Meta is bringing facial recognition tech back to its apps more than three years after it shut down Facebook’s “face recognition” system amid a broader backlash against the technology. Now, the social network will begin to deploy facial recognition tools on Facebook and Instagram to fight scams and help users who have lost access to their accounts, the company said in an update.
The first test will use facial recognition to detect scam ads that use the faces of celebrities and other public figures. “If our systems suspect that an ad may be a scam that contains the image of a public figure at risk for celeb-bait, we will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad against the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures,” Meta explained in a blog post. “If we confirm a match and that the ad is a scam, we’ll block it.”
The company said that it’s already begun to roll the feature out to a small group of celebs and public figures and that it will begin automatically enrolling more people into the feature “in the coming weeks,” though individuals have the ability to opt out of the protection. While Meta already has systems in place to review ads for potential scams, the company isn’t always able to catch “celeb-bait” ads as many legitimate companies use celebrities and public figures to market their products, Monika Bickert, VP of content policy at Meta, said in a briefing. “This is a real time process,” she said of the new facial recognition feature. “It's faster and it's more accurate than manual review.”
Separately, Meta is also testing facial recognition tools to address another long-running issue on Facebook and Instagram: account recovery. The company is experimenting with a new “video selfie” option that allows users to upload a clip of themselves, which Meta will then match to their profile photos, when users have been locked out of their accounts. The company will also use it in cases of a suspected account compromise to prevent hackers from accessing accounts using stolen credentials.
The tool won’t be able to help everyone who loses access to a Facebook or Instagram account. Many business pages, for example, don’t include a profile photo of a person, so those users would need to use Meta’s existing account recovery options. But Bickert says the new process will make it much more difficult for bad actors to game the company’s support tools “It will be a much higher level of difficulty for them in trying to bypass our systems,” Bickert said.
With both new features, Meta says it will “immediately delete” facial data that’s used for comparisons and that the scans won’t be used for another purpose. The company is also making the features optional, though celebrities will need to opt-out of the scam ad protection rather than opt-ion.
That could draw criticism from privacy advocates, particularly given Meta’s messy history with facial recognition. The company previously used the technology to power automatic photo-tagging, which allowed the company to automatically recognize the faces of users in photos and videos. The feature was discontinued in 2021, with Meta deleting the facial data of more than 1 billion people, citing “growing societal concerns.” The company also faces lawsuits, notably from the Texas and Illinois, over its use of the tech. Meta paid $650 million to settle a lawsuit related to the Illinois law and $1.4 billion to resolve a similar suit in Texas.
It’s notable, then, that the new tools won’t be available in either Illinois or Texas to start. It also won’t roll out to users in the United Kingdom or European Union as the company is “continuing to have conversations there with regulators” in the region, according to Bickert. But the company is “hoping to scale this technology globally sometime in 2025,” according to a Meta spokesperson.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-bringing-back-facial-recognition-with-new-safety-features-for-facebook-and-instagram-222523426.html?src=rss
We truly are in a retro-transparent era! With transparent phones and earbuds from Nothing, transparent smart glasses from Meta, and even transparent Cipher controllers for the Xbox, it’s safe to say that the golden age of design has come full circle. Pioneered by Nintendo and then popularized by Apple with their transparent era just before pivoting to aluminum, transparency adds depth and character to design – literally. Instead of a boring opaque form, you get to see what’s underneath the hood and appreciate all the intricacy that goes into a product’s design from the bottom up.
Inspired by the iconic aesthetics of the Nintendo GameCube, this custom gamepad from the folks at Killscreen aims to evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining the functionality that PS5 players expect. The CubeSense features a matte purple front shell paired with a transparent back, reminiscent of the original GameCube’s indigo colorway. It sports red, green, and light gray face buttons, evoking the playful palette of the classic console, though the layout remains aligned with Sony’s traditional configuration. The controller also includes custom joysticks, emulating the design of the GameCube’s yellow C-stick with a distinctive nub. However, unlike the asymmetrical stick layout of the GameCube, CubeSense’s dual analog sticks are positioned side by side, maintaining the modern PlayStation feel.
