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Google Hardware

Google Unveils Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Smartphones (bloomberg.com) 45

Posted by msmash from the new-gadgets dept.
Alphabet's Google on Thursday said its new Pixel phones will deliver improved voice and camera features while bringing back facial recognition for unlocking the device as it seeks to better compete with Apple and Samsung Electronics. From a report: The company's Pixel 7 and 7 Pro devices offer more affordable prices than the dominant duo of the mobile market, coming in at $599 and $899, respectively, and introduce the second generation of Google's in-house Tensor chip. The 6.7-inch Pro version has an additional zoom camera, better display and more memory than the 6.3-inch Pixel 7.

Google's Pixel phones every year serve as the showcase for the company's latest Android software and artificial intelligence-based services, such as the Google Assistant. They demonstrate how Google hopes device-making partners will best use its operating system. Google continues developing its own hardware, which has only ever sold in small numbers, in part as insurance against missteps by Samsung, the only credible Apple rival in the US. Google AI shows up in the upgraded language-processing capabilities of its latest software. The Recorder app for voice memos can now automatically label different speakers in transcriptions, and transcriptions are also being added to audio messages in the new Pixels' messaging app.
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Google Unveils Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Smartphones More

Google Unveils Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro Smartphones

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  • In related news (Score:4, Funny)

    by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Thursday October 06, 2022 @11:04AM (#62943857)

    Google has preemptively announced the end of life for the Pixel 7 line.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by sinij ( 911942 )
      I am more excited about this new feature: The phone would no longer randomly read raunchy emails to a mistress out loud when a spouse is around. Unfortunately due to hardware limitations, all previous models are not able to support this feature.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by mjwx ( 966435 )

        I am more excited about this new feature: The phone would no longer randomly read raunchy emails to a mistress out loud when a spouse is around.

        If you can get your spouse and mistress in the same room together, is this not a much needed feature?

  • The lack of a rear fingerprint sensor is a deal killer for me. Hopefully they bring it back in the 8, but meanwhile I'll hold on to my 5.

    • The middle-of-display fingerprint sensor on my Samsung just flat doesn't work when covered by a screen protector, so I wound up throwing the $50 screen protector away.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        How the fuck did you manage to pay $50 for a screen protector? You can get a nice glass one for a tenth that price.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Hodr ( 219920 )

          Please, find me a nice glass protector for a curved screen for $5. Or for any price really. I have tried dozens, and they all separate. They are all crap. Flat screen phones, no problem. Curved edge? Big problem.

          • One of the reasons not to buy some feature, that by all means decreases basic functionality. There is no use case for me to buy an edge screen or curved screen but there is a plethora of reasons not to. Like why would I want a car with door on the underside. Or a cup with a handle, that is just a pin sticking out.
        • T-Mobile sells screen protectors for $39.99. I'm probably misremembering the price as $50 instead of $40, but they still ain't cheap!

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

            Wow, that's insane. Seriously, Amazon or eBay, a good quality glass screen protector, 5 bucks for two. Apply yourself or the local phone shop guy will do it for a tenner all in.

            • I believe the $39.99 ones are actually top quality gorilla glass, but in general the phone stores rip people off. The Verizon store charged me $35 for a frickin' USB CABLE for my car! Sure, it was a nice USB cable, but... $35?!?!? (Note to self: Always ask "How much?" before saying "I'll buy one.")

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

                I always use the 5 buck ones and have not had issues so far. Good feel, no touch problems, protects the screen.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by chill ( 34294 )

      The under-the-glass front sensor did take a little getting used to, but the switch to their own chip and the improvement to the on-device speech recognition is very much worth it. I have the Pixel 6a and the speech recognition is vastly superior, both in speed and accuracy, than on the 4a and 4a 5G I had before.

    • Unfortunately, rear fingerprint sensors, practical as they are, they are not in fashion anymore. And at this point, smartphones are fashion accessories.

      • Eh, it's only ever been a tool for me, and one I need to work conveniently and reliably or it's trash ( no matter how flashy it may be ).

        • Rest assured that Apple, Samsung and Google would rather target the fashion audience that changes phones every year than you.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by JustNiz ( 692889 )

      I agree. I can't understand the drive to put it on the front under the screen. In practice it's way less ergonomic to use on the front, as it either requires use of the hand not holding the phone, or to risk dropping the phone by manoeuvring your thumb to the middle of the screen,. With the sensor on the back you can simply unlock it with the index finger of the hand that 's currently holding the phone.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        The front fingerprint sensor avoids you having to reposition your hand. With a rear one you need to reach with your index finger to touch the sensor, then adjust your grip to use the screen with your thumb.

        Under the screen you unlock with your thumb and then immediately start using the phone.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by JustNiz ( 692889 )

          My front fingerprint sensor is in the lower middle of the screen. Call me strange but I don't hold my phone such that my thumb is permanently sat on the middle of the screen, and I've not ever noticed anyone else doing that either.
          Apart from it being an unstable and tremendously uncomfortable way to hold your phone, it would block your view and cause erroneous touches.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

            That's where the top of the on screen keyboard is, so people tend to hold their phones such that they can reach it to type.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by jred ( 111898 )
      Not necessarily a deal killer for me, but it's one of the reasons I stuck with Pixel 5. It's right where I put my finger holding the phone, anyway. A bigger deal killer for me is size. Am I the only person who doesn't want to carry a backpack for my phone? The 5 just barely fits in my pocket. When do we get a Pixel Mini? I'm seriously looking at the flip phones or (gag) the iphone mini.

  • The whole lock screen concept seems ill-conceived and unnecessarily bloody awkward at least on all the Samsung phones I've had... now google have apparently just silently removed "trusted places" from "smart unlock" feature which makes it even more pointlessly painful to use your phone unless you disable all security. It was the last straw for me so now I'm done with Android.

    • Yeah, my ex accessed my phone while I was sleeping and forwarded all the emails between myself and my divorce attorney to her own email address, so now I always lock my phone! (Apparently it's legal to do that if the phone is unlocked. Hopefully the facial recognition doesn't work with my eyes closed, and I should probably use a random finger for the fingerprint sensor.)

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Android's on body detection may be for you then. It keeps the device unlocked while it's on your body. When you set it down, it needs the password or biometric unlock.

        That said I don't use it because fingerprint unlock is as easy and quick as pressing the power button.

      • That is a new one. I would have thought that any communication between someone and their lawyer is privileged.

        On the other hand, sometimes any price to get someone out of oneâ(TM)s life may be a price worth paying.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by msk ( 6205 )

      google have apparently just silently removed "trusted places" from "smart unlock" feature

      I found a report that it was missing from Android 13 QPR 1 Beta 1. This makes some sense, as it hadn't been working for a while and I just didn't bother to dig into it.

      I've just updated to QPR 1 Beta 2 and it's back, right where it should be.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by JustNiz ( 692889 )

        My phone's running Android 12 and the feature just disappeared like 3 days ago.I'm guessing as a result of an automatic update.

  • I thought this was news for nerds, not Google sycophants. Is slashdot going to report the launch of all phones from all manufacturers now? Get off Google's cock!

  • Best Feature (Score:3)

    by OneFix ( 18661 ) on Thursday October 06, 2022 @10:18PM (#62945641)

    Google announced that the Pixel 7 phones would get 5 years of security updates and monthly feature upgrades.

    • FYI, Samsung has officially stated 4 years of major version updates and an additional year of security updates not only for flagships but also for the A53 and A33 mid-end devices. The last Samsung device in my household was a Galaxy S5 dual SIM, but the next phones will likely be Samsung device again. First one coming up is the A53 5G. I'd been getting Xiaomi devices, 10 minutes to get rid of the various ads (recommendations) to get them in a nice state, but no such update commitment exists as of yet.

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