This is why users don’t invest in the google ecosystem. No consistency or follow through.
The Netflix of technology
This is exactly why Stadia failed. I honestly think if it was a service like Gamepass Ultimate where the games come with the sub, it would've been a success. Spending $60 on a game I can only play via Google's service though? Fuck no. Never. Not in a million years.
I honestly think if it was a service like Gamepass Ultimate where the games come with the sub, it would’ve been a success.
I mean, they should've communicated better, because that's essentially what the paid subscription was: subscribing would get access to a library of free games to play. I think the library could've been better.
Even today, I'm using Geforce Now + XBox Game Pass, I find that the streaming quality isn't the same as Stadia (but the game selection is much, much better).
I used to be all in with Google. After being burned over and over again, I’ve nearly entirely exited their ecosystem with some exceptions. I just don’t trust them anymore to maintain their products for the long haul.
Yeah I moved to Apple last year.
The garden walls may be higher but at least I don’t have to worry about the plants being chopped down.
Also I’m excited because there might actually be some resale value for my devices for once in my life.
It's just a running joke at this point. If it doesn't sell as many ads as Search, YouTube and GMail, they'll kill it. Even if you're paying them for it.
They can't just have a little service that makes them a little bit of money. They have to have the top service that makes the most money.
Lots of misunderstanding in these comments. Google Fi service is not going anywhere, Google is not cancelling any services. The Pixel Pass is basically just a bundle of optional services that can be added to your Fi account for a very slight discount. You do not get a free phone, you get interest free financing on your phone. Because they are cancelling the Pixel Pass Google has given me $100 credit towards my next phone, which is a better deal than the Pixel Pass itself.
Like many people I'm not happy with a lot of things Google has been doing lately, but the Pixel Pass being cancelled is not important.
To take some sting out of the move, Google is offering a "$100 loyalty reward credit" for active Pixel Pass subscribers. You can use it for $100 off a new Pixel phone from the Google Store or Google Fi, and it expires in two years.
That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Telling people they get a new phone if they sign up for 2 years then cancelling it at the 22 month mark.
This is just an interest free financing plan that comes bundled with services.
No one was going to get a free phone.
Google cancelled a project?!?
/Shocked Pikachu face
I want to switch to Google Fiber but I can't shake the thought that as soon as I do they'll shut down operations and pawn my soul off to Satan ISP
I wouldn't be surprised.
Look at stadia, I knew it would be a rocky road for them to market it, but by also buying game studios with the intentions to make and release games, I was under the impression that they would keep going with it. They pumped so much money in to it.
Oh boy, how wrong I was.
Nah, I bet they keep Fiber because of all the delicious data they can sponge up as your ISP. Same with Fi. I'm guessing both are safe regardless of their subscriber base.
Both are also in heavily regulated industries with oversight from state utility commissions and the FCC, where simply trying to exit a market requires a whole proceeding before the agency/commission. They could announce that they'd be exiting the industry and selling its assets to a competitor, but that would have to clear antitrust hurdles and would take a while.
I think that means that effectively, they can't just "kill" these services but would have to sell to someone else, and the approval process itself could result in some concessions for the consumer, so that even Satan ISP would have limited power to really screw over the consumer.
One more headstone in the Google graveyard
They need to get rid of that clown Sundar. Under his "leadership" Google has been on an endless downward trend.
He's helped with the only metric that shareholders actually care about: profitability. No matter that a lot of those on-paper $ have come through gimmickry and at the expense of the long-term success of the company.
You are right. The year before he became CEO, Google "only" had revenue of $66B. Last year, their revenue was $280B.
But if you look at the revenue chart, they were headed in that direction seemingly regardless of who was at the helm. But I think he is really hurting their long-term profits. I know that might sound crazy when they are making over 1/4 of a trillion per year, but there are more and more people who will simply not even consider a Google product these days because they feel in 6 months, Google will just kill it off. Who wants an orphaned phone or watch or VR headset, let alone all the software and services they kill off.
