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In an effort to prop up pixel sales, Google is not rolling out the assistant to all android phones. If you read the latest blog post about the assistant conning

In an effort to prop up pixel sales, Google is not rolling out the assistant to all android phones. If you read the latest blog post about the assistant conning to the shield and other devices, they have very carefully used language that excludes phones completely. They said the assistant will roll out to android tv, android wear and I think chrome books too. But not a word about it being released to phones other than pixel. Risky move, IMO. If it fails, it has the potential to take the entire android ecosystem away from Google.

thrillgore 10y ago
This is really disappointing. I was hoping Assistant would just be part of Google Now, but it looks like they want you to buy a Pixel, use Allo, or their own devices. I sure as hell don't want ANOTHER messaging app when Hangouts is already dying off. And I was not impressed with the Pixel's price.
- eli 10y ago
  If it's any consolation, I own a Pixel and Assistant doesn't feel materially different from how I remember Google Now on my old Galaxy S5.
  - blazespin 10y ago
    It works offline. There might be some AI chip in Pixel.
    - eli 10y ago
      Interesting. That's an impressive sounding implementation detail, but as a user of several months I literally did not notice.
    - echosmith 10y ago
      Unlikely given that you can hack an Android phone to have Assistant.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
dilap 10y ago
remember when google used to go on and on about how android was an open system and open wins and they had the moral highground saving us from the evil of apple? what a joke.
- bitmapbrother 10y ago
  What does Google's proprietary software have to do with Android being open?
  - dilap 10y ago
    it shows that all their talk of being open for principled reasons was bullshit.
  - dingo_bat 10y ago
    It has made AOSP basically useless. Right now, you cannot compile AOSP and get a decent app suite. You need to include play services or develop your own browser, music player, video player, app store, maps, email client, etc. All of which is standard for any Linux OS.
    - JetSpiegel 10y ago
      Firefox, VLC, fdroid, osmand, k9. All open source apps on Android, you do you need to reinvent the wheel?
bitmapbrother 10y ago
>Risky move, IMO. If it fails, it has the potential to take the entire android ecosystem away from Google. I couldn't help but laugh at this. Google is the Android ecosystem.

thrillgore 10y ago

This is really disappointing. I was hoping Assistant would just be part of Google Now, but it looks like they want you to buy a Pixel, use Allo, or their own devices. I sure as hell don't want ANOTHER messaging app when Hangouts is already dying off. And I was not impressed with the Pixel's price.

eli 10y ago
If it's any consolation, I own a Pixel and Assistant doesn't feel materially different from how I remember Google Now on my old Galaxy S5.
- blazespin 10y ago
  It works offline. There might be some AI chip in Pixel.
  - eli 10y ago
    Interesting. That's an impressive sounding implementation detail, but as a user of several months I literally did not notice.
  - echosmith 10y ago
    Unlikely given that you can hack an Android phone to have Assistant.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]

dilap 10y ago

remember when google used to go on and on about how android was an open system and open wins and they had the moral highground saving us from the evil of apple? what a joke.

bitmapbrother 10y ago
What does Google's proprietary software have to do with Android being open?
- dilap 10y ago
  it shows that all their talk of being open for principled reasons was bullshit.
- dingo_bat 10y ago
  It has made AOSP basically useless. Right now, you cannot compile AOSP and get a decent app suite. You need to include play services or develop your own browser, music player, video player, app store, maps, email client, etc. All of which is standard for any Linux OS.
  - JetSpiegel 10y ago
    Firefox, VLC, fdroid, osmand, k9. All open source apps on Android, you do you need to reinvent the wheel?

bitmapbrother 10y ago

>Risky move, IMO. If it fails, it has the potential to take the entire android ecosystem away from Google. I couldn't help but laugh at this. Google is the Android ecosystem.