Wallpapers are one of the most personal ways to customize our phones. Whether it’s a photo of a loved one, a pop culture icon, or just a default one, smartphones become much more colorful and dynamic because of wallpapers. That said, the only time you should fear a wallpaper is when you accidentally show off a very NSFW wallpaper to a very SFW public. However, a new and mysterious wallpaper is striking fear into the hearts of every Android user.

On their official Twitter page, renowned Samsung leaker Ice Universe posted a seemingly innocuous wallpaper with a dire warning: “Never set this picture as wallpaper, especially for Samsung mobile phone users!” The photo depicts a picturesque lakeside sprinkled with tall, coniferous trees; a minuscule island stands at the lake’s center; warm sunlight filters through thick clouds, disturbed only by towering mountains.

Further, when posted to Weibo, the photo changes, losing its purplish-orange hue. In its altered form, the wallpaper becomes harmless. The leaker suspects that the Chinese social network filters out the photo’s “harmful ingredients.”

Original (left) and Weibo format (right) | Image source: Ice Universe / Twitter

(As I was writing this article, I tried putting the photo on Photoshop to analyze its elements. When I downloaded it directly from Twitter and placed it on the software, Photoshop also filtered the hue out. There’s something off about this photo.)

Naturally, after the leaker posted the photo, curious users tried the wallpaper for themselves. As expected, Ice Universe’s warning turned into reality for some. Strangely, the wallpaper’s mysterious power picks and chooses which smartphones to brick. However, based on the flurry of responses, it’s exclusively an Android issue. Besides Samsung models, Google’s Pixels and Xiaomi’s phones are victims. Curiously, only newer models are affected.

According to a Korean forum, the problem lies in the wallpaper’s image profile. Apparently, the raw image was created using GIMP, a Photoshop alternative. Unlike other image manipulation software, GIMP operates in color profiles beyond those that Android is compatible with. As such, Android gets confused when loading the photo as a wallpaper, causing crashes and bricks. Some have also speculated on an error in encoding. Regardless, it seems that the photo’s color profile is at fault.

Still, don’t try it out. If you do try it out, convert it to sRGB first.

UPDATE: According to a follow-up tweet from Ice Universe, Samsung has already received similar complaints in mid-May. The company has resolved the concern and will start rolling out fixes to affected models soon. It’s time to wait whether other brands will release similar patches, if they haven’t already.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 might now be in mass production

Coronavirus-related delays are commonplace in this newfound era. The global health crisis has forced various companies from various industries to postpone their much-anticipated annual events. So far, we’ve seen event cancellations, launch delays, and digital migrations. Today, another anticipated launch has been postponed. However, for perhaps the first time in a while, the delay isn’t canceled due to the ongoing pandemic.

In an official tweet from Android’s Twitter account, Google announced the postponement of Android 11’s unveiling. Previously, the company earmarked June 3 as the upcoming operating system’s debut. The launch would have introduced the system to developers for optimization with their apps before a more public release. That will now have to wait.

“We are postponing the June 3^rd event and beta release,” Google said. “Now is not the time to celebrate.” Instead, the company will release more details “soon.”

Besides the ongoing pandemic, the United States is now buckling under a lot of civil uprising across several states. The protests are calling for justice for the brutal death of George Floyd, an African American man, under the custody of Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. In less than a week, a revolutionary spirit rushed through the entire country, resurrecting the #BlackLivesMatter movement from very recent memory. Since then, several companies and personalities have used their respective platforms and audiences to spread awareness, goodwill, and justice towards the issue.

Besides Android 11, Google has also quietly delayed the launch of the Pixel 4a for coronavirus-related reasons, according to previous reports.

SEE ALSO: Apple and Google release contact tracing software all over the world

Have you been eyeing Samsung’s successor to its all-around midranger for a while now? The Galaxy A51 is currently available exclusively on telecommunication companies like Globe. You can choose from different plans offered, and we’ve compiled the list to help you decide.

ThePlan 2999

ThePlan 2499

ThePlan 1999

ThePlan 1799

ThePlan 1499

ThePlan 1299

ThePlan 999

ThePlan 799

ThePlan 599

Meet the Samsung Galaxy A51

The Samsung Galaxy A51 has a quad-camera setup: 48-megapixel main shooter, 5-megapixel depth sensor, 5-megapixel macro lens, and 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. It has a 6.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED display, following the Infinity-O display that houses the 32-megapixel selfie camera. It also sports a 4000mAh battery with 15W charging.

Moreover, you get Samsung staple features like Knox, Bixby Vision, Lens, Routines, and Samsung Health.

Terms and availability

The Galaxy A51 will be available via Globe Telecom. Freebies like the 6-month subscription to Amazon Prime Video and 3-month subscription to iflixVIP is available when you apply for ThePlan until June 30, 2020. Moreover, you can get a PhP 1000 Samsung Online Store voucher when you avail of this handset with Globe’s ThePlan.

To avail, call Globe’s hotline: (02) 7730-1010 for new and additional line applications, and (02) 7730-1000 for plan renewals. Lines are open from Monday to Sunday, 8 AM to 10 PM. You may also visit Globe stores near you.

SEE ALSO: Awesome Screen! Samsung Galaxy A51 now official | Samsung Galaxy A51: Price and availability in Singapore | Samsung Galaxy A51 LTE: Price and availability in the US | Samsung launches online Store in the Philippines | Samsung, Xiaomi dominate Q1 2020 Android sales