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Samsung Might Tap Perplexity And Other AI Assistants For Galaxy S26

Samsung Might Tap Perplexity And Other AI Assistants For Galaxy S26

Yahooa day ago
Due to its close relationship with Google, Samsung has been pushing Gemini as its go-to AI assistant on the company's various mobile devices. However, a recent interview between Bloomberg and Samsung Electronics executive Choi Won-joon suggests that the Galaxy S26 might launch with support for not just Gemini, but a slew of other possible AI assistants, including Perplexity.
While it doesn't sound like any official decisions have been made yet, Choi said that Samsung was "talking to multiple vendors" in regard to the AI chatbots that it will employ on its next flagship phone. This has led many to believe that future Samsung devices like the S26 could come with ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and perhaps even other AI agents pre-installed.
This would make using them as your go-to digital assistant much easier overall, and that's a win for Samsung and its customers, if you ask me. Exactly what level of access those chatbots would have to the device and your data is unclear at the moment, but it's also unclear if this will happen at all.
Google And Samsung Have A Strong Relationship
Many of the questions surrounding these potential partnerships come from the relationship that Google and Samsung have had. Samsung has acted as the de facto face of Gemini in recent years, with the company selling some of the first devices to offer new Google AI features, like Circle to Search. While Google still holds onto some features for the Pixel lineup -- that new Pixel 10 lineup is looking pretty sweet so far -- Samsung has by far the most Gemini features beyond Google's own branded devices.
As such, it will be interesting to see how well that relationship holds up if Samsung is actually looking at bringing other AI assistants into the mix, as we know Google paid Samsung a great deal of money to put Gemini on the S25. Gemini isn't everyone's AI assistant of choice, so it would be an improvement to be able to key into Perplexity, ChatGPT, or any other chat option more easily. Exactly how easy that will be, though, remains to be seen, as we still have to wait and see if these talks result in any changes in the long run.
Read the original article on BGR.
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We put Samsung's Q990F soundbar to the test, and it wowed our audio expert with powerful Dolby Atmos immersion
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All the drivers worked in conjunction to create a dome of audio, drawing me into the movies. The Q990F's subwoofer has been tweaked compared to previous models, as this new version has a more compact, sealed design that's built to reduce rattle. Though I couldn't directly compare it to the older ported subwoofer, I certainly like this new one's smaller size. Plus, it still packs a full-throttle punch. I didn't find the need to tweak any EQ settings when watching movies, but if you do, you can likely squeeze out even more oomph to shake your decor or annoy your neighbors. The Q990F also supports Samsung's SpaceFit Sound Pro feature, which adapts the audio to your room's physical dimensions. There's no lengthy configuration process needed, and instead, you simply toggle it on and off in the SmartThings app. I noticed a slight difference in the audio performance, but not enough to be strict about turning it on. My living room is a rectangle without any odd reflections, so there's not much for it to adapt to. But to my ears, this feature did offer slightly tighter sound with less reverberation. There are a few other audio tricks that you can perform using the SmartThings app. For instance, in the advanced sound settings, you can activate "Moderate Bass," which turns the subwoofer off and lets the main soundbar handle all low-frequency duties. Apartment dwellers might find this useful. There's also a "Private Rear Sound" function in the Surround Speaker Setup section. This option diverts all audio to the rear speakers, so sound playback is (theoretically) closer to the person or people sitting between the two rears. The sound quality wasn't anything special in this mode, but it does make for a neat way to watch TV after the kids have gone to bed. Like previous Q990 soundbars, this model supports Samsung's Q-Symphony feature, which uses a compatible Samsung TV's speakers in concert with the Q990F. I've always been a bit torn about Q-Symphony as a concept. After all, people are buying a soundbar to get better speakers than the small ones in their TVs, so why would I want to still use those? In practice, though, the feature doesn't distract from what the soundbar provides. However, I'm not sure that my Frame TV added anything worthwhile, audio-wise, to the experience. The Q990F is also great for music, and it doubles as a smart speaker As much as the Q990F is a powerhouse for watching movies and TV shows, it's also a good general-purpose soundbar for listening to music and other living room tasks. For example, it ticks nearly all the boxes for wireless playback, including Bluetooth, WiFi, Chromecast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect. I had no problems linking it to my iPhone through all of those protocols. I also used the Apple Music app on my Apple TV streaming player to play Dolby Atmos spatial music, and it sounded terrific. Whether you find spatial music gimmicky or not, I like that the Q990F has so many connection methods. It's easy to AirPlay a playlist to the speaker while you make dinner, for example. The Q990F also has built-in support for Amazon Alexa, so you can use voice controls and access digital assistant functions. Should you buy the Samsung Q990F soundbar? The Samsung HW-Q990F is a fantastic high-end soundbar. It's a complete surround sound system in a box that delivers a thunderous clash of sound to any living room. For people who want a full home theater experience without having to piece together multiple speakers and a receiver, this is an obvious choice. It comes with all the components you need and doesn't overcomplicate things. However, the Q990F's convenience doesn't come cheap. The soundbar has a full retail price of $2,000 but is often on sale for around $1,700. That's not unreasonable for what you get, but it's still a big chunk of change. And though this system is more compact than a full-sized speaker setup, it's still a decent size commitment with a separate subwoofer and two satellite speakers. As such, it's not ideal for smaller apartments. It's also important to remember that the 2024 Q990D and 2023 Q990C are still available for less money, though it's not clear how long inventory will last. Given recent discounts, the Q990C in particular is a fantastic deal, and it's still Insider Reviews' pick for the best soundbar value overall. That said, the Q990F does have some upgrades over the Q990C, including a more compact, refined subwoofer and HDMI 2.1 support. If you're looking for a premium Dolby Atmos soundbar solution with those features in mind, the Q990F is an excellent option. best Dolby Atmos soundbars and best surround sound systems.

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