News

This wallpaper is somehow causing Android devices to crash [Update: Samsung to roll out patches]

Something about the color

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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

News

Samsung Display unveils QD-OLED Penta Tandem technology

Rolling out across flagship models this year

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Samsung Display has announced the launch of the QD-OLED Penta Tandem. This new premium technology brand built on is QD-OLED’s proprietary five-layer organic light-emitting structure unique to such panels. The technology is named after the Greek word for the number five.

Samsung Display completed trademark registration for the new brand. It was created to highlight the distinctive value of its five-layer organic light-emitting structure applied to QD-OLED panels for premium monitors and TVs.

QD-OLED expresses color using quantum dots that respond to light. The blue emitting layer serves as the light source, due to its high energy within the visible spectrum.

Beginning last year, Samsung Display advanced the blue emitting layer stack from four layers to five, and applied the latest organic materials, completing a new generation of QD-OLED that delivers superior picture quality, efficiency, and peak brightness.

In particular, the multi-layer stacking of organic light-emitting materials has emerged as a key differentiator.

Achieving higher resolution within the same panel size and increasing the pixel density reduces the light-emitting area of each individual pixel.

Under these technical constraints, effectively dispersing the energy applied to organic materials is essential to maintaining stable, high brightness levels.

For instance, the 27-inch UHD QD-OLED monitor panel released last year by Samsung Display achieves a 160 PPI pixel density. This is the highest among self-emissive gaming monitors.

The QD-OLED Penta Tandem forms the core foundation of this breakthrough. Panels featuring the technology also enable customers to obtain VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500.

In addition, Penta tandem improves luminous efficiency by 1.3 times and extends lifespan by 2 times.

Samsung Display plans to expand QD-OLED Penta Tandem across its full range of panel sizes this year. This shall supply flagship products.

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Gaming

New Resident Evil Requiem trailer teases a return to the RPD

The title officially launches on February 27.

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Fresh off a stellar 2025 filled with award-winning titles, the world of games is now going through a calm before another inevitable storm. We’re still some ways away from the next explosion of amazing titles. For now, however, an upcoming major title is looking to kick off 2026 with a huge bang. Coming very soon, Resident Evil Requiem just got another trailer, and yes, there’s more Leon to go around.

Late last year, Capcom revealed a bombshell announcement it’s been saving up since the title’s big reveal. Resident Evil Requiem will feature the return of the franchise’s most iconic protagonist, Leon Kennedy. The suave agent will play alongside FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, who heads to Raccoon City to investigate a series of strange deaths.

Since the two characters clearly have opposing personalities, fans have speculated that they will have opposing playstyles. Now, through a new trailer, Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem will mix the two genres that the franchise is known for.

Ashcroft, unused to fighting, will have portions more tailored for survival horror, akin to the more recent titles in the series. Meanwhile, Kennedy is back to his gun-toting ways, featuring the same action he’s known for in Resident Evil 4.

Beside the playstyles, there are few Easter eggs for the upcoming title. For example, Sherry makes a very subtle appearance. Also, and this is the kicker, Leon is coming back to Raccoon Police Department in the trailer’s final moments.

Resident Evil Requiem is now available for preorders. The title will officially launch on February 27 for all major platforms.

SEE ALSO: Resident Evil Requiem unveiled at Summer Game Fest 2025

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Entertainment

Jason Momoa will star in upcoming Helldivers film adaptation

Justin Lin is set to direct.

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Jason Momoa in A Minecraft Movie

PlayStation’s State of Play is about games. However, there are a few times when the semi-regular event can spawn hype for something outside the realm of gaming. Today is one of those times. Sony Pictures and PlayStation have released more information about the upcoming Helldivers movie adaptation.

Early last year, Sony teased a variety of upcoming adaptations for its tentpole franchises. This announcement included Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima, and Helldivers.

Today, as reported by Variety, the Helldivers film finally has a leading man. Jason Momoa, who starred in the Minecraft adaptation previously, will star in the film.

Since the franchise isn’t really known for a specific main character, it’s unknown who the star will play. We also don’t know his co-stars yet.

Alongside Momoa, Justin Lin will direct the film. The director is known for his work with the Fast and Furious franchise.

Plot-wise, the Helldivers franchise seems tailor-made for the movies. It’s not a supremely story-driven game, but its premise is endlessly adaptable. The games always revolve around a group of soldiers called Helldivers, who protect Super Earth from a host of alien threats. These threats include rogue robots and bug-like creatures.

The film, whatever it might tackle, will premiere on November 10, 2027.

Helldivers 2 launched back in 2024. At the time, the game was exclusive for the PlayStation and PC. However, it recently launched on the Xbox, too.

SEE ALSO: Helldivers 2 review: SIP ON SOME LIBER-TEA!

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