Google launched its first Pixel telephones means again in 2016, and we’re developing on the launch of the corporate’s eighth technology of units, the Pixel 8 sequence, later this 12 months. Although total gross sales of the Pixel lineup are a fraction of what Samsung manages in a single 12 months, I’m probably not fearful that Google will kill off its Pixel smartphone enterprise, a apply they tend to do. That’s as a result of Pixel telephones function a reference platform for Android, which is certainly one of Google’s core companies due to how a lot cash it generates by way of the Play ecosystem. Thanks to its ties to Google, Pixel enjoys a degree of safety and first-class assist that different Android {hardware} distributors dream of, however these ties additionally restrain what Pixel can do. Since Google is each the maker of Pixel and Android, the 2 groups work hand in hand to make sure that each new characteristic that Pixel introduces doesn’t break compatibility with different components of the OS or with apps. Google’s stance on the subject of Pixel software program is the best one to take as a result of they’ve an obligation to each builders and OEMs, however the final result could not at all times be to the liking of finish customers.No “dirty hacks” allowed When Google’s new Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold ended up within the palms of customers final month, many had been stunned to be taught that a number of the most effective Android apps weren’t optimized for his or her giant screens. Instead of displaying apps in full display screen, the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold use letterboxing to position apps in a window surrounded by black bars on either side. Google’s choice drew criticism on-line, with some customers on Reddit even pondering of returning their new Fold due to its software program.The Twitter app working on the Pixel Tablet. Android locations the app in a letterbox to protect its side ratio. (Image credit score: Kartheek Alladi)These customers introduced up how different units are capable of show their favourite apps in full display screen, or not less than provide them the choice to take action, in distinction to Google’s units. For instance, the Twitter app on Samsung tablets takes up all the display screen.The Twitter app working on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Because media content material, adverts, and the discover header are designed to take up out there horizontal area whereas sustaining their side ratios, the Twitter app when stretched can look fairly distorted, to the purpose the place not even a single tweet could be displayed in its entirety. (Image credit score: Mishaal Rahman)Google’s choice to letterbox apps, for my part, is the proper one: It compromises between the will of builders to not have their apps’ side ratios distorted and the will of customers to make use of their apps of their most well-liked orientation. If Google had performed nothing, then many apps would merely be locked to portrait orientation like on the OnePlus Pad or OPPO Find N2.That would clearly present a horrible expertise for customers, as they’d must flip their units over to even use sure apps (think about utilizing the 16:10 Pixel Tablet in portrait mode!) Instead, Google created a platform-level configuration that lets the OEM determine whether or not or to not respect an app’s orientation choice. The Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold each use this configuration to power usually portrait-locked apps into panorama mode, however with out stretching them by putting them in a letterbox.But stretching the app is strictly what some customers need. Sure, it’s technically Twitter’s fault that it isn’t optimized for large-screen Android units, but when one pill gives the “better” Twitter expertise, you’ll be able to see why some persons are criticizing Google right here. Ideally, builders would see that their apps don’t look fairly proper on large-screen Android units after which get to work on optimizing them, nevertheless it’s not at all times so easy. Depending on the app, it may take a number of time and assets to optimize issues. Not each firm is prepared to allocate builders to the duty and even see the necessity to, contemplating how few customers (comparatively) entry their apps from a lot of these units. OneUI’s “Landscape view for portrait apps” characteristic below Settings > Advanced options > Labs. (Image credit score: Mishaal Rahman)OEMs, recognizing that they’ll’t presumably get each developer to optimize their apps for his or her units, as an alternative deploy their very own software program options or “hacks” to compensate. Samsung, for instance, affords a characteristic in OneUI referred to as “landscape view for portrait apps” that lets customers “force apps that normally only support portrait view to display in landscape view when [their] tablet is being held horizontally.” Crucially, this characteristic additionally lets customers “choose to keep the app’s original aspect ratio or stretch it to fill the whole screen.” So whereas apps like FedEx, Venmo, Authy, Nothing X, Amplifi, AMEX, and extra are proven in a letterbox on the Pixel Tablet, they are often pressured to refill the display screen in panorama mode on a Galaxy pill.Let’s not simply disgrace Twitter FedEx, Venmo, Authy, Nothing X, Amplifi, AMEX, and extra. Optimize your apps https://t.co/DsgmGlc9MC pic.twitter.com/M5n2l56LzQJune 22, 2023See extraGoogle, nevertheless, can’t get away with this. When they inform builders that their apps will behave a sure means, they must abide by that on their very own units. All Google can actually do is encourage, however not power, builders to optimize their apps for giant screens. Google has to take care of a fragile stability between pleasing customers, builders, and OEMs, not like OEMs who actually solely must please their customers.I’m clearly oversimplifying issues right here, because it’s not like OEMs can get away with something. Android compatibility necessities and testing nonetheless restrain what OEMs can change to a sure extent. Though as many builders will let you know, the compatibility necessities usually don’t go far sufficient, as OEMs have been breaking how background companies work for years now. OEMs mess with background companies to yield higher battery life, which is one more factor that Google can’t get away with, leading to “worse” battery life on Pixels when excluding different components.Google’s