Comments on: On The Google Pixel https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/ Tue, 18 Oct 2016 01:29:36 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Brainstorms https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465283 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 01:29:36 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465283 Review comparing the Pixel XL with the Nexus 6P:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/review/android-smartphones/nexus-6p-vs-google-pixel-xl-3647824/

]]> By: Aless https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465282 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 20:21:18 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465282 The only drawback I see is the lack of waterproofing. :/

]]> By: Earl Gilbert https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465281 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:20:05 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465281 Google Fi also uses US Cellular which was when it finally became relevant in Maine. Hiked the AT in Maine this Summer and almost, almost always had coverage with US Cellular on my gf’s Galaxy S5. Other hikers used Verizon and had even better cell service. I had AT&T which stands for Appalachian Trail no Talk. Forget Sprint and T-Mobile. Switched to Google Fi when I got back and haven’t had any trouble with lack of service since.

]]> By: dean https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465280 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:55:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465280 Brainstorms, yes the coverage is the big draw with Verizon. I’ve gotten good signals in the middle of the Porcupines in the Upper Peninsula, and in almost every other wilderness area/forest I’ve been in here. Oddly the one exception is less than 40 miles from here, a big chunk of state land to the north: coverage is good north, south, east, west of it, but very spotty in it.

But I’ve also been with buddies on week-to-ten-day long cycling/camping trips in Iowa, New York, Main, Vermont – with Verizon coverage when their Spring and other coverage conked out. If Google could tie Verizon in with FI it would be hot. (Apologies to the late, great, Note 7.)

]]> By: Brainstorms https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465279 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:36:16 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465279 That’s the only thing about Verizon that’s attractive: They bought up all the CDMA towers/equipment when GSM became the VHS of cellular. So they have coverage pretty much everywhere. Which I would only consider for a data-only plan for device connection… If I traveled that much, which I no longer do.

If/when Google Fi (itself, or as a concept) catches fire (sorry, Samsung), we’ll likely see AT&T and Verizon towers join the system. Google scored contracts with Sprint & T-mo because they were the two smallest players, and it behooved them to ally themselves with Google. The other can’t hold out if this explodes (sorry, Samsung) in popularity.

]]> By: dean https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465278 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:27:18 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465278 “Project Fi is fabulous.”

The issue I am concerned with is that T Mobile does not have a strong presence here, and Sprint is weak. I don’t think it would be an issue around home or my campus (Grand Rapids is a good sized Michigan City) but in many of the parks and nature preserves where I hike and snowshow the FI coverage map looks week – but I always have good Verizon coverage there. I wish the FI coverage was a given, but it isn’t and I need to check. But I have time: my old Note 4 is still working fine.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465277 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:32:07 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465277 By the way, I got my Nexus 6 from Verizon, and they did not break it. They didn’t even install their own app. I had to do that myself.

Disclaimer: I hate Verizon. But in fact, my Nexus 6 is pure as the driven snow.

]]> By: Brainstorms https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465276 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:16:45 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465276 I was going to write, “If you believe that Verizon is not going to break the phone like some service providers do, with bloatware and such”, I’ve got a nice bridge over the gulf of credibility to sell you…

]]> By: Brainstorms https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465275 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:14:48 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465275 Project Fi is fabulous. Two thumbs up… Not a single thing to complain about it. Inexpensive, reliable, coverage everywhere, auto-switch to wifi…

It’s primary carrier is T-mo; I had T-mo before I got the 6P, and I did have coverage issues sometimes with it. Never with Google Fi.

Being inexpensive, I found that my data usage increased quite a bit; I think that was due to no more inhibitions about getting soaked by my provider the following month.

And I love my Nexus 6P. By the time it’s outdated, there will certainly be something other than the N.P. out there. I’m fine with that; I have second-best right now.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2016/10/12/on-the-google-pixel/#comment-465274 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:09:35 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/?p=23084#comment-465274 I had heard it elsewhere, and I just also found this:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/psa-if-you-like-updates-dont-buy-the-google-pixel-phone-from-verizon/

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