Google has taken the extraordinary step to block reviewers from being able to download popular chip testing benchmarks directly through its Play Store, surprising reviewers of its latest Pixel 8 series smartphones. Incredibly, the company has extended this block to include all new customers of its Pixel 8 phones following the launch, in attempt to suppress the widespread distribution of results.https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-blocked-Pixel-8-Pixel-8-Pro-reviewers-from-using-popular-benchmarks-to-test-the-Tensor-G3-chip-new-owners-too.759260.0.html
I am very clear between a Pixel 8 and Samsung s23, I bought a Samsung and even more so now that it arrives with a new Samsung UI 6.1 layer that will focus on Artificial Intelligence.
We will also have to see the updates. 7 years of Pixel is very very good while Samsung is only 4 years old.
Samsung should increase to 5 years of updates to all flagships from S23 onwards at least.
Tensor CPU is just a repackaged Samsung's Exynos, which is a horrible CPU by all means. Terrible performance and even worse efficiency. Google is just trying to hide this, and the media have a soft spot for Google and the Pixel, so they're giving them a pass. Kudos to Notebookcheck for publishing this article!
I mean y'all have seen how Google censored conservatives. But now it's a problem. Lol GTFO
Something alarming is that it seems that the G2 is more efficient than the G3... at least CPU wise.
Would it has been better for Google/SamsungSLI to stick to the Cortex X1 and A78 for a third generation; and instead spend more money in a more modern process like the 4LP+?
I don't game on my phone. Many of these benchmarks are meaningless to me and I only care about real world performance (battery life, ability to perform daily tasks).
I'm very happy with my Pixel 8 Pro. But I was happy with Pixel 7, 6, 5, 4 (loved the Soli chip, bring it back!)...all the way to Nexus phones.
They aren't blocking Geekbench, it's in the Play Store, I just ran it. The numbers aren't great compared to a Qualcomm but it's also irrelevant. Phone CPUs gave been fast enough for years. Phones aren't servers, basic CPU performance is way beyond anything you can notice. All of the new interesting stuff is AI which uses a special purpose processor that isn't measured by Geekbench.
I switched to apple after being a Google guy since Pixels release. Google as a whole hasn't been reliable since the fired a huge chunk of staff. They keep killing software and features people love while constantly increasing their prices with subpar hardware and support. Wish they would do better because this dang iPhone isn't as easy to use.
Quote from: Joe on October 14, 2023, 13:14:04I mean y'all have seen how Google censored conservatives. But now it's a problem. Lol GTFO
Blocking hate and bigotry is good thing
It's well known fall Google went after Samsung rather TSMC chips. Why do you need a benchmark to even guess.
BTW I totally agree that blocking sounds childish.. and expecting premium prices for just one feature while similar features are available on Apple at lower price is customer choice.
Google, don't forget Peter Drucker's 4Ps.
You will not catch up.
I have a pixel 8 pro and I can install geekbench 6. This article is a lie
I see no problem with blocking. "reviewers" use those benchmarks as a means to dump on companies for not wasting materials to make something fast when it doesn't need to be. Good on them for taking measures to stop that stupidity.
I just can't believe that fanboys are praising Google for censorship. What a world we live in.
To go so far as to block benchmarking apps is downright criminal. Sure, to some people it won't matter, but forcing the narrative is just criminal.
A lot of people don't care about benchmarks and that's normal, but to some clients considering the phone and being more avid gamers or want top notch productivity from their device it's not right to withhold and block that information on purpose.
The market is very competitive and if Google don't like that, well tough.
put the benchmark apps on fdroid. this is a perfect example of why people shouldn't rely on one app store for their smartphones.
Benchmarking apps aren't blocked. The author is either lying or severely misinformed.
The article is not a lie. Until sometime yesterday, these apps WERE blocked from being installed from the Play store. I had to sideload them. I got the same message about 'not compatible with your device' from the play store. This resolved sometime yesterday. On launch day, you absolutely could not install the apps from the Play store. I tried.