What makes the CubeSense special isn’t just its GameCube-inspired exterior but how it merges the old-school charm with PS5’s next-gen capabilities. Unlike other retro-themed controllers that only change the color scheme, the CubeSense reimagines the tactile feel of gameplay. The joysticks, for example, mirror the distinct yellow C-stick of the GameCube, yet they are adapted to Sony’s signature symmetrical layout. It’s an homage, but with purpose—tailoring the grip to fit the demands of today’s games while offering a nostalgic nod to those who cut their teeth on classics like Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Customization is where CubeSense comes into its own, offering more than just a change of shells. For those who crave a competitive edge, Killscreen has engineered clicky triggers and bumpers with shorter travel distances, designed specifically for the split-second precision needed in FPS games. These upgrades elevate the way you interact with your games, offering a heightened response time that makes the standard DualSense feel sluggish by comparison. And if you’re after a tactile upgrade across all inputs, the option to switch to microswitches provides that crisp click with every press, bringing a level of feedback reminiscent of high-end mechanical keyboards. But here, it’s all about the feel under your thumbs, ensuring that each input is as intentional as the next.
The CubeSense retains everything that makes the PS5’s DualSense great: adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and seamless integration with the console. This means you get all the sensory depth of Sony’s flagship controller, yet in a package that feels uniquely yours. Imagine playing a game like Astro’s Playroom, where the haptics make you feel the pitter-patter of rain, but with the satisfying weight of the CubeSense’s upgraded buttons beneath your fingers. It’s a tactile treat that combines nostalgia with technical refinement, pushing beyond the simple remakes and remasters we see in the gaming world.
There’s a reason Killscreen’s take on transparency is more than a passing trend—it’s a design philosophy that speaks to the desire for openness in a world of black-box tech. The clear shell offers a glimpse into the intricate circuit boards and mechanisms, a nod to the days when devices came with diagrams of their inner workings. It aligns with what brands like Nothing are doing, where the appeal lies as much in seeing the product as it does in using it. The CubeSense is a device that encourages you to appreciate what’s inside, even though controllers aren’t meant to be seen—they’re meant to empower gaming while your eyes are hooked on the screen.
Priced at $149 for the base model and scaling up to $179 with all the upgrades, the CubeSense may not be the cheapest way to play PS5 games, but it’s certainly one of the most distinctive. It’s a controller for those who care about more than just performance—they want personality, history, and a tactile connection to their gaming past. And yes, this obviously isn’t an official Sony-Nintendo collaboration. Nintendo is infamously protective of its IP and extremely litigious, so a formal collaboration probably isn’t anywhere in the works. Fan-made creations, however, are always a pleasant surprise!
Peripheral maker 8BitDo has revealed when you'll be able to get your hands on its 64 Controller. This is designed to work with the upcoming Analogue 3D, a remake of the Nintendo 64 that will support 4K output. Pre-orders for the $40 controller are open now. It comes in black or white to match the Analogue 3D and it will ship on March 19.
The peripheral appears to be a version of 8BitDo's Ultimate controller, albeit with only one thumbstick and six control buttons on the face — A, B and the four C buttons. There are four bumper buttons and it appears that you can use either trigger in place of the original N64 controller's Z button (the peripheral is fully remappable thanks to 8BitDo’s Ultimate software).
In a nice nod to the controller's forebear, the thumbstick has an octagonal gate around it. The Hall effect sensor and wear-resistant metal joystick ring should help ensure there's very little chance of suffering from stick drift. The peripheral has a Rumble Pak built in too. This works with both the Analogue 3D and the Nintendo Switch. The 64 Controller is also compatible with PC and Android devices.
The original trident-shaped Nintendo 64 controller remains baffling nearly three decades later. Most people don't have three hands, Nintendo! So, for anyone looking to emulate a N64 game with a controller that actually makes sense, this looks like a strong contender.
