The ASUS ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro surfaced in a number of renders already. The ‘Pro’ variant actually appeared quite recently, separate from the initial leak. Well, a well-known tipster has just shared more images of the ASUS ROG Phone 8, right before the announcement, which will take place later today at CES 2024.
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 images appear yet again in a last-minute leak
These images come from Evan Blass aka evleaks, one of the best-known tipsters out there. He shared four images via X (formerly known as Twitter). One of the images shows all three color options side-by-side, while the other three are focused on specific models.
The device will arrive in two black-colored model and a gray-colored variant. The difference will be the backplate only, as the frame will be black on all variants. The difference between the black models is the finish on the back. One variant has a matte finish, while the other one has a combination of a matte and glossy finish on the back. Also, the ROG logo on the back is in a different color.
These two devices will look basically the same
The ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro will look basically the same, by the way. ASUS opted for a design that is a bit closer to a regular device, compared to previous models. That ROG logo on the back is quite pronounced, though.
ASUS also included shoulder triggers on the right-hand side, for gaming. The phone’s regular physical buttons are also located on the right side of the ROG Phone 8. You’ll notice three cameras on the back, as part of a single camera island.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will fuel both of them, but the ‘Pro’ model will be more powerful
Both the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. Android 14 will come pre-installed, along with ROG UI. The ‘Pro’ model will offer more RAM in comparison, but both variants will use LPDDR5X RAM. The same goes for UFS 4.0 flash storage.
ASUS will use a 5-magnet speaker system on both devices. The same goes for a 5,500mAh battery which will support Quick Charge 5.0 and PD charging. Well, at least based on the specs that leaked out.
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 series will go official later today at CES 2024. The press event kicks off at 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST / midnight CET / 11 PM BST, in case you’re interested.
The airport’s advertisement and flight information screens were hacked with messages criticizing Hezbollah and its leaders, accusing them of jeopardizing Lebanon and risking war with Israel.
The information display screens at Beirut’s international airport were hacked by anti-Hezbollah groups, highlighting the intensification of ongoing clashes between the Lebanese militant group and the Israeli military. The screens, which display arrival/departure times, displayed a message accusing Hezbollah of putting Lebanon at risk of war with Israel.
“Hassan Nasrallah, you will no longer have supporters if you curse Lebanon with a war for which you will bear responsibility and consequences,” the message read.
Reporting #Lebanon: ❗️The airport in Beirut (Lebanon) became the victim of a cyber attack. Info screens broadcast a message directed against Hezbollah and Iran. “Hezbollah has not left anyone with any end-of-life experiments. You bombed our port, and now you can bomb our airport” pic.twitter.com/aBQ6VMTXZW
The screens featured logos from a hardline anti-LGBTQ+ Christian group called Soldiers of God and a lesser-known group called The One Who Spoke. Soldiers of God posted a video statement denying its involvement whereas The One Who Spoke shared screenshots of the screens on its social media pages.
According to MTV Lebanon, the hack disrupted baggage inspection as passengers took photos of the screens and shared them on social media.
For your information, Hezbollah has been striking Israeli military bases near Lebanon’s northern border since October 8, one day after the Hamas-Israel war began and intensified last week after an Israeli strike killed Hamas official Saleh Arouri in southern Beirut.
On Saturday, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed to keep retaliating, dismissing criticism of a full-scale war with Israel unless the latter launches one. If it happens, Hezbollah predicts a limitless war.
“We cannot keep silent about a violation of this seriousness because this means that all of our people will be exposed . All of our cities, villages, and public figures will be exposed,” Nasrallah said.
After Arouri’s killing, Hezbollah launched 62 rockets targeting an Israeli air surveillance base on Mount Meron, striking two army posts and causing direct hits. The Israeli military stated that 40 rockets were fired, targeting a base. Israeli army’s spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, reported no casualties, while Hezbollah claimed six fighters were killed, taking the total death toll to 150 since the beginning of clashes.
Nevertheless, focusing on airport screens is a widely used method for showcasing hacktivism in the region. In May 2018, the airport screens at Mashhad city in northeast Iran were hacked and defaced by an unknown group of hackers with messages against the Iranian government.
The OnePlus 12R will become official later this month, and as we’re waiting for that to happen, the very first real-life images just appeared. These images have been shared by the FCC, as the phone got certified.
The OnePlus 12R appears in real-life images, as it gets certified in the US
The device appeared on the site under the model number ‘CPH2611’. You can see the phone in the two images below. Both its front and back sides are shown. Now, this design is not exactly a secret, as the OnePlus Ace 3 already launched.
The OnePlus Ace 3 is the Chinese variant of the OnePlus 12R, the two phones look identical. So this design isn’t exactly anything new to us, but it’s the first time we’re looking at an actual 12R, despite the fact it looks the same as the OnePlus Ace 3.
Either way, the phone will resemble its predecessor quite a bit. It will also look a lot like the OnePlus 12, its more powerful sibling. Those two smartphones will launch at the same time. They’ll both arrive on January 23, and yes, that’s a global launch we’re talking about.
Now, the FCC listing did confirm that the phone will include a 5,500mAh battery. That’s also something we already knew, as almost every single spec will be the same as in the OnePlus Ace 3. Only the RAM + storage options could be a bit different.
The device will also be quite affordable in the States
Earlier today, the price tags for the OnePlus 12R surfaced. It seems like we’ll be getting two models in the US. The base model will include 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and will be priced at $499. The more powerful variant will come with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and will set you back $599.
This smartphone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It will feature a 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The max brightness will be set at 4,500 nits.
A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX890 sensor), will be backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. A 2-megapixel macro unit will also be included on the back. 100W SuperVOOC charging will also be a part of the package, and so will a charger.
In addition to the OPPO Find X7 Ultra, which we already talked about, OPPO also announced the regular Find X7 today. This smartphone is inferior to its ‘Ultra’ sibling, but it’s still a rather compelling phone.
The OPPO Find X7 is now official too, following the ‘Ultra’ model
In terms of the design, it looks almost identical to the OPPO Find X7 Ultra. The main difference that you’ll notice is inside the camera oreo on the back. The bottom camera cutout doesn’t include a camera sensor here. It does on the OPPO Find X7 Ultra. So the Find X7 has one less camera on the back.
Also, this handset not only comes in two-tone finish variants, but single-tone ones too. The models with vegan leather on the back are the same as the one the Find X7 Ultra is available in. You’re getting the dark blue and brown variants here. Vegan leather cover two-thirds of the backplate.
In addition to those two variants, there are also models with glass only on the back. Two of them have been announced, one is black-colored, while the other one is purple-colored. You can see them all in the gallery below.
This device packs in MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 SoC, and top-of-the-line RAM & storage
Having said that, the OPPO Find X7 also comes with a powerful spec sheet. Instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it utilizes the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor. LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage are in use here. The based model includes 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while three models with 16GB of RAM have been announced, up to 1TB of storage.
This smartphone has a slightly smaller display at 6.78 inches. That’s a fullHD+ (2780 x 1264) panel, and it’s curved. It is an AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. You’ll never reach such brightness, but still, it’s worth noting. And yes, this is an LTPO display (1-120Hz).
100W wired charging is supported here, while three cameras sit on the back
A 5,000mAh battery is included here, while the phone supports 100W wired SuperVOOC charging. Wireless charging is not supported, but a charger is included in the retail box.
A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.8 aperture, 7P lens, OIS) is used on the back. That is not the Sony LYT-900 sensor, though, as is on the ‘Ultra’ model. That camera is backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit (3.5cm macro shooting, f/2.0 aperture, 5P lens, 119-degree FoV), and a 64MP telephoto camera (f/2.6 aperture, 33-degree FoV, OIS, 4P lens). A single 32-megapixel camera sits on the front.
The OPPO Find X7 measures 162.7 x 75.4 x 8.7-9mm (glass/leather models). The glass model weighs 206 grams, while the vegan leather variant is slightly lighter at 202 grams.
The OPPO Find X7 pre-sale pricing starts at CNY3,999 ($563), and goes up to CNY4,999 ($703). OPPO did not mention the global launch just yet.
OPPO has just announced its new flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra. The device got announced during an event in China. This is the first smartphone that uses Sony’s 1-inch LYT-900 camera sensor, and OPPO boasts about a ‘Quad Main Camera’ setup on this handset.
Before we get down to it, do note that we still have no word on the global launch. The OPPO Find X6 series did not launch globally, but the Find X5 series did. So… we’ll just have to wait and see what will happen.
The OPPO Find X7 Ultra has been announced with a ‘Quad Main Camera’ setup
That being said, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra’s design was not exactly a secret, as it surfaced several times prior to launch. OPPO used vegan leather on all variants of the phone, but only on part of its backplate. Approximately two-thirds of the back side is covered with vegan leather, and it’s hard to deny the phone looks striking because of it, and easily recognizable.
Three color options are available, dark blue and brown vegan leather variants are combined with a silver frame and backplate. The black model is black all around, that goes for both its vegan leather and the rest of the phone. Just to be clear, the official color names are Ocean Blue, Sepia Brown, and Tailored Black.
The large camera oreo on the back is in focus once again, and it hosts four cameras there. This is the first phone out there with a dual periscope telephoto camera setup. OPPO refers to this camera set as a ‘Quad Main Camera’ setup. It is possibly the most expensive camera setup in the world.
OPPO wanted to provide its users with excellent cameras all around, it did not want to skimp out on any of the cameras, hence the ‘Quad Main Camera’ tagline. The company did something similar with the OPPO Find X6 Pro, but that phone included three cameras on the back.
Sony’s brand new 1-inch LYT-900 camera sensor is used here
In addition to a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 camera sensor, which is the phone’s main camera, there are three other cameras back there. All four cameras include 50-megapixel camera sensors. Two periscope telephoto cameras are used, and an ultrawide unit.
The main 50-megapixel camera uses Sony’s LYT-900 sensor, and we’re looking at a customized lens here with an f/1.8 aperture. OIS support is also on board. OPPO promises a 50% reduction in terms of reflections, and this camera has a 23mm optical focal length.
A 50-megapixel ultrawide camera hides Sony’s LYT-600 camera sensor. That is a large 1/1.95” camera sensor, which is combined with a 14mm equivalent focal length. A fast f/2.0 aperture is also in use here, and this camera can shoot macro shots up to 4cm away from the nearest subject.
This is the first smartphone in the market with two periscope telephoto cameras
One of the periscope telephoto cameras is a 50-megapixel unit with 3x opitcal zoom. That one uses Sony’s IMX890 sensor, and an f/2.6 aperture with Prism OIS. It offers a 65mm focal length. This sensor is roughly three times larger than the equivalent cameras in key competitors, says OPPO.
The other periscope telephoto camera uses the Sony IMX858 sensor. That one offers a 6x zoom, and the included sensor is a 1/2.51” unit. A 135mm equivalent lens is included here, as is Prism OIS. The nearest focus distance of this camera is 35cm.
OPPO also utilizes the HyperTone Image Engine here. This is OPPO’s way to try to make images more natural-looking, while also making them pop. The whole point is to reduce the overprocessed look that computational photography brought to the table. OPPO says that HyperTone Image Engine “safeguards photo integrity, preserving highlights, shadows and mid-tones with a natural look”.
The Hasselblad Master Mode is also packed into the phone
The Hasselblad Master Mode has also been announced for the phone. It is calibrated to match the characteristics of the Hasselblad X2D 100C, by the way. You’ll have plenty of manual camera control with this phone.
As far as the rest of the specs are concerned, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels this handset. A 6.82-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display is included in the package. OPPO quotes a max brightness of 4,500 nits, but you won’t ever come near that, of course. This display does have a DIsplayMate+ rating and OPPO’s ProXDR tech is also included.
100W wired & 50W wireless charging is on offer
A 5,000mAh battery sits on the inside of this phone, while the device supports 100W SuperVOOC wired charging. It also supports 50W wireless charging. The phone can be fully charged in less than 30 minutes via wired charging.
The company uses LPDDR5X RAM here, and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The phone comes in 12GB RAM + 256GB storage, 16GB RAM + 256GB storage, and 16GB RAM + 512GB storage options. The pre-sale pricing starts at CNY5,999 ($845) in China.
Technology is developing at a faster rate than ever before, and one technology transforming almost every industry is artificial intelligence (AI). It’s an innovation that has become a point of contention, with tech experts like Elon Musk weighing in on its impact and warning against developing an overreliance on it. Although this subject is still up for debate and the impact of AI remains to be seen, there is plenty about this technology that is promising, especially in the gaming space.
Gaming has undergone many shifts as technology has advanced. Imagine telling someone they’d be able to play casino games on a computer or smartphone back in the ’80s. Now, with online casinos popping up and investing in mobile gaming, people can truly play on the go. Players can now access Royal Panda from a variety of smartphones and tablets. Of course, the innovation goes far beyond mobile gaming. Let’s take a closer look at how generative AI in particular is set to usher in a new era of gaming.
