Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL

[Awesomesince86]

I'm just resigned to the fact that in going to buy an S10 plus. But the current "deals" don't really do anything for me and with the Pixel 3 XL price dropping again, I might as well stick with it for the next few months. By that time Q beta will be released which will get some people interested in the phone and give it a small price bump and the S series will have started to see discounts.

 

[nospleen]

I need a support group. Ha!

You're literally in it now.

 

[slitherjef]

I need a support group. Ha!

It's this page

Edit: didn't see previous message from @nospleen lol

 

[nospleen]

Update is out!

 

[Awesomesince86]

Apparently there's a patch to fix camera opening slowly. Something some people here denied was happening.

Also, anyone see MKBHD comparing the Pixel to the OnePlus last week? Apparently he's always been having a lot of issues with lag. It's pretty embarrassing that Google haven't fixed these issues since the previous Pixel.

 

[mjschabow]

Apparently there's a patch to fix camera opening slowly. Something some people here denied was happening.

Also, anyone see MKBHD comparing the Pixel to the OnePlus last week? Apparently he's always been having a lot of issues with lag. It's pretty embarrassing that Google haven't fixed these issues since the previous Pixel.

I'm excited to see if the issues are fixed. The camera opening slowly caused me to miss a couple shots of the kids this weekend.

 

[noobinator]

I have a feeling this update will help things. December and January updates were amazing and February was a turd.

 

[jamezr]

Update is out!

Installing it now

 

[mjschabow]

So far so good. Trying to avoid placebo effect but I can say with absolute confidence that the camera and apps open up quicker.

Safari is snappier too.

 

[Awesomesince86]

I'm excited to see if the issues are fixed. The camera opening slowly caused me to miss a couple shots of the kids this weekend.

Yeah, it really doesn't matter how amazing the camera is if by the time the camera app loads the photo op is missed.

 

[csurfr]

Safari is snappier too.

Where can I find the apk for this?

 

[co.ag.2005]

Apparently there's a patch to fix camera opening slowly. Something some people here denied was happening.

Also, anyone see MKBHD comparing the Pixel to the OnePlus last week? Apparently he's always been having a lot of issues with lag. It's pretty embarrassing that Google haven't fixed these issues since the previous Pixel.

I've been having the camera launch lag and occasional jank. March update is installed, let's see if I can tell any difference.

FWIW, It sounds like the february update dropped the phones system's Random Read Random Write speeds almost in half, I've seen reports on Reddit and other places that those numbers are back where they need to be which should hopefully help in the phone having less jank and other slow downs.

they fixed one massive bug

It looks like they fixed the massive degradation in read/write speeds caused by the February update. It's mentioned in the pixel updates bulletin as Improves storage performance on Pixel 3 devices For context, here is a table comparing the speeds over the past versions.

Random Read Random Write

Pre-Feb Update 128.27 MB/s 169.93 MB/s

Feb Update 58.1 MB/s 25.37 MB/s

March Update 117.97 MB/s 139.91 MB/s

As you can see, the March update mostly fixes the read/write speeds. You should notice a solid difference in performance compared to the February update.

For more info on the Feb. issue see this XDA thread

credit /u/Kktgbras

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/axa6dm/march_2019_factory_images_live/


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changelog also mentions improvements to the camera launch:
Pixel security bulletin https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2019-03-01.html

• A-122471935 - Camera - Improves Startup and responsiveness of Camera app - Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL
  
  
• A-120212581 - Performance - Improves recovery in the instance of OTA update failure - Pixel 3, Pixel 3X
  
  
• A-120920537 - Performance - Improves storage performance on Pixel 3 devices - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  
  
• A-119776006 - Bluetooth - Improves bluetooth reliability on Pixel 3 devices - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  
  
• A-116848259 - Media - Improves playback of encrypted media on some video apps - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  

 

[mjschabow]

I've been having the camera launch lag and occasional jank. March update is installed, let's see if I can tell any difference.

FWIW, It sounds like the february update dropped the phones system's Random Read Random Write speeds almost in half, I've seen reports on Reddit and other places that those numbers are back where they need to be which should hopefully help in the phone having less jank and other slow downs.


https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/axa6dm/march_2019_factory_images_live/


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changelog also mentions improvements to the camera launch:
Pixel security bulletin https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2019-03-01.html

• A-122471935 - Camera - Improves Startup and responsiveness of Camera app - Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL
  
  
• A-120212581 - Performance - Improves recovery in the instance of OTA update failure - Pixel 3, Pixel 3X
  
  
• A-120920537 - Performance - Improves storage performance on Pixel 3 devices - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  
  
• A-119776006 - Bluetooth - Improves bluetooth reliability on Pixel 3 devices - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  
  
• A-116848259 - Media - Improves playback of encrypted media on some video apps - Pixel 3, Pixel3 XL
  

There is definitely a big bump in speed with this update. Honestly, it feels like I've had 2 different phones since I got it 2 Fridays ago.

 

[tbayrgs]

This is one of my big beefs with web browsing in general on Android.

Yes, I know mobile Safari on iOS isn’t a full desktop web browser but I still find it to be the best mobile web browsing experience, for three specific reasons. 1) Content blocking from third party plug-ins. 2). Password Manager integration (both native and with third party apps). 3). In app features (navigation bar, gestures, tap-to-top, tabs in landscape). I also must have 4) cross device/platform syncing. I understand 3) is heavily subjective and I can deal with differences here but 1), 2) and 4) are must haves for me and I haven’t found anything that does more than 2 of these.

Chrome supports Password Managers and cross device syncing but no content blocking and its absence makes web browsing some sites almost unuseable. I’m also not a big fan of so many functions buried in the top right hamburger menu. The Samsung browser is probably my favorite UI on Android, has content blocker options and Samsung offers a Chrome plug-in to sync with Chrome bookmarks but it has no integration with third party password managers like 1Password or LastPass and I’m not using Samsung’s solution as it isn’t cross device/platform. This is a deal breaker. It’s the same situation with Firefox.

So at this point I’m begrudgingly using Chrome but it’s quickly becoming a sticking point in my consideration to switch to the Pixel 3 XL full time.

Anyone else have a suggestion? And no, I’m not installing a system wide blocker.

Well, I think I may have solved my browser woes. After reading about Brave in today's article on the Verge, it sounded like it meets most, if not all of my browser needs so I figured I'd give it a go. It's available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS (though this is the least attractive version, will explain...) and since it's built on Chromium, it is compatible with Chrome extensions (yay for 1Password). It has its own built in content blocking, can sync across devices/platforms (except for iOS, thus why it's not yet ideal for iPhone and iPad), and works with Android's own native api for password autofill. So on my Pixel, I'm getting integration with 1Password, bookmark syncing, content blocking AND synchronization with most of my other devices.

And not that it matters particularly for me, but it's one less source of data input for Google since I'm not using Chrome everywhere.

Just figured I'd share in case anyone else in looking for a similar experience.

 

[co.ag.2005]

Well, I think I may have solved my browser woes. After reading about Brave in today's article on the Verge, it sounded like it meets most, if not all of my browser needs so I figured I'd give it a go. It's available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS (though this is the least attractive version, will explain...) and since it's built on Chromium, it is compatible with Chrome extensions (yay for 1Password). It has its own built in content blocking, can sync across devices/platforms (except for iOS, thus why it's not yet ideal for iPhone and iPad), and works with Android's own native api for password autofill. So on my Pixel, I'm getting integration with 1Password, bookmark syncing, content blocking AND synchronization with most of my other devices.

And not that it matters particularly for me, but it's one less source of data input for Google since I'm not using Chrome everywhere.

Just figured I'd share in case anyone else in looking for a similar experience.

I'm giving this a try again but can't see how to integrate passwords with autofill on my Pixel 3 XL... as well as sync my bookmarks from Chrome... unless you are talking about installing windows on PC and doing all that there? I'm trying to get it going with sync and password autofill on android. Thanks!

EDIT: I got it to sync my chrome bookmarks by setting up sync on Brave on my iMac. Just need to figure out passwords.

EDIT 2: I think I have autofill working with last pass. A little janky but seems to work. I like this solution better as my preferred browser, Samsung Internet, didn't allow auto fill from non-Samsung services.

 

[mjschabow]

24 hours later and this update is so good. Feels like I have a high end phone now. Maybe a slightly better battery life but that is tough to gauge after 1 day.

 

[tbayrgs]

I'm giving this a try again but can't see how to integrate passwords with autofill on my Pixel 3 XL... as well as sync my bookmarks from Chrome... unless you are talking about installing windows on PC and doing all that there? I'm trying to get it going with sync and password autofill on android. Thanks!

EDIT: I got it to sync my chrome bookmarks by setting up sync on Brave on my iMac. Just need to figure out passwords.

EDIT 2: I think I have autofill working with last pass. A little janky but seems to work. I like this solution better as my preferred browser, Samsung Internet, didn't allow auto fill from non-Samsung services.

Yeah, sorry about that, I wasn't very clear on my process. I imported my Chrome bookmarks and passwords into the Windows version of Brave on my Surface Pro, which then synced to my Pixel 3 XL. I then just added the 1Password extension (pulled it in from the Chrome extension shop) on the Windows version. I'd previously already set up 1Password as my default Autofill service so it just worked whenever I logged into a website.

Really liking it so far.

 

[Harthag]

I'm giving this a try again but can't see how to integrate passwords with autofill on my Pixel 3 XL... as well as sync my bookmarks from Chrome... unless you are talking about installing windows on PC and doing all that there? I'm trying to get it going with sync and password autofill on android. Thanks!

EDIT: I got it to sync my chrome bookmarks by setting up sync on Brave on my iMac. Just need to figure out passwords.

EDIT 2: I think I have autofill working with last pass. A little janky but seems to work. I like this solution better as my preferred browser, Samsung Internet, didn't allow auto fill from non-Samsung services.

That's what I like to hear. I also use Last Pass. I'll have to give this browser a try, I hate all these ads in Chrome. I was happily browsing last night before bed half asleep only to be slammed by a loud ad that automatically started on a site haha. I hate that.

Edit- just installed Brave on my office PC, synced it with Chrome, installed Last Pass extension within Brave, and then synced with the phone. Last Pass works perfectly I didn't even need to do anything on the phone. Thanks for this!

 

[csurfr]

That's what I like to hear. I also use Last Pass. I'll have to give this browser a try, I hate all these ads in Chrome. I was happily browsing last night before bed half asleep only to be slammed by a loud ad that automatically started on a site haha. I hate that.

Edit- just installed Brave on my office PC, synced it with Chrome, and then synced with the phone. Last Pass works perfectly on PC and phone (so far) I didn't even need to do anything. Thanks for this!

So, I’ve not looked too much into it since getting my 3xl, but can you not install ad blocking software (like AdGuard) on android?

 

[Harthag]

So, I’ve not looked too much into it since getting my 3xl, but can you not install ad blocking software (like AdGuard) on android?

You can install AdGuard but you need to do it manually. I tried it awhile ago and did not like it at all. It is simple if you install the extension in the Samsung browser, but not Chrome for some reason. I'm amazed at how good the Brave browser for Android is only after using it for maybe 10-15 mins. It's the same experience as Chrome for me, without the ads. Can't believe I didn't know about this until now.

 

[csurfr]

You can install AdGuard but you need to do it manually. I tried it awhile ago and did not like it at all. It is simple if you install the extension in the Samsung browser, but not Chrome for some reason. I'm amazed at how good the Brave browser for Android is only after using it for maybe 10-15 mins. It's the same experience as Chrome for me, without the ads. Can't believe I didn't know about this until now.

Yeah, I had used brave months ago on the Mac and briefly on iOS. It’s a really good browser. Though I’m stuck in keychain and safari with no way to export things. Sucks.

Edit: and to be perfectly honest, I don’t remember how I came across Brave. It isn’t (wasn’t) that well known. Might have been a tech article or something like that.

 

[jamezr]

24 hours later and this update is so good. Feels like I have a high end phone now. Maybe a slightly better battery life but that is tough to gauge after 1 day.

battery does seem better to me too

 

[tbayrgs]

So, I’ve not looked too much into it since getting my 3xl, but can you not install ad blocking software (like AdGuard) on android?

Firefox and the Samsung Browser support content blockers but neither have integration with third party password managers like LastPass or 1Password so they were a no go for me.

 

[mjschabow]

I actually find Chrome to be super convenient and snappy on this phone. And it integrates with my work PC so well.

 

[csurfr]

I actually find Chrome to be super convenient and snappy on this phone. And it integrates with my work PC so well.

Chrome is the industry standard in my line of work (web dev) and it’s unfortunate that I can’t find a way to export my safari passwords effectively to it. I wish there were a way, but it just doesn’t get them all. Short of visiting every single site again, I can’t see another way.