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Weekly Rewind: Galaxy Note 8 vs. iPhone 8, paper lightsabers, Nissan Leaf review

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A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top tech stories, from a battle between the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 to a smart home makeover — it’s all here.

Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

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Facebook Messenger has grown a lot since it was originally introduced as Facebook Chat way back in 2008. Since it launched, it has grown from a very simple web-based messaging system to one that supports video and group chats on both Android and iOS. With the introduction of several new features in 2017, Facebook Messenger saw its biggest year yet, with more than 1.3 billion users globally.

Read: Facebook Messenger is now used by 1.3 billion people worldwide

The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

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Many of us will only ever use a smartphone, not a DSLR, to take pictures on vacation. That means smartphone cameras need to offer high-quality images, be easy to use, fast to react, and ideally, feature-packed. In the second half of 2017, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 8, and Apple brought us the iPhone 8 Plus. Two phones from two giant rival companies, both with highly capable dual-lens cameras.

We carried them both on our recent trip to Japan, and took hundreds of pictures with each phone, ready to put them both under the microscope to see which one captured the best pictures. Through rain and shine, neither phone missed a beat, and they both performed superbly. But one did manage to stand out against the other.

Read: The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus battle it out for photo supremacy in Japan

A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Chris Hope

Researchers at the University of Melbourne and IBM Research Australia have taken a big step in developing the ability to predict seizures triggered by epilepsy. Using deep learning, a brain-inspired machine learning technique, the system automatically analyzes the electrical activity of a patient’s brain, improving seizure prediction by 69 percent, and giving patients time to recognize the onset of an episode.

Artificial intelligence algorithms are increasingly being used in healthcare, from crunching chemical combinations to discovering new drugs, to offering advice on dieting. But in most of these cases, the algorithms are best used in combination with medical professionals, giving human decision-makers insight to make better decisions.

Read: A.I. algorithms study brain waves to predict seizures

Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

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Who didn’t, as a kid, wave around a folded sheet of paper and pretend they were brandishing their very own lightsaber? Well, to quote a famous Apple slogan, “there’s an app for that” — or, at least, there will be very soon. Created by developer Hart Woolery, the InstaSaber is an augmented reality app, set to arrive in the iOS app store soon, which lets you fire up your very own George Lucas-style laser sword from the comfort of your smartphone.

“It’s an iPhone app that turns a rolled up piece of paper into a virtual lightsaber,” Woolery told Digital Trends. “I think the best thing about it is that it brings a special effect that has typically been reserved for advanced video editors to a mass audience.”

Read: Want a lightsaber? Just roll up a piece of paper and InstaSaber will do the rest

2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

2018 Nissan Leaf review
Stephen Edelstein/Digital Trends

The second-generation 2018 Nissan Leaf picks up where its predecessor left off, but the Leaf faces stiffer competition. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 have proven that long-range electric cars can be affordable, and other automakers have their own mass-market electric cars waiting in the wings. So can the pioneering Leaf stay relevant?

Read: 2018 Nissan Leaf first drive review

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The best 10 movie that should be made into TV shows

movies that should be made into tv shows
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We’ve put our producer’s hat on and picked 10 movies that we’d love to see studios make into TV shows.

Since it’s possible to reimagine almost any movie as a TV series, we whittled down the options by picking films that have gripping or unresolved story points, an intriguing cinematic world, and compelling characters that touch upon topics we don’t see enough of on TV. The fact that almost any movie you can think of has at least been considered as a TV show also helped us dig deep to find unexplored projects. Enjoy!

Read: The 10 best movies that should be made into TV shows

We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

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20 years ago, new home builders saw an opportunity to add value to a property by installing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, routing miles of speaker wires, and installing volume dials in every room. Before the days of Sonos and LCD TVs, it was a novelty to be able to listen to music everywhere, and getting a big screen meant a dedicated room with a projector. Today, if you’re buying a home under 30 years old, there’s a good chance the house will come with just such a system or room. It may seem pretty cool at first, but it won’t take long before you realize it’s disappointingly outdated — certainly nothing like the connected smart homes you read about online.

