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Device makers hiding the SoC they are using is a terrible recent trend (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 2 months ago by hamsterkill@lemmy.sdf.org to c/android

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Rant incoming:

This was spurred by having just read https://www.androidpolice.com/google-tv-streamer-questions-answered/ , particularly this bit:

When I asked directly, a Google representative told me they couldn't confirm which chipset powers the Google TV Streamer — essentially, Google declined to answer.

I've been noticing an increasing trend by device makers to not disclose the SoC their devices run on. I've been seeing it with e-readers, network routers, media streamers, etc.

It's incredibly frustrating to have devices actively exclude important information from their spec sheet and even dodge direct questions from tech news reporters. Reporters shouldn't have to theorize about what chip is in a released device. It's nuts.

If you're wondering why this infomation is important, it can be for several reasons. SoC vendor can have significant impact on the real world performance and security of a device. It also carries major implications for how open a device is as SoC vendors can have dramatically different open source support and firmware practices.

I've had to resort to inspecting the circuit board photos of FCC filings way too much lately to identify the processors being used in devices. And that's not a great workaroud in the first place as those photos are generally kept confidential by the FCC until months after the device releases (case in point the Google Streamer).

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[–] infeeeee@lemm.ee 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I guess they don't disclose it because they change it frequently. If whatever new arm chip became discounted, they just switch to that.

I noticed this a long time ago, Asus did this with their entry level routers frequently, but they at least disclosed it. You had to be careful, the same router with the same name could be totally different inside, only the revision number changed.

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago

Then they can put a damn revision number on a sticker or as part of the serial number.