JTRCK

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JTRCK
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  • Google's Pixel 2 XL priced higher than Apple's iPhone 8 Plus but is half as fast, lacks ma...

    Is there a substantial difference in use between the two platforms? I'm asking because when I use an iPhone 6s or my HTC 10 (used primarily for the excellent DAC/Music quality), I notice almost no difference no matter how superior the processor in the iPhone is. In fact, I prefer the Android interface to iPhone's. As a Mac (2015 MacBook Pro, 2015 MacBook) and iPad (Air 2) user, I'm also a heavy user of google's services: gmail, google Docs, calendar, google Photos, maps, Google Home, etc., and I find the services substantially better on Android. Years ago, Android users claimed superior hardware, but knew that Apple had the software experience down. Apple could do with 1GB, what Android couldn't with 3GB. But it's 2017, the Note 8 has 6GB of RAM, it is still beat by the iPhone when opening apps, but finally wins when reopening those same apps (google iPhone 8 vs Note 8 speed test). But I don't even think it matters that the Note finally wins in a synthetic race.

    Apple can still do with 3GB what Android can barely pull with 6GB of ram. But does it matter? Is there a substantial difference in use? I think there is, and it's in google's favor. Pixel has clean Android compared to other manufacturers: always responsive, long-lasting in a Pixel XL body, with 2-3 years of support. Sure, it might open apps slower than iPhone 8, but do you notice it? Sure, its storage speed is inferior, but do you notice it? Bear with me for a second longer: google music. I find it infinitely superior to Apple Music. In fact, one week with google music led me to cancel my subscription with Apple 1 year ago. Google Photos: easy, reliable, fast, family-sharing, excellent editing tools, unlimited storage, etc. Google Maps: easy, reliable, fast, endless starred locations + recommendations, etc. Google Assistant: easy, reliable, fast, responsive, lets me know how my trip to work will be the moment I step out of bed, etc., do you see where I am going here? If Android is such an inferior platform, why doesn't it feel like it? 

    "...it appears that nobody cares about snappy performance..." I think people only care about slow performance. In a pixel, performance is so smooth and buttery and consistent, you will not have people complaining that it loses a speed test vs an iPhone by 1 whole minute. Especially when the experience is so well rounded. Look at the apps/software mentioned above. All those apps are on my iPad. I use them more than any other app. I wanted to buy an iPhone 7 last year, so I walked into the Apple Store, and left with my HTC 10 in hand. It wasn't a worthy upgrade for me, even though the hardware inside the iPhone 7 cannot be compared to the HTC 10. What gives? Google is clearly on to something here. It's clearly not the hardware - it's software. I cannot wait to see what the Pixel XL2 experience will be like.

    I also think there are a lot of disparaging claims in this opinion piece. Quote: "It [the phone] fully reflects its maker as a greed machine without a shred of shame or humanity; a company that sees no value in honesty or integrity. Unsurprisingly, it gets top marks from phony reviewers." How can one possibly hope to support these claims? The same things have been said about apple countless times. "Take a dimly lit skyline panorama with a Pixel phone and it appears to be capturing amazing amounts of light. However, the finished capture is blown out with no detail, and rather useless as a photo." I'd like to see samples of this and comparisons from iPhones and other Androids. Sample photos of last year's pixels look nothing short of stunning.
    gatorguyavon b7