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March 2024 Video Games: Exciting Virtual Games Scheduled for Launch
As March 2024 nears, gamers are eagerly awaiting the release of a diverse array of virtual adventures. From dark and immersive narratives to strategic war simulations and spellbinding cooperative roguelikes, the lineup brings thrilling and exciting games. As each game offers its own unique blend of gameplay mechanics, storytelling, and visual aesthetics, players are poised to embark on unforgettable journeys into the realms of fantasy, mystery, and horror. Let’s dive into the tantalizing selection of virtual experiences set to captivate gamers in the third month of 2024.
10 Most Anticipated Virtual Games Releasing in March 2024
Biomorph
Biomorph is a dark adventure game developed by Lucid Dreams Studio. In this game, players explore a vast world filled with puzzles, platforming challenges, and deadly monsters. What sets Biomorph apart is its unique mechanic: players can absorb the powers of the creatures they defeat. However, these creatures can return stronger than before, posing even greater threats.
As players progress, they level up their character, collecting new abilities, mementos, and chips. Along the way, they uncover secrets about the fallen civilization and their own mysterious origins. The game features stunning hand-drawn visuals and quirky characters, creating an immersive experience for players. The game will be released on 4th March.
Read more: February 2024 Video Games: Exciting Virtual Games Scheduled for Launch
Classified: France '44
Classified: France '44 is a World War II-based strategy game developed by Absolutely Games and Team17 Digital. Set in Nazi-occupied France, players lead a special forces group, the Jedburghs, aiding the Resistance. The game will be launched on March 5.
Featuring turn-based tactics, players engage in historic firefights from WWII, shaping D-Day's outcome with an RPG system to build skilled soldiers. Three editions are available: Standard, Deluxe, and Overlord. Deluxe includes the base game and first DLC, while Overlord includes the full season pass. Pre-orders include the Resistance Pack; Steam offers "Shadow" and "Ghost" sets.
Key features include a unique morale system affecting enemy forces, tactical stealth actions, and replayable campaigns with 15 endings. The game prioritizes historical authenticity, reflecting real military tactics.
Read more: Video Games Releasing in January 2024: A Comprehensive Guide to New Releases
The Outlast Trials
Red Barrels presents "The Outlast Trials," a chilling cooperative horror experience set in the midst of the Cold War. Players find themselves as unwilling test subjects of the Murkoff Corporation, subjected to cruel experiments in brainwashing and mind control. The game will be released on 5th March.
Survival in "The Outlast Trials" can be undertaken solo or in teams of 2, 3, or 4 players. Working together isn't mandatory for essential tasks, but cooperation can greatly increase your chances of survival. To earn your freedom, you must navigate through immersive story-driven therapies called Trials and shorter challenges known as MK-Challenges. These tests push the limits of your endurance and sanity.
"The Outlast Trials" delves into the psychological horrors of manipulation and coercion, challenging players to endure the brutal trials imposed by the Murkoff Corporation. However, be warned: the game contains intense violence, gore, graphic sexual content, and strong language, along with strobing and flashing lights that may cause seizures in a small percentage of individuals. This game is strictly for mature audiences.
Read more: Video Games Coming in 2024: January to March
Hex Gambit: Respawned
Hex Gambit: Respawned is a quirky and competitive digital board game developed by One Man Left Studios and published by Blowfish Studios. The game has been set to release on March 6, 2024.
Described as a blend of chess, Into The Breach, and American football, the game allows players to command a squad of minions in turn-based strategy gameplay for 1-4 players. With mechanics like bouncing over opponents' heads and swatting characters across the map, Hex Gambit offers creative tactics and plenty of surprises.
Features include single-player challenge mode, local multiplayer for up to 4 players with support for 0-4 controllers, and various game modes like Free For All and 2v2. It promises to be an engaging addition to game nights, combining accessibility for new players with deep strategic possibilities.
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Reveil
Reveil is a narrative-driven first-person psycho-thriller game developed by Pixelsplit and published by Daedalic Entertainment. This video game will debut on March 6, 2024.
While playing this exciting game, the gamers will dive into the unsettling story of Walter Thompson, exploring his dark past at the Nelson Bros Circus and unraveling the mysteries that haunt him. With a focus on story, puzzles, and exploration, Reveil promises a visually stunning and mentally challenging experience. Players have to navigate through versatile puzzles, confusing clues, and a disturbing psyche to uncover the truth behind Walter's past and the events unfolding around him.
