Exclusive: Google confirms with Notebookcheck it blocked benchmarks during Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro review embargo period
Exclusive: Google confirms with Notebookcheck it blocked benchmarks during Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro review embargo period
Notebookcheck has received written confirmation from Google that it deliberately blocked the installation of benchmarks on its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro devices during the review embargo period. It confirms our earlier report on the issue while raising questions about the company’s practices.
Chalk me up as one of the folks that was adamant this was due to an API mismatch.
Yikes. Low benchmarks in the case of everyday Pixel usage isn't a big deal, but prohibiting the installation without reason will make this a bigger deal than it needs to be. And I can't fault users for feeling that way.
Yeah it's a pretty bad look. Benchmarks aren't a big deal, but folks should be informed before ordering.
Have an upvote for coming back and acknowledging the mistake. We all get to miss the mark sometimes.
That said, your approach is really the better one - wait until we know for sure before condemning. (Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by basic human stupidity).
[rant]
"we reached out the Primate Labs, the markers of Geekbench 6 and"
come on, did really nobody read this before publishing it? it should read:
"we reached out to Primate Labs, the makers of Geekbench 6, and"
shortly after:
"undertaken by Google to stop, if not make it more difficult, for reviewers, to easily install"
...
"undertaken by Google to stop reviewers,
if notor at least make it more difficult,for reviewerstofrom easily installing"I stopped reading at this point; that entire sentence is completely backwards, even with edits. It should be something like 'make it more difficult, if not impossible' not 'impossible, if not more difficult'.
NC, when you're ready to hire a competent proofreader, you have my details. Or should I say: you has, the, detail.
Well hey, at least it's not AI...
"undertaken by Google to stop reviewers,
if notor at least make it more difficult,for reviewerstofrom easily installing"That's still not great. You still end up with "make it more difficult from installing". How about "...undertaken by Google to make it impossible, or at least more difficult, for reviewers to install..."?
Yeah, something like that. I didn't want to rework the entire sentence but it's so awkward.