Pre-orders for the Analogue 3D also opened on Monday. At the time of writing, the black version is still available. Unfortunately, the console doesn't come with a controller, so if you need one, you'll have to buy it separately.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/8bitdos-40-analogue-3d-controller-arrives-on-march-19-200752420.html?src=rss
Alarmo is the quintessential Nintendo product: It's a fun and quirky spin on a bedside alarm clock (with a motion sensor!) that mines your love for everything Nintendo. It's a $100 device entirely meant to surprise and delight you. But there are also usability issues that make me think the company's engineers haven't encountered any modern gadgets over the past decade (which is how long they've been developing Alarmo).
Here's an example: There's no easy way to input your Wi-Fi password if you ever want to download new themes. Instead you have to patiently spin its bulbous top button until you land on the character you need, then press it down like Mario squashing a Goomba. That may not sound like much of an issue, especially since you may only need to do it once, but it's needlessly frustrating if you have a complex password with multiple letter cases, numbers and symbols. My password is all lowercase letters, thankfully, but it still took me three minutes to punch it in. Instead of getting some rest, it just made me want to throw Alarmo out of my window(-o).
But then I had it lull me to sleep with the sounds of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At 6:30am, rascally Koroks roused me from my slumber and made their telltale noises as I shuffled around my bed. And once I got up, they performed Hestu's traditional celebratory dance, much to the chagrin of my sleeping cats. All was forgiven.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
So, what is Alarmo?
Nobody actually needs Alarmo (officially dubbed the "Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo"), but its appeal to Nintendo fans is obvious. It wouldn't be out of place as a prop in Mario Odyssey, with its cartoonishly round, red case, nubby feet and prominent control knob (which glows, naturally). Its 2.8-inch screen is surprisingly small and square, not round like some of Nintendo's promotional videos make it seem, and its speakers are loud enough to fill even large bedrooms with undistorted nostalgia bombs. Controlling it is relatively simple: Twist and push the knob, or use the back button to return to the previous screen. You can also view notifications, like updates on your sleep cycle, by tapping the message button.
I'll admit my bias: I was practically raised on Nintendo consoles, so it's almost as if Alarmo was built specifically for someone like me. I don't really mind that Alarmo's large red case doesn't really fit with the clean aesthetic of my bedroom. But I'm sure it'll be a tougher sell if you're sharing a bed with someone less Nintendo-pilled. (More on that below.)
While Alarmo is mostly pitched as an alarm clock with Nintendo themes — at launch, there are sounds and characters from Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 3, Pikmin 4 and (strangely enough) Ring Fit Adventure — it also adds a bit of Nintendo charm throughout your day. Alarmo can produce hourly chimes, and also play "Sleepy Sounds" related to your theme. For Breath of the Wild, that includes the crackling of a campfire, nocturnal animals and delightful snippets of the game's score. (I could be mistaken, but it also sounds like there's a bit of score from the moments before a Blood Moon arrives. I hope Nintendo snips that out eventually — nobody wants to go to bed dreading a Blood Moon.)
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Does Alarmo actually work?
As an alarm clock, Alarmo gets the job done. It managed to wake me up successfully every day over the past week, and it did so far less jarringly than my iPhone's blaring speaker. It simply felt pleasant to be welcomed into the world by Koroks and Mario. Every toss and turn triggered more sound effects, which slowly nudged me awake. In its default "Steady Mode," Alarmo also gets progressively louder the longer you stay in bed, and more nefarious characters like Bowser might make an appearance. But if you just want things to stay super chill, there's also a "Gentle Mode" that doesn't escalate noise. Alarmo also responds to the mere act of getting out of bed with a huge celebration — honestly, it's about time someone recognized the effort.
While Nintendo provides some rudimentary sleep statistics, based on Alarmo's motion sensing and your alarm settings, they're mostly useless. I think my numbers may have been skewed by my three cats, who sleep on my bed for most of the day, and may be triggering the device's motion sensor. I certainly wish I could have slept for the 17 hours it recorded at one point. (I'm lucky to get six hours these days.) Even if Alarmo's sleep-tracking was functional, there's not much you can do with the data, since it's all stuck on the device. That's one of many areas where having a separate app would have been useful. (You'd think it would work with Pokemon Sleep, but no!)