As players delve deeper into the narrative, they will face unanswered questions and ominous challenges, testing both their own resolve and Walter's sanity.
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OpenAI reveals Sora, a tool to make instant videos from written prompts
The maker of ChatGPT on Thursday unveiled its next leap into generative artificial intelligence with a tool that instantly makes short videos in response to written commands.
San Francisco-based OpenAI's new text-to-video generator, called Sora, isn't the first of its kind. Google, Meta and the startup Runway ML are among the other companies to have demonstrated similar technology.
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But the high quality of videos displayed by OpenAI — some after CEO Sam Altman asked social media users to send in ideas for written prompts — astounded observers while also raising fears about the ethical and societal implications.
“A instructional cooking session for homemade gnocchi hosted by a grandmother social media influencer set in a rustic Tuscan country kitchen with cinematic lighting,” was a prompt suggested on X by a freelance photographer from New Hampshire. Altman responded a short time later with a realistic video that depicted what the prompt described.
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The tool isn't yet publicly available and OpenAI has revealed limited information about how it was built. The company, which has been sued by some authors and The New York Times over its use of copyrighted works of writing to train ChatGPT, also hasn't disclosed what imagery and video sources were used to train Sora. (OpenAI pays an undisclosed fee to The Associated Press to license its text news archive).
OpenAI said in a blog post that it's engaging with artists, policymakers and others before releasing the new tool to the public.
OpenAI saga: ChatGPT-maker says Sam Altman returning to company
“We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model,” the company said. “We’re also building tools to help detect misleading content such as a detection classifier that can tell when a video was generated by Sora.”
End/UNB/AP/MB
ZTE Nubia Neo 5G Review: A Budget-friendly Gaming Phone
Gaming smartphones often come with a hefty price tag due to their high-performance processors and advanced cooling systems. However, some brands are offering budget-friendly phones designed for gaming. In this wave, ZTE brings a gaming-centric device Nubia NEO 5G at an affordable price point. Let’s take a look at the key specs of this device.
Features and Specs of ZTE Nubia Neo
Design
The ZTE Nubia Neo is turning heads with its sleek design and lightweight build. Coming in at 163.7 mm by 75 mm by 8 mm dimension and weighing just 192 grams, it's easy to tote around.
One of its standout features is its nearly borderless display. It gives users a screen-to-body ratio of about 85.5%. This means users get more screen space on its display.
As for durability, while the exact materials used aren't explicitly mentioned by the company, the Nubia Neo feels sturdy and well-built. Its back panel and frame give off a premium vibe, with a nice finish to top it off.
Read more: ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra Review: A Heavy-Duty Flagship Gaming Device
The Nubia Neo scores points with its ergonomic design. The buttons are placed conveniently for easy access, and unlocking feels smooth with the side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Plus, it's comfortable to hold, even for one-handed use.
Display
The ZTE Nubia Neo packs a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen, which boasts vibrant colors and smooth visuals with 1080 by 2408 pixel resolution. Thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate it promises an immersive viewing experience. The phone gives a crisp picture with about 400 pixels per inch. That means sharp, detailed visuals for viewing pleasure, all wrapped up in a sleek 20:9 aspect ratio.
With minimal bezels, users are getting almost all screens. And with a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling and animations are buttery-smooth.
When it comes to colors, the Nubia Neo's LCD tech brings accurate and vibrant hues to the table, ensuring your content pops just right. Plus, you can comfortably view it from different angles thanks to good viewing angles.
Read more: realme GT5 Review: A gaming phone with high capability
For those sunny days, there might be an anti-glare coating to help you see your screen better outdoors, along with the auto-brightness adjustment to keep things just right no matter where the users are.
Camera
The ZTE Nubia Neo has a fancy dual-camera system on its back. One lens packs a whopping 50 megapixels with a wide f/1.8 aperture, while the other is a 2-megapixel (f/2.4) depth sensor. Together, they make for some seriously detailed and clear shots.
With that hefty megapixel count, it features high-resolution pics. And thanks to the wider aperture that supports better light intake, meaning the low-light photos will look sharper along with cool blurry background effects in portrait mode.
The camera isn't just about stills, though. It supports features like HDR and panorama mode, giving your shots more pop and letting you capture wider angles. Plus, there's image stabilization to help smooth out any shaky-handed shots or videos.
