Title: Google Faces Controversy Over Blocking Benchmarking Apps on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
In a recent turn of events, Google’s forthcoming flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, have become the center of controversy over the blocking of benchmarking apps via the Play Store before their official launch. This move has raised concerns among technology enthusiasts and reviewers who heavily rely on these apps to compare the performance of different smartphones.
Twitter users and technology website NotebookCheck were among the first to notice that well-known benchmark apps like Geekbench were marked as “not compatible” with the Pixel 8 Pro on the Play Store. This raised questions regarding Google’s motivation behind this decision. In response to the concerns raised, Google officially confirmed that benchmarking apps were intentionally blocked on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro to prevent any potential leaks. However, the company assured users that the blocking would be lifted before the phones hit the market.
Blocking benchmarking apps on Pixel devices is not a new practice for Google, as it has been done in the past with previous generations of Pixel smartphones. However, it is worth mentioning that although users were unable to download benchmark apps directly from the Play Store, they could still manually install them by sideloading the applications.
Interestingly, the popular benchmark app Geekbench somehow escaped the blocking mechanism during benchmark testing on the Pixel 6 Pro. The inconsistencies in Google’s approach have left users puzzled about the rationale behind Google’s decision-making process.
It is important to note that including benchmark results in smartphone reviews has become less common in recent times. This could explain why the issue of benchmarking app blocking on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro did not garner widespread attention or create significant backlash.
While Google’s blocking of benchmarking apps may initially seem like an intentional effort to avoid comparisons, it appears to be more of a timing mistake. The company’s confirmation of unblocking the apps before general availability indicates that the move was not meant to prevent users from making comparisons between the Pixel devices and their competitors.
For those seeking further information on the Google Pixel series, additional details can be found on the official website or through various technology websites and forums. As the release date of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro draws closer, it remains to be seen if Google’s decision will have any impact on the devices’ overall appeal and user satisfaction.
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