Thursday, January 26, 2023
Google Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 5: Should you upgrade?
Here is the article.
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are easily the most enticing Pixel phones ever released. On paper, the Pixel 6 looks mighty impressive with a dual-camera setup, the Tensor chip, 5G connectivity, and more at a very attractive price. But is it worth upgrading to the Pixel 6 from the GooglePixel 5? Or should you continue using your Pixel 5 for another year or so? Let’s find out.
The Pixel 5 was never a flagship phone, with Google instead positioning it as a premium mid-ranger. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 is a proper flagship Android with specs to back those claims. What makes the Pixel 6 an attractive proposition is its price—it is available for $599, which is actually $100 less than what the Pixel 5 commanded when it first launched in the US last year.
Before we talk about the major differences between the Pixel 6 and Pixel 5, below is a table showing their spec-by-spec differences.
Google Pixel 6 vs Pixel 5: Hardware and specs
Last year’s Pixel 5 launched with a 7nm Snapdragon 765G SoC and an Adreno 620 GPU, a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon chip that includes 5G connectivity (a first for the Pixel lineup). This year, Google is using its own 5nm Tensor chip, which is what makes the new Pixel phones so special, though they're outdone in connectivity by the current crop of the best 5G phones.
The Google Pixel 6’s Tensor SoC has an oct-acore CPU with a pair of Arm Cortex-X1 (2,800 GHz) and Arm Cortex A-76 (2.25 GHz) cores as well as four Arm Cortex A55 (1.8 GHz) cores. On the Google Pixel 5 you’ll find an older octa-core CPU with two Arm Cortex A76 cores; one clocks in at 2,400 MHz while the other comes in at 2,200 MHz; six Arm Cortex A55 (2,400 MHz) cores round out the SoC.
Tensor is the superior chip here, and it’s powerful enough for most users. While the Google Tensor SoC may score lower on benchmarks than the Samsung Galaxy S22 or iPhone 13, it relies on heterogeneous computing to accomplish various tasks. When compared with the Pixel 5, however, the Pixel 6 is the clear winner. Google claims its flagship offers “up to 80% faster performance” than the Pixel 5. On the GPU front, Google says its 20-core Tensor GPU is up to “370% faster” than the Pixel 5’s Adreno 620 GPU.
Tensor packs various optimizations for AI and ML tasks from Google that help it deliver improved security (in part owing to the included Titan M2 chip), an enhanced computational photography experience, and better efficiency. Needless to say, we’re disappointed Google will only commit to three years of OS upgrades, as the Samsung Galaxy S22 will get Android upgrades for four years and an additional year of security updates.
Another notable improvement on the Pixel 6 is that it comes with faster UFS 3.1 storage, while the Pixel 5 uses a slower UFS 2.1 NAND. The former is also available with up to 256GB storage, while the Pixel 5 was only available in one storage variant: 128GB. However, Google no longer offers unlimited Google Photos backups with the Pixel 6, which was available with the Pixel 5.
Google pixel 5a specs
DESCRIPTION
CONNECTIVITY & FEATURES
| Bluetooth: | 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac, dual-band; Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot |
| USB: | Type-C (reversible) |
| Features: | Charging, Mass storage device |
| Location: | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, Cell ID, Wi-Fi positioning |
| Sensors: | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Barometer |
| Other: | NFC |
| Hearing aid compatible: | M3, T4 |
| Rear: | Dual camera Camera samples |
|---|---|
| Main camera: | 12.2 MP (PDAF) |
| Specifications: | Aperture size: F1.7; Focal length: 27 mm; Sensor size: 1/2.55"; Pixel size: 1.4 μm |
| Second camera: | 16 MP (Ultra-wide) |
| Specifications: | Aperture size: F2.2 |
| Video recording: | 3840x2160 (4K UHD) (60 fps), 1920x1080 (Full HD) (240 fps) |
| Front: | 8 MP |
| Video capture: | 1920x1080 (Full HD) |
| System chip: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SM7250-AB (7 nm) |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Octa-core, 2400 MHz, Kryo 475 Prime, 64-bit |
| GPU: | Adreno 620 |
| RAM: | 6GB |
| Internal storage: | 128GB |
| Device type: | Smartphone |
| OS: | Android (12, 11) Camera |
4K Support Included
4K Support Included
It's worth highlighting that the USB-C Cube can deliver video of up to 4K, at a rate of 30Hz, to the attached display. While most users won't need this, if you're regularly working in 4K video or you're looking for a device to hook up a high-end gaming laptop to a TV, the Plugable device has the specs you need.
Video and other data is streamed from a compatible device to the USB-C Cube via the USB-C cable. This version of USB has far greater device support than earlier editions. It has the bandwidth to send video data to other devices, as well as act as a host for connected hardware. This means that Android phones and tablets can be hooked up to external disk drives and input devices.
Although this was possible before the arrival of USB-C, it's far faster and more reliable now.
