Trends with Benefits: Samsung’s Bixby is next level AI, Apple looks to merge iPhone and Macbook

By Greg Nibler Published March 24, 2017

Samsung’s Bixby: DT’s own Jeremy Kaplan went to Samsung’s headquarters at Digital City, South Korea to see first hand the new AI assistant that will debut in the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. He’ll let us know his opinion and whether it could beat out Siri, Cortana and Google!

Apple patent revelation: A publication from the US Patent and Trademark Office indicates that Apple may be planning a to bridge the gap between phones and desktop computers. Has mobile technology finally become powerful enough to act as your everything device?

Each week, we gather a round table of tech experts from the Digital Trends staff, along with the occasional celebrity guest, to discuss all things tech. Topics range from the big tech stories of the week to predicting the future, all while maintaining a somewhat civil decorum.

At 2:45 pm Pacific we answer your questions live.

Please subscribe and share Trends with Benefits and send in your questions to podcast@digitaltrends.com. We also broadcast the show live on YouTube every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Pacific.

Former Host

Greg has worked as a Host, Producer, and Writer in radio and television since the early 2000s, working for such companies as…

Topics

Mobile

I tested the Galaxy S25 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro cameras, this one wins

Samsung Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 Pro

Smartphones have been getting bigger for years, but as they’ve done so, a new realm of smaller phones has launched to cater to those who want something more pocket-friendly. By small, I don’t mean Mini — although I’d love Mini phones to make a comeback — but rather, more friendly when using them with one hand.

Both Samsung and Apple have helped pioneer this trend, by ensuring there’s a smartphone that’s the perfect size for any needs. Yet, they’ve taken different approaches to doing so, as part of differing strategies on what the ideal smartphone lineup should look like.

Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs. iPhone 16

Samsung Galaxy S25 vs Apple iPhone 16.

There is little doubt that Apple and Samsung are the biggest rivals in the flagship smartphone market. Each February and September, both companies unveil new smartphones to outdo each other. This year, Samsung's Galaxy S25 is set to launch following the release of September's iPhone 16.

While the Galaxy S25 features few design changes compared to last year's Galaxy S24, Samsung has incorporated many new technologies and software improvements, making it an AI-focused smartphone ready for the spotlight. With the second generation of Galaxy AI and the Gemini system at its core, the Galaxy S25 aims to usher in a new era of AI-driven smartphones.

Mobile

Samsung aped iPhone filters, but served it better on the Galaxy S25

Using filters on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

With the arrival of the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung introduced a bevy of camera-centric changes. Take for example the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which upgrades to a 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor, a new Spatio Temporal filter for blur reduction, 8K capture across all lenses, default 10-bit HDR recording, and more. But the company silently gave a massive boost to filters.

So far, users have only been able to pick a filter and capture media with the effect applied on top. There was no scope for fine-tuning the filter characteristics in real time. That limitation has finally gone to the grave with the Galaxy S25 series.