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Another issue? Alarmo's unique motion sensing technology is only made for a single sleeper (just like Google’s latest Nest Hub). If you're in bed beside a partner or unruly kids, Nintendo recommends switching to "Button mode," where you have to tap the top knob to disable the alarm. At least it's easy to change Alarmo's modes, and if you leave the sensor on by mistake, it's not the end of the world when it actually goes off. You'll hear a bit more noise than usual, but you can still hit the top button to quiet things down.
Setting up Alarmo
There are only three things inside Alarmo's box: The device itself, a USB Type A to USB-C cable and a small instruction booklet. Notably missing is a USB power adapter. That's something we've grown used to with smartphones and some of Nintendo's handhelds, but not bundling one is still a pain for anyone who doesn't have spare power adapters. I can just imagine a parent trying to set up Alarmo for their eager child, only to be delayed for a day because they need to run out and buy a separate adapter. That's not surprising and delightful, Nintendo. It's just annoying.
The actual onboarding process is pretty straightforward. Once you plug it in, Alarmo teaches you how to use its top dial and button, and explains how the back button works. You can also rotate the dial to adjust its volume and the device directs you to wave your hand in front of it to test its motion sensing. You have to direct Alarmo's orientation towards your bed and make sure it has a clear view of your sleeping area at the edge of a nightstand or table. The motion sensing won't work if it's too high.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
To finish off the setup process, you have to lay down and make sure Alarmo can actually detect your movement. That worked without much fuss on my end, but when it asked me to sit up and lean in a specific direction, there was a delay of a few minutes before it noticed correctly when I was leaning to the right.
At the very least, Nintendo didn't force me to connect to Wi-Fi during the initial setup. Instead, that's triggered when you choose to update its themes, and the entire process required is just frustrating, as I described above. Now, it's not as if Nintendo hasn't learned to use QR codes via websites and apps to simplify logins. You also have to sign in to your Nintendo account once Alarmo is connected to Wi-Fi, but I was thankfully able to use a QR code to do so over my iPhone.
I suppose Nintendo wanted to have a simpler onboarding experience for Alarmo, one that didn't require external authentication or an additional app. But that desire for simplicity still leads to needless frustration.
It would be nice to see a wider selection of themes, as well. I’m not sure many Nintendo fans are clamoring to re-experience the characters and music from Ring Fit Adventure, after all. Where’s Kirby? Where’s Mario Kart? If there’s room for Splatoon and Pikmin, there should be room for Nintendo’s more iconic franchises.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Is Alarmo worth it?
I'm no stranger to tech-infused alarms. My nightstand is already overloaded with gadgets, including an Amazon Echo Dot (which I use to play radio stations), an older Phillips SmartSleep rise light, a Homedics white noise machine, my iPhone 15 Pro Max (charging on a Belkin MagSafe stand) and a Hatch Baby video monitor. As much as I appreciated having bits of Nintendo magic in my bedroom, I didn't love it enough to replace any of the devices I'm already using.
But my daughter Sophia is another story. We've played through most of Tears of the Kingdom together, and I've done my best to teach her in the ways of Nintendo. (I'll save the issues with the company's extreme litigiousness for when she's older.) She's eager to use Alarmo to wake up on her own, without my early-morning badgering. She also loves Koroks, so I'm pretty sure the Zelda theme will be permanently enabled. At least, until Kirby arrives.
I'm not going to try and justify the need for a $100 alarm clock. If you're a big enough Nintendo fan, you've probably already locked in your pre-order. And there's a chance it'll become more compelling over time, if Nintendo manages to add themes and drive down the price. For now, though, it’s a reminder that Nintendo can do more than just churn out consoles and games. There’s still room for the company to take weird swings, it’s just too bad Alarmo is expensive and imperfect.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-alarmo-review-charming-yet-frustrating-194432214.html?src=rss
One of the greatest basket players of his time, Kobe Brayant left us untimely, but Vanessa Bryant has since ensured her late husband’s legacy is continuously honored. Ever since the launch of Mamba Fury, the first shoe Nike rolled out after Kobe, to the latest “X-Ray” Kobe sneakers, the athlete’s collaboration with Nike is growing leaps and bounds with Vanessa’s proactive promotion.