Quote from: Josh on October 14, 2023, 16:05:57They aren't blocking Geekbench, it's in the Play Store, I just ran it. The numbers aren't great compared to a Qualcomm but it's also irrelevant. Phone CPUs gave been fast enough for years. Phones aren't servers, basic CPU performance is way beyond anything you can notice. All of the new interesting stuff is AI which uses a special purpose processor that isn't measured by Geekbench.
Right I was going to say the same thing. It's definitely available for me.
Its not that hard to do some level of digging before writing an obvious clickbait article. Since Pixel 8 series are on Android API, new installs of apps need to support minimum version of API for it to be supported. upgrade or transfer are not blocked.
But starting with Android 14, apps with a "targetSdkVersion" lower than 23 can't be installed
This is done for security reason to prevent malware avoiding security and privacy improvements.
I cannot put a link but its easily searchable on google and that take you to developer site with details.
Quote from: shawman on October 15, 2023, 04:00:45I cannot put a link
You can. Omit http colon slash slash
You are sadly misinformed, the benchmarking apps were blocked from Pixel 8 pro launch to about 2 days ago. Don't be so ignorant.
Quote from: splus on October 14, 2023, 12:44:03Tensor CPU is just a repackaged Samsung's Exynos, which is a horrible CPU by all means. Terrible performance and even worse efficiency. Google is just trying to hide this, and the media have a soft spot for Google and the Pixel, so they're giving them a pass. Kudos to Notebookcheck for publishing this article!
Whatever you're high on must be dogshit. The media having a soft spot for Google, of which radically different alternative timeline are you talking about? You sure you didn't mean Apple?
Google has been making great products for years now and I've never had an issue with a Pixel, but dogshit sites like this one like running clickbait fake news based on some guy that huffed exhaust on Twitter for years. A bazillion issues I've never seen or hear actual owners complain about.
Quote from: SteveFox on October 14, 2023, 21:19:51I just can't believe that fanboys are praising Google for censorship. What a world we live in.
To go so far as to block benchmarking apps is downright criminal. Sure, to some people it won't matter, but forcing the narrative is just criminal.
A lot of people don't care about benchmarks and that's normal, but to some clients considering the phone and being more avid gamers or want top notch productivity from their device it's not right to withhold and block that information on purpose.
The market is very competitive and if Google don't like that, well tough.
Can't believe you made up a scenario in your mind and are running with it. Before writing an essay about how you have baseless hate towards Google you might have checked the fact that this article, like many others in "WeRepostAnySchizo.net", is made up.
I always thought that the overall experience and daily performance - you know, fluidity, snapines, responsiveness, lag-free workflow, fast image processing after snapping a photo and so on - is more important than benchmark numbers 🤔
Pixels were and they still are extremely fast and nicely optimized yet some phones from other OEMs with higher benchmark numbers are stuttering, taking twice longer to process same photo and so on...
And no, I am not a Pixel owner since the Pixel 2.
Paid $50 for an upgrade to Pixel 8 pro, I don't care about gaming on my phone. Had 0 issues out of my Pixel 7 pro. I'm sure the Pixel 8 will work out for me until I pay very little to upgrade to the Pixel 9 next year...
One more and I'll see myself out and click not interested on the Google notification that brought me here. This phone has yet to receive even it's first it update. Enjoy that Samsung bloat
Quote from: Joe on October 14, 2023, 16:12:25Blocking hate and bigotry is good thing
Leftists, they are also pseudo-liberals, are the same fanatics and madmen, but what right does anyone have to censor the public sphere if it is prohibited by the constitution? In a small private club they can do what they want, but when the share of users exceeds 2-3% of the population, they are not free to moderate content, this is a criminal offense and all leftists who support this should also be severely punished, like such psychos on the "right". Freedom of information - an adequate person will decide for himself what is true and what is false. And if 50% of the population (the left) are inadequate idiots, then whose problem is it?
What social network or website is really completely neutral? What about religion?