April, 2019 - Softonic English

Vader Immortal gets its first gameplay trailer

Are you ready to fight Darth Vader?

First teased last year, the forthcoming Star Wars VR title Vader Immortal has finally received its first gameplay trailer. The trailer reveals some important clues about the plot of the VR experience, and gives us a first glimpse at the insides of Vader’s imposing fortress on the surface of Mustafar.

Vader Immortal gets its first gameplay trailer

The trailer above gives players a look inside the first of three episodes in the Vader Immortal arc. Developed by ILMxLAB, players will don an Oculus headset and delve into the depths of Darth Vader’s lair. Vader Immortal’s story was penned by veteran writer David S. Goyer, and if that name sounds familiar, it should. Goyer wrote the scripts of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” and also helped pen storylines for the Call of Duty: Black Ops series.

This is Goyer’s first foray into the Star Wars franchise, and if the trailer is any indication, the story is certainly going to be up to par. Players will take the role of an as-yet-unnamed smuggler whose ship is pulled out of orbit as it passes Mustafar. Taken captive by the Sith Lord, it soon becomes apparent that there’s more to this smuggler than meets the eye. Vader wants the smuggler for a very specific reason, something to do with a mysterious power that Vader is trying to obtain.

vader immortal lightsaber droid — Image courtesy ILMxLAB

The smuggler will navigate the depths of the fortress alongside trusty droid ZOE3, voiced by actress Maya Rudolph. Despite Rudolph’s comedy chops, the trailer takes on a menacing and almost survival-horror style atmosphere at times as the player navigates the halls of the fortress and the caves beneath.

As far as combat, you’ll get to wield a lightsaber, deflecting blaster bolts from pursuing Stormtroopers and perhaps even going toe-to-toe with Vader himself. The episode will reportedly run about an hour. Though short, players will also be able to jump into a Lightsaber Dojo game-mode to brush up on their saber skills.

Gamers will be able to play Vader Immortal on both the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest. No exact price point or release date has yet been announced, but we do know that Vader Immortal Episode I is slated for launch later this year.

Calls to ban Fortnite grow louder

Why is Prince Harry against the game?

With its cartoonish graphics and tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, it’s hard to believe that Fortnite could court any sort of controversy. However, many high-profile groups around the globe are calling for a ban on the popular battle royale game. In some cases, the game has already been successfully banned in entire countries, and others are looking to implement bans of their own.

Calls to ban Fortnite grow louder

fortnite gun battle — Image courtesy Epic Games

Since its initial release in 2017, Fortnite has courted its fair share of controversy. The game garnered global attention recently when it was reported to be a hub for criminal money laundering, and was also the subject of several major copyright infringement lawsuits. In recent months, many high profile groups and individuals have come forward with calls to ban the game outright.

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Most recent among these anti-Fortnite actors is England’s own Prince Harry. The prince has been extremely vocal in his criticisms of the game, and called for a ban at an event earlier this month. According to the BBC, the prince stated, “That game shouldn’t be allowed. Where is the benefit of having it in your household?” He also cited the game’s potentially addictive nature as another reason for wanting it banned. This isn’t the first time Prince Harry has vocalized his opposition to Fortnite; at an event this past October, the prince told a group of 8-year old students that they shouldn’t be playing the game, even going so far as to exclaim “What is wrong with parents!”

Despite his strong opposition to Fortnite, Prince Harry hasn’t been shy about revealing his own background as a gamer, calling himself a fan of both PlayStation and Xbox. Previously having served in the military as a gunner on an Apache helicopter, he went on record crediting his success in the role to his gaming experience.

fortnite key art — Image courtesy Epic Games

Although Prince Harry’s call for a ban hasn’t led to any sort of action as of yet, other groups have had far more success. Recently, the government of Iraq voted to implement a blanket ban on both Fortnite and its popular competitor, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. As with Prince Harry, the Iraqi government cited the game’s addictive nature as part of the reason for the ban, and also cited additional concerns about the game’s violence.