Vanessa had first teased the Nike Kobe 5 Protro X-Ray Kobe sneakers, with glow-in-the-dark outsoles and toe box featuring skeleton foot graphic, in the beginning of the year. Come Halloween and the sneakers are likely to see the light of day. The silhouette is “inspired by haunted houses the family would visit on Halloween, Venessa informed.
The intriguing pair of Nike Kobe 5 Protro with X-Ray moniker could, at the first glimpse, remind fans of the Kobe’s infamous X-ray T-shirt he wore in 2010 promo trip to Paris. It featured the x-ray of Kobe’s hand injuries and showed each finger topped with a championship rings suggesting, “beaten not broken.”
Besides the abovementioned two, the imagery on the toe box of this new release is also speculated to be inspired by Kobe’s own feet, which would be drawn from the attention Nike had dedicated to creating the Black Mamba signature footwear line dedicated to the late legend. Whatever may be the inspiration, the skeletal graphics in white on the deep royal blue upper make a spooky effect.
The performance-driven Nike Kobe 5 with glow in the dark sole, X-ray graphics and skeletal foot comes imprinted with Kobe’s sheath logo on the tongue and the shoe’s bottom, and the heels are graced with his signatures. Featuring responsive Zoom Air cushioning and enhanced traction patterns, the sneaker has gone up for purchase starting October 17. It will be released alongside X-Ray T-Shirts making a comeback.
It’s the end of an era for one of the App Store’s earliest success stories. Foursquare is shutting down its signature city guide app in order to “focus our efforts on building an even better experience in Swarm,” the company said in an update. The app will shut down December 15, while the web version will stay online until “early 2025.”
The shutdown is a notable reversal of a strategy the company announced a decade ago when it, controversially, opted to split its famed “check-in” service into a separate app. That app became known as Swarm while the Foursquare-branded app became a “city guide” full of user-generated reviews and local recommendations.
Now, Foursquare says its future is, once again, the check-in. “We’re also introducing exciting new features and capabilities into Swarm throughout the year (👀 some of which may look familiar to you) in order to unlock new use cases that may better support your needs,” the company said, adding that additional updates are expected “early next year.”
It’s not clear why the company is changing its strategy to elevate Swarm over its namesake app. The company laid off more than 100 employees earlier this year in an effort to “streamline” operations. Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley, who is currently co-chair of the company’s board of directors, said in a post on Threads that the company is “doing fine,” though he expressed disappointment with the news. “I would be lying if I didn't admit that I have been in a real funk these last few days over this news,” he wrote.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/foursquare-is-killing-its-city-guide-app-to-focus-on-the-check-in-app-swarm-191054153.html?src=rss
Another year, another flagship Qualcomm mobile chip. But things are reportedly a bit different with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the company's newest offering headed to premium smartphones. For one, it's using the Oryon CPU that debuted in X Elite chips for laptops last year, according to a leaked slide from Videocardz. It's also using a new 3nm process node, instead of last year's 4nm node. That helps the Snapdragon 8 Elite deliver 45 percent faster single and multi-core performance while using 27 percent less power than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
While we're still waiting for more details on the Snapdragon 8 Elite at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit later today, there's still a lot we can learn from that single leaked slide. As expected, the company is doubling down on its generative AI capabilities, with a 45 percent faster NPU (neural processing unit) than before, and gaming performance will also see a 40 percent boost. The 8 Elite will reach a maximum speed of 4.32 GHz across two cores, according to Videocardz, and it'll hit up to 3.53 GHz in six smaller cores.
