GOOGLE SAYS PIXEL COMES WITH 7 YEARS OF UPDATES SO THAT USERS CAN KEEP USING IT FOR YEARS

With the launch of the Pixel 8 series, Google has significantly disrupted the smartphone industry by making an unprecedented commitment: providing 7 years of software updates for its Pixel phones. While Android phones had previously offered updates for 2 to 5 years, Google has now raised the bar, ensuring that Pixel users never feel outdated.

But what exactly does this 7-year promise mean for Pixel users, and how will Google uphold it in an era of rapidly evolving smartphone technology? To shed light on this, Google's VP of Devices & Services Software, Seang Chau, recently delved into the details during a Made by Google Podcast episode.

Chau emphasised that delivering 7 years of updates is not solely the company's responsibility. Instead, Google has collaborated closely with its partners, including the Android team, carriers, and suppliers. This collaborative effort ensures that testing labs are well-equipped for continuous testing-a critical element in maintaining long-term software stability.

Another key factor aiding Google in keeping up with technology and helping users keep their Pixels up to date is the consistent use of the Tensor chip across Pixel generations. Chau explains that the System-on-Chip (SoC) generates the most complexity when it comes to software updates. By sticking with the Tensor platform, Google streamlines the update process for future iterations.

Additionally, Chau highlights the importance of Google's year-round beta programs, which include Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs). These programs, fueled by enthusiastic beta testers, provide valuable feedback and help identify potential issues before updates are rolled out to the public. This continuous testing cycle also further underscores Google's confidence in delivering reliable, quarterly updates.

Interestingly, Google's decision to extend support to 7 years wasn't arbitrary. Chau reveals that the company drew insights from user data, specifically analysing how long people actively use Pixel devices-whether through personal use, resales, or passing them on to family members.

"We saw that actually, there's quite a good active user base until probably about the seven-year mark," explains Chau. This data-driven approach helped the company to ensure that the long term support for Pixel aligns with real-world user behaviour.

While the exact features users will receive in the later years of the 7-year cycle remain to be seen, Google emphasises a focus on software-only enhancements. These features will not require additional hardware resources like increased RAM, storage, or specialised co-processors, making them more readily deployable to older Pixels.

Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 announcement also introduced the powerful Gemini Nano on-device LLM (Large Language Model). Google acknowledges the memory-intensive nature of this technology and its impact on RAM allocation.

Extensive testing has been conducted "to make sure that we weren't going to deliver a much worse experience" for users with less RAM. This also explains why Gemini Nano isn't memory resident by default on the Pixel 8 Pro. Additionally, Google has employed lazy loading techniques to ensure a smooth user experience.

As for next steps, Chau says that Google remains focused on system health validators in preparation for the upcoming Feature Drop. And with its commitment to long-term support and a user-centric approach, Google Pixel is also said to reign the in the smartphone longevity.

2024-03-29T11:32:10Z dg43tfdfdgfd