Supermassive Games is a developer known for squeezing juicy horror tropes for all they're worth, and the upcoming Directive 8020 is no different in this respect. Exuding paranoia, claustrophobia, and raw, isolated terror, Directive 8020 is shaping up to be a solid, appropriately pulpy thrill ride with stunning visuals and blockbuster storytelling.

Majima's Pirate Crew always needs more members in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and recruiting someone usually means doing a favor for them first. Winning Fights, Increasing your Pirate Rank, completing sidestories, or finding specific items are all common requirements for recruiting people to the crew.

While I naively hoped to see the Galaxy S25 Edge ahead of MWC, that wasnt what I saw last week at Samsung's pre-show briefing. However, what I did see might intrigue many of you: a cheaper slice of Galaxy hardware in the form of the Galaxy A56. It will be available later this year, starting at $499 (or 499 in the UK), which is slightly cheaper than the Pixel 8a when it first appeared. Samsung also announced the Galaxy A36 and A26 today, and they'll start at $399 and $299 respectively.Many of the A series upgrades this year match what we saw from the S25. The A56 is thinner than its predecessor, down to 7.4mm from 8.2mm, while packing a marginally bigger 6.7-inch screen. The bezels, which were usually one of the most prominent visual tells of an A series, have been shaved the devices bezels down further on the A56, too.Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget.The hardware has been tweaked, with a brushed metal frame and a minor design twist: a new slightly protruding bump on the side where the volume and power buttons sit. When I got to handle the A56 briefly, I liked this. Asymmetry aside, it was easier to handle, which was surprising since this was a 6.7-inch device, and Im more used to 6.3-inch phones. The A56 felt less unwieldy. (Did Samsungs designers read my unhinged editorial on the sides of phones and decide to muddy the waters further? Perhaps.)It's a mixed bag on camera specs this year. The front of the A56 now has a lower-res 12-megapixel selfie camera, while on the back sits an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 lens and optical image stabilization. Theres still a 5MP macro lens for someone out there.Those new cameras feature many of the latest upgrades on the S25 family, including improved image signal processing for better low-light performance, as well as a raft of AI features, including enhanced subject detection in portrait mode. Samsung says the A56 will better recognize sky, skin, faces, hair and grass for improved bokeh effects.Regarding AI-powered image editing, theres also Object Eraser, auto trim for videos and Create Filter, where you can choose an existing image and apply its color and tone to a different photo. You'll also get Best Face, which lets you pick from multiple captures for everyone's best expression, as long as you have motion photos enabled. These aren't new features on smartphones, but their addition brings the midrange A56 closer to the Galaxy S25.Through One UI 7, the A56 gets style flourishes and home screen improvements like the Now bar, notification panel changes and scalable widgets in different shapes and sizes. Samsung also promises six generations of OS updates (up from four on last years A55) and six years of security updates.Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget.As you can tell by now, there arent any surprises here. The 5,000mAh battery is the same size as the A55's, although the charging speed is now 45W. The company says you can charge the device fully in just over an hour. Samsung has swapped to its own 4nm Exynos 1580 chip, too, with CPU boosts of around 18 percent. The hardware, once again, inches closer to the quality and premium feel of what we typically see on Galaxy S devices.It's peak midrange phone season. The Galaxy A56 goes up against the recently launched iPhone 16e, while rumors suggest Google's Pixel 9a could break cover very soon.The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26Samsung also announced the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G today, which both have 6.7-inch screens that get as bright as 1,200 nits and refresh at up to 120Hz. They come with One UI 7 as well, including features like Circle To Search that previously launched on pricier phones. Plus, they also feature triple camera systems on the rear with a 50MP main sensor, though their ultrawide setup camera is not as sharp as the A56 at 8MP. Some of the software features, like Best Face, are also reserved for the A56, though you'll still find the updated Object Eraser and Filters on the pair of cheaper handsets.Finally, though the A36 and A26 have the same IP67 rating and 5,000mAh battery as the A56, they'll only pack 6GB of RAM and the A36 uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor instead of the Exynos 1580 in the A56.Galaxy A56 price and availabilityIn the UK, the Galaxy A56 will go on preorder on March 2nd and launch on March 19th. It'll come in four awesome (Samsungs wording) colors, Graphite, Olive, Pink and Light Grey. Because nothing screams awesome like a lighter shade of grey. While we do have US pricing, Samsung hasn't shared more precise timing for availability than "later this year."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-midrange-galaxy-a56-has-ai-photo-editing-and-a-bump-for-its-buttons-230018254.html?src=rss

From Tarantino to Lynch, Paramount Plus is bringing some of the best Hollywood movies to the platform in March 2025.