additionally not utterly towards “dirty hacks” — they simply don’t implement any that might mess with builders’ expectations for a way the OS will behave. For instance, with the Pixel Tablet, Google set its “natural orientation” to portrait in order that digicam apps don’t break when letterboxed. They additionally applied a compatibility repair that disables auto rotation just for full-screen, portrait-locked apps like video games. As you’ll be able to see, when Google desires to make some adjustments to Android, they’ve so much to contemplate. Sometimes, that ends in extremely requested options taking years to launch as a result of they must be applied “the right way.”Making adjustments “the right way”Google is commonly mocked for “copying” options from OEMs like Samsung, however there’s an excellent cause why they’re usually “late” to undertake sure options. They first want to make sure there’s truly sufficient curiosity within the characteristic for it to be value it to work on it, in any other case, they might find yourself implementing a characteristic that few individuals use however that they nonetheless have to take care of for a number of releases. They additionally want to make sure there aren’t any regressions or conflicts with different components of the OS or with apps, in addition to deal with any limitations in present implementations, as a result of their model of the characteristic could not solely present up on their very own Pixel telephones but additionally in AOSP for any OEM to adapt.For instance, Google lastly added scrolling screenshot assist in Android 12, years after different OEMs applied such a characteristic. The means that many OEMs applied scrolling screenshots was to simulate a scroll, take a number of screenshots, after which sew all of them collectively as soon as the tip of the web page has been reached. Google refused to take this strategy as a result of there are a lot of apps it doesn’t work with. Android 12’s scrolling screenshot implementation works with all apps that use a regular View-based UI, and for the apps it doesn’t work with, there’s an API that they’ll use to make it work. Android scrolling screenshot characteristic (Image credit score: Android Central)That’s normally how this stuff go. OEMs develop a characteristic that positive factors recognition however that has a number of limitations, Google sees the characteristic and decides to iron out any kinks, after which Google releases the characteristic in addition to an accompanying API and documentation when essential. Again, although, whether or not a characteristic is applied the “correct” means is of little consequence to some customers, those that solely care that the characteristic is accessible in some kind. And to some extent, I agree with them: It definitely would’ve been handy to have a scrolling screenshot characteristic that labored nicely sufficient relatively than not having one in any respect till Android 12. But Google can’t get away with offering a half-baked characteristic, which is partly why they’ve taken so lengthy to undertake different options like one-handed mode, bubbles, app cloning, and desktop mode into inventory Android.Always forward of the packWhile different machine makers have extra flexibility on the subject of creating new options, they don’t have the privileged place that Pixel has on the subject of getting new options into Android. Google is already exhausting at work creating Android 15 “Vanilla Ice Cream”, however OEMs gained’t actually get the complete breakdown on what’s new within the OS till they’re briefed on it ostensibly later this 12 months. Yes, OEMs do get early entry to the supply code for every new Android model, however that doesn’t occur till Google’s already principally deliberate out what options and APIs they need to implement within the subsequent launch. And a number of these adjustments are usually made with a future Pixel machine in thoughts. Most, in fact, will not be, however lots of them are.Take, for instance, a number of the adjustments Google made in Android 13 with Pixel units in thoughts. They added a hub mode and USB audio dock assist for the Pixel Tablet, a “media tap to transfer” characteristic to energy new cross-device experiences between Pixel telephones and the Pixel Tablet, and an “Ambient Context” API to energy the privacy-preserving backend for the Pixel’s cough and snore detection characteristic, simply to call a number of. When Google has a brand new Pixel characteristic in thoughts that requires adjustments to the Android platform, they don’t must essentially combat to get it permitted—they simply want to make sure that it’s performed “the right way”.A Pixel Tablet that’s about to be docked. Though the pill attaches to the dock through pogo pins on the again, Android treats the dock as a USB audio dock. Android’s USB HAL added assist for audio docks in Android 13. (Image credit score: Google)Again, I’m oversimplifying right here: There are many individuals inside Android that assist oversee new characteristic implementations to make sure they don’t introduce potential safety points or break any APIs, so it’s not like all characteristic request from Pixel is straight away applied with out inner scrutiny. But the truth that Pixel and Android are each below the identical umbrella makes it simpler for them to align on what adjustments ought to be applied in future variations of the OS. OEMs do get a number of say sooner or later route of the platform, although, particularly on the subject of selections that immediately influence them. And it’s not like OEMs have to attend for Google to undertake essential adjustments into AOSP earlier than they’ll begin to work on a brand new characteristic. Finally, I can’t finish issues right here with out mentioning one of many Pixel’s greatest strengths: they get first dibs on new Android releases. Because Google makes use of Pixel as Android’s reference platform, new variations of the OS are developed and examined on the machine. While there are occasions when being the primary ones to attempt the brand new OS hasn’t labored out, I believe most Pixel customers will agree that day 1 updates are a part of what drew them to the model. Pixel shines as a smartphone model due to its ties to Google, however I hope that after studying this text, you’ve come to higher perceive why they make sure selections or appear “slow” at choosing up sure options in comparison with others.
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