Thursday October 6, 2022; 9:47 AM EDT
- Today Google is expected to release the Pixel 7 phones and the new Pixel Watch, and I am planning to buy the watch. The launch event is scheduled to start at 10 AM EST. I will try to watch as much of the live event as I can although I will be working around some work meetings. #
- Describing the Pixel Portfolio, which I think is an odd term, I guess they don't want to use ecosystem. Pixel = personal, intelligent, cohesive, computing experience based on Tensor. Introducing Tensor G2. The description of Pixel summarizes why I have been committed to Google's platform as it is closest to my personal vision of personal computing.#
- Pixel 7 and Pixel Pro 7#
- Pixel 7 will have a 6.3-inch display and Pixel 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch display and these seem too large for me, but I need to look at the phone's physical dimensions. I personally wish they would keep a phone at the physical size as the Pixel 4a, but I think the only way they can increase battery life is to use larger batteries. #
- Pre-order today, on shelf next week. Prices start at $599 for Pixel 7; $899 for Pixel 7 Pro and can get prices lower on trade in. I think these are good prices for the top-of-the line phones. #
- Google is adding VPN for "free" to Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but what about Chrome OS? And who controls the "Internet" end of the VPN connection and what can they see? #
- I do think the Google's Pixel call assist features are useful, and I particularly like call screening, which handles the spam calls that I receive. Ironically, I don't use the phone much for voice communication, but I think any call quality improvements are good. #
- Night sight has been one of the best features of the Pixel camera, but it can be slow, so speeding up how night sight pictures are processed is a welcomed improvement.#
- Introducing "features" that only work on the new model of Pixel is not good. I get why I can't get Magic Eraser on my Pixel 4a because it doesn't have the Tensor chip, but why shouldn't Pixel 6 users not get the new photo unblur features they just announced for the Pixel 7? Pixel 6 users just bought their phone last year and they should get all features added this year right away, we really shouldn't try to force/incent people to buy new phones ever year. #
- Pixel Watch#
- Watch will be in black, silver, and gold. The bands appear to not have a standard connector, which mean they are going to be more expensive and provided from limited sources. The screenshots they show the Pixel Watch has a bezel that appears to be near the same size as the ones on my Ticwatch E3. #
- Focusing on heart rate tracking, claiming it's most accurate and using tech from Fitbit. Sounds like they are implying continual heart rate monitoring, I wonder how that impacts battery life? I don't continually use heart rate tracing on my Ticwatch, just when I am exercising. #
- Pushing Fitbit Premium, so I am thinking the fitness tracking features I would want for free in Google Fit is going to be behind a paywall. I need to compares this to Apple. #
- Costs $349 for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and $399 with LTE available for pre-order and I think shipping next week. #
- Pixel Tablet#
- Also introducing the tablet. Got to say that the appearance of the tablet looks meh to me, so that is going to be all the software. Will the tablet provide me something useful that I can't get with the iPad? #
- Will have the Tensor G2 processor, like the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Not going to ship until next year, I was wondering whether they had an surprise here. #
- Google says tablets are used in homes 85% of the time, so pairing with a charging speaker dock so that the tablet can always be running like a Google Home display. I am not convinced the use case they imply here justifies the cost. I will need to know more about what Android 13L provides that I can't get with iPad.#
- Integration#
- I like that Google i calling out integration of the devices as a separate topic. Unfortunately, they didn't show anything about the setup process for Pixel Watch or how one installs applications. One of the frustrations that I have with WearOS is that I have to install apps from the watch rather than push/install apps from my phone. They do note that Fasts Pair will be used for pairing with Pixel phones. #