Qualcomm
Given how impressed we were by the Snapdragon X Elite in the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Copilot+ PCs, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Oryon CPU working out well on smartphones. According to Smartprix and Onleaks, early benchmarks of the Snapdragon 8 Elite show it scoring 3,025,991 in Antutu, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's best of around 2.1 million.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/qualcomms-snapdragon-8-elite-is-its-next-premium-mobile-chip-173525493.html?src=rss
The single-player Squadron 42, set in the Star Citizen universe, has been delayed all the way to 2026. This is interesting because the developers said the game was “feature complete” last year. Squadron 42 was first announced in 2014 and has experienced numerous delays throughout the past decade.
The stated reason for the delay is to apply more polish. Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) boss Chris Roberts said at this weekend’s CitizenCon that he’s “confident” the title will make its 2026 release window. To sate eager fans, the developer dropped an hour-long gameplay video that chronicles the opening segments, seen below.
Roberts also told convention-goers that Squadron 42 would feature “30 to 40 hours of gameplay.” He went on to note that there’s still some work left to “bring the quality of the game up to” the level shown in the gameplay video.
Squadron 42 is a first-person action game that features on-foot exploration and combat, ship piloting and more. It has an absolutely stacked voice and mocap cast, many of whom are featured in the above gameplay video. The cast includes Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill, Mark Hamill, Gillian Anderson, Andy Serkis and Sophie Wu, among many others.
There’s also the matter of the parent game Star Citizen. It’s still not ready for a full release, after being a huge Kickstarter success story in 2012. However, the game has an active alpha community and is still racking up impressive crowdfunding numbers. All told, CIG has raised over $729 million for the title in the past 12 years.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/star-citizen-spinoff-squadron-42-has-been-delayed-again-until-2026-180946358.html?src=rss
Happy Mobile Monday! Today, the tech world finds itself wrapped in yet another mystery. Over the weekend, a video surfaced showing what appeared to be an invitation to a Samsung fold event, hinting at the launch of a new Galaxy foldable device. But here’s the twist: is this invitation real, or is it an AI-generated prank designed to ignite excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition? Let’s break down what we know and what remains uncertain about this mysterious leak.
With its elegant design, the leaked invitation features an envelope that unfolds to reveal a sleek message reading “You’re Invited,” seemingly displayed on a foldable screen. The presentation is intimate and exclusive, evoking a formal, old-world charm contrasting with Samsung’s typical mass-market marketing style. The premium choice of typography and colors hints at something more significant than a standard product launch. Yet, the October 21, 2024, date—which happens to be today—casts serious doubt on the authenticity, given the absence of any official announcement. With AI capable of creating remarkably convincing content, how much can we trust these leaks?
Samsung Galaxy Ring and Fold6
There is no denying that Samsung, much like Apple, follows a predictable yearly release schedule, and we know they’re planning a major event. The only question is when. Most sources suggest this event will feature either the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim or a Special Edition—a version that pushes the boundaries of foldable technology while focusing on style and portability. As always, rumors must be taken with a grain of salt, especially when tied to specific dates. So, is this invitation authentic, or is it just another bait using generative AI?
A Premium Touch: Breaking Down the Design Elements—Or Is It Meant to Fool Us?
Looking closely at the invitation, its elegance and minimalism offer an interesting contrast to past Samsung event invitations. The carefully staged unwrapping, paired with the luxurious appearance of the invitation, suggests this product launch is something special—almost like an intimate gallery reveal rather than a tech event. If future invitations are this extravagant, it only adds credibility to the theory that Samsung could launch a Special Edition Z Fold—designed for true enthusiasts who value exclusivity and innovation.
The “You’re Invited” message is presented with understated simplicity as if giving a sly nod to those who think they’re in on an exclusive secret—though, let’s be honest, some of those people are probably laughing away in their parent’s basement, thinking they’re masterminds. It could be an invitation intended for a select few—those who still believe pigs are pink and can fly—hinting at a limited release or an exclusive event. Given the rumored scarcity of the Special Edition Z Fold6, this seems plausible. Eventually, the truth will come out, and maybe we’ll all have a good laugh. But for now, the question stands: Is this elegance the work of Samsung’s designers, or is AI simply tricking us into craving exclusivity?
