Citation needed that Google actively blocked installation of the benchmarking app. None of the links support that claim. If Google want to block benchmarking, they would have had their lawyers add that clause to the reviewers' contracts/NDAs as a condition of getting the device early. Since this is a technical issue, I'm guessing the benchmarking software didn't properly configure their Play Store account and mark the P8 or the new Android OS as compatible with the software. That would prevent it from being installed via the Play Store but not via sideloading.
Disclosure, I used to work at Google on Android so I have some familiarity with how Play Store rollouts work.
There was no compatibility problem, Google intentionally blocked the installation to avoid reviewers testing the chip. The benchmarks worked without issues when sideloaded, but not every reviewer bothered to do that.
Sounds like a compatibility problem. I don't understand how exactly the play store works, but if your device string is unexpected (like maybe a new device? or a lineageos phone) some apps can't be installed from the play store but work fine sideloaded.
I think you are as blind to Google’s intentions as much as I am, but it sure seems silly for them to intentionally block it from the Play Store when side loading it is trivial, doesn’t it?
I find it interesting that the Geekbench scores for the latest iPhone isn't mentioned. About the same performance as an iPhone 12. Yet, the Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 lines are price comparably.
> Yet, the Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 lines are price comparably.
But this isn't how pricing works. Even if it did the CPU isn't the most expensive component in the bom, and it isn't the most important component for user experience.
The problem is that you can't easily and objectively factor the user experience. CPU are easy to benchmark — and do honestly factor a lot in the pricing.
Android (the OS) development is payed for by other means, and the hardware line is kind of a vanity project.
People may, or may not prefer the Android experience. That's not relevant here.
With Apple and Google doing custom chips, I don't think that matters as much as people think anymore. Surely, a lot of functionality that used to be done in software is now done on chip. A generic benchmark isn't going to capture that.
Like what? What's the ML performance on this chip? Can it help with game? Or apps I'll use everyday? Does it improve the web experience? The last one depends largely on those CPU benchmark...
I want to be pragmatic here. Coprocessor were all the rage for the Amiga, then were out out of the loop, and were back for with the GPU. A bit like we're back to the mainframe experience with Kubernetes and all (don't throw tomatoes at me ;))
I really detest that many Google products like some of their Chromebooks just list as having something vague like "Intel Core processor" or whatnot. No model, no idea what class chip (ultra low power? Low power? Mainline?).
It feels incredibly consumer hostile, not telling people what they're getting.
Readit News
Disclosure, I used to work at Google on Android so I have some familiarity with how Play Store rollouts work.
Apparently Pixel 6a owners also had this problem, but with none of the Tensor G3 performance speculation in the article: https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/wc4m3w/pixel_6...
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/is-it-against-l...
https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2018/05/the-dewitt-clause-...
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14232976 (2017)
Google abusing of is position as the provider of the android app-store to protect his sales of phone as a manufacturer. That are different activities.
Pixel 8 Pro: Single: 1760 Multi: 4442
iPhone 15 Pro: Single: 2894 Multi: 7192
iPhone 12: Single: 1995 Multi: 4401
But this isn't how pricing works. Even if it did the CPU isn't the most expensive component in the bom, and it isn't the most important component for user experience.
People may, or may not prefer the Android experience. That's not relevant here.
I want to be pragmatic here. Coprocessor were all the rage for the Amiga, then were out out of the loop, and were back for with the GPU. A bit like we're back to the mainframe experience with Kubernetes and all (don't throw tomatoes at me ;))
iPhone 15 Pro: 8Gb ram
iPhone 12: 4Gb ram
And now?
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It feels incredibly consumer hostile, not telling people what they're getting.