Introduction
Google and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc have confirmed their partnership to encourage the new Android release to run more smartphones built on Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets.
In the continuing collaboration, the recent updates are intended to enable Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to update their Snapdragon-based smartphones to the current Android OS. We can achieve it without any need to change the firmware unique to Qualcomm’s processor.
What are project Treble and its advantages?
source: arstechnica.net
Back in 2017, Google launched Project Treble to combat OS instability and standardize the Android upgrade process. The business boasted sooner this year of the improvements in the pace of adoption of Android 10, reporting that that iteration of the OS saw the fastest rate of adoption ever.
Project Treble enabled the OS upgrades process to accelerate by developing a system split that allowed OEMs and SoCs to build devices and silicon independently. In the context of certain vendor functionality, these components interact. Google releases Standardized System Images (GSIs) as new versions of the OS are launched and compliant with the previous three vendor frameworks and configurations.
How would update benefit the users?
The companies describe in a statement that this would be done by leveraging a standard branch of Android applications to update smartphones based on a wide variety of smartphone platforms from Snapdragon throughout the collection of Qualcomm Technologies.
The updates would minimize the time and money needed to update the phones to Android’s new version. Qualcomm will allow this by guaranteeing that four Android OS releases and four years of security fixes will be provided by all the Snapdragon platforms using the Venture Treble upgrades.
Newer update in lower costs
source: firstpost.com
Many OS platforms and vendor configurations have been supported by chipmakers such as Qualcomm. For instance, for both the old interface and modern hardware capabilities, such as multiple cameras facilitate, the SoC vendor had to monitor the development. Therefore for three versions of the OS, chipsets had to properly support at least six applications, preventing OEMs and manufacturers from promoting older devices for longer because of higher production costs.
Without needing to adopt recent additions introduced to the implementations retroactively, new chips on phones will reuse the specification for future updates, helping to lower costs for manufacturers and OEMs. Besides, to help minimize costs, Google also intends to leverage the same OS architecture throughout chipsets.
Google’s Statement on this update
To enhance the quality of the Android community, Google aims to collaborate closely with our technology providers. We anticipate that Android users would have the newest OS updates and better protection on their smartphones through this partnership with Qualcomm Technologies,” said David Burke, Google’s vice president of Android engineering.
Qualcomm technologies Statement about the update.
source: fossbytes.com
“Through this partnership, we foresee an enhanced Android OS update on Snapdragon-based phones while offering a remarkable customer experience for its users,” said Kedar Kondap, vice president, product development, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Qualcomm says the alliance will take shape with the upcoming Snapdragon 888 Smartphone Platform. Qualcomm offers smoother Android OS updates with less energy and a short app lifespan for Snapdragon-based smartphones across the updates. Inevitably, this would lead to more users installing the latest Android OS update on Snapdragon-based smartphones.
Conclusion
Although the modifications functionally allow up to four years for smoother OS upgrades, it also requires OEMs’ commitment to supporting their products. However, brands such as Samsung have confirmed for their devices at least three OS upgrades.
It would be essential to see how Android OEMs expand coverage for their phones by incorporating the Project Treble modifications’ benefits. Along with many other modules such as Project Mainline.
