Lifestyle

Samsung patents a smart sneaker

Are tech-infused shoes coming?

Published

January 14, 2019

Luigi Leonardo

Image source: LetsGoDigital

Besides the ubiquitous Galaxy series, Samsung has always developed its other offerings. The tech company offers a healthy lineup of notebooks, wearables, and appliances. Jumping from the Galaxy’s popularity, Samsung’s extensive catalog has consistently increased its range throughout the years.

Now, Samsung might add in some shoes to its repertoire. Spotted by LetsGoDigital, the company has patented two smart sneaker designs. The two possibilities will merge lifestyle and technology. When developed, Samsung’s smart sneaker will be the company’s first technological foray into the shoe industry.

Samsung filed the patent last August at the Korean Intellectual Property Office. They also came with respective renders. Both designs center around the shoe’s heel.

Image source: LetsGoDigital

In one design, the shoe’s technology is turned on and off by plugging into the heel loop. The minimalist shoe shares a likeness with Nike’s famous Flyknit design.

Image source: LetsGoDigital

Meanwhile, the other design provides an accessible slot, presumably, for a switch. Compared to the first’s simplistic design, the second shoe uses a more lifestyle-oriented aesthetic. Thus, this shoe can be used for more casual purposes.

Either way, Samsung’s smart sneaker will likely boast sensors for speed, distance, and altitude. Likewise, it will probably connect to Samsung’s expanding ecosystem of wearables.

Of course, patents are just patents until proven real. With CES 2019 in the bag, Samsung might launch this enigmatic shoe sometime this year. Regardless, the filing indicates the tech industry’s willingness to enter the smart apparel business.

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Entertainment

Crunchyroll Anime Expo announcements: Solo Leveling, Ghost of Tsushima, more

Roundup of major reveals, surprise announcements, more

Published

July 6, 2026

GadgetMatch

Crunchyroll took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for Anime Expo 2026, dropping a massive slate of theatrical films, new series adaptations, and world premiere trailers.

Headlining the blockbuster showcase were the surprise announcements of a brand-new Solo Leveling theatrical feature and an early glimpse into the animated world of Ghost of Tsushima.

Solo Leveling: Beyond the System

In one of the biggest reactions of the night, English voice actor Aleks Le took the stage to announce that the story of Sung Jinwoo is far from over.

Fans at the event were the first to learn that an all-new anime theatrical feature film, titled Solo Leveling: Beyond the System, is officially in production.

The movie will serve as a direct continuation of the series. It picks up immediately following the events of Season 2.

Animated by the acclaimed studio A-1 Pictures, the film is a joint production involving Aniplex, Netmarble, D&C MEDIA, Kakao Piccoma, and Crunchyroll.

Attendees were also treated to an exclusive teaser key visual and a promotional concept video:

‘Ghost of Tsushima Legends’ character designs

Following last year’s announcement of an anime adaptation of PlayStation’s beloved action-adventure game, Crunchyroll debuted an exclusive first look at the character designs for Ghost of Tsushima Legends.

The upcoming series, which follows one of the last remaining samurai defending his homeland against the Mongol Empire, is being produced by KAMIKAZE DOUGA under the direction of Takanobu Mizuno.

Legendary creators Gen Urobuchi and Satoshi Maejima of NITRO PLUS are handling the script, with Urobuchi overseeing story composition.

Finally, Takashi Okazaki providing the character designs to translate the game’s iconic samurai aesthetic into animation.

Other major reveals, more announcements

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy At All: In a shocking surprise video message, rock icon Dave Grohl revealed that Nirvana’s track “Breed” will serve as the official opening theme song for the anime.
Kagurabachi: Following news that the highly anticipated adaptation is coming to Crunchyroll next year, the panel showcased an exclusive Q&A with Japanese voice actor Taihi Kimura alongside a first look at the provisional character design sheet for protagonist Chihiro Rokuhira.

Crunchyroll rounded out the Anime Expo showcase by locking down release windows and trailers for several highly anticipated fantasy and sci-fi adaptations:

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 5: Naofumi’s perilous journey against the waves of danger will officially return to the platform next year.
Dengeki Daisy: A world premiere trailer was unveiled for this romance-espionage comedy, which is officially heading to Crunchyroll in 2027.
Magical Buffs – The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized!: This new guild-focused fantasy series is locked in for a January 2027 premiere.
The Vermilion Mask: Fans got another look at the dark, mask-destroying journey of Peru, which is set to premiere in October 2026.
Overgeared: The virtual reality gaming anime following the S-Rank blacksmith quest of “Grid” will officially debut on the platform later this year.

Entertainment

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle I coming to Crunchyroll

Record-breaking anime film available to stream on July 28

Published

July 6, 2026

GadgetMatch

Anime sensation Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle I is coming to Crunchyroll later this month.

The record-breaking blockbuster will be available on the streaming platform on July 28, excluding Japan and mainland China.

And for fans looking to permanently add the film to their digital collections, it will simultaneously drop for purchase on major storefronts on the same day. Digital pre-orders are already live across select platforms.

Infinity Castle I marks the first entry in an ambitious, anticipated feature-film trilogy that chronicles the final battle of the critically acclaimed dark fantasy franchise.

The narrative picks up with protagonist Tanjiro Kamado, who dedicated his life to the Demon Slayer Corps after a tragic attack that left his younger sister Nezuko transformed into a demon.

The announcement follows an extraordinary theatrical run that solidified the film’s status as a global entertainment juggernaut.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle I became the highest grossing anime film of all time last year.

Meanwhile, all episodes of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train are available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Moreover, these special performances are likewise available on the platform: