Google's Pixel Phones Win Praise on Twitter, But Are Slammed for Price, Carrier Exclusivity
Reactions were mixed on Twitter Tuesday after Google’s launch of its Pixel smartphones, which, despite much anticipation, didn’t generate nearly the social media activity of an Apple event. The phones didn’t rank at the top of a Google search when we plugged in “Where to buy Pixel” Tuesday. The sponsored advertisements section that came up in our search instead featured an L.L. Bean Pixel backpack, Pixel computer glasses, the movie Pixels and satellite radios from Pixel Technologies.
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In the Twittersphere, ET Panache called Pixel the “first real threat” to the iPhone, while Daniel Samuels said it looked like a “Chinese rip-off of an iPhone.” Google scored points with several users who cited its jab at Apple during a promo video highlighting the 3.5mm headphone jack that’s “satisfyingly not new.” Said Twitter user Vincent: “That awkward moment when the 3.5 Jack invented in 1964 becomes a selling argument for a 2016 phone.” Google’s unlimited full-size photo storage with no expiration for Pixel owners drew wows, but the $649 starting price drew “ows.” Said Indian Twitter user Sandeep Sarma, mocking a grandfather line: “Back in my day, we built homes for Rs 57,000.” U.S. user AskDes said everything about Pixel “looks great” but then lamented the single-carrier exclusive with Verizon.
Among the features of Pixel, listed on a Google blog post: a 12.3-megapixel camera, with an f/2.0 aperture and 1.55-micron pixels “to capture lots and lots of light.” The Smartburst feature takes a sequence of shots and automatically selects the best one, said Vice President-Product Management Brian Rakowski, and the lens blur feature allows shallow depth of field and bokeh effects.
The 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 on the Pixel's front display and back glass “accent the aerospace grade aluminum body,” said Rakowski, and the Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor is mounted on the back of the phone, “where your finger expects it.” The battery “lasts all day” and recharges up to seven hours in 15 minutes, Rakowski said. The Android 7.1 Nougat phones will download and install updates in the background so users can continue to use the phone, he said.
On the smart home front, Google revealed Google Home, its answer to Amazon’s Alexa-based Echo voice control speakers. It began taking pre-orders Tuesday for the $129 speakers that will sell through Best Buy, Target, Walmart and its own Google Store. According to a blog post, users can use voice to play audio content from services including Google Play, Pandora Spotify, TuneIn and Google-owned YouTube.
Google touted its vast search capability that can be used to request information from the Google Home speaker. Google Home is launching with Chromecast, IFTTT (If This, Then That), Nest, Philips Hue and SmartThings integration, said Google. Unlike Echo, Google Home speakers have customizable bases, although initial models will only come in white on the Nov. 4 release date.