In a statement, influential Iraqi leader Moqtada al-Sadr said, “What will you gain if you killed one or two people in PUBG? It is not a game for intelligence or a military game that provides you with the correct way to fight.”

Iraq isn’t the only country to institute a ban. PUBG has reportedly been banned in both Nepal and certain areas of India, though Fortnite reportedly remains legal in both countries. China has also reportedly considered a ban, but despite rumors, hasn’t implemented one as of yet.

Despite the global controversy, Fortnite remains incredibly popular, bringing in over 250 million players and $12 billion in profits worldwide. Though prominent competitors such as Apex Legends are breaking into a market once dominated by Fortnite, the game still remains incredibly popular. According to data released by Epic Games in March, the game still sees over 10 million players in-game consistently. That might change, however, if the calls to ban Fortnite continue to spread.

Internet Explorer is now a back door for hackers

Merely not using it won’t protect you…

Internet Explorer is a terrible browser. In other news, water is wet. While it comes as no surprise that there are a ton of browsers stronger, faster, and safer than Internet Explorer, now it turns out you don’t even need to use it to be at risk. Heck, you don’t even have to open it. As long as the browser exists on your computer, it’s a back door that hackers can use. Congrats, IE. You’re worse than useless – now you’re dangerous.

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The vulnerability

Security researcher John Page recently found an exploit in the way IE handles its MHT files, the web archive format that the browser uses. Through this exploit, any hacker with malicious intent can spy on Windows users and steal local data. Since the Windows default is to open MHT files via IE, you can be at risk simply for doing something as harmless as opening an attachment.

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The solution

MHT is an outdated format by now, and modern browsers no longer save web pages in that format (opting instead for HTML). As such, the first step is simply to not use IE anymore, which is probably already the case. Even Microsoft is discouraging you from using the browser. They’re aware of this issue, and their response was less than reassuring: “We determined that a fix for this issue will be considered in a future version of this product or service,” said Microsoft. “At this time, we will not be providing ongoing updates of the status of the fix for this issue, and we have closed this case.”

As Microsoft’s Chris Jackson tells it, “we’re not supporting new web standards for [Internet Explorer] and, while many sites work fine, developers by and large just aren’t testing for Internet Explorer these days. They’re testing on modern browsers. As new apps are coming out with greater frequency, what we want to help you do is avoid having to miss out on a progressively larger portion of the web!”

The next thing to do is completely remove Internet Explorer from your PC. There’s an easy way to do this in fewer than 10 steps. Check out this guide.

Try Brave

There’s more reason now than ever to stop using Internet Explorer in favor of a more useful browser. Brave is one of our favorites. It was created by Brian Bondy and Brendan Eich, the inventor of JavaScript and the founder of Mozilla Firefox. As such, Brave feels like an upgrade to Firefox, boasting faster speeds, safer connections, and more private browsing. Brave’s default is to block any and all trackers, cookies, ads, pop-ups, and banners – even automatically bumping connections to HTTPS for the highest protection.

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On top of that, the browser also introduces Basic Attention Tokens, a form of e-currency that safely allows users to distribute “attention” to their favorite publishers. The token encourages a more direct relationship between user and content publisher, and is working to usher in a “web 3.0” atmosphere where users are only given ads that are relevant, and only when they elect to see them. The Brave browser is free, and can be installed in three easy steps, so check it out today for the best in security, privacy, and speed!

WhatsApp stickers and emojis get an upgrade

WhatsApp is working on animated stickers and will introduce the official emojis.

We’ve reported on a lot of big WhatsApp news recently. Various analyses of the WhatsApp beta indicate that we can soon expect to see features like a dark mode, an improved vacation mode, and that WhatsApp may even be shaping up to become a decent audio player. Not all new features have to make such a big splash, however. The updates we’re reporting on today won’t make any fundamental changes to the popular messaging app, but you’ll definitely notice them when they roll out to all WhatsApp users.

