Eek. I have a Pixel 6a, but no multiple profiles. Hope I am unaffected. As a side note, my last three phones have been Pixels (as have my wife's) because we Google Fi as a carrier, but I've been...
Eek. I have a Pixel 6a, but no multiple profiles. Hope I am unaffected.
As a side note, my last three phones have been Pixels (as have my wife's) because we Google Fi as a carrier, but I've been increasingly frustrated with some of the design choices. The worst offender is the fingerprint scanner on the screen. I still reflexively put my finger on the back even though the scanner hasn't been back there for a while. The one on the screen works maybe 60% of the time.
I don't know that I'm fully on board with switching to a different brand phone, but it does seem like quality has been going down pretty steadily since the 3.
The fingerprint scanner (rightfully) draws the ire of many Pixel users. So far the only consistently working under-the-screen finger print scanner I've had is on the 7 Pro. And it's still just...
The fingerprint scanner (rightfully) draws the ire of many Pixel users. So far the only consistently working under-the-screen finger print scanner I've had is on the 7 Pro. And it's still just ever so slightly slow in responding, especially compared to... Well any of the competing brands.
Even so, it shouldn't be the case that only the Pro versions get decent scanners.
As far as features and quality is concerned, most agree that both the 7 and 8 have been steps in the right direction, so at least that may give you some solace.
I don't hate the sensitivity of the fingerprint scanner, although it does feel slow, now you mention it. There is certainly a very clear "step" introduced. As in, I pick up my phone, plant a...
I don't hate the sensitivity of the fingerprint scanner, although it does feel slow, now you mention it. There is certainly a very clear "step" introduced. As in, I pick up my phone, plant a fingerprint on it, and then do what I wanted to do. I see videos of other phones and that step is reduced down to almost nothing.
I also hate the feeling of flash-banging myself at 22.30 or later by not fully covering the scanner with a fingerprint. The flash is bright enough that my partner is (mildly) irritated by it making the whole room flicker for a fraction of a second.
The fingerprint scanner should not be such a gatekeeper to my use of the phone, I would dearly like it to be moved off to the back, but it seems as if they're sticking with it for now.
Hahaha I feel this in my core. I recommend setting up Smart Lock so you don't need your fingerprint while at home. Unless there's often people around that may snoop on your phone of course. As for...
I also hate the feeling of flash-banging myself at 22.30 or later by not fully covering the scanner with a fingerprint. The flash is bright enough that my partner is (mildly) irritated by it making the whole room flicker for a fraction of a second.
Hahaha I feel this in my core.
I recommend setting up Smart Lock so you don't need your fingerprint while at home. Unless there's often people around that may snoop on your phone of course.
As for the speed, yeah.. nothing to add there. It's just slower at unlocking than any other fingerprint reader. Just have a look at this Pixel 8 review. He shows you how quick it is on one other phone, but they're all like that.
The7 Pro introduced face recognition but it doesn't work when it's dark and it's not as good as something like an iPhone 12 or up.
The software update of Android 14 definitely made mine take less tries but I still miss the rear sensor of my 3a I had before this phone, particularly the part where you could pull down the status...
The software update of Android 14 definitely made mine take less tries but I still miss the rear sensor of my 3a I had before this phone, particularly the part where you could pull down the status bar by swiping on it.
It's not quite the same, but you can set your phone to drop the status bar by tapping twice on the back of the phone. I have that set to turn the flashlight on on my 7 Pro, for example.
It's not quite the same, but you can set your phone to drop the status bar by tapping twice on the back of the phone. I have that set to turn the flashlight on on my 7 Pro, for example.
That feature was the bees knees and the 3a was such a good phone too. I had the XL version which I preferred over the smaller form factor. I think that one, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 were my...
That feature was the bees knees and the 3a was such a good phone too. I had the XL version which I preferred over the smaller form factor. I think that one, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 were my favourite phones of all time.
My wife upgraded from the 4a to the 6a and has the same response to the screen print scanner. It's just bad and you need to use that phone with some clever use of Smart Lock to make it look like it's responding quickly.
