like a rock solid offering from Google, and gives up little to nothing compared to other flagship devices from all device makers.

Yep, guilty of this. It goes to show how polarizing the design is.

I'll tell ya, the wave of positive reviews really help. And learning more about the Pixel launcher goes a long way too. I've always predicted the software would be tight, but I didn't think it'd be this well praised.

Then there's the fact that a lot of places are saying the camera edges out the iPhone and s7, or, at the least, is on par with them. That's monumental.

 

[spinedoc77]

It's nice that the software is very tight. All our talk of Android competing with iOS, I also think that competition with Samsung will be great to have. When reviewers mention how fast Android on the pixel is, there is an undercurrent of subconscious reference to oem Android implementation, with Samsung in particular having built up a reputation of having laggy software. We always say that this is the year that Samsung *has* to address their software once and for all, I think that *has to* moment has arrived. My dream would be that Samsung just abandon touchwiz other than making it an optional launcher, and that Google implement some sort of driver scheme so oems can easily incorporate unique hardware such as the spen.

Anyhoo this is great for competition, not only with Apple but within Android itself.

 

[mclld]

I heard on a podcast that someone at Google was saying this first year of these Pixel's they are just getting it out but next year they will be expanding to other carriers and have a bigger push. I still dont think it will be a big seller though

 

[epicrayban]

I heard on a podcast that someone at Google was saying this first year of these Pixel's they are just getting it out but next year they will be expanding to other carriers and have a bigger push. I still dont think it will be a big seller though

I think it'll sell better than any Nexus device before it due to the massive marketing push by Google. It still won't get anywhere near as close as the iPhone or the galaxy devices.

 

[mclld]

I think when a customer goes in a sees the Pixel next to a Galaxy S7/Edge most would pick the S7/Edge just on looks alone and then when the spec sheet lists water resistance next the Samsung but not Google it would really be a hard sell. That plus in many people's mind Galaxy is android.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think when a customer goes in a sees the Pixel next to a Galaxy S7/Edge most would pick the S7/Edge just on looks alone and then when the spec sheet lists water resistance next the Samsung but not Google it would really be a hard sell. That plus in many people's mind Galaxy is android.

Certainly a possibility but right now there's also another connotation associated with Samsung. Most people aren't separating the Note 7 specifically from the Samsung brand.

 

[epicrayban]

I think when a customer goes in a sees the Pixel next to a Galaxy S7/Edge most would pick the S7/Edge just on looks alone and then when the spec sheet lists water resistance next the Samsung but not Google it would really be a hard sell. That plus in many people's mind Galaxy is android.

Exactly. The lack of water proofing, I've always argued, takes so much wind out of promoting or pushing these devices. It's a "spec" that will resonate with people and it was a mistake by Google to not include it this year.

 

[mclld]

Yeah that is true as well

 

[epicrayban]

Wait a second, does the Pixel launcher still not have a battery percentage indicator in the status bar?

 

[tbayrgs]

Wait a second, does the Pixel launcher still not have a battery percentage indicator in the status bar?

Not sure about the Pixel...you can turn it on in Nougat, have it on my 6P.
[doublepost=1476883943][/doublepost]I haven't been to a Verizon store so no idea how they're marketing the Pixel in store, but here's what the front page of their wireless web page looks..



Notice the 'I need a device that has everybody talking' section. The Galaxy S7 is on the section page, next to the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE.

I'd wager the Pixel will be positioned near the iPhones in store and if there's a phone design that can make the Pixel seem 'efficient', it's the iPhone.

Marketing has clearly had significant impact in the mobile industry and it's no different with the Pixel. Anyone who thinks it'll sell anywhere close to the level of the iPhone or Galaxy S7 models is delusional--hell, even Google has openly admitted they don't expect big sales numbers. And yes, I absolutely have to agree that I think Google is handicapping themselves by starting with a Verizon exclusive. But, I still think it'll easily outsell any past Nexus phones. The publicity and positive reviews the Pixel has received to date is already more than any past Nexus saw.

 

[bmac4]

I think when a customer goes in a sees the Pixel next to a Galaxy S7/Edge most would pick the S7/Edge just on looks alone and then when the spec sheet lists water resistance next the Samsung but not Google it would really be a hard sell. That plus in many people's mind Galaxy is android.

This I disagree with. Now 6 months ago Galaxy/ Samsung were held up there close to Apple/iPhone. Since the Note 7 recall, people are associating that with the whole Samsung line. Most people don't know the difference between the Note 7 and the S7. All they know is it's a Samsung phone.

 

[bmac4]

Certainly a possibility but right now there's also another connotation associated with Samsung. Most people aren't separating the Note 7 specifically from the Samsung brand.

^This. Like you said, most people just see a Samsung phone right now and think recall. It's going to take time before that changes.

 

[bmac4]

Exactly. The lack of water proofing, I've always argued, takes so much wind out of promoting or pushing these devices. It's a "spec" that will resonate with people and it was a mistake by Google to not include it this year.

I am very curious about this. Up until this year, no one demand a flagship to have waterproofing on it. It was not until the S7, iPhone, and Note 7 did it that it became a thing. My question being why is it so important now? The Sony's of the smartphone world have been doing this for years and it has not helped them a bit. I know it could be a selling point for some, but I just don't see it as a must. Maybe I am missing something.

 

[AppleRobert]

Wait a second, does the Pixel launcher still not have a battery percentage indicator in the status bar?

I sift through so much that I get confused, I think you can enable it but it is inside the battery on the status bar and is too small to really see well.

I use batterybot from the Store, good sized numbers on the status bar.

 

[mclld]

Why not? Once it is shown that you can have a phone that is built very well, has high end specs and is water resistance....who would prefer not to have water resistance? The choice seems pretty clear cut to me anyways, why in the world would anyone not want that as a feature for their expensive device?

 

[AppleRobert]

Not sure about the Pixel...you can turn it on in Nougat, have it on my 6P.
[doublepost=1476883943][/doublepost]I haven't been to a Verizon store so no idea how they're marketing the Pixel in store, but here's what the front page of their wireless web page looks..

View attachment 666597

Notice the 'I need a device that has everybody talking' section. The Galaxy S7 is on the section page, next to the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE.

I'd wager the Pixel will be positioned near the iPhones in store and if there's a phone design that can make the Pixel seem 'efficient', it's the iPhone.

Marketing has clearly had significant impact in the mobile industry and it's no different with the Pixel. Anyone who thinks it'll sell anywhere close to the level of the iPhone or Galaxy S7 models is delusional--hell, even Google has openly admitted they don't expect big sales numbers. And yes, I absolutely have to agree that I think Google is handicapping themselves by starting with a Verizon exclusive. But, I still think it'll easily outsell any past Nexus phones. The publicity and positive reviews the Pixel has received to date is already more than any past Nexus saw.

Nothing yet at my local Verizon, not even a placeholder. They will need to do a decent amount of work overnight if they want the Pixels in a strong eyecatching position in that store.

 

[spinedoc77]

I heard on a podcast that someone at Google was saying this first year of these Pixel's they are just getting it out but next year they will be expanding to other carriers and have a bigger push. I still dont think it will be a big seller though

Good, good. They really need to consider physical stores though. I did read that they are doing pop up kiosks for the holidays, which is exactly what Microsoft did before making their permanent stores widespread. I'm so happy with Apple and Microsoft and the benefit their physical stores provide and am excited to hope Google does the same. Let's not forget about Amazon as well as a competitor who is opening physical stores.

On an off note, it is so weird seeing yet another paradigm shift as Walmart, Target, Sears, etc. closing stores.

 

[bmac4]

Why not? Once it is shown that you can have a phone that is built very well, has high end specs and is water resistance....who would prefer not to have water resistance? The choice seems pretty clear cut to me anyways, why in the world would anyone not want that as a feature for their expensive device?

Sure I could expect that now from Samsung and Apple, but Google has not set the expectation that their phones should be waterproof. I am not saying they should or shouldn't have had it on the Pixel, but I don't hold a smartphone to the standard of requiring it to be waterproof to be a flagship.

People are saying that Apple made sacrifices to make the phone waterproof, so Google and HTC might have decided it was not worth it to sacrifice anything just yet. I really don't know, but I don't hold it against them for nothing having it. It just seems like an extra feature on a phone, not a have to.

 

[tbayrgs]

Nothing yet at my local Verizon, not even a placeholder. They will need to do a decent amount of work overnight if they want the Pixels in a strong eyecatching position in that store

Well, that's really not surprising. If customers come in today, they want to sell them a phone today--no need to risk having them walk out of the store because something else will be available later. Apple Store don't even hint at their new hardware in store, even in the time period between announcement and first sale day. They want customers coming into their stores today to buy something today.

 

[Wildo6882]

This is why I said people needed to hold off after seeing those "camera comparisons" from that shady YouTube account the other day. I'm really impressed with the total package that the Pixel is. This is what I've been waiting for since the Nexus 5.

I also think it'll do better than some people give it credit for with regards to sales. The marketing is insane for this thing. I can't watch TV without seeing a commercial. Also like was posted above, it's plastered all over Verizon's website. It'll at least get people asking questions.

And it's not like Google isn't a household name. This isn't Oneplus trying to make a name for themselves.

Plus, Samsung has lost some of its credibility with the Note 7 fiasco. This permeates all of their phones. I've heard from quite a few people that said they won't buy another Samsung phone. Even people that have never owned a Note. This will impact the Pixel sales for sure (and also help out Apple).

 

[AppleRobert]

Well, that's really not surprising. If customers come in today, they want to sell them a phone today--no need to risk having them walk out of the store because something else will be available later. Apple Store don't even hint at their new hardware in store, even in the time period between announcement and first sale day. They want customers coming into their stores today to buy something today.

But they are quick at each and every carrier store to throw the "you can preorder now" at you which I retort "well I don't know about that since I have nothing to look at presently to see if I would even be interested".

 

[epicrayban]

I am very curious about this. Up until a year this year, no one demand a flagship to have waterproofing on it. It was not until the S7, iPhone, and Note 7 did it that it became a thing. My question being why is it so important now? The Sony's of the smartphone world have been doing this for years and it has not helped them a bit. I know it could be a selling point for some, but I just don't see it as a must. Maybe I am missing something.

Because let's face it, not many people are getting Sony devices solely for the waterproofing. Too much compromise elsewhere.

Whereas when the S7 got it, this was the first mainstream flagship device that had such a feature. Then you throw in the iPhone, an even more popular and known flagship? That's what's changed. The big players are waterproofing their flagship devices. There's no more need for some other version like the Samsung Actives to provide waterproofing; you get it right in the device you want to get.

Is it a must? That'll depend on each individual. Should Google have included it to stay competitive with exactly the competition they want to go head to head with? Absolutely. The standard has changed, and for the better. I knocked the iPhone for not having it while the S7 had it, and so should we knock Google. If they want to join the premium flagships, that's the standard now.

Bare in mind I'm not a Pixel hater. I'm likely preordering after I hear more real world user feedback from you guys and the rest of the community. As I've said before, in some ways, you can forgive Google since this is the first generation Pixel. Still, I think it's a big misstep that also takes away from the marketing push.

 

[mi7chy]

Google's strategy was perfectly executed with a fairytale happy outcome for its original hardware partner. Consumers desire the marriage of pure Google software with the best hardware from Samsung but it won't happen since that would destroy the rich partnership ecosystem that is more important to continued growth for everyone involved. However, there's one company that has waged nuclear war not only against Google but the entire industry with an out of control patent system so how do they deal with it? Google reinforce the value of strong partnership by going back to their original hardware partner, HTC, that made the original G1 and that also happens to be struggling with sales. The partnership reinforced that true competition is by creating a product that's clearly better in every area that matters but intentionally keeping a contentious and familiar rectangle with rounded corners with big ugly bezels and even an unsightly back as a message to the patent system that petty things have no significance afterall.

 

[epicrayban]

I really wonder who Google will get to manufacture the next Pixel. Is this going to be like the Nexus where they pick a partner every year, but now with more control? Does that mean each year's Pixel will be completely redesigned from the previous year, too? Or will Google try to design something out of the Pixel aesthetic to really grow the Pixel brand (like Apple/Samsung do)?

Many interesting questions.