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WhatsApp is working on animated stickers and will introduce the official emojis to Doodle

Stickers have been around on WhatsApp for quite some time now, and they’ve added a fun way to customize your chats. You can even create your own WhatsApp sticker packs from photos you’ve taken or received from friends. The latest WhatsApp beta, however, shows that the Facebook-owned app is now working on an official way to kick them up to the next level. Rather than stickers appearing as static images, it looks like soon we’ll be able to send each other animated stickers that move.

There have only been a couple of examples spotted so far, but they look impressive, nonetheless. One is what appears to be a squirrel or small fox rolling around laughing and the other is a rocket ship blasting upwards into space. It also looks like WhatsApp will support animated stickers from third parties, too. Of course, there is no limit to what these animated stickers could become in the future. This is a small change to WhatsApp, but it opens up some interesting and exciting possibilities.

The other small change coming to WhatsApp is the implementation of official emojis in WhatsApp doodle. When this change lands on the full app, the emojis you can stick onto the images, GIFs, and videos you’re sending your friends will change from the specialized WhatsApp set of emojis to the more standardized emojis you see across the rest of WhatsApp and other apps. I’m sure you’ll have noticed that at the moment these emojis look different to the emojis you see when you send them in chats. Again, this isn’t the biggest change, but when it drops, you’ll definitely notice the difference.

WhatsApp emoji v Official emoji — Image via: WABetaInfo

There is no news yet about when these small tweaks to WhatsApp will land on the main app. It is likely, however, that as they are only small changes, we could get to see them sooner rather than later. With the bigger changes, like some of those mentioned at the beginning of this article, further development and testing may be needed before they can be fully implemented across the whole app. With smaller features like stickers and emojis, however, there likely won’t be much more work needed.

Byte, the upcoming Vine reboot, starts beta testing

Byte has sent out 100 beta invites and people are already sharing videos across the new platform.

The internet lost something truly entertaining and fun when Vine stopped publishing user-generated six-second videos back in 2016. Vine’s short video loops took the internet by storm when it first started up in 2012 and the app rose to prominence quickly until Twitter bought it and then, ultimately, pulled the plug.

It was good news for every internet user who has a funny bone when one of the Vine co-founders announced in November that he was working on a reboot. Dom Hoffman said he was working on a new Vine app called Byte, that would launch in Spring 2019. Best of all, the app would have nothing to do with Twitter. Today, it seems Hoffman is making good on that promise.

Byte has sent out 100 beta invites and people are already sharing videos across the new platform

Byte will allow users to make their own short videos that can be uploaded to the platform. The videos will be vertical only and can be looped. Overnight, the first 100 beta users set about doing just that and there is already a stream of videos on the app. According to a Tweet put out by Hoffman, that shows the Byte feed, posts will appear in reverse chronological order with videos scrolling up to the top of the screen.

the byte beta we’ve been running with friends and family *feels* exactly like the vine friends and family beta, down to the weird but appealing randomness of the videos. that’ll change as we expand, but it’s a pretty good sign pic.twitter.com/rBbQrNtTJ7

— dom hofmann (@dhof) April 22, 2019

So far, it looks like the Byte team is happy with the content that the beta community has been uploading. The content seems random and off-the-cuff, and fits with the type of content that was regularly being posted on Vine, helping the app carve a space for itself on the modern internet.

The current state of the Byte beta is still pretty basic, however. The app only allows for direct camera recordings and there is no upload feature. Also, although the feed does allow users to post videos and have other users comment on them and like them, at the moment, there is no facility for users to follow their favorite accounts.

Speaking to TechCrunch, Hoffman has said that getting the content right is the top priority for Byte. This means that he is determined to create an attractive space for content creators that works well for them. As the beta test continues, the team will add and remove new features to the basic set described above, and see how the community responds to them.

Hoffman has also promised to expand to the testing pool, too, so more testers will be receiving invites soon. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll find yourself at the new Byte sign up screen, which Hoffman recently shared on Twitter.

