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Pixel 8 / Pixel 8 Pro / Pixel 8a

bluestang said:
Thanks, but read again what I wrote.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Not an ideal solution, but AA Wireless adapter on the media port in your vehicle allows you to connect your phone wirelessly to Android Auto. Your USB C is now freed up on your phone, you can connect OTG storage to the phone, allowing you to play whatever you have connected through Android Auto. Then you have option of wireless charging if necessary.
 
My car has one media port/AA port, that solution will not work unless it has a pass through USB which doesn't look like it does. Funny thing is my car has a wireless charger built in. I'd rather have the wireless AA lol. 2021 Forte GT2

Edit: I think I know what you're saying now. But don't want that as phone battery drain would be horrible.
 
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bluestang said:
One thing that annoys me is the lack of SD Card slot on Pixels. My car only has wired Android Auto. I have to plug an external SSD into the media USB port for my music collection if I want to listen to it, but then I can't plug my phone in for AA to use apps like Waze or Google Maps or what not.
Click to expand...
https://www.amazon.com/AAWireless-2022-Wireless-Automatically-Companion/dp/B0B71XC7VG these work great I have 4 of them. It enables you to use a fast usb pd charger to charge the phone instead of the measly 930 milliamps that most cars put to the port.
 
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Wade88 said:
https://www.amazon.com/AAWireless-2022-Wireless-Automatically-Companion/dp/B0B71XC7VG these work great I have 4 of them. It enables you to use a fast usb pd charger to charge the phone instead of the measly 930 milliamps that most cars put to the port.
Click to expand...
I don't understand why these adapters are so expensive when there's much cheaper Android TV streaming sticks or PC wireless adapters. Seems like they should only be half the price for what they are. I don't really care to plug in, so I've been waiting for a sale on one of these and haven't seen any really for the couple years they've been available or for a cheaper adapter to be released.
bluestang said:
One thing that annoys me is the lack of SD Card slot on Pixels. My car only has wired Android Auto. I have to plug an external SSD into the media USB port for my music collection if I want to listen to it, but then I can't plug my phone in for AA to use apps like Waze or Google Maps or what not.
Click to expand...
I wonder if you could use a USB hub on it to plug in your phone and a USB drive.
 
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T4rd said:
I don't understand why these adapters are so expensive when there's much cheaper Android TV streaming sticks or PC wireless adapters. Seems like they should only be half the price for what they are. I don't really care to plug in, so I've been waiting for a sale on one of these and haven't seen any really for the couple years they've been available or for a cheaper adapter to be released.

I wonder if you could use a USB hub on it to plug in your phone and a USB drive.
Click to expand...
Do you really need a usb drive when there are 512GB and higher phones available with fast UFS storage?
 
Wade88 said:
Do you really need a usb drive when there are 512GB and higher phones available with fast UFS storage?
Click to expand...
Yes I do. I don't need a phone with that memory as I'm not a power user phone wise and i always look at the Pixel "a" variants. 128GB is plenty for me, and it's not like I have a choice if looking at a 7a or something...hence my initial complaint about no MicroSD slot.
 
bluestang said:
Yes I do. I don't need a phone with that memory as I'm not a power user phone wise and i always look at the Pixel "a" variants. 128GB is plenty for me, and it's not like I have a choice if looking at a 7a or something...hence my initial complaint about no MicroSD slot.
Click to expand...
128GB is plenty for you, but you carry around a portable SSD to plug into your car? Doesn't really check out IMHO.

If you don't want to rely on streaming music from a service (e.g. Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, whatever) you can host your own media library at home and stream it on the go with something like Plexamp (a dedicated music player for Android that connects to Plex instances). There are open source apps like this one too. You should pick a carrier that provides unlimited data and a reliable signal for where you travel; and bonus points if you get it at a reasonable price through an MVNO (Mint Mobile, Visible, Cricket, etc...) rather than get gouged at a tier 1 provider.
 
I don't carry around an SSD. It stays in my car hooked up to it's media USB port. I have a stream service running at home...for home. I also don't have unlimited plans on my phone. Some people don't need it or want it. Having my kids have phones for emergency use is more important than me having unlimited. Have to live within my means you know and Mint's 5GB plan is perfect for us 4 people. 128GB phone is plenty because I don't live on my phone like others do. Didn't think it was that hard to understand.
 
Dopamin3 said:
128GB is plenty for you, but you carry around a portable SSD to plug into your car? Doesn't really check out IMHO.