Such was the case with our gorgeous new test bed for smart home technology and smart appliances out in the country. The new home had speakers in every room, an aging home theater, and two closets loaded with what was high-end gear in its day. Unfortunately, all of the infrastructure was horribly outdated, and the gear in the closets was either showing its age, or entirely defective.

Read: We took a dumb home and made it smart. Here’s where we started

 ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

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The water surrounding me provided little resistance to the powerful handheld propeller in my hands. Effortlessly gliding over the seabed, I reached the edge of a precipice and stopped. I gazed down into the blackness. It was filled with mystery, and I felt dizzy staring down. Looking up, schools of tuna and black sea bass swam, creating dark shadows against the bright sunlight beyond the rippling surface. A voice urged me to continue my mission of cataloging sea life, and exploring the effect our environmental carelessness was having on them.

This wasn’t real life, although I was in the coastal city of Brighton in the United Kingdom. I was wearing an HTC Vive headset and playing Operation Apex, a virtual reality game from startup Curiscope. It’s as close to living out The Blue Planet as I’m going to get.

Read: ‘Operation Apex’ lets you explore the deep, no scuba gear required

T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

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T-Mobile has set out to shake up another industry. The Un-carrier is planning to take on satellite and cable providers by launching a “disruptive new TV service in 2018,” according to a press release.

To bring its TV ambitions to its millions of customers, T-Mobile acquired cable provider Layer3 TV. The company brands itself “the new cable,” and has its own IP network, which allows it to send high-definition video to homes at levels of bandwidth similar to Netflix. Layer3 TV is currently only available in five U.S. cities and provides more than 275 channels, including ESPN, NBC, AMC, and other popular channels at higher video quality than similar services. The TV provider also mixes video content from streaming services and social media with broadcast and cable channels.

Read: T-Mobile wants you to ditch cable, satellite for its ‘disruptive’ new TV service

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra S Pen

Like last year, Samsung has launched two new Galaxy Note phones. And this year, the Note 20 is joined by the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Samsung's new and gorgeous phablet is aimed at anyone who wants a high-powered phone with all the mod cons, including the S Pen, the powerful Snapdragon 865 Plus, and an extremely capable triple-lens camera module.

It's not the only big, powerful phone with a grandiose name, though. The big iPhone of the moment is the iPhone 11 Pro Max, and Apple's massive beast is a triumph of engineering, with a stunning design, sumptuous display, and more power than you can shake a stick at. Both of these devices have starting prices well above $1,000, so it's unlikely you can own both. Which one should you spend your money on, and why? We found out.
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Samsung Galaxy S21 vs. iPhone 12: Can Samsung take a bite of Apple?
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Samsung has released the Samsung Galaxy S21, the successor to last year's Galaxy S20. It improves on its predecessor in several key areas, introducing improved software, a refreshed design, 5G as standard, and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. It certainly looks like the kind of smartphone you'd expect to encounter in 2021, but it still has competition as the latest and greatest flagship to buy.

Chief among its competitors is the iPhone 12, Apple's latest showcase for its smartphone tech and wizardry. Like the S21, the iPhone 12 improves on the Apple phones that came before it, providing 5G as standard, a new high-powered processor, and an enhanced camera system. However, we need to find out which one is best for you. To do this, we compare the two phones across several categories, which together should help you decide which is worthier of your money.
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung has altered its strategy with the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus, advancing both phones technologically while also cutting a few corners -- such as using flat rather than curved displays -- to price both models more competitively. The same, however, can't be said for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Not only does this monster of a smartphone find Samsung refusing to compromise on any design feature, but it also boasts several improvements and upgrades that make it one of the phones for 2021.

It may be one of the best smartphones we've ever laid our hands on, but that's not to say it doesn't have any competition. Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max is another big beast of a smartphone, benefitting from the best performance you can find on any Apple smartphone, as well as several key enhancements to its screen and camera.

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