What We Know About the Galaxy Z Fold6 Special Edition
Rumors and speculation about this device suggest significant changes compared to the standard Galaxy Z Fold 6. First and foremost, these changes focus heavily on the physical hardware—particularly the slimness of the device. The Special Edition is expected to be just 10.6mm thick when folded, making it slimmer and likely lighter than its predecessor, which is 12.1mm thick. The reduction in thickness aims to make the foldable more practical and less cumbersome, suited for everyday use. This appears to be Samsung’s response to users who want portability without giving up the spacious screens foldable offer.
Speaking of screens, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition is rumored to feature an even larger foldable display, increasing it to 8 inches compared to the regular Fold 6’s 7.6-inch panel. The cover screen will also grow, reaching 6.5 inches versus the previous 6.3 inches. This larger footprint suggests Samsung is targeting those who see their Z Fold as a productivity powerhouse—more screen space means fewer compromises when multitasking, viewing documents, or streaming content.
Adding to the design allure are rumors of a boxy structure with a brushed metal finish, giving the Special Edition an industrial yet refined look. The separate, protruding camera module hints at Samsung embracing a bolder design. The decision to let the camera stand out suggests that the photography experience is being taken up a notch. In fact, the under-display camera—a feature that received mixed reviews in earlier models—is rumored to get an upgrade to 5MP from the standard version’s 4MP.
Real or AI Prank—Does It Matter?
Whether the leaked invitation is real or just AI-generated hype, one thing is clear—it has caught the attention of the tech community. It fits into a narrative that Samsung could be heading towards more exclusive launches, releasing devices that are reserved for a select few rather than for the masses. However, today is October 21, and without an official announcement in sight, the doubts about this invitation are growing. The uncertainty has created a mixture of buzz, disappointments, and even grief, keeping tech enthusiasts guessing and questioning what’s true.
At the end of the day, whether the invitation is real or fake doesn’t change the fact that we are anticipating an ambitious, more refined foldable. One that is slimmer, offers larger displays, and showcases a unique design aimed at making a statement. If Samsung delivers what this invitation suggests, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition could easily be one of the most memorable foldables they’ve produced—a device less about mass-market appeal and more about exclusivity, just as the invitation implies.
Today marks five days before Alan Wake 2’s first anniversary, and the developers at Remedy Entertainment have some great news for players. Firstly, those who plan to get the game on PS5 Pro will get to enjoy improved Quality and Performance modes. There will also be a free anniversary update promising many improvements and “cheats.”
The team at Remedy dove deep into Alan Wake 2’s PS5 Pro improvements, but we’ll keep things brief here. Both quality and performance modes depend on Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling method. This allows quality mode to reach an output resolution of 4K while the render resolution is 2,176 x 1,224. Ray-traced reflections are on, but only at 30FPS On the other hand, the performance mode also outputs at 4K, but the render resolution is only 1,536 x 864, and there’s no ray-tracing. However, the FPS counter will reach 60.
Remedy also claims that Pro performance mode has improved fog, volumetric lighting, shadow accuracy and image stability. The company further explains that performance mode for the PS5 Pro is superior to the base PS5’s quality mode in terms of output resolution and visual detail. The render detail isn’t exactly the same, but it’s close.
Moving on to the anniversary update, Alan Wake 2 players (all of you, not just PS5 Pro owners) will be able to enjoy improvements like an inverted X axis on mouse and keyboard, DualSense gyro aiming support, haptics support for more items and the Gameplay Assist menu. The menu contains some “features” including invulnerability to damage, immortality, unlimited ammo, flashlight batteries not running out and more.
We aren’t sure about you, but it sounds like a recipe for disaster and chaos, but that’s what some players want. Remedy Entertainment is improving the game’s accessibility first and foremost, and it’s a welcome sight for those who struggle with the currently available control schemes. The anniversary update will be available tomorrow on October 22, while the PS5 Pro enhancements don’t have a release date yet.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/alan-wake-2s-upcoming-ps5-pro-update-will-add-a-4k-ray-tracing-mode-170403388.html?src=rss