If you don't want to rely on streaming music from a service (e.g. Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, whatever) you can host your own media library at home and stream it on the go with something like Plexamp (a dedicated music player for Android that connects to Plex instances). There are open source apps like this one too. You should pick a carrier that provides unlimited data and a reliable signal for where you travel; and bonus points if you get it at a reasonable price through an MVNO (Mint Mobile, Visible, Cricket, etc...) rather than get gouged at a tier 1 provider.
Click to expand...
I use Plexamp and Android auto too but most of the flac except the gigantic grateful dead discography is stored locally on the phone too. I do this to save battery and to make it work without cellular. There's plenty of places in AR and other places where cell phones don't work or infrastructure is damaged by the weather. I like having the stuff on as many volumes and disks as I can fit into the one room.
 
bluestang said:
I don't carry around an SSD. It stays in my car hooked up to it's media USB port. I have a stream service running at home...for home. I also don't have unlimited plans on my phone. Some people don't need it or want it. Having my kids have phones for emergency use is more important than me having unlimited. Have to live within my means you know and Mint's 5GB plan is perfect for us 4 people. 128GB phone is plenty because I don't live on my phone like others do. Didn't think it was that hard to understand.
Click to expand...
Did you look into my USB hub suggestion? I'd be curious if it would work.
 
kirbyrj said:
Don't we say the same thing every year?
Click to expand...
I don't think they've ever been within $50 of each other though. The Pixel 8 is regularly on sale at $550 for weeks or a month at a time. So I'd hope the 8a would be $100+ off soon as well to make any sense.
 
Google really needs to rethink its launch timing for the A-series. It's always releasing the budget phone at the same time as the higher-end Pixels are on sale, so it doesn't become a viable option until the new flagships arrive or it goes on sale itself.
 
Aurelius said:
Google really needs to rethink its launch timing for the A-series. It's always releasing the budget phone at the same time as the higher-end Pixels are on sale, so it doesn't become a viable option until the new flagships arrive or it goes on sale itself.
Click to expand...

Plus that's always been strange how Google would only release one pro version of the phone. The bigger one and the smaller regular pixel would be a cheaper price.

So then when that a series comes out, it's not too far off price from a discounted regular pixel.

They should have been releasing two pro version pixels in October, the big one and the smaller one and ditch the whole idea of just a regular pixel.

Moving forward should go;

Pixel 9 XL Pro @ $999
Pixel 9 Pro @ $899
Pixel 9a @ 499
 
My misadventures with the 8 Pro have taken another maddening twist. Battery life has gotten better as of late, but the fingerprint scanner has become a steaming pile of excrement. No matter how many times I scan and rescan and rescan and rescan my finger/thumb prints, the FPS fails and goes to password-only mode. Face Unlock works about 50%, but that's been about the same since I bought this wretched device.

I really fucking hate this phone! :rage: :banghead:
 
On the fingerprint scanner- do you work with your hands much? I find that if I'm using degreaser or solvents I need to use some lotions / bag balm / whatever. Makes the fingerprint reader work much better (after I work it in). Plus the wife unit prefers non-cracked hands . :ROFLMAO:
 
My little secret, my SIM card has been in my P8P almost the whole month of May, maybe 2 days in the S24 Ultra

There's just something special about the Pixel 8 Pro, I know the [H]hardware in the S24U is clearly superior, but the Pixel just has this thing I can't pinpoint, it's fun and comfortable to use.

Yes I wish the Pixel had the same high-end hardware as the Galaxy, but even with the subpar internals, the UI of stock Android, and Material You, it's a pleasure, and the rounded shape and size of the P8P is darn near perfect.

Oh and the camera, the Pixel owns the Galaxy.

I find the P8P just easier to pick up and go and start using it quickly. Whereas the S24 Ultra just feels cumbersome, it's heavy, very large and the sharp corners aren't as hand friendly.

And beta 2 of Android 15 is very smooth on this phone. The lag and microstaters are virtually gone.
 
Yesterday I thought to myself. Hey I've got this badass phone the S24 Ultra. Let me put my SIM back into it and use it. That lasted half a day before I ejected it and put it back into my Pixel.

And I'm not ragging on Samsung, not at all, the S24U is a premier flagship top dog phone. #1. And OneUI 6.1 is fantastic, super smooth and lots of customization I like.

I'm a weirdo for liking the Pixel 8 Pro more than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and I don't know why? The Galaxy is clearly the better phone.

Funny thing is, I love using the s24 ultra at home though more than the pixel, I'll use the Galaxy as more of a mini tablet, it's like a small iPad to me. But while I'm at work and on the go I just like the feel and pocketability and lighter, smaller in hand use while on the go with the Pixel. But at home, sitting on the couch or at my gaming computer I like the large S24U better.
 
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Have had my SIM in my Pixel 8 Pro most of May. And I have to say I'm just extremely comfortable and satisfied with this phone.

Yes the Galaxy S24 Ultra I also have is an overall better spec'd phone, no question. It's faster and smoother. Has much better battery life. Has a sharper richer display, etc... The S24U is a fantastic smartphone, top of the line.

But call me crazy, there's just something special with the Pixel UI that's feels nicer and enjoyable to use. I just like grabbing this Pixel on the go and find it easier to use and more fun if that makes any sense.

Plus features like Call Screening and certain specific Google Pixel only features are very nice to have.

The past month my Galaxy S24 Ultra has been sitting at home and only used as a tablet type device I use at night or weekends, which it's actually very good at. But overall I feel better grabbing the Pixel 8 Pro when out and about and I trust it.

But yes, Google really needs to give the Pixel phones better upgrades. Mainly it needs a major battery life upgrade. Also it needs to be smoother and more fluid and faster.
 
T4rd said:
I don't think they've ever been within $50 of each other though. The Pixel 8 is regularly on sale at $550 for weeks or a month at a time. So I'd hope the 8a would be $100+ off soon as well to make any sense.
Click to expand...
Pixel 8 currently on sale for $549 now and you can get a 8a for 50% off the $499 with it on the Google store.
 
bluestang said:
One thing that annoys me is the lack of SD Card slot on Pixels. My car only has wired Android Auto. I have to plug an external SSD into the media USB port for my music collection if I want to listen to it, but then I can't plug my phone in for AA to use apps like Waze or Google Maps or what not.
Click to expand...
Plex Server and use Plex Amp. It has native AA/Car Play support
 
Zorachus said:
Have had my SIM in my Pixel 8 Pro most of May. And I have to say I'm just extremely comfortable and satisfied with this phone.

Yes the Galaxy S24 Ultra I also have is an overall better spec'd phone, no question. It's faster and smoother. Has much better battery life. Has a sharper richer display, etc... The S24U is a fantastic smartphone, top of the line.

But call me crazy, there's just something special with the Pixel UI that's feels nicer and enjoyable to use. I just like grabbing this Pixel on the go and find it easier to use and more fun if that makes any sense.

Plus features like Call Screening and certain specific Google Pixel only features are very nice to have.

The past month my Galaxy S24 Ultra has been sitting at home and only used as a tablet type device I use at night or weekends, which it's actually very good at. But overall I feel better grabbing the Pixel 8 Pro when out and about and I trust it.

But yes, Google really needs to give the Pixel phones better upgrades. Mainly it needs a major battery life upgrade. Also it needs to be smoother and more fluid and faster.
Click to expand...
Lets hope we see this with Pixel 10 when they finally move away from the terrible exynos chips
 
What's up with (the lack of) the June patch for the P8? My P6 got it days ago.
 
uOpt said:
What's up with (the lack of) the June patch for the P8? My P6 got it days ago.
Click to expand...

Both my Pixel 8 Pro and Wife's Pixel 8 have yet to receive the June update, and its been almost one week. We're both on unlocked Google bought phones, running on T-Mobile.
 
Zorachus said:
Both my Pixel 8 Pro and Wife's Pixel 8 have yet to receive the June update, and its been almost one week. We're both on unlocked Google bought phones, running on T-Mobile.
Click to expand...

Still no patch. I'm on Google Fi.
 
Why is it that Apple can push out an update to all of their iPhones, no matter what carrier, or which version of iPhone, and they get it immediately on all carriers but Google can't do that for theirs Pixel's!?

Why is the check for update button not pulling the update immediately like Google said it would?
 
Zorachus said:
Why is it that Apple can push out an update to all of their iPhones, no matter what carrier, or which version of iPhone, and they get it immediately on all carriers but Google can't do that for theirs Pixel's!?
Click to expand...

I don't think it is primarily carrier-dependent anymore for Google either. My P6 with no cell connection got the update just fine.

Chances are that they are tinkering with something.
 
I checked my wife's P7 this morning. She doesn't have it either. My S24 got it already.
 
uOpt said:
I don't think it is primarily carrier-dependent anymore for Google either. My P6 with no cell connection got the update just fine.

Chances are that they are tinkering with something.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it's a weird Google roll-out thing. The Pixels in my house (5, 6, 6 Pro, 8) have all pulled the updates immediately after they're released, unlocked on Vodafone in Italy.
 
I'm assuming the June update got cancelled or pulled back due to bugs or an exploit? It's been 10 days, and not one of our 4 Pixel phones has received the update yet.
 
Almost 2 weeks, and still no June update for my Pixel 8 Pro, or agy of our Pixel's in my household.

So I installed the latest Android 15 beta.

Is it ok to install this over my current Android 14 I have on this phone, or am I supposed to do a full factory wipe reset to run the beta better?
 
Zorachus said:
Is it ok to install this over my current Android 14 I have on this phone, or am I supposed to do a full factory wipe reset to run the beta better?
Click to expand...

I don't know. You tell us on Monday.

(If you can :))
 
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