Google Builds Own Processor for Its Phones and Laptops
In recent years, Google has entered the world of smartphones and laptops, producing its own flagship models. Just recently, the technology company has reportedly been working on its own processor that runs its phones by early 2021.
According to reports, the firm is looking to develop the tech that will power Pixel and its Chromebooks in the near future.
The move didn’t come as a surprise as it will allow Google to be independent from third-party makers. And some of its toughest competition in the industry, such as Apple, produces its own processors for a long time now.
Therefore, Google is looking to do a similar thing for the hardware of its creations.
Technology news reports say that the chip produced by the company is called “Whitechapel”. Its eight-core ARM processor is reportedly built using the 5-nanometer process of Samsung.
Whitechapel is optimized to power Google’s machine learning technology and a portion of it is designed to improve Google Assistant.
In fact, the Mountain View, California, native tech company has already been producing different chips for various purposes in the past.
For example, Pixel phones have their Titan M, a company made security chip. And the Pixel 4 has its coprocessor, the Pixel Neural Core.
Pixel phone processors are currently made by Qualcomm; so, switching to a custom processor fit to optimally run Google software and services could be groundbreaking for the company.
However, the move will be a major blow to Qualcomm as it supplies the majority of android phone chips. The only companies that Qualcomm doesn’t supply are Huawei and Samsung.
Google Adjusts Nest Camera’s Quality
In other news, Google is looking to lower the quality of its Nest security cameras, easing the pressure from networks. The company is looking to make the adjustment at a time when more people use the internet to rely on entertainment because of the pandemic.
In a statement, the company said that its move is a response to the global call to prioritize internet bandwidth. Despite major advances in modern technology, broadband companies are still feeling the strain caused by the surge in consumption.
According to Google, it believes that it can help make things easier for those working or studying from their homes.
For US users, the Nest came with quality and bandwidth settings that are higher than the default. Google will be adjusting the settings back to default in the coming days.
Aside from bandwidth settings and camera quality, the company won’t be making changes to Nest cameras. And there are options to revert it back to the users’ preferred quality and bandwidth setting.