What is generative AI?
Generative AI is a branch of AI that focuses on autonomous content generation. It involves developers training models to learn patterns from existing data to generate new content.
How is it being used in game development?
Game development relies on manual processes that require designers, artists or coders to spend countless hours creating game assets. This encompasses everything from sounds and animations to characters. While this approach undeniably produces visually stunning games, it comes at great cost in terms of time and resources.
Generative AI could help speed up the process of asset creation through automation, creating first drafts that can be refined instead of starting from scratch. Reducing the manual effort required by game developers will free up more time to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of game design.
It could also enable the creation of dynamic game environments by using AI algorithms to generate new cities and landscapes. This will ensure players never run out of new worlds to explore and remain engaged. Game developers hope AI will get to a point where it can adapt the game environment to match players’ decisions, providing highly personalized gaming experiences that keep players on their toes. After all, no one wants to keep playing a game that’s too predictable.
Generative AI will eventually be able to tailor gameplay and narratives based on individual preferences and behaviors. AI algorithms can predict and adapt to an individual’s playing style by analyzing their behavior and generating unique challenges or storylines that will resonate with the player.
How does this benefit game developers?
This emerging technology speaks for itself when you fully understand what it is capable of doing and just how powerful it can be when applied correctly. It offers game developers several benefits that we’ve already touched on:
– Developers can save significant time when using AI to generate assets and worlds. This results in quicker game development cycles, which opens up opportunities for more frequent updates. – Developers can explore new ideas and take creative risks that may not have been possible in a traditional development environment. This helps foster innovation and ensures developers continue to offer updates that feel fresh and exciting. – Developers can create large-scale games with rich narratives because AI-generated content is easily replicated and adjusted. This creates new opportunities for indie developers to tackle ambitious projects that may have otherwise never come to light.
What challenges does it present?
Generative AI isn’t without its challenges and concerns, despite holding tremendous potential. One of the primary concerns is the ethical implications.
There is a risk that AI could create inappropriate or harmful material if content is generated autonomously and not moderated by humans. AI lacks a human common-sense filter or moral compass, which means it could potentially generate dangerous content.
Moreover, AI is famously unreliable. If you’ve ever tried to write a college essay using ChatGPT, you were probably left scratching your head wondering where it found all its information because it sometimes makes ridiculous claims, like stating Napoleon was native to Alaska. On top of that, AI can also be very repetitive. So, while developers may be hoping for it to generate unique and creative storylines and assets every time, sometimes the output of AI is going to be way below acceptable standards.
The takeaway
Generative AI is set to shake up the gaming industry by opening up a brand-new era of game development. Developers will, however, need to be cognizant of generative AI’s weaknesses and put robust systems in place to avoid generating content that is harmful, irrelevant or subpar.
January 7, 2024 – UK Police are investigating a sexual assault on the avatar of a girl aged under 16 that caused psychological trauma.
January 7, 2024 – People using LLMs for bug bounty hunts are wasting developers’ time argues the lead developer of cURL. And he’s probably right.
January 7, 2024 – Researchers have found flaws in the way SMTP servers handle messages, allowing them to send spoofed emails to and from targets.
January 4, 2024 – Facebook has announced it will roll out a new option called Link History to mobile users around the world. What does that mean?
January 4, 2024 – 23andMe has responded in a letter to legal representatives of data breach victims that they were to blame themselves for re-using passwords
The OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R will launch globally on January 23. Both smartphones were already announced in China, and we’re waiting for their global launch. Both devices are expected to launch in Europe and the US. Well, the US pricing for the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R has seemingly been revealed by a German outlet, TechPlus.
The OnePlus 12 & OnePlus 12R pricing gets revealed a couple of weeks early
According to the shared information, the base model of the OnePlus 12 will come with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and will cost $799 in the US. The other variant will include 16GB of RAM and 512GB, while it will cost $899.
The OnePlus 12R, on the other hand, will be a lot more affordable. The base model will include 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That variant will cost $499. The more powerful unit will ship with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That variant will set you back $599.
If this information ends up being true, both devices will have rather compelling price tags. The OnePlus 12 will be the best OnePlus has to offer, and include top-of-the-line specs. Starting at $799 is not a bad deal at all.
The OnePlus 12R won’t be as powerful, but still, it will be really compelling to those of you who don’t need to have the bleeding edge product. Starting at $499 seems to be a good balance considering what the phone offers.
