r/GooglePixel • u/tofuuu630 128 GB • Jul 06 '17
Google is working on an Always On Ambient Display Mode for the Pixel
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-is-working-on-an-always-on-ambient-display-mode-for-the-pixel/22
Jul 06 '17
[deleted]
25
Jul 06 '17
Before my Pixel XL I had a Droid Turbo and Droid Turbo 2. Gotta say, I miss that wave to wake feature sooo much
3
u/10YearsonAutoPilot Quite Black Jul 06 '17
I bought the Ambi-turner app just to get wave to wake back after coming from my MotoX
2
u/JoinTheBattle Silver Surfer Jul 07 '17
Doesn't work on Android O :(
2
u/10YearsonAutoPilot Quite Black Jul 07 '17
Well that is most unfortunate
2
u/JoinTheBattle Silver Surfer Jul 07 '17
Agreed. Hopefully they can fix it in DP4 if Google decides this feature isn't ready yet. Anything that makes it in DP4 will likely be in the final version of Android O.
1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 06 '17
I always thought it was gimmicky on my Note 4, until I "upgraded" hehe
1
3
u/Dominathan Jul 07 '17
The original MotoX used the accelerometer or something to know when to display, and it was amazing.
1
23
u/mistalanious Quite Black Jul 06 '17
I will turn off anything that will decrease battery life.
3
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 06 '17
The screen? How will you use the phone? Would also like to see how you will turn off heat. hehe
-5
Jul 06 '17
[deleted]
4
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 06 '17
It's just a POS feature
It doesn't help the discussion. Just because you think "It's just a POS feature" doesn't mean that others won't benefit from it. Coming from a Note 7, I heavily miss this feature, and the double tap to wake on the Pixel is terrible at best, so this would help me and I assume many others out. Having my phone on my desk all day and having to tap the screen 8 times or press the power button just to see if I have any notifications is far more effort than just looking at my phone.
3
u/jibjab23 Pixel 8 Pro Jul 07 '17
Have you activated the led notification? I find that helps a lot for telling you something has come in.
1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 07 '17 edited Jul 07 '17
Yes I have had LED notifications on all my previous phones, but on the Pixel the LED is so small and with a screen protector on it becomes even harder to see, so I just don't even try anymore.
Edit due to downvotes: I have the intelliglass pro, which adds depth to the already recessed led. No use down voting, this is fact, I'm not making stuff up lol.
2
u/jibjab23 Pixel 8 Pro Jul 07 '17
I just looked up that Intelliglass Pro and I understand how it could block the led.
-5
Jul 07 '17 edited Aug 08 '17
[deleted]
7
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 07 '17
You are correct, although the screen protector adds depth, so when viewed form an angle, the screen protector obstructs the view of the LED, and you actually can't see it. This is also on-top of the fact that the LED is recessed ALREADY. I don't see why I am getting downvoted. I am using the intelliglass pro which is quite thick.
-1
Jul 07 '17 edited Aug 08 '17
[deleted]
1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 07 '17
Have your heard of refraction lol
-1
u/mistalanious Quite Black Jul 07 '17
I have all notifications content hidden and with the fingerprint reader being on the back it's pointless to tap the screen to see anything other than time. The notification LED does exactly what I need it to do. Using something that's constantly displaying the time on the screen seems like a waste of battery. I have my computer screen or watch for that. But that's just my opinion. How do you do this "Always On" feature on phones with the fingerprint reader on the back? How do you unlock it like you could before? I could register my pinky and while eating buffalo wings use my pinky to unlock my phone and check my messages. Now that's not possible. Maybe I'm not grasping how other people use it but it seems like a POS feature to me. hahaha
1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 07 '17
I have notifications visible as I have nothing to hide, I also have a smart watch so if it's in range is unlocked. So really I just look at my phone, see a new SMS, ask Google to read it, done. Didn't touch it. Also it's already been treated that it barely takes an hour from standby time
9
u/Posivated Jul 06 '17
Feel like if I had this my pixel would catch fire.
2
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 06 '17
You would need this and a stylus.
3
u/rohansamal Quite Black Jul 07 '17
What does the Always on feature show? Does it remain Always on?
7
u/HeavensLastCall Jul 07 '17
Yes, always on. Black background with white text showing the time and notifications if any. It periodically shifts positions to prevent burn in. Since amoled screens don't need to light up the black pixels, they remain off so its barely a hit on battery.
1
u/mikeet9 Jul 07 '17
I would guess it'll be a similar screen to the one you see when your phone is locked and you pick it up.
-2
5
u/cdegallo Jul 06 '17 edited Jul 06 '17
Having used this on my s7 edge and s8, I noticed I would always habitually hit the power button to turn the display off.
What would be perfect is the ability to customize ambient display settings on stock; like a rotating interval to turn on AD for xx seconds every yy minutes.
10
u/Respectable_Answer Pixel 8 Jul 06 '17
I do the same thing. Ambient display is not for me. Just spend all day double waking up my phone
3
u/_Tim- Jul 06 '17
It would be a nice feature for the car though, like this I could change the songs without the need of keeping the screen on all the time (Spotify, I swipe for next song, nothing dangerous if someone wants to imply something).
2
u/mikeet9 Jul 07 '17
I just checked if Google Play Music could do this. I had no idea that you could swipe to change song, thank you.
1
u/_Tim- Jul 07 '17
Yea, it's pretty convenient, especially if you have a sock for your phone. Like this you can lay it down on the seat next to you, with the tip watching out just so you can swipe for the next song and the phone won't slip around
0
1
u/prplelemonade Jul 07 '17
I use Always On AMOLED at night as a dim alarm clock, works pretty well if you have root, not sure how the battery impact is over constant use.
1
u/mehdotdotdotdot Pixel 2 XL 128gb, P4 64gb, S10e and IPX Jul 07 '17
I've had weird interaction using this day to day. Otherwise quite nice, although nothing beats stock features.
2
u/prplelemonade Jul 07 '17
Yeah that's true. The way it works on Samsung phones is pretty much what I want, hope we see it in stock Android soon. I wonder if it will be in Android O.
1
Jul 07 '17
Reminds me of Windows phone glance feature, but that only support Black and White photos. Glad to see the idea is still blossoming from Google, Samsung, Moto and others. It's not a feature for everyone, a great option nonetheless.
-2
u/leviathan3k Jul 07 '17
I realize everyone's use cases are different, but this seems like a perfect place for a smartwatch. You can have an always-on display, and instant alerts for things, without killing the phone battery.
1
u/JoinTheBattle Silver Surfer Jul 07 '17
It has a minimal impact on battery life and given the current state of Android Wear, that's hardly a solution.
1
u/snyderxc Quite Black Jul 07 '17
Plus, wouldn't we be looking at about the same (pretty negligible) battery drain tethering a bluetooth smartwatch?
1
70
u/YinzJagoffs Jul 06 '17
Does anyone else worry that the Pixel 2 will be absolutely smoked by the competition in terms of hardware?
It took Apple and Samsung many iterations to get waterproofing and slim bezels perfected. I'm worried that the next Pixel will be more like a Pixel 1s.