1 yr. ago • 81%

Google blocked Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro reviewers from using popular benchmarks to test the Tensor G3 chip, new owners too - NotebookCheck

www.notebookcheck.net Google blocked Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro reviewers from using popular benchmarks to test the Tensor G3 chip, new owners too

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 P...

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/2289548 (!googlepixel@lemdro.id)

According to the comments section, users have been able to sideload them without issues. Play Store has since begun allowing the installs.

Updated: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-Pixel-8-Pixel-8-Pro-benchmark-block-lifted.759613.0.html

Google has lifted the block it placed on the ability for users to freely install benchmarking apps on its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. The block had been in place during the review embargo period but extended past the on sale period where customers purchasing the devices couldn’t install benchmarks on their new Pixels either.

Update 2: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Exclusive-Google-confirms-with-Notebookcheck-it-blocked-benchmarks-during-Pixel-8-Pixel-8-Pro-review-embargo-period.761443.0.html

35 comments

That is insane. Straight up blacklisting popular software because they don't want people to look too closely at what they purchased. It's amazing what the public is willing to accept, just such a constant stream of reports about bad behavior from companies that most people can't find the energy to care.

92
- People straight up defend large corporations from criticism.
  
  32
- It was an android 14 compatibility issue and the app has since been updated and runs fine.
  
  10
  
  The app hasn't been updated but the Play Store block has indeed been lifted. People were sideloading without issue. Perhaps Google intended for the block to only last until launch to prevent reviewers only.
  
  32
  
  Ah, so I fell for reactionary bs assuming that a fairly well written article had good information? Dammit. =P Thanks for the info, that sounds a lot more plausible to me.
  
  8
Seems like someone at Google didn't hear about the Streisand effect. Now there's even more scrutiny into the chip benchmark. Great job, Google.

47
- This whole thing isn't on Google. The app developers didn't update their target API so they were not available. My Pixel 7 is on Android 14 as well and they weren't available either until it just got fixed.
  
  15
Irresponsible reporting. The app couldn't be installed because the min API version of the app didn't meet the requirements for Android 14.

Google didn't "block" anything, this is fear mongering.

39
This article seems to be outdated as both apps are now visible in the Play Store and I had no problems downloading and running them. A comment suggests that it may be due to the previous minimum SDK target for the apps being too low. I'd be willing to chalk this up to being more innocuous than active malice on Google's part.

29
- "Don't Be Evil" always sounded odd. As if that sort of thing needed to be said.
  
  After 20+ years of consistent anti-consumer behaviour, Alphabet gets no benefit of the doubt.
  
  2
  
  When this first came out I checked on my Pixel 7 which is on A14 already and I didn't have the apps available either.
  
  They are now available.
  
  So yeah, it's almost certainly on the app developers who didn't target the new API version available, not Google. New Pixels launch with new versions of Android, but you can validate the same issue on older Pixels who have already upgraded to the new Android version.
  
  10
  
  It's even more odd they got rid of that saying in 2015 and replaced it with "Do the right thing". I'm not sure it was an improvement.
  
  4
Isn't this because the minimum SDK level increase requirement in the play store and android 14? This gets rid of older Lapis that are less efficient or secure from modern apps. The benchmarking tools haven't targeted newer APIs and are thus the ones at fault. Devs need to keep their stuff updated; that's half the point of the beta period every year for the major version releases.

22
- People seem to be reporting that they were able to sideload without issue and the restriction was subsequently lifted from the Play Store.
  
  1
  
  That's not the point. Those restrictions applied to the SDK level, which is why these apps were not available on the play store. This is easily verifiable. It's incomprehensible how such a mind boggling dumb move would be intentional on Google's part.
  
  14
Well, that's settled. Don't need a number anymore.

14
- A phone number you mean?
  
  1
Sounds a bit like a false narrative to be honest. Given how trivial it is to sideload, it doesn't make sense for Google to have thought disallowing installation from the Play Store would stop anyone from benchmarking. It seems implausible to me.

13
People in the business of reviewing Android phones couldn't possibly know about sideloading. I'm shocked anyone at Google thought this would do anything but make them look bad.

11
- It would probably violate agreements and they'd blacklist the reviewers for future releases. It would also make those reviewers look bad if they don't respect review agreements and embargos. Other companies might not trust them with preview units.
  
  I agree Google looks absurd here. But if my living was being made reviewing things, I wouldn't want to risk companies not giving me the early look that reviewers get. Especially when I can just wait till the device comes out and benchmark it then, since there's no longer an embargo or agreement once a device goes public
  
  1
  
  A reviewer who's being ethical would note any such demands from a manufacturer in their review, or refuse to review a product if the demands were too extreme. Banning benchmarks from reviews is pretty questionable, though not unprecedented. I should note that I am a reviewer, though not of phones and I don't make my living from it. I have encountered and rejected the occasional unethical request (usually manufacturers wanting to screen the review's content before publication).
  
  Trying to keep people from benchmarking it via the Play Store is the absurd part. They can use a contract for reviewers, but that's not even going to slow down sophisticated end users.
  
  6
I guess my Pixel 6 Pro better hold on for at least another generation. Those test results don't look good, especially on efficiency.

6
Terrible move, makes me not want to engage in the entire android ecosystem if they are going to pull this shit

4
- Agreed, let's just move to checks notes iOS? Oh, they also constantly pull shady, anticonsumer bullshit. There's no winning for us.
  
  13
  
  Dumb phones are making a comeback.
  
  1
I miss the days when Google's corporate motto was don't be evil.

3
- And if you think about it, it's not a high bar.
  
  1
"Don't be Evil" - Google

1
Only benchmark I look for is how well it runs genshin

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