News
TECNO gets even more inclusive with #ToneProud campaign
All thanks to TECNO’s Universal Tone technology and a vast database of 268 skin tone patches
Almost a year after the Future Lens 2023 Event in Shanghai, China I attended last December 2023, TECNO proudly presents their #ToneProud campaign which aims to combat skin tone bias as well as being inclusive all throughout.
Inclusivity and Diversity
Despite being headquartered in China where whitewashing is quite rampant, TECNO has dared to fight back by making skin tone diversity a crucial part of their imaging algorithm. That’s also because TECNO values its target market very well. A reason why they are currently the number one smartphone brand in Africa.
With TECNO’s self-developed Universal Tone (UT) technology, it shows the true beauty of an individual regardless of what skin tone color s/he has. And with the emergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence), there’s some skin-type bias going behind — which came from a 2018 study by MIT and Stanford University.

And with last year’s introduction of UT technology, TECNO is proudly launching their #ToneProud campaign this 2024.
268 Skin Tone Patches
Through the #ToneProud campaign, TECNO is highlighting its Universal Tone technology’s 268 skin tone patches to showcase human skin tone diversity. TECNO also has the industry’s largest and most accurate skin tone database — which is also continuously expanding.
This huge number of skin tone patches is a result of years worth of global research. These also serve as a vital foundation of an all-inclusive smartphone imaging algorithm that sets a new standard for multi-skin tone imaging.

Jack Guo, the General Manager of TECNO said that they understood what skin tone misrepresentation and underrepresentation meant for a lot of consumers. And with this campaign, TECNO is also heavily investing their imaging R&D to innovate technologies that will solve the problem with faking skin tone.
By totally eliminating skin tone bias and promoting inclusive and authentic skin tone representation, TECNO enables users to capture every shade of humanity and properly represent everyone in one frame.

To mark the launch of this campaign, TECNO is encouraging consumers worldwide to celebrate skin tone diversity and show that they are proud of their own skin tones. Users across the globe are invited to discover their own skin tone code at www.268toneproud.com and share their photo on Instagram using the hashtags #ToneProud, #UniversalTone, and #TECNO.
Being proud of one’s tone
This campaign aims to raise awareness about skin tone diversity. At the same time, TECNO wanted to showcase their very-own 268 skin tone database to consumers.
With these specific color codes assigned to different skin tones with scientific classification, TECNO not only combats skin tone bias, they also restore color and display accuracy for the fairest representation.
TECNO’s awareness campaign is supported and joined by global celebrities of color such as Indonesian-born singer-songwriter Anggun, Saudi Arabian filmmaker and actress Fatima Al-Banawi, Nigerian singer-songwriter Johnny Drille, and Polish actress Ewa Kępys.
These celebrities have together shared their experiences of being misrepresented for their corresponding skin tones.
Apps
Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts
TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.
Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.
Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.
According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.
Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.
Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.
SEE ALSO: Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines
Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.
In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.
In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.
Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.
Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.
Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.
SEE ALSO: Google Maps is finally getting a power saving mode
Entertainment
KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel
Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans will return to write and direct.
This feels like a formality at this point. Netflix and Sony have officially confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters is getting a sequel.
If you feel like you’ve read this exact title before, then you’re not alone. Since its massive success last year, the hit animated film constantly spawned talks of a potential franchise. It probably helped that the title quickly became Netflix’s most-watched film of all time. From the last we’ve heard of the rumors, Netflix was reportedly eyeing a 2029 premiere for the sequel.
Now, it’s official. As posted by Netflix itself, KPop Demon Hunters will get a sequel soon. Even better, the follow-up will be written and directed by the same duo, Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans.
Kang, who celebrated the first movie’s ability to tell a Korean story, says that there’s a lot more to explore in the film’s universe. “There’s so much more to this world we have built and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning,” she said.
Right now, the plot’s sequel is still unknown, especially since the Saja Boys were defeated in the first film.
Given how big the original movie got, the sequel is no surprise. Besides bagging the top spot on Netflix’s charts, the film also got an eventual release in theaters. KPop Demon Hunters is up for a potential Oscars win after it was nominated for Best Animated Feature. Its hit song, “Golden,” is also nominated for Best Original Song.
SEE ALSO: KPop Demon Hunters is now Netflix’s most-watched movie
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