It is good to see a new and updated version of Vine coming back to the internet. As with everything these days, however, the world moves quickly and there is no guarantee that emulating a once successful app will guarantee success. With TikTok, a notable successor to Vine, having over 500 million active monthly users, this beta testing stage is more important than ever. We’ll be watching this one intently.

Famously secretive organization joins Instagram

What will the CIA be willing to share?

Instagram is an open network, and a visual one, too. Posts are images with text playing a very small part in the makeup of an Instagram post. You would think that this makes Instagram a hard place to keep a secret; quite the opposite, in fact. Instagram is the place you go to announce things. Your vacation, that new lipstick you’re using, that old friend you’ve just seen, or how amazing your breakfast looks. Instagram is about sharing information not withholding it. This is why a recent announcement is a little bemusing, to say the least.

The CIA is about to launch its own Instagram account

During a national security forum at Auburn University in Alabama, CIA Director General Gina Haspel made the surprise announcement. She said, “Just to talk a moment about transparency, of course, CIA does have a Twitter account… Our office of public affairs is getting ready to launch our Instagram account.” Details about what we might expect to see on said account, however, were thin.

The aforementioned CIA Twitter account is very real and has over 2.5 million followers. Its tweets are rather mundane, however, as you might expect. Rather than sharing details about daring missions on foreign soil, it acts as more of a showcase for CIA history and is used as a way to recruit new agents. It also advises on upcoming forums like the one that Haspel dropped the Instagram news at and revels in letting everybody know when former deputy directors find themselves on TV.

A perk of working for CIA is world travel. Apparently that sometimes extends to other realms…

“Little birds,” be on the lookout for a former deputy director of ours wandering through #Westeros in tonight’s episode of #GameOfThrones. pic.twitter.com/DBIzIFKoju

— CIA (@CIA) April 22, 2019

If we take the CIA Twitter account as our guide, we can expect photos of people receiving medals rather than secret photos taken using classified spy plane technology. There’ll likely also be recruitment drives and photos of interesting items and artifacts used by various CIA personnel through the years.

Interestingly enough, the CIA won’t be the only government intelligence agency looking to share on Instagram. The FBI is already way ahead of them with more than 400,000 followers. If the movies are anything to go by, these two agencies have a testy relationship at the best of times, so it could be fun to see them head off against each other to see who can get the most Instagram Likes and followers.

View this post on Instagram

Over the years, the #FBI seal has undergone several significant changes. In its early years, the Bureau used the Department of Justice seal. . The first official FBI seal was adopted in 1935, modifying the Department of Justice logo by adding “Federal Bureau of Investigation” and “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity” to the outer band. . In 1940, Special Agent Leo Gauthier—a draftsman, artist, and illustrator—presented a new design based on an earlier Bureau flag that he had created. . Each symbol and color in the FBI seal has special significance. The dominant blue field of the seal and the scales on the shield represent justice. The endless circle of 13 stars denotes unity of purpose as exemplified by the original 13 states. The laurel leaf has, since early civilization, symbolized academic honors, distinction, and fame. There are exactly 46 leaves in the two branches, since there were 46 states in the Union when the FBI was founded in 1908. The significance of the red and white parallel stripes lies in their colors. Red traditionally stands for courage, valor, strength, while white conveys cleanliness, light, truth, and peace. As in the American flag, the red bars exceed the white by one. The motto, “ Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity,” succinctly describes the motivating force behind the men and women of the FBI. The peaked beveled edge which circumscribes the seal symbolizes the severe challenges confronting the FBI and the ruggedness of the organization. The gold color in the seal conveys its overall value. . #fbiseal #history #fbihistory #dyk

A post shared by FBI (@fbi) on Mar 11, 2019 at 11:00am PDT

There is no news yet about when the CIA will start posting on Instagram. There is an account claiming to be the “Official Account of the CIA” that links to the CIA homepage but as yet, there are no posts. Also, the page has Leviticus 20:13 in its bio, which is a Bible passage that is often used to attack same-sex relationships. We don’t know what that means, but we have to believe this isn’t the official account of the CIA. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Wi-Fi Finder app leaks more than 2 million passwords

See how this threat could impact you.

