Android devices

I'm a big fan of Android. Not sure why, but I defaulted to these phones and operating system in the early days. It was probably because I wanted a Red Hat Linux machine as a kid. In high school, I had a lot of testing different Linux operating systems like Ubuntu and Damn Small Linux. For some reason, they operating systems were a lot of fun.

Now I didn't know much of anything about programming but was learning the values of open source. Even though most Windows applications (specifically Office) did not work on Linux distros. Either way, I enjoyed the challenge.

So somewhere early on I stumbled upon Google's early Android phones in my early teens. Now before Android, I tested quite a few mobile devices such as Blackberry's RIMM and the Palm Pilots. They had black and white screens with barely any internet. Eventually got a Sony Clié UX-50 and the rest was history.

Since then I've always been addicted to having compute power in the palm of my hands. Even today, I am constantly looking for ways to get rid of desktop applications and 100% mobile. We are getting there, but not there yet.

Anyway, my first mobile phones were the Nokia bricks and Motorola Razr before moving into the Android family. At the time, I was a Google fanboy because of Gmail and Chrome but didn't realize Android was built on open source technology until very recently. Eventually I tested Samsung devices before Google committed to building out the Pixel family tree. Now I've been using Google devices ever since. Even moved my wireless carrier to Google Fi to test their telecom networks.

Here are a few Pixel phones I've owned in the past:

• Pixel

• Pixel 3

• Pixel 5

I tend to wait 2-3 years before upgrading. The one-year upgrade cycle seems to be too much in hardware. But it's also why I like Android because they update the software quite often. So I skipped the Pixel 7 upgrade.

But since the recent launch of the Pixel 8, I have been looking at upgrading phones once. But I'd prefer to go full mobile if possible. Which I think is almost here with the release of the Pixel Fold. Now I remember seeing Microsoft's Surface Duo but that device lacked enough functionality.

The Pixel Fold now has more flexibility. The dual screens look great and the battery life is better than expected. What really impressed me was the collapsible screen which is what I first saw with Samsung devices.

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between Pixel 3, 5, 7, 8 and Fold, highlighting how software and hardware have improved over time:

Pixel Lineup (Pixel 3 to Pixel 8):

• Generational Leap (3 to 5):

  • Hardware: Big jump! Pixel 5 introduced a more premium metal build compared to Pixel 3's plastic back. Both have excellent cameras, but Pixel 5 benefitted from Google's improved software processing.

  • Software: Both received major Android updates for several years, but Pixel 5 launched with Android 11 which offered features like notification history and one-time permissions.

• Refined Evolution (5 to 7):

  • Hardware: Pixel 7 kept the metal build but introduced a more modern camera bar design. Processor upgrades brought noticeable performance improvements.

  • Software: Pixel 7 launched with Android 13, featuring better privacy controls and Material You theming for a more personalized experience.

• Innovation within the Line (7 to 8):

  • Hardware: Pixel 8 boasts a unique "Tensor 2" chip, designed by Google specifically for Pixel phones. This promises even better AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and improved photo/video quality.

  • Software: Pixel 8 continues with Android 13, but will likely receive updates for a longer duration due to Google's extended support commitment.

Pixel Fold - Standing Out from the Pack:

• Unique Design: Pixel Fold is Google's first foldable phone. It opens like a book to reveal a large tablet-like display on the inside, while the front offers a regular phone-sized screen.

• Hardware: Most powerful Pixel yet, with a top-of-the-line processor and multiple cameras on both the front and unfolded display.

• Software: Designed to take advantage of the foldable form factor. Offers multitasking capabilities and app optimizations for the larger unfolded screen.

Overall Software and Hardware Improvements:

• Processing Power: Processors have gotten significantly faster with each generation.

• Cameras: Consistent improvement in camera quality, especially with Google's computational photography.

• Display: Higher resolution displays with smoother refresh rates for a more responsive and visually appealing experience.

• Battery Life: Improved battery capacities and software optimizations have led to better battery endurance.

• AI Features: Google's Tensor chips and advancements in AI have unlocked features like Magic Eraser, Live Translate, and improved voice recognition.