I had about the same bad luck with my old Pixel 7's in-screen fingerprint scanner, but the Pixel 8's is much better in my experience. I no longer miss having the backside fingerprint scanner.
I had about the same bad luck with my old Pixel 7's in-screen fingerprint scanner, but the Pixel 8's is much better in my experience. I no longer miss having the backside fingerprint scanner.
Reports of locked-down storage and crashing launchers are appearing online, especially from Pixel 6, 6A, and 6 Pro users
Some Pixel 6 users are reporting strange issues after updating their devices to the new Android 14 OS, which launched on October 4th for Pixel devices. One critical-sounding bug that seems to have spread to multiple users is losing access to internal storage, which ends up in a complete loss of data. Others seem to have other odd issues, like repeat UI launcher crashes. A Verge tipster pointed out the reports, which show a pattern of striking users with multiple user accounts set up on their devices.
This issue was fixed in the November update: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/android-14-patches-ransomware-storage-bug-but-some-users-will-lose-data/
Eek. I have a Pixel 6a, but no multiple profiles. Hope I am unaffected.
As a side note, my last three phones have been Pixels (as have my wife's) because we Google Fi as a carrier, but I've been increasingly frustrated with some of the design choices. The worst offender is the fingerprint scanner on the screen. I still reflexively put my finger on the back even though the scanner hasn't been back there for a while. The one on the screen works maybe 60% of the time.
I don't know that I'm fully on board with switching to a different brand phone, but it does seem like quality has been going down pretty steadily since the 3.
The fingerprint scanner (rightfully) draws the ire of many Pixel users. So far the only consistently working under-the-screen finger print scanner I've had is on the 7 Pro. And it's still just ever so slightly slow in responding, especially compared to... Well any of the competing brands.
Even so, it shouldn't be the case that only the Pro versions get decent scanners.
As far as features and quality is concerned, most agree that both the 7 and 8 have been steps in the right direction, so at least that may give you some solace.
I don't hate the sensitivity of the fingerprint scanner, although it does feel slow, now you mention it. There is certainly a very clear "step" introduced. As in, I pick up my phone, plant a fingerprint on it, and then do what I wanted to do. I see videos of other phones and that step is reduced down to almost nothing.
I also hate the feeling of flash-banging myself at 22.30 or later by not fully covering the scanner with a fingerprint. The flash is bright enough that my partner is (mildly) irritated by it making the whole room flicker for a fraction of a second.
The fingerprint scanner should not be such a gatekeeper to my use of the phone, I would dearly like it to be moved off to the back, but it seems as if they're sticking with it for now.
Hahaha I feel this in my core.
I recommend setting up Smart Lock so you don't need your fingerprint while at home. Unless there's often people around that may snoop on your phone of course.
As for the speed, yeah.. nothing to add there. It's just slower at unlocking than any other fingerprint reader. Just have a look at this Pixel 8 review. He shows you how quick it is on one other phone, but they're all like that.
The7 Pro introduced face recognition but it doesn't work when it's dark and it's not as good as something like an iPhone 12 or up.
The software update of Android 14 definitely made mine take less tries but I still miss the rear sensor of my 3a I had before this phone, particularly the part where you could pull down the status bar by swiping on it.
It's not quite the same, but you can set your phone to drop the status bar by tapping twice on the back of the phone. I have that set to turn the flashlight on on my 7 Pro, for example.
That feature was the bees knees and the 3a was such a good phone too. I had the XL version which I preferred over the smaller form factor. I think that one, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 were my favourite phones of all time.
My wife upgraded from the 4a to the 6a and has the same response to the screen print scanner. It's just bad and you need to use that phone with some clever use of Smart Lock to make it look like it's responding quickly.
I had about the same bad luck with my old Pixel 7's in-screen fingerprint scanner, but the Pixel 8's is much better in my experience. I no longer miss having the backside fingerprint scanner.
This issue was fixed in the November update:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/android-14-patches-ransomware-storage-bug-but-some-users-will-lose-data/