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Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
Wanting previous the ever-growing checklist of initiatives, merchandise, and companies being added to the Google Graveyard, it appears as if Google has lastly hit its stride. Not less than relating to the smartphone, the Pixel 8 and eight Professional nearly really feel as if they’re fully completely different in comparison with their predecessors.
For years, we have seen, skilled, and heard the entire varied issues which have plagued completely different Pixel units. Making issues worse, the problems that some individuals had are wildly completely different than others, regardless of everybody utilizing the identical cellphone. Arguably the most important instance of this, or not less than the one which brought about essentially the most headlines, was the Pixel 6 and 6 Professional.
There wasn’t something basically flawed with the design, because it ushered in a brand new era of Pixel telephones. As an alternative, the entire issues had been discovered with the “meat” of the Pixel’s glass and aluminum chassis. As my colleague Namerah factors out in a current Pixel 6 retrospective, of types, you may nonetheless discover points with the fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a lot extra.
The Pixel 7 solved a few of these issues however arrived with a number of extra of its personal, and it is frankly too quickly to inform with the Pixel 8 collection. There’s one widespread dominator, and that is the Google Tensor chip. Even nonetheless, one thing hasn’t precisely felt proper contemplating what number of issues proceed to plague homeowners of a tool that is not even three years outdated.
So when Google got here out and promised seven years of software program assist for the Pixel 8, I had combined feelings. On one hand, that is one thing that Google ought to have performed from the start, as an alternative of letting Samsung steer the ship for years. And, I could not be happier to see Google make this type of dedication, even when that implies that the $1,800 Pixel Fold will not be formally supported for so long as the $699 Pixel 8.
On the opposite, Namerah’s current piece in regards to the Pixel 6 serves as an unlimited warning signal of what may come. Whereas there have not been fairly as many stories surrounding points with the Pixel 8, that does not imply they are not simply mendacity in wait. The Tensor G3 is manufactured on a more moderen 4nm course of in comparison with the earlier two iterations. This guarantees higher efficiency, together with improved effectivity, however remains to be basically a customized model of a Samsung Exynos chip.
The entire issues suffered by the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 had been additionally the identical points discovered when a number of the greatest Samsung telephones had been powered by Exynos chips. Normally, these issues “solely” appeared in numerous areas of the globe, as Samsung would depend on Qualcomm chips for North American fashions. Nonetheless, understanding a little bit of the background may provide you with a greater thought of the place to level the blame.
I am not right here to say that the Pixel 8 and eight Professional will endure the identical destiny. Nor am I saying that it is best to simply snicker and roll your eyes when Google says it is going to assist its newest telephones for seven years. What I am saying is that it is best to mood your expectations, and perhaps provide you with a backup plan if one thing does occur with the newest crop of Pixel telephones.
I am nonetheless hoping that Google can, someday, tackle the newest Snapdragon chips, and extra importantly, tackle the iPhone. With out compromise. We’re most likely nonetheless not less than one other 12 months away from that occuring, as Google is rumored to be making the transfer to TSMC with the Pixel 10. That call may find yourself opening a totally separate can of worms, however I am not going to place the cart earlier than the horse.
The query we now have to ask ourselves is whether or not we will really belief Google to make good on its promise. You may already purchase genuine alternative elements from iFixit, in case you’re feeling daring sufficient to restore your cellphone. However, that will not provide help to if the internals of the cellphone cannot even final two or three years, not to mention seven.
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