Both devices will be more expensive in Europe
We do expect those price tags to be noticeably higher in Europe, though. The OnePlus 11 was considerably more expensive in Europe, compared to the US. We do hope it won’t happen, but chances are it will.
The OnePlus 12 launched in China last month. The OnePlus 12R arrived as the OnePlus Ace 3 a couple of days ago. Those two devices will be the same, but the name chosen for the Chinese market is the OnePlus Ace 3.
Samsung has recently applied to register the trademark ‘Ironflex,’ prompting speculation about the possibility of more robust foldable screens in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, slated for release next summer. The trademark application for Ironflex was filed by Samsung Display to the Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service on January 3, indicating a foldable OLED display panel associated with a foldable smartphone.
Since the launch of the first Galaxy Fold, concerns about the durability of folding screens have lingered, especially after the initial setback with the Fold’s release. However, the later versions have all performed better than expected when it comes to the reliability of the hinge or the flexible display. Now this new Ironflex trademark hints at another step forward in the resilience of the flexible display.
The description of goods associated with Samsung’s Ironflex trademark includes several product categories. It hints at the potential deployment of Ironflex panels beyond smartphones. Notably, the company has mentioned ‘foldable wearable video display monitor’ and ‘foldable tablet computer‘, suggesting a broader application of the Ironflex technology including folding tablets and XR/MR devices.
While the trademark application doesn’t provide detailed specifications, it implies a focus on enhancing the durability of the soft OLED display panels, a key consideration for consumers.
Samsung’s ‘Ironflex’ seemingly aims to dissociate ‘fragile’ from ‘foldable’
Although Samsung has not revealed any specific details about the Ironflex technology in the trademark application, it is common for such registrations to align with upcoming product releases. While it remains uncertain whether the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 will debut with Ironflex screens, the trademark application hints at ongoing developments in Samsung’s display technology.
This move aligns with Samsung’s ongoing efforts to address concerns surrounding the resilience of folding screens, which have been a subject of skepticism since the early days of foldable smartphones.
As the summer release approaches, more information about Samsung’s Ironflex technology and its integration into Samsung’s foldable devices may surface. But before that, we are already getting to see some real-life images of the company’s next Ultra flagship, the Galaxy S24 Ultra on January 17, which apparently comes with some interesting color options.
Cleaning a pool is necessary but it’s certainly not a fun task, and that’s why the new pool cleaning robots from Aiper should catch your eye. The all-new ‘Scuba’ series of robots includes five different models, designed to fit every budget and cater to your needs no matter what size pool you have.
All five robots are cordless too, and they start as low as $199 for the Scuba SE or $399 for the Scuba E1. Aiper says the SE is ideal for pools that are above ground, and around 860 square feet in size. You could probably use it on larger pools but the cleaning process wouldn’t be as efficient as with some of Aiper’s other models. The SE should be able to clean a pool of Aiper’s recommended size in about 90 minutes, however.
If you need more cleaning power, the Scuba S1 is designed for in-ground pools that are around 1,600 square feet in size. The S1 also has a 2.5-hour cleaning time. It features caterpillar treads that give it better traction too. As Aiper’s flagship for the Scuba pool cleaning robots, it’ll be a bit more with a $699 price tag. It’ll go up for pre-order this month.
Aiper pool cleaning robots can even help professionals
You might think of a pool cleaning robot as a luxury you’d have at home. But Aiper is catering to professionals too. The Scuba N1 Ultra model is suitable for commercial pools up to 2,150 square feet and it’s Aiper’s most powerful robot in the lineup.
It can hold up to 7.5 liters of debris picked up during cleaning before the bin needs to be emptied out. Being the most powerful robot also makes it the most expensive at $1,399. You could of course spend a little less for the S1 Pro instead, which can clean the same size pool and it retails for $1,199 so it’s a bit cheaper. It also has five cleaning modes, and comes with special sensors that help it move around obstacles, Aiper says. One of the cooler features is the compatibility with Aiper’s HydroComm.
This is a cordless buoy that you can connect to with your phone through the Aiper app. You can then use it to recall the robot or tell it to climb up the walls for additional cleaning. The Aiper Scuba SE, Scuba E1, Scuba S1, and Scuba S1 Pro will all go up for pre-order on January 9. The SE and E1 will go on sale in Late February, while the S1 goes on sale this month, and the S1 Pro and N1 Ultra go on sale in March.