Wi-Fi is like the keys to the universe these days. Many people even ask for the Wi-Fi password even before they’ve said hello. We all want it and we all need it, seemingly all the time. We need Wi-Fi so much that that there are a lot of apps out there, all designed to help us find it and connect to it. Unfortunately, not all these apps are as well made or secure as they should be and now it seems the inevitable has happened.

The app Wi-Fi Finder has leaked over 2,000,000 Wi-Fi passwords online

Wi-Fi Finder has been downloaded by over 100,000 people and has collected over 2 million passwords. The app is designed to help users locate public Wi-Fi spots and then, in some cases, provide the required login details to help them connect to the network.

The way the app collects passwords is by asking users to upload their password lists to the central server. Theoretically, this makes all of the Wi-Fi hotspots they’ve ever signed into available to all users of the app. The flipside of this, however, is that the app can’t differentiate between home Wi-Fi networks and public hotspots. This means it is highly likely that all users who’ve uploaded Wi-Fi security credentials to the app have unwittingly uploaded the security details of their home networks to the Wi-Fi Finder password list too.

It gets worse for Wi-Fi Finder users, of which there are tens of thousands in the U.S., as the list of over 2 million Wi-Fi passwords has now been leaked online. As well as containing network names and passwords, the list also contains precise location data on where each network is. If you’ve uploaded passwords to that list, then not only is the name of your Wi-Fi network and the password needed to access it available online, but its exact location is available, too.

Potential issues that could arise from this kind of vulnerability include the spreading of malware across your home network and the takeover of smart devices like security cameras and AI augmented speakers. In practice, however, this type of action on a targeted and personal level would likely fall low on a list of priorities for a serious cyber-criminal or hacker.

The fact remains though. If you downloaded Wi-Fi Finder, you need to delete it and change your home Wi-Fi password immediately.

smashed cybersecurity — Common sense: If you’re not careful when you download new apps, you could be sabotaging your own cybersecurity.

Unfortunately, downloading apps safely requires vigilance and awareness. To avoid this type of thing happening to you, you should always check the developer behind the app you’re looking to download and also go through the permissions the app is asking for. Wi-Fi Finder asked for a startling number of permissions including locations, full contact lists, and even the ability to read, modify, and delete data. Asking for too many permissions is a dead giveaway that an app shouldn’t be trusted.

For more information on how to avoid downloading disreputable apps check out our tutorial below.

How to detect fake apps in the Google Play Store in just 3 steps

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Joker, Terminator, Spawn, and more reportedly leaked for Mortal Kombat 11 DLC

Some pop culture legends are joining the fight.

Another day, another Mortal Kombat leak.

The Nintendo Switch version of Mortal Kombat 11 has been datamined, revealing some interesting guest characters for future DLC. In this Reddit post, user /u/LeoNatan lists out a series of strings, as well as a step-by-step process for anyone who’d like to verify that these lists actually exist in the code. The code has been confirmed to actually exist in the game, so unless the references to these new guest characters are red herrings, they are coming to MK11 in future DLC packs. Without further ado, here are the leaked characters:

Joker

Batman’s archnemesis, the Joker, will be making his Mortal Kombat debut. While the Joker was featured both in Netherrealm’s Injustice series and Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, this marks the first time the Clown Prince of Crime appears in a mainline Mortal Kombat game. With the Joker standalone movie coming later this year, it makes sense for publisher Warner Bros to promote the character, just as they promoted the “Suicide Squad” characters in Injustice 2.

Though Joker is known for his murderous and sadistic tendencies, it’s interesting that DC is allowing one of their characters, even Joker, to participate in the gory mayhem of Mortal Kombat, as Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe had significantly toned down gore and neutered fatalities. Still, Joker is a perfect fit for the Mortal Kombat universe, and I can’t wait to see what kind of insane fatalities that he’ll pull off.