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Speaking of videos, the front and rear cameras of Nubia Neo can shoot 1080p footage at 30fps. And don't worry about those videos getting too shaky—there's video stabilization onboard to keep things nice and steady, even if there's some movement.
And there is a front camera which is an 8-megapixel (f/2.0) shooter, perfect for snapping selfies or hopping on video calls.
ZTE Blade A54 Review: An Entry-level Smartphone Below Tk10000
ZTE is known for being the parent company of Nubia, the subsidiary which produces high-end gaming smartphones. However, ZTE uses its proprietary brand name for all sorts of different smartphones as well. Recently, the brand launched the Blade A54 in November 2023. The entry-level smartphone brings a design overhaul with some interesting quirks. Let’s have a detailed look.
Key Specs of ZTE Blade A54
Design and Build Quality: Revamped Design with Same Old Plastic Build
At first look, the A54 looks much like the Realme GT 5 with its large end-to-end rectangular camera housing on the back. ZTE had a complete design overhaul on the A54 from the A53 as has been the case with all their models. The rectangular camera housing has a glossy finish whereas the back itself has a matte tone.
The smartphone has a 164 mm by 75.8 mm by 8.5 mm dimension with a plastic build all around. That brings the weight to around 185 g. The A54 keeps the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the dedicated microSD slot in place as is widely seen in this price segment.
Read more: Honor X6a Review: A minimalist budget-friendly phone with standard features
The plastic material is durable with drop and scratch resistance. The smartphone is available in three colorways, blue, gray, and lilac.
The Display: IPS LCD Panel with 90 Hz Refresh Rate
The display on the A54 is a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The water drop style notch and the large chin is a usual feature in any budget-friendly smartphone. The HD+ resolution comes in at 720 by 1612 pixels and 267 ppi density. The display fetches around 84.2% screen-to-body ratio.
There’s nothing really special about the display other than that it can get relatively bright indoors. The color reproduction is satisfactory with a slightly cooler tone. Viewing angles are passable with color shifts at extreme angles. Outdoor legibility isn’t all that great with the panel struggling under direct sunlight.
Read more: Infinix Smart 8 Review: Affordable Excellence in Entry-Level Smartphones
The Camera: Dual Camera with a Single Usable Lens
The main camera on the A54 is a 13 MP one with AF. The supporting sensor is a 0.08 MP auxiliary sensor which unsurprisingly, does nothing. And if an auxiliary sensor wasn’t a marketing gimmick enough, there’s a camera sensor-like design on the housing which is just printed graphics. Such design choices can be distracting for potential buyers.
The front features a 2 MP selfie shooter which ZTE claims to be “interpolated to 5 MP”. What it means is that post-processing can enhance the image up to 5 MP quality. The results aren’t all that great even in well-lit conditions. It’s disappointing considering even the most stringent entry-level smartphones these days come with at least 8 MP front shooters.
The performance from the main camera was as expected from a budget-friendly smartphone. Pictures taken under direct sunlight had good details but the dynamic range was average at best. Pictures taken at night or indoors had exposure issues and noticeable grain here and there. The warm tone pop was missing in photos captured by the A54. However, this feature is common on the average basic-level smartphones.
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The videography on the Blade A54 is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. But without any external stabilization, videos came out choppy and shaky.
realme 12 Pro Plus Full Review: Is It Worth Buying?
realme has established itself as a brand renowned for blending innovation with affordability in the smartphone industry. With the debut of the realme 12 Pro Plus on January 29, 2024, a new chapter unfolds, challenging the notion that top-tier features are exclusively reserved for high-priced models. Let’s explore the extensive features of the realme 12 Pro Plus, emphasizing its premium qualities without compromising on its accessible price point.
Key Features and Specs of realme 12 Pro+
Design
The realme 12 Pro Plus stands out with its sleek design and premium features. Measuring 161.5 mm by 74 mm by 8.8 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.35 in), it strikes a balance between compactness and usability. The phone's vegan leather back, complemented by a round camera module, exudes sophistication.
Its golden fluted bezel and accents, inspired by luxury watches, lend it a touch of elegance. Designed in collaboration with renowned French watchmaker Ollivier Savéo, known for his craftsmanship with prestigious Swiss brands, the phone reflects a blend of artistry and technology.
With a convenient layout featuring volume and power buttons on the right side, and essential ports and speakers neatly arranged at the bottom, usability is seamless. Additionally, the scratch-resistant rear and screen protector offer peace of mind, ensuring the phone remains pristine with daily use.
Read more: iQOO Neo 9 Review: A Flagship Grade Mid-Range Smartphone
Display
The realme 12 Pro Plus boasts a stunning 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth and fluid visuals. With a resolution of 2412 by 1080 pixels (FHD+), the screen delivers crisp and clear images. It offers around 394 PPI density
It covers 100% of the P3 color gamut, ensuring vibrant and accurate colors. With a global maximum brightness of 800 nits and a local peak brightness of 950 nits, the display remains visible even in bright sunlight. Additionally, it features a 0.55mm secondary tempered high-strength glass for added durability and protection.
The display holds TÜV Rheinland Strobe-free and Low Blue Light Certifications, reducing eye strain during prolonged use. Supporting HDR10+, it offers enhanced contrast and dynamic range for an immersive viewing experience. With a 240Hz touch sampling rate, the screen responds swiftly to touches and gestures, enhancing usability.
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Camera
The realme 12 Pro Plus features an impressive camera setup tailored to meet diverse photography needs.
Anchoring the rear setup is a 50MP (f/1.8) IMX890 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and 2X in-sensor zoom, delivering sharp and stable shots. Complementing this is a 64MP (f/2.8) periscope lens for long-range captures and an 8MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide lens for expansive scenes.
The front camera, equipped with a 32MP (f/2.4) sensor, ensures detailed and crisp selfies. Notably, the camera captures colors accurately with minimal correction, offering natural-looking tones.
The portrait mode, with 3x zoom and adjustable aperture, enables users to achieve desired background blur levels. Additionally, the Pro mode allows for manual adjustments of ISO, shutter speed, and more, catering to advanced users. The device also offers a 120x zoom option, albeit with limitations at extreme levels.
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For video recording, users can shoot in 4K at 30fps with the rear camera and 1080p at 30fps with the front camera, ensuring high-quality video content creation.
Microsoft unveils strategic AI vision for India; here are the details
Microsoft has announced a comprehensive strategy to spearhead the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in India, aiming to empower AI developers and secure its position as the country's most trusted AI partner.
During a keynote in Bengaluru, CEO Satya Nadella outlined the company's mission to democratize AI access, stating, "AI for everyone. We want to be India's most trusted partner for that," as reported by NDTV. This initiative underscores Microsoft's commitment to fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the AI domain.
Facebook, Instagram users will start seeing labels on AI-generated images
As part of its commitment, Microsoft plans to provide AI training opportunities to 2 million individuals in India by 2025. This initiative will particularly focus on individuals in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, as well as rural areas, aiming to promote equitable socio-economic development across the country. Nadella highlighted the importance of collaboration between India and the United States in establishing AI regulations and laws to guide this technological progression.
Reflecting on the evolution of chat-based AI technologies like GPT, Nadella celebrated the historical advancements in computing and expressed the goal of creating machines that can understand human users to facilitate natural conversations on a variety of subjects, including sports.
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Microsoft's strategy involves leveraging a neural engine for digitizing and processing data to analyze vast information sets and identify patterns. The company anticipates that AI will significantly contribute to economic growth, especially through initiatives like Microsoft Copilots. This new venture is set to be promoted through an extensive marketing campaign, aiming to solidify Microsoft's role in the AI landscape.
Moreover, Microsoft is investing in the development of AI infrastructure, including model training and inference capabilities. Nadella boasted about possessing some of the most advanced big models, such as variations of GPT, and detailed an ambitious plan for expanding the company's AI capabilities.
New York Times suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement
Facebook, Instagram users will start seeing labels on AI-generated images
Facebook and Instagram users will start seeing labels on AI-generated images that appear on their social media feeds, part of a broader tech industry initiative to sort between what’s real and not.
Meta said Tuesday it's working with industry partners on technical standards that will make it easier to identify images and eventually video and audio generated by artificial intelligence tools.
What remains to be seen is how well it will work at a time when it's easier than ever to make and distribute AI-generated imagery that can cause harm — from election misinformation to nonconsensual fake nudes of celebrities.
“It's kind of a signal that they’re taking seriously the fact that generation of fake content online is an issue for their platforms,” said Gili Vidan, an assistant professor of information science at Cornell University. It could be “quite effective” in flagging a large portion of AI-generated content made with commercial tools, but it won't likely catch everything, she said.
Read: Grameenphone launches ‘AppCity,’ Bangladesh's first cross-platform marketplace
Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, didn’t specify Tuesday when the labels would appear but said it will be “in the coming months” and in different languages, noting that a “number of important elections are taking place around the world.”
“As the difference between human and synthetic content gets blurred, people want to know where the boundary lies,” he said in a blog post.
Meta already puts an “Imagined with AI” label on photorealistic images made by its own tool, but most of the AI-generated content flooding its social media services comes from elsewhere.
A number of tech industry collaborations, including the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative, have been working to set standards. A push for digital watermarking and labeling of AI-generated content was also part of an executive order that U.S. President Joe Biden signed in October.
Clegg said that Meta will be working to label “images from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney, and Shutterstock as they implement their plans for adding metadata to images created by their tools.”
Google said last year that AI labels are coming to YouTube and its other platforms.
Read: Samsung Electronics Chairman acquitted of financial crimes
"In the coming months, we’ll introduce labels that inform viewers when the realistic content they’re seeing is synthetic,” YouTube CEO Neal Mohan reiterated in a year-ahead blog post Tuesday.
One potential concern for consumers is if tech platforms get more effective at identifying AI-generated content from a set of major commercial providers but miss what's made with other tools, creating a false sense of security.
“There’s a lot that would hinge on how this is communicated by platforms to users,” said Cornell's Vidan. “What does this mark mean? With how much confidence should I take it? What is its absence supposed to tell me?”
Grameenphone launches ‘AppCity,’ Bangladesh's first cross-platform marketplace
Telecom operator Grameenphone has introduced the country’s first cross-platform app marketplace “AppCity”, aiming to transform the digital landscape.
This platform connects app developers and publishers with both B2C and B2B customers, promoting innovation, smart solutions, and accessibility in Bangladesh's pursuit of a "Smart Bangladesh," according to a press release.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, State Minister of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, graced the event as the Chief Guest, held at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.
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Also, present during the event were Petter-Børre Furberg, Chairman of Grameenphone Ltd. and Head of Telenor Asia, Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grameenphone and other key management members of the organization, it said.
App marketplace “AppCity”, a pivotal part of Grameenphone's telco-tech journey, is a unified platform offering a diverse range of applications and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. Functioning as both an App Store and API hub, this marketplace connects content providers and application developers with individual and corporate customers.
One of the distinctive features of “AppCity” is its built-in Android, iOS, and telco API capabilities offered seamlessly to B2C and B2B platforms, making it the first cross-platform app marketplace in Bangladesh. This development opens new avenues for non-coders to engage in app development, aligning with the platform's guided UI for easy app creation—comparable to some existing renowned platforms, said the release.
“AppCity” also claimed the title of being the first comprehensive B2B app marketplace in Bangladesh. Distinguishing itself from conventional app marketplaces, “AppCity” introduces curated expert ratings alongside conventional user ratings. Furthermore, to enhance accessibility, it integrates with Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in addition to telco billing and conventional payment methods. The platform also offers a broader range of payment channels compared to other market players, the release also said.
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“AppCity is a significant leap towards a smart future for the smart nation, reflecting our national aspirations. Integrating the innovations, the platform creates diverse opportunities for young entrepreneurs to actively contribute and thrive in shaping the ‘Smart Bangladesh,” said Palak.
“AppCity is for the people of Bangladesh and will be built by the people of Bangladesh. I invite and encourage everyone, to participate in the hackathon that will be arranged to contribute to build AppCity, for a smarter nation," he added.
“We are pleased to see Grameenphone stepping up and building AppCity, which not only empowers developers but ultimately enhances the digital experience for customers and businesses. In line with our commitment to a Smart Bangladesh, this industry-first initiative reflects our ongoing efforts to contribute to the country's technological advancement and digital transformation,” said Petter-Børre Furberg
"With AppCity, we are laying the foundation for a more connected and accessible smart future. This platform encapsulates our vision of creating a smarter, inclusive, safer, and sustainable ecosystem. Fostering connectivity that empowers society and propelling the ‘Smart Bangladesh’, our dedication goes beyond conventional telecom services. Grameenphone is reshaping its portfolio to include state-of-the-art ICT and IoT solutions, ensuring we stay ahead in meeting the dynamic needs of an interconnected world,” said Yasir Azman.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro Review: A High-end Gaming Device
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro debuted in India on January 08, 2024, and people are wondering if it's still a gaming phone. Unlike the ancestors, this new model looks quite different. Even with the new look, the 8 Pro keeps its focus on gaming without making things complicated. However, this flagship smartphone's performance has changed a bit though. The previous ROG phones used to work like a gaming PC. Interestingly, the latest 8 Pro serves in simpler and easier ways like a PlayStation. Let’s take a look at the detailed review of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.
