Understanding PR and interpreting it in making predicitions

[Shifty Geezer]

After the most recent three hardwares, I think it valuable to create a reference thread that people can turn to in future discussion that shows how implied meanings that seem really certain often (always??) aren't.

The format is to present a PR soundbite that seemed to be a cryptic message or outright claim and show it didn't pan out. That can be an event or PR piece or Tweet that everyone latches onto.

There is no platform or company bias here. All companies can present misleading information, intentionally or accidentally. This thread is just a catch-all to record previous experience to help with future discussion and interpretation. That is, every time there's a clear implied message, this thread can be brought up to say, "remember when..." and remind people that, unless explicit, there's really no take home message from the implied.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Ryzen in Xbox Scorpio. January 2017



Event : XBox Scorpio was associated with Ryzen and Vega. There seemed only one reason to do this, that Scorpio was featuring one or both of these techs.

What actually happened : Scorpio used a customised Jaguar and Polaris GPU. Earlier claims across the internet of Scoprio using Zen, presented as fact, ended up bunk.

Correct interpretation : AMD were showing off one of their important projects at the same time as their CPU and GPU. People made the connection when none was implied.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Custom Tegra processor in Nintendo Switch. October 2016


Event : nVidia released a PR piece about an upcoming hardware using their designs. The Internet picked up on the word 'custom' and understood that, whether Tegra TX1 or TX2, there'd be notable customisations to the GPU so that the Nintendo Switch would be more than just an nVidia Shield TX1 level device.

What actually happened : Nintendo Switch releases with a vanilla TX1 only with some features apparently disconnected given a reduction in IO balls on the die.

Correct interpretation : The statement never said the chip was customised, but that the Switch was using "the" custom processor. Custom for who is not qualified, and it's fair interpretation that nVidia are saying it's a process they custom built for mobile devices. Alternatively, the customisations just exist of tweaking the design and removing a few unwanted aspects. People assumed custom meant improved where that wasn't the case.

 

[Rodéric]

Nah it's custom if it mismatches the default chip, which is the case.
custom != adding stuff to it