Google Says Some Android Apps Need Tuning on Intel Googlebooks

Google said most Android apps run smoothly on its new Googlebook laptops, but a small number of complex apps and games may need developer tuning to perform well on models with Intel processors. The company did not name the affected apps or describe the problems users might encounter. The statement came as the first Googlebook models went on sale on October 5. Three of the five initial models, made by Acer, Asus and Lenovo, use Intel chips. The Dell and HP models use Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processors. Google said the vast majority of Android apps work smoothly on both processor types. Google attributed the potential issues on Intel models to the fact that many Android apps were designed for Arm processors. Intel-based Googlebooks use a translation layer to run that software, while apps run natively on the Qualcomm models, according to the reports. Google has previously said that translating Arm code on x86 systems can reduce performance and battery life, but it has not quantified the practical effect on Googlebooks. Google said it is working with app developers, Intel and Qualcomm to improve performance and expand compatibility.