[Opinion] 5 things I love about the Pixel

So I've had the Pixel XL as my daily driver for a little more than a month now, and couldn't be more happy with it.  And it appears to be a home run for Google, as Fortune recently reported that analysts anticipate and almost 6 billion dollar revenue bump over this year and the next from Pixel sales.  While some will argue that that's only a drop in the bucket in terms of overall sales figures (compared to iPhone sales, and that is correct) for Google to have sold around 3 million of its new handsets in such a short time since release is a good sign for the search giant's burgeoning mobile device business.

Having said all that, I wanted to give a quick follow up of the 5 things I enjoy most about being a Pixel owner, and perhaps help convince some who might be on the fence about purchasing the device.  All this assumes you've already read our Pixel XL review, but if you haven't, start there.  Then read on...

[Review] Google Pixel XL - Extraordinarily ordinary

I've spent the last 7 days with the Pixel XL from Google, and used it as my daily driver for the last 3 of those.  And I can honestly say its the best Android phone I've ever used (and I've used a LOT) - but the strange thing is - the Pixel does it by not standing out.  The phone gets out of the way of the end user to such a degree that it feels like there is nothing standing between you and what you are trying to accomplish with the device.  Where other devices try to impress with quality screens, amazing cameras, or cutting edge specs (and the Pixel has all of these) the Pixel goes beyond gimmicks and hardware features to a place where Android is showcased in the best possible way - a polished and smooth user experience that's simply a joy to use.  Fellow tech seekers, let's talk about the Pixel XL.

[Review] 48 Hours with the Pixel XL

So, as mentioned, we have a Pixel XL (in Very Silver) and are taking it for a test drive.  We'll have a full review up in the next few days, but for those of you who are interested in both the XL and its smaller Pixel sibling, we wanted to give a few thoughts after using it for the first 2 days.  So, read on for my impression of the Pixel XL after 48 hours...

[News] Early reviews of the Google Pixel are in...

And so far, I think its safe to say that things are looking up for Google.  Like they needed any help?  But still, the high price point and "internet hates" that the Pixel and Pixel XL seemed to be getting hasn't stopped it from selling out on the Google Play Store.

If you are into Android, and thinking about getting a new device, check out the below to read up on what the first week or so has been like for those lucky sites getting review units (most reviews are of the Pixel XL that I've seen, so take the battery comments with a grain of salt)

[Podcast] Episode 11 is here! All the Google things!

Part 1 of the latest Silicon Theory podcast is here and uploading now.  We talk about the Pixel and Pixel XL, what we like, don't like, and discuss why there is so much internet hating going on about Google right now.  Part 2 will cover the rest of the hardware that Google will be launching between now and the rest of the year.

Check us out in iTunes, Google Play Music, or SoundCloud - and thanks for listening!  If you like the show, or the other shows we've published, make sure you leave us a review (we hope its a 5 star one) as this helps us reach a wider audience with all of our techiness.  And yeah...I think techiness is a real word.  Thanks again!

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[News] Google's Big Event - Recap

So - its been a big day for Google and all their fans.  And if you are invested in the Android ecosystem, its kind of a big deal.  Here's a quick rundown of all the things that were announced today, and what we know about specs/features/pricing...

• Google Pixel Phones - the wait is over!  We will have more information coming, but the new phones that are being advertised as "made by Google" are here.  The devices come in 2 sizes: the Pixel (which sports a 5" display size) and the larger Pixel XL (sporting a 5.5" display)  The phones are identical with the exception of the display size (and resolution; the Pixel has a 1080p FHD display, whereas the XL has a 1440 QHD display) and battery size (2770mah versus the XL's 3450mah) and that might be a good thing.  This is very similar to what Apple has done recently with the regular iPhone and Plus models.  And these phones are going to be priced similar to iPhones as well, with the 32GB base model of the Pixel starting at $649

[Special Feature] Silicon Theories - September edition

While we have a little bit of a lull of late in tech, I had a few things I thought might be worth discussing, and each on their own merits wasn't necessary a whole article, but in their totality, they might be - so I am going to roll up a bunch of ideas together, and start a new special feature I'm going to call "Silicon Theories" - this will be the inagural September edition of what I hope to be a monthly thing.  I'm going to collect of bunch of thoughts and ideas and submit them for your consideration.

[News] Google's Pixel phone starts to show up

It appears that on October 4th, we are going to see the unveiling of the newest phone offered by Google - and we anticipate these will be the Pixel and Pixel XL.  If you've caught the latest Silicon Theory Podcast, you've heard a little bit about the upcoming device.  Now, for the first time, we get to take a look at some renders and some alleged pictures.