Using the Plugable USB-C Cube Docking Station With a Laptop
As noted, the USB-C Cube can be used with a laptop computer, equipped with a USB-C port. As such, you'll need to confirm that your device has the correct port. If you use a 2018 MacBook Pro, 12" Retina MacBook, Microsoft Surface Book 2, HP Spectre x360 13", or Dell XPS, the chances are that your laptop is suitably equipped.
USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor
USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor, 12 in 1 USB-C Triple Display Docking Station to Dual 4K HDMI+DP Port+2 USB3.0+2 USB 2.0+SD/TF+PD+Ethernet+3.5mm Audio for Dell/Surface/HP/Lenovo Laptop
| Brand | Selore&S-Global |
| Colour | 12 IN 1 |
| Hardware interface | DisplayPort |
| Compatible devices | ONLY work with those devices that the USB Type C Port supports video output or DP Alt Mode. |
| Total USB ports | 4 |
| Number of ports | 12About this item
|
How to turn your phone into a mobile workstation
Here is the article.
Five essential accessories for maximising your productivity
Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices, but they’re not always ideal for actually getting work done. Thankfully, a few key accessories can turn them into super mobile productivity powerhouses, allowing you to work effectively whenever you have a spare moment.
In this article, we’ll use the Galaxy Note 8 as an example, but you should be able to find similar accessories for most other phones, whether they’re Android, iOS or even Windows. Let’s get started.
5: a good keyboard for faster writing
While software keyboards used on modern phones are pretty efficient, you’ll probably be able to write much faster and more accurately on a computer keyboard. Whenever I want to write more than a few words — whether that’s authoring an article, updating a report or doing some programming — I turn to a proper keyboard to get things done.
There are plenty of options here, but the two major camps are wired and wireless. The wired option requires that you have a computer keyboard of some kind, plus an adapter that turns your phone’s charging port into a full-size USB port. For the Note 8, that’s a USB-C to USB-A adapter, and you get one right in the box. (You can also find Micro USB OTG adapters and Lightning to USB adapters.) Just plug the computer keyboard into the adapter, and the adapter into your phone, and you’ll find you can type away quite happily. This is a nice choice if you have a keyboard that you love to use (like a nice mechanical keyboard, for example), but you may find that full-size keyboards aren’t convenient to bring with you.
In that case, a more specialised compact Bluetooth keyboard might be a better choice. These keyboards connect to your phone wirelessly, leaving your phone’s USB port free for charging. They’re also likely to be smaller and lighter than the average computer keyboard, making them a more portable option. Some will have other interesting features too, like backlighting, built-in stands for your phone or hotkeys for adjusting the brightness, going home and more.
Similarly, you can connect a wired or wireless mouse to your phone as well — perhaps even at the same time as a keyboard! This is also supported natively in Android, and can make certain apps much easier to use.
4: an HDMI adapter to make use of that big screen
If you have access to a monitor, projector or television, then why not use it to give yourself a bit more screen space to get your work done? This is great for retouching photos, editing documents or using split-screen mode to have multiple apps or documents open at once.
You can use a variety of methods, but I tend to go wired. For this, you’ll need an HDMI adapter, which you can find in various flavours to fit your phone: USB-C, Lightning or Micro USB. Simply plug the HDMI cable into the adapter, and the adapter into your phone. Your phone’s screen should appear on your display automatically, and then you can get started.
If the wired option doesn’t work or isn’t convenient, there are some wireless methods to try as well. You can use Miracast or Chromecast, which is built into some smart TVs, to mirror your phone’s screen wirelessly. (You can also find Miracast dongles which add this functionality to any display — great for hotel room TVs!)
Miracast screen mirroring is generally found in the Settings app for Android phones. For Chromecast, you’ll need to use an option in the hamburger menu on the left of the Google Home app to start screen sharing. On iPhone, you can also use AirPlay, which is accessed via the Control Center — just swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get started.
3: Card readers or external storage for your AV needs
Another little-known capability of many Android phones and iPhones is the ability to directly import photos and videos from a memory card (Micro SD or SD) for immediate editing, sharing or storage.
You’ll need a card reader of the correct type to make this work — like a USB-C Micro SD card reader for most Android phones.
You can also copy media from your PC onto a mobile-friendly flash drive, which usually has a full-size USB plug on one side and either Lightning, USB-C or Micro USB on the other end. Copy photos to edit or movies to watch onto the drive from your computer, then import them to your phone or view them directly from the drive.
This is super handy for anyone that needs to edit photos or videos on the go.
2: a stand to keep your phone within your eyeline
This one is pretty straightforward — if you’re trying to get work done on your phone, particularly if you’re using a mouse and/or keyboard, then a stand can really improve things by keeping your phone in a comfortable position.
You can get a super portable flip-out stand, or find a case that has stand functionality built in. For example, many wallet cases will have folding stands that will serve in a pinch.
1: a multi-port hub for everything at once and DeX for next-level productivity
Connectivity and productivity go hand in hand, but sometimes you’ll find that your phone’s single port isn’t enough to get everyone plugged in at once. That’s where USB-C hubs come in, providing a place to plug in mice or keyboards, SD cards, wired internet and monitors, all in one adapter.