Key Features and Specifications of ROG Phone 8 Pro
Design
The ROG Phone 8 Pro brings some notable changes to the table, introducing an edge-to-edge screen that enhances its aesthetic appeal. However, this design shift comes with trade-offs, such as the removal of dual front-facing speakers, impacting the immersive gaming experience.
The incorporation of a pinhole camera in the screen raises concerns for a gaming device, disrupting the seamless display. Despite losing some distinctive features that set the ROG Phone apart, it retains the headphone jack and gains an IP68 rating, a positive addition given its open ports. The transition from a glass to a plastic back raises concerns about slipperiness, emphasising the need for a protective case.
Read more: Asus ROG Strix G16 Review: Is it a value for money gaming laptop?
The device maintains its off-centre USB-C, but a secondary USB-C on the side proves handy for charging during portrait-mode gaming. Notably, the pixel-like LED effects on the back, customizable to display various information, provide a unique touch and contribute positively to the gaming aesthetics, standing out from typical RGB implementations.
Weighing 225g, 8 Pro’s dimensions are 163.8 mm by 76.8 mm by 8.9 mm. It is available in Phantom Black colour.
Display
The ROG Phone 8 Pro maintains a 6.78-inch FHD OLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It features 2,500 nits of peak brightness
It lacks the QHD resolution seen in the contemporary Android flagships. The display supports an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate for regular use, with a fixed 165Hz rate for specific games, enhancing smoothness during gameplay.
Read more: Asus ROG Phone 8 Review: 2024’s First Flagship Gaming Device
In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the ROG Phone 8 Pro excels in key metrics/ However, 8 Pro faces tough competition from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which offers remarkable brightness and color accuracy.
Notably, the ROG Phone 8 introduces a unique always-on display called Screen Light, utilizing tiny icons for charging status and essential information due to the absence of a thick top bezel. While functional, there's room for improvement, such as a scaling feature for better readability from a distance.
Samsung Electronics Chairman acquitted of financial crimes
A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial crimes involving a contentious merger between Samsung affiliates in 2015 that tightened his grip over South Korea’s biggest company.
The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court could ease the legal troubles surrounding the Samsung heir less than two years after he was pardoned of a separate conviction of bribery in a corruption scandal that toppled a previous South Korean government.
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The court said the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove the merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee’s control over Samsung Electronics.
Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for Lee, who was accused of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud. It wasn’t immediately clear whether they would appeal. Lee had denied wrongdoing in the current case, describing the 2015 merger as “normal business activity.”
Lee, 56, did not answer questions from reporters as left the court. You Jin Kim, Lee's lawyer, praised the court for confirming that the merger was legal.
Lee, a third-generation corporate heir who was officially appointed as the chairman of Samsung Electronics in October 2022, has led the Samsung group of companies since 2014, when his late father, former chairman Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack.
Lee Jae-yong served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2017 over separate bribery charges related to the 2015 deal. He was originally sentenced for five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ($6.4 million) worth of bribes to then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante to win government support for the 2015 merger, which was key to strengthening his control over the Samsung business empire and solidifying the father-to-son leadership succession.
Lee was released on parole in 2021 and pardoned by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022, in moves that extended a history of leniency toward major white-collar crime in South Korea and preferential treatment for convicted tycoons.
Some shareholders had opposed the 2015 merger, saying that it unfairly benefited the Lee family while hurting minority shareholders. There was also public anger over how the national pension fund’s stake in Samsung C&T, the merged entity, fell by an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars, after Park had pressured the National Pension Service to support the deal.
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Park and her confidante were also convicted in the scandal and enraged South Koreans staged massive protests for months demanding an end to the shady ties between business and politics. The demonstrations eventually led to Park’s ouster from office.
Lee has been navigating one of his toughest stretches as the leader of one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips and smartphones, with Russia’s war on Ukraine and other geopolitical turmoil hurting the world economy and deflating technology spending.
The company last week reported an annual 34% decline in operating profit for October-December quarter as sluggish demands for its TVs and other consumer electronics products offset hard-won gains from a slowly revering memory chip market.