G+_Marlon Thompson Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Open letter to my good buddy Jason Howell Jason, why have you lost that lovin feeling? You used to talk about phones and be all hyped about it, thinking of the future, now, ever so often you preface a good thing with a bad thing, especially around the pixel. Last night you got excited about the great battery life you are getting on the pixel XL (and I am also getting some fantastic battery life on the pixel) but then you go "at least for now" and we go into a whole battery life gets worse over time discussion that we all know. Jason please go back to the days where you loved a phone in the here and now. Remember those days , I am not asking you not to critique devices but focus on when they gave you pleasure. Remember the video of your daughter's first walk, we loved that, or when you discovered a new surprising thing with your phone. I know you have it in you Jason, lets get that love back there again. I know you can do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_L I Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 JMO: I prefer the realistic take especially when Jason and other phones reviewers wouldn't necessarily feel battery degradation as much as the rest of us who don't switch phones as often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Howell (raygun01) Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 Thanks for the reminder, man. It's hard after spending time with so many phones to keep super optimistic about things that time and time again prove themselves otherwise. As I've reviewed more devices, and as my job has become less about being a "fan" and more about being a reviewer, I'm stuck in this strange spot where I feel it's imperative to share the good AND the bad, based on my previous experience. There's a lot that I love about technology, but not much that surprises me right now, maybe that's the issue. I hear what you are saying Marlon. I wish it were as easy as that, and I'll certainly try for that, but I don't want to sugar coat everything either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Andrew Carvalho Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 It is an odd thing (I imagine) to be a phone reviewer. I can understand how it can lose some of its luster - especially as phones are more and more on par with each other with very little differentiating one from another. I think it's important to not have the rose-colored Daydream on and be able to see the flaws, but yeah I hope you're able to find the joy again. P.S. It's my understanding that the Pixel XL comes with an 18W charger while the Pixel only gets at 15W. Odd bit of business there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Derek McAllister Posted November 30, 2016 Share Posted November 30, 2016 I honestly think the problem is that every reviewer feels the need to try to review every phone, be that their own desire or that of their employer. And what that leaves us is reviews that are highly focused on what is good and bad based on a week or less with the device. And then there's the focus on individual specs. Reviews now are highly focused on what processor is in the device or how large the battery is rather than whether the phone seems fast (general feel or benchmarked) or how long the battery lasts. What I don't hear anymore is that after months a reviewer keeps going back to a particular device because it's that good. I bought the original Moto X because many reviewers said it was their daily driver 10 months after release. That's what it more important to me. I want something that's going to be useful 2 years after I buy it, not something that's got great specs on the side of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Andrew Carvalho Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 It's impossible to get a true feeling for a phone in such a short amount of time. This is why I never buy a phone "day 1" and usually wait for more information. There are many reviewers who come back to a device a month or more later and do follow-up reviews. It's generally much more useful how a phone is doing after 3+ months of use. This is why I watch the top reviews - wait - watch follow-up reviews and then I go to subreddits and forums to get regular users thoughts. If you go into a phone's forum several months after release you can generally tell the "mood" of the people and whether there's just tons of problems or gushing and happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Andrew Carvalho Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Case in point http://www.androidcentral.com/google-pixel-xl-one-month?utm_medium=superfeature&utm_campaign=navigation&utm_source=ac That being said - I'm a bit of a hypoc rite this cycle. I was going to wait a bit longer, but I jumped on a BF deal on a new Pixel (at $240 it was a bit of a no-brainer for me). I know it has its shortcomings, but the camera seems great and I know the software/experience will be top notch and I won't be left behind. I also know the battery performance will get worse over time and the lack of expandable storage is a bummer. I wanted replaceable battery/SD card so I know there is a downside to the phone's design. It's good to acknowledge these shortcomings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts