Pixel8 Pro - Tricks with a New Android phone.

Pixel8 Pro - Tricks with a New Android phone.

April 27, 2024

I Got a new phone recently.

It promises years of updates.

Will it be better value for money than the Xiami PocoPhone F1 I got in 2019 for ~325$?

With the poco, I had available:

  1. https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/beryllium/
What about LineageOS 📌

LineageOS is a free and open-source operating system for smartphones and tablets, based on the Android mobile platform. It is the successor to CyanogenMod, from which it was forked in December 2016.

What is LineageOS?

  • Custom Android: LineageOS is essentially a modified version of Android. It takes the open-source code of Android and adds its own customizations and features.
  • Community-driven: It’s developed and maintained by a community of developers, rather than a single company like Google or a phone manufacturer.
  • Focus on customization: LineageOS is known for its focus on user customization and privacy. It often includes features that aren’t found in the stock version of Android.
  • Extending device lifespan: It can breathe new life into older devices that may no longer receive updates from their manufacturers.

Is it Google compatible?

  • Mostly yes: LineageOS itself doesn’t come with Google apps (like the Play Store, Gmail, etc.) pre-installed. This is because these apps are proprietary to Google.
  • You can add Google services: However, you can usually install Google services and apps separately if you want to use them. This involves a process called “flashing” a Google package (often called “GApps”) onto your device.
  • Some limitations: While most Google apps work fine, there might be occasional compatibility issues with some Google services.

What’s the difference with Android?

  • Stock Android vs. LineageOS: Think of stock Android as the “vanilla” version of Android, while LineageOS is a customized version with added features and tweaks.
  • Key differences:
    • Customization: LineageOS typically offers more customization options than stock Android, allowing you to tweak things like themes, icons, and system behavior.
    • Features: It may include features not found in stock Android, such as enhanced privacy settings, advanced theming options, and performance improvements.
    • Updates: LineageOS often provides updates for devices that are no longer supported by their manufacturers, extending the lifespan of your device.
    • Bloatware: LineageOS generally doesn’t include the bloatware (pre-installed, unnecessary apps) that often comes with stock Android from manufacturers.
    • Google apps: As mentioned earlier, Google apps are not pre-installed on LineageOS, giving you more control over what apps you have on your device.

In summary: LineageOS is a popular choice for Android enthusiasts who want more control over their devices, more customization options, and a potentially longer lifespan for their older devices.

  1. https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/beryllium/release/xenial/

  2. It was also interesting https://grapheneos.org/usage

Leeeet’s see.

But there would always be time for the Pixel 8 Pro and https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/

Pixel 8 Pro - How to

Connecting Pixel 8 Pro to HDMI

  1. Activate developer mode by:

Go to Settings->About phone, scroll all the way down and tap the Build number 7 times. After entering your screen lock, developer options will be enabled.

You can access them from Settings->System->Developer options.

  1. Then, activate the settings as per: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ausMrkrik

you will need to restart and HDMI cable to enjoy :)

Connecting a external drive

Pixel 8 Pro Conclusions

  1. For photos it is a beast.

And I had a Huawei P30 Pro before.

It can make 8160x4590 photos, which you can apply zoom with easy and not loosing much quality.

I also enjoy the night mode (but make sure to have a tripod).

  1. For videos, its up to 3840x2160 (4k UHD) at 60 fps and 63.6 Mbit/s bitrate.

Get ready for some serious backup setup!


FAQ

  • See information about your Android Phone with CPU-Info or with DevCheck

  • CPU: Tensor G3 (4x Cortex A510 + 4xCortex A715 + 1x Cortex X3) - ARMv8a 64bits

  • GPU: Mali-G715

Making Android better

Android Apps I love!

Running Windows on Android

Other Android Stuff

You can also emulate Linux inside Android, like I did with Termux, here.