These hubs are designed for use with laptops, but they’ll also work with most modern USB-C phones (like Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8, for example). I’ve found these hubs invaluable for turning my phone into a mobile productivity battle station, even if they look a little silly!
If you have a recent Samsung flagship, you can go one better by picking up a special docking station called DeX. It allows you to connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse, then activates a special mode that lets you run Android apps in windows and visit the desktop versions of websites. This basically turns your phone into a full-size PC — perfect for getting stuff done!
Wrapping up
I hope you found this article helpful! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know below. Thanks for checking out the article and have a great day!
Intel earnings
Intel earnings: Chip giant to report Q4 results as PC sales plummet
Intel (INTC) will announce its Q4 2022 earnings after the bell on Thursday, as the chip industry continues to struggle with slowing consumer and enterprise demand. Here’s what analysts expect from the company in the quarter, as compiled by Bloomberg, compared with how the company performed in the same quarter last year.
Revenue: $14.4 billion expected versus $19.5 billion in Q4 2021
Adjusted EPS: $0.19 expected versus $1.09 in Q4 2021
Client Computing: $7.4 billion expected versus $10.1 billion in Q4 2021
Data Center and AI: $4 billion expected versus 7.3 billion in Q4 2021
Network and Edge: $2.2 billion expected versus $1.1 billion in Q4 2021
Intel is facing a steep drop in consumer PC sales, as shoppers choose to hold on to the laptops and desktops they purchased at the peak of the pandemic. According to Gartner, Q4 worldwide PC shipments declined a stunning 28.5%, the biggest decline since the firm started following shipments in the mid-1990s.
Microsoft (MSFT), which reported its fiscal Q2 earnings on Tuesday, offered a hint at the potential problems in the PC market, as Windows OEM sales, or Windows licenses sold to PC manufacturers, fell 39% year-over-year.
Investors will be keeping a close eye on Intel’s Data center business, as well. That branch is responsible for sales of hardware products to companies and firms building out their own servers, and serves as Intel’s second largest business.
Intel should serve as a kind of bellwether for the chip industry, as it is among the first of the major semiconductor firms to announce its results. Rival AMD (AMD) will report earnings on Jan. 31, while Qualcomm (QCOM) will announce its earnings on Feb. 2. Graphics chip giant Nvidia (NVDA), meanwhile, will report its earnings on Feb. 22.
Intel is in the midst of a rebuild of sorts, as CEO Pat Gelsinger attempts to restore the storied company to prominence among chip designers and manufacturers. To that end, he’s building out massive fabrication facilities around the world including a $20 billion plant in Ohio.
Still, Intel’s stock price has been hammered over the last year. Through the last 12 months, shares of the chip maker are off 42%. That’s far worse than AMD, which is down 32% or Nvidia, which is off 13%.
MySQL | Sakila database
Here is the link.
MySQL workbench - I am reading the book called MySQL workbench
9.3.5 Documenting the sakila Database
This chapter demonstrates the capabilities of MySQL Workbench as a documentation tool by using the
sakila database, which is a database sample provided by MySQL. You can find this database sample,
and others, by visiting the https://dev.mysql.com/doc/index-other.html page.
Linkedin | Brad Porter | Layoff | Economy downturn
Linkedin | Brad Porter | Layoff | Economy downturn
Here is the link.
I call BS on the subtle blame shifting going on in these CEO memos announcing layoffs. I’ve found many of these to be truthful statements, but also a little disengenous.
For instance, yes Amazon Stores had a tough quarter/year last year, but Amazon separates ad sales from Stores revenue, but you’re not going to sell those ads without the store. Combined those businesses are doing well.
Let’s take Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, today announcing a 12,000 person layoff…
“I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here.
Over the past two years we've seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today.”
The first sentence says he takes full responsibility. The second paragraph subtly shifts it to the “different economic reality.” Smart CEOs and CFOs do scenario planning. I suspect they kept hired in 2022 knowing that inflation was high and fed was going to tighten and slow the economy, confident they could still afford those investments.
Why do I think they could afford the hiring they did? If we generously assume the average Googler who was let go had a fully loaded cost of $500K/year (which would be almost double typical benchmarks), this layoff saves them $6B/year or $1.5B/quarter. In Q3 2022 alone, Google made $17.3B in profit.
Did a new economic reality require this painful cut? If you think $17.3B in quarterly profit isn’t good enough, then yes. Clearly the market does as Google stock is up 4%.
But was Google leadership blind-sided by the economy and is their business in duress? We’ll find out more on Feb 2nd when they announce earnings, but I suspect they’re still going to announce a healthy 10-figure profit.
Happy for commenters to tell me my math or analysis is off and I’ll retract, but otherwise, let’s stop blaming the economy for causing very healthy businesses that knew what they were doing when they hired, to now need to cut. Instead, let’s just acknowledge the market is rewarding these cuts, making them seem like the right choice for shareholders.
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