It has been a pretty short trip from "Don't be evil" to "The cutting edge of late stage capitalism"
i am waiting for day when google kill its search engine
That day might come unless they can get the quality of search back under control.
I wouldn't be surprised (or sad) if a disruptor comes along with a new idea and gives 'em a hard time.
Personally I've already replaced a high percentage of my Google searches with the OpenAI gpt-4 playground.
This probably isn't a big deal, but this ~is~ (and the fact that Google is an ad company) is the reason why I wouldn't rely on any Google service or product that I couldn't easily replace in a matter of minutes.
It's this kind of knee jerk on Google's part that might save them a few bucks in the short term (presumably incentiviced with bonuses for the managers) but causes long time reputational damage over time.
I don't understand how seemingly no one up the chain considers this before pulling the plug so quickly.
Don't fuck with user trust. When you lose it it's pretty hard to get back.
this is sooooooooooo shitty, I'd be so fucking upset
This is Google's standard operating procedure.
I cannot believe that in the year 2023 people were still paying for a Google service that was supposed to last beyond 30 days. Especially one that was supposed to have a long-term reward. You would have to have so much blind trust in Google at that point.
EDIT: I now understand that this was a a two-year installment plan for the existing phone. That being said, I still don't think anyone should buy into Google products or services expecting them to have long-term support. Google has shown time and time again that they are willing to kill any and all projects at any time with almost no warning.
Well, that solidifies my plan for graphene os on this 7pro and once fairphone comes state side I'm going all in. Been moving to Proton services and this will be the first and last Google phone I get. So sick of their backtracking on everything I enjoy. Fuck Google.
The headline is sensationalist since it implies they were going to get a free phone and Google bailed at the last minute.
Really? Because that's how I'm reading it.
while new signups are no longer allowed, existing users will be able to finish out their two-year term. The end of the term was supposed to mean re-upping with a shiny new device, but Google now says, "By the end of the 2 year term, you can’t upgrade to a new phone with Pixel Pass.".
I think Ars Technica has it wrong with that wording, the FAQ from Google support linked in that article says:
Can I still upgrade my Pixel device after 24 months?
Yes, you can still upgrade your Pixel device after 24 months, you just won’t be able to renew your subscription to Pixel Pass. You can purchase or finance your next Pixel device directly from Google Store or Google Fi Wireless, and you have the option to trade-in your current Pixel device towards your next device. Current Pixel Pass subscribers received $100 towards their next Pixel purchase good for 2 years, which can also be used alongside available promotions.
So you can upgrade your phone for the current term, but you can't renew your subscription and upgrade again.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
When the service launched in October 2021, Google said that every two years on the Pixel Pass would make you eligible for a brand new phone.
but Google doesn't answer its own question, saying only, "We offer the best value of our hardware products and give users the flexibility to purchase their favorite services.
We continue to evaluate offers based on customer feedback and provide different ways for them to access the best of Google."
That won't happen here, though—while new signups are no longer allowed, existing users will be able to finish out their two-year term.
You’ll receive a monthly bill for Google One, Google Play Pass, and YouTube Premium at the current discounted rate, which is visible in the email sent to you on August 29, 2023 with the subject line, 'An important update on Pixel Pass.'
To take some sting out of the move, Google is offering a "$100 loyalty reward credit" for active Pixel Pass subscribers.
The original article contains 498 words, the summary contains 160 words. Saved 68%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
I have a pixel phone and never heard of pixel pass
Say what you want about apple, but this is why they are winning. They don’t jump the gun, they don’t go home early, they stick with it consistently.
They are no more expensive than Samsung. So, other than the walled garden app ecosystem keeping all the malware out, whattcha got?
I haven't seen an ad on any of my devices in like 4+ years, nor have I paid for any monthly subscriptions.
Say what you'd like about Google and Android, I'm not exactly singing their praises or anything, but I don't think that's possible with Apple.
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
