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Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

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Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#61

Post by fasicle »

actuator wrote: post #30
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #19

Unrelated to this article specifically, but the biggest thing I'm looking forward to with the Pixel 6 is the improved updates timeline, as Google has said they will provide updates for at least 5 years, which puts them more in-line with Apple. Previous Pixels worked great but then inexplicably lost OS updates after only a few years.

Amortized cost on the update cycle of Pixel was pretty similar to iPhone(at least in some parts of the world). But I am glad that they are doing longer updates. I just wish batteries become replaceable again, my phone is 3.5 years old and the only thing that is noticeably worse is battery life. If we are gunning for longer update cycles, batteries should ideally be replaceable. I sincerely hope some big country takes…

Agreed - I'm still on a Pixel 2 and the phone is running great except the battery life. I have to charge it twice a day now.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#62

Post by Lammy »

peq wrote: post #10

> Pixel 6 will have the most layers of hardware security in any phone**. > **Based on a count of independent hardware security subsystems and components. That does not seem like a meaningful measure for security.

It makes sense if you think of it as security from you instead of security for you

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#63

Post by actuator »

iav wrote: post #56
actuator wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amortized cost on the update cycle of Pixel was pretty similar to iPhone(at least in some parts of the world). But I am glad that they are doing longer updates. I just wish batteries become replaceable again, my phone is 3.5 years old and the only thing that is noticeably worse is battery life. If we are gunning for longer update cycles, batteries should ideally be replaceable. I sincerely hope some big country takes…

If you factor in the resale value of a 2 year old iPhone and a 2 year old Pixel, I doubt this is true. And one of the biggest reasons for the high depreciation is the loss of software updates...

Yeah, that's definitely true.

I think more than software updates, iPhone has an aspirational value in many parts of the world so there is good demand from people who can't buy a new one. Pixel in itself doesn't hold that value and there are manufacturers who will have an Android phone with Pixel's specs in half the price of Pixel within a year of its launch.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#64

Post by martythemaniak »

screye wrote: post #47

I am hoping to splurge on a phone in 2021, and it's between the Pixel 6 pro and the Fold 3 for me. As phones they couldn't be more different. The Fold3 aims to completely change the way we experience phones, while compromising on standard phones essentials (camera). On the other hand, the Pixel6pro looks to be a final evolution of the classical smartphone, maximizing for battery, camera, software-smoothness and hitti…

The rumourmill has it that there is a "Pixel Fold" coming this year, featuring Samsung screens. While I'd love a pixel foldable, Samsung has had a few generations to fine-tune their foldable screens, so I don't know how good a first-gen of those can be.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-fold

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#65

Post by sto_hristo »

How about a phone that is not a phone anymore, but computer in a phone form factor. Because that hardware is that capable for some time. It's so infuriating watching all this effort going into "experience" features that all boil down to shooting selfies and liking posts on facebook.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#66

Post by mdoms »

crazygringo wrote: post #48
63 wrote: post #22

I imagine I'm in the minority but I'd rather have a phone a fraction of a millimeter thicker that has a flush back. At this point it's getting out of hand.

Why? What's the useful advantage to a flush back? I don't really see any. As long as I can hold the phone, and it can lie on a table or stand without wobbling, it seems to do what it needs to. It's not like you're stacking phones on top of each other the way you do books or magazines. (And heck if you work in repair or provisioning and actually do stack phones, it's easy enough to turn every other one 180°.) Also I d…

It feels and looks better. That's it.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#67

Post by t0bia_s »

actuator wrote: post #30
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #19

Unrelated to this article specifically, but the biggest thing I'm looking forward to with the Pixel 6 is the improved updates timeline, as Google has said they will provide updates for at least 5 years, which puts them more in-line with Apple. Previous Pixels worked great but then inexplicably lost OS updates after only a few years.

Amortized cost on the update cycle of Pixel was pretty similar to iPhone(at least in some parts of the world). But I am glad that they are doing longer updates. I just wish batteries become replaceable again, my phone is 3.5 years old and the only thing that is noticeably worse is battery life. If we are gunning for longer update cycles, batteries should ideally be replaceable. I sincerely hope some big country takes…

I replaced battery in my smartphone from 2018 last week. Works perfect. It is not that difficult. Look on few guides on YouTube and you'll be fine. Be carefull with battery detatch. Usually it is glued by tape, but isopropyl alcohol helps a lot.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#68

Post by t0bia_s »

actuator wrote: post #60
nicoburns wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not as convenient as a user replaceable battery, but most phones have batteries that are replaceable by repair shows cheaply. Weirdly my 3.5 year old phone actually has about the same battery life as it started with. As android 3.5 years ago was terrible at battery management, so software updates have compensated for battery degradation.

But all those replacements seem to be with someone pulling apart the phone's components secured with glue. It looks extremely risky and likely to cause damage to phone or components like display ended up getting scratched. Also, are original spec batteries available easily? I don't want to put something which is not the same as it might cause some battery related accident.

OLED dispalys are very sensitive for pressure. But isolropyl alcohol helps a lot with detatching anythig glued.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#69

Post by nicoburns »

actuator wrote: post #60
nicoburns wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not as convenient as a user replaceable battery, but most phones have batteries that are replaceable by repair shows cheaply. Weirdly my 3.5 year old phone actually has about the same battery life as it started with. As android 3.5 years ago was terrible at battery management, so software updates have compensated for battery degradation.

But all those replacements seem to be with someone pulling apart the phone's components secured with glue. It looks extremely risky and likely to cause damage to phone or components like display ended up getting scratched. Also, are original spec batteries available easily? I don't want to put something which is not the same as it might cause some battery related accident.

I think the repair shops tend to have specialised tools for dealing with this. Things like suction cups to pull the screens off with.

Re: Google Tensor SoC debuts on the new Pixel 6 this fall

#70

Post by nharada »

candiddevmike wrote: post #6

I read the entire blog post and I don't understand the fanfare, it's a custom SoC, presumably to rival Apple's M1. I don't see anything innovative about this, besides heralding "begun, the neural net wars have". What is the benefit of having all of the ML bits on device? Can models leverage them post training?

Latency, inference cost to Google. Privacy, in theory
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