Leaked dialogue:

Joker: “You know, you remind me of Bats.”

Terminator: “Who?”

Joker: “Just another jerk with no sense of humor.”

–

Joker: “You look like a hugger, bring it in!”

Spawn: “I’ll turn you inside-out ass-first, clown.”

Joker: “I love it when they talk dirty!”

Terminator

The Terminator, specifically the T-800 from “T2: Judgment Day,” blasts onto the scene in Mortal Kombat 11. The franchise is obviously no stranger to cyborgs, including fan favorites like Sektor and Cyrax, so Arnie should have no trouble fitting in. Like Joker, Terminator also has a movie coming later this year in “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Judging by some of the leaked dialogue, it’s clear the developers are diehard fans of the series, as well as other Arnold films. Fun fact: Kano’s eye laser and heart rip fatalities were originally inspired by the Terminator itself, so hopefully it can return the favor.

Leaked dialogue:

Terminator: Your guns and your cape, give them to me.

Spawn: You forgot to say please.

Terminator: F*** you, asshole.

–

Terminator: “Take me to Sarah Connor.”

Cassie Cage: “Aw can’t, gotta get to the choppa.”

Terminator: “Now.”

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

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Spawn

Arguably the most-requested guest character in Mortal Kombat history, fans can finally rest easy that Spawn is coming. An icon of ’90s edgy independent comics, Spawn is one of the industry’s quintessential anti-heroes. Spawn is additionally getting a Jamie Foxx-led movie coming in the near future, though details are scarce as of now. Spawn’s demonic aesthetic and brutal powerset make him a natural fit for Mortal Kombat, and it’ll be fun to see his interactions with other hellspawn like Scorpion.

Leaked dialogue:

Cassie Cage: “Guns, magic, you can’t just choose?”

Spawn: “I go both ways.”

Cassie Cage: “That explains the fetish gear.”

–

Spawn: “You’ve been to other dimensions?”

Scorpion: “Each had its own injustices.”

Spawn: “Maybe that’s why my soul still burns.”

Ash Williams

Deadites beware: the boomstick wielding, chainsaw-armed buffoon Ash Williams has entered the fray. The semi-competent hero of the “Evil Dead” trilogy and its numerous spinoffs, Ash Williams uses his quick wit, unconventional weaponry, and “charm” to put undead baddies in their place. Ash has battled everyone from zombified Marvel heroes to Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, so he should be able to handle his own against Sub-Zero and company.

Leaked dialogue:

Ash: “Fancy leathers, who’s your tailor?”

Spawn: “How’d you like to wear that smile on your ass?”

Ash: “No thanks, I only wear American denim.”

Returning Mortal Kombat characters

Guest characters weren’t the only ones that leaked. Returning kombatants include the shape-shifting villain Shang Tsung, Native American sorcerer warrior Nightwolf, the ear-piercing Sindel, and the four-armed Sheeva. Curiously, the leak also mentions Fujin as a playable character. Fujin is a demi-god like Raiden, though he controls the wind. He debuted in the infamously awful spinoff Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as a boss before becoming playable in Mortal Kombat 4.

Which character are you most excited for? Let us know!

Samsung Galaxy Fold delayed after reviewers report broken screens

For nearly $2,000, it sure is fragile…

Samsung’s new foldable Galaxy phone has been delayed due to multiple reviewers reporting broken screens.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold was supposed to be the first foldable smartphone to hit the market. Featuring a small smartphone-like display while folded and a 7.3-inch square display while unfolded, its clamshell design is intended to give users the functionality of both a phone and a tablet with a single device. Here’s a (slightly unnerving) trailer that shows off the phone’s intended functionality:

Unfortunately for Samsung, many reviewers who received the device reported problems with the screen, including flickering and outright breaking. Multiple sources, including Bloomberg and CNBC, reported their test unit breaking within a few days. A commonality was that many testers removed what they thought was a “protective film” near the top of the screen, assuming it was some sort of standard screen protector. Screen problems then followed, though how such a vital component is able to be cleanly peeled off is baffling. Moving forward, it is essential that Samsung redesigns the phone to make this film difficult/impossible to remove. Furthermore, it was disastrous on Samsung’s part not to include instructions on how to handle the phone, especially with it being an innovative piece of tech. It should also be noted that even reviewers who didn’t remove the film encountered broken screens.

