News
Consumer Reports: Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ beat iPhone 7 Plus
We all have our biases, but when you need product rankings, going to an unbiased source like Consumer Reports helps strengthen arguments on which devices deserve the most praise.
In the publication’s latest rankings, Samsung’s pair of Galaxy S8 flagship phones have taken the top two spots for their “stunning camera, long battery life, and gorgeous display in a water-resistant package.”
We see nothing wrong with that. Our own review and hands-on video back up these claims:
The only knocks we have against the pair — and Consumer Reports backs these up — are the awkwardly placed fingerprint scanner on the rear (I’m still not used to it after two months) and Samsung’s immature Bixby virtual assistant.
Otherwise, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ deserve their top spots. Coming in at fourth (we’ll talk about third place later) is the LG G6, which is currently the second most popular — or third if you count the two Galaxies separately — smartphone to have a near-borderless display.
Again, the G6 is a great choice — not just for its beautiful screen, but also because of its solid mix of glass and metal, as well as the surprisingly useful extra-wide camera lens. We have more on those in our own full review:
Fifth place on the Consumer Reports ranking is the aging iPhone 7 Plus. Now, before you think Apple has a disadvantage with the timing of this report and being the oldest of the group, consider that the Galaxy S7 Edge is currently third on the list.
Yes, the Samsung flagship which launched early last year (six months before the iPhone 7 pair) is still a top choice according to Consumer Reports. But this shouldn’t discount the level of quality the iPhone 7 Plus achieves.
If you’ve watched our recent shootout between the Galaxy S8+ and iPhone 7 Plus, you’d see how the latter manages to keep up with the smartphones of tomorrow:
SEE ALSO: Best Premium Smartphones above $600 (June 2017 Edition)
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Accessories
Logitech introduces a dedicated shortcut for ChatGPT
Compatible with most keyboards and mice
Artificial intelligence is already meant to simplify a workflow. However, despite the ease, there are still a few ways to optimize the process. Today, Logitech has launched a new shortcut to launch ChatGPT straight from your mouse or keyboard.
Minus programmable hotkeys or buttons, there are hardly any built-in way to easily access an AI model. For a typical workflow, it still consists of manually opening the model on a separate window and keeping it within cursor’s reach throughout the day.
Logitech is simplifying the process by adding a dedicated shortcut for its devices. With a Logitech keyboard or mouse supported by the Logi Options+ app, users can program a keyboard or mouse button for the new Logi AI Prompt Builder.
Once activated, the AI Prompt Builder automatically accesses easy options for highlighted text. For example, users can easily rephrase or summarize the text. Likewise, they can input their own custom queries. By eliminating a few clicks and some typing throughout the day, the new tool hopes to save you time.
While most Logitech keyboards and mice are compatible with the new tool, it is also more easily accessible with the new Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse. The new mouse has a dedicated button just for AI prompts. If you’re an AI power user, this one is perfect for you.
SEE ALSO: Logitech unveils G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard: Price, details
Despite the ease that the technology promises, artificial intelligence still isn’t the most reliable thing you can depend on. Today’s models can still flub answers. Now, the pitfalls of AI are abundantly clear with a few mishaps on X. Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson was just “accused” of a vandalism spree involving bricks.
Late Tuesday night, X presented an AI-generated news snippet. The article, posted soon after the Warriors’ play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings, reads: “Klay Thompson Accused in Bizarre Brick-Vandalism Spree.”
The snippet hilariously described an incident where Thompson supposedly vandalized houses in Sacramento with bricks. Thankfully, according to the snippet, no one was hurt. It even had a few sources for its claims below the news summary.
First off… I am ok.
My house was vandalized by bricks 🧱
After my hands stopped shaking, I managed to call the Sheriff…They were quick to respond🚨
My window was gone and the police asked if I knew who did it👮♂️
I said yes, it was Klay Thompson
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 17, 2024
The sources, however, are just joke posts stemming from the recently concluded game. In that do-or-die game, Thompson put up a staggering 0 points on ten shot attempts, the most misses without a make by a Warrior since the ’68 season. Naturally, everyone joked that the Warriors guard just threw bricks all over Sacramento.
Now, X is currently experimenting with a new AI feature called Grok. The model collates trending topics and creates snippets of what’s happening for X users. However, it’s not exactly the smartest in determining real news from satiric ones. The feature notes as much, carrying a fine-print caveat warning users to “verify its outputs” because it’s an early feature and can make mistakes.
SEE ALSO: New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply
New users on X might soon face a tough time on the platform. The social media website will likely start charging new accounts a small fee for the right to post on the platform.
Now, the fee isn’t a new one. Almost six months ago, the company tested the paid system in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in those countries had to pay a dollar per year for the ability to post and reply to content.
As spotted by X Daily News on the same platform, the company might be ready to take the experiment to a larger market. New text strings have shown that the policy is rolling out worldwide.
SPECULATION: X might be expanding its policy to charge new users before they reply/like/bookmark a post https://t.co/odqeyeiHBx pic.twitter.com/EU71qlwQ0D
— X Daily News (@xDaily) April 15, 2024
The policy is designed to combat a wave of bots appearing on the platform. By preventing new accounts from creating posts, X hopes to stave off the standard behavior of bots these days. You might have noticed them as OnlyFans creators in unrelated posts, peddling NSFW content on their bio.
Though the global rollout was only just spotted, owner Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed the change. Replying to X Daily News, Musk says that it is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.” He says that the current breed of bots can easily bypass simple checks these days.
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