Google is continuing to work with Samsung for the Pixel 8 series, according to a new report from the Samsung-focused tech blog, Galaxy Club. The report claims that Google is developing this new chip under the name “Cloudripper,” with a debut expected in 2023 with the Pixel 8.
If true, this would not be surprising. Google hasn’t announced plans to kill off the Pixel line yet, and its Pixel 7 is coming in a month or two with a renewed Tensor 2 chipset. It is interesting that Samsung and Google continue to collaborate, but not surprising.
Both companies work closely together on Android on a macro level, and the Pixel 6 is chock full of Samsung parts — with the Pixel 7 Pro even reported to be picking up a Samsung telephoto camera to replace the Sony one. Qualcomm has famously not been happy with Google’s choice of partner, but Google seems happy enough to continue its collaboration with Samsung for the third year running — at least for now.
Google’s Tensor chip has been an impressive one, at least for a first effort. Featured in the Pixel 6a, 6, and 6 Pro, its image signal processor has made it one of the best chips for mobile photography enthusiasts. Furthermore, its A.I. smarts make things like dictating and translating seamless and effortless. However, Google has floundered around making its chip efficient with power use, meaning that the Pixel 6 handsets have all had issues with battery longevity, while the poor choice of modem has left people desperate at times for a bar of two of cell signal.
Google hopefully is aware of these flaws by now, and its updates to the Tensor 2 reportedly improve the modem performance. Bearing in mind that there’s still a year of development left and enough time to switch tracks, it is still possible (although unlikely) that Google switches back to Qualcomm or partners up with someone else for the Pixel 8. Whatever the case, with the Pixel 8 and Tensor 3 in 2023, hopefully, Google pulls closer to rivals from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and perhaps even Apple.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.