Retailing for a whopping $1,980, the Galaxy Fold nonetheless received a lot of attention when it was revealed. The device is treated as a luxury item by Samsung and was planned for a limited, low-stock release on April 26. The release date is now up in the air, and Samsung plans to announce the new release date within a few weeks. According to Samsung, the preorders were flying in, but it remains to be seen if that number will drop following the news of the recent defects.

Samsung released the following statement regarding the faulty screens:

“We recently unveiled a completely new mobile category: a smartphone using multiple new technologies and materials to create a display that is flexible enough to fold. We are encouraged by the excitement around the Galaxy Fold.

While many reviewers shared with us the vast potential they see, some also showed us how the device needs further improvements that could ensure the best possible user experience.

To fully evaluate this feedback and run further internal tests, we have decided to delay the release of the Galaxy Fold. We plan to announce the release date in the coming weeks.

Initial findings from the inspection of reported issues on the display showed that they could be associated with impact on the top and bottom exposed areas of the hinge. There was also an instance where substances found inside the device affected the display performance.

We will take measures to strengthen the display protection. We will also enhance the guidance on care and use of the display including the protective layer so that our customers get the most out of their Galaxy Fold.

We value the trust of our customers’ place in us and they are always our top priority. Samsung is committed to working closely with customers and partners to move the industry forward. We want to thank them for their patience and understanding.”

Delaying a hyped up brand new product a mere week before release is embarrassing for Samsung, a company that is no stranger to recalls and controversy. Hopefully, by the time the Galaxy Fold comes out, we won’t have to worry about it exploding in our pockets.

Epic Games cracks down on Fortnite cheaters

See how some gamers were trying to cheat their way to prize money.

The Fortnite World Cup is in full swing, bringing in gamers from all over the world to compete for millions in prize money. Unfortunately, not all participants have been playing fairly, and Fortnite creator Epic Games has stepped in to bring the hammer down on widespread cheating in the competition.

Epic Games cracks down on Fortnite cheaters

Epic Games recently announced that it had taken punitive measures against over 1,200 accounts that have allegedly been associated with various forms of cheating. Most of the banned accounts were marked after participating in the first week of the Fortnite World Cup. Most marked accounts were given a two-week ban, with the exception of a few more serious bans for more serious offenders. Accounts associated with less serious offenses reportedly received as little as 72-hour bans.

Fortnite: Battle Royale Play Now

Of the banned accounts, Epic has cited that most were using VPNs and other methods to circumvent region locking measures. This would allow players participating in the World Cup to enter several competitions per day in different time zones, vastly increasing their chances to win as opposed to those playing fairly.

In addition, Epic has also banned accounts associated with teaming and account sharing. This would include players who form alliances with opponents, and players that use multiple accounts to enter the tournament. Also banned were accounts that were found to be intentionally disconnecting from World Cup matches.

Of the banned accounts, 196 were reportedly forced to forfeit prizes they had won as a result of cheating. Among those caught was prominent Fortnite streamer and competitive player JohnnyK, who was reportedly using third-party software to reveal the in-game locations of other players. JohnnyK did admit to cheating when accused, and as a result was terminated from Team Kaliber, his competitive team.

With $30 million in prize money on the line, it stands to reason that many Fortnite players will be tempted to use illicit measures to obtain a share of the prize money. With this first round of bans, Epic has sent a strong message that cheating in any form will not be tolerated.