The operators seem to be "renting out" infected devices to the Vo1d botnet.

Glass bottles are quite difficult to pack in a way that leaves a lasting impression. After all, you have to make sure its well protected from bumps and scratches, so most use a typical box with lots of support or padding material in the end. Thats definitely safe but also boring, and it wouldnt match a bottle thats designed to be outrageously eccentric and unconventional. For that, you need to think outside the box, and what better way to do that than with a box that will make you feel like some treasure hunter solving a puzzle.The Belvedere 10 bottle itself is unlike a regular bottle, looking more like a mysterious ten-level tower with each floor shaped like a chiseled diamond. It evokes a sense of mystery and adventure, and this packaging tries to match that by having just as many hexagonal segments that you turn around until you get the proper combination, unlocking the hidden treasure inside.Designer: Love CreativeHow much patience can you spare for opening a wine bottle box? If youre in the middle of a busy social gathering, probably not much. Youd want to be pouring out drinks as fast as you can to keep your guests happy. Not this box, though. This box is meant to be shown off, not just because of its unusual geometric shape but also because of the work you need to do to open it. At least until youve memorized the code.Trying to match not just the odd nature of the bottle itself but also the action-packed launch film directed by Taika Waititi, this equally odd packaging adopts not your typical box or cylinder but 10 stacks of hexagonal shapes. The hexagons have golden outlines of mudras or hand gestures printed on some of their sides, hand signs that might tickle the fancy of Naruto fans.The hand signs are actually a secret handshake used in the promotional video, and like any secret handshake, theres a very specific pattern you have to follow to be acknowledged by the other party or vice-versa. The bottle packaging replicates that by making you turn each level of the box until the right signs are lined up, and only then will you be able to slide off the top hexagon and release the bottle inside.Admittedly, its a very complicated design, one that will only appeal to people who show off limited-edition items. Unsurprisingly, this kind of packaging is reserved for influencers and the press, but its definitely an intriguing way to package a bottle that involves a bit of excitement and fun, at least until the novelty wears off.The post Geometric bottle packaging makes you solve a puzzle before you can open it first appeared on Yanko Design.

The companys latest affordable smartphones are thinner and more durable and have a sprinkling of AI.

March 2: Adwa Victory Day in EthiopiaWilt Chamberlain1484 The College of Arms, one of the few remaining official heraldic authorities in Europe, was incorporated by royal charter in the City of London.1776 American Revolutionary War: Patriot militiamen from Georgia and South Carolina attempted to resist the British action to seize and remove supply ships anchored at Savannah, Georgia.1949 The B-50 Superfortress Lucky LadyII landed in Fort Worth, Texas, to complete the first non-stop circumnavigation of the world by airplane.1962 Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, American basketball player Wilt Chamberlain (pictured) scored 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks, which remains an NBA record.2022 Russian forces captured the city of Kherson, the only regional capital to be taken during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Pope AdrianVI (b.1459)Alexander Bullock (b.1816)Bedich Smetana (b.1824)Ida Maclean (d.1944)More anniversaries: March 1March 2March 3ArchiveBy emailList of days of the yearAbout

Samsung is bringing even more AI to its line of budget-friendly phones. The new Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 now come with what the company calls awesome intelligence, enabling an array of new AI-powered image editing features already available with Samsungs pricier S25 lineup.One of these features is Best Face, an AI tool that lets you swap the facial expressions of up to five people in a motion photo in case someone blinks or looks away from the camera. Its similar to Google Pixels Best Take and launched with the Galaxy S25 in January.Theres an improved object removal tool and photo filters, along with Googles Circle to Search feature that allows you to search for text and images just by circling it on your screen. (Samsung added Circle to Search to select A-series devices last August.) The phones will also support up to six years of Android OS and security upgrades, which is longer than what Samsung previously offered for the previous generation.The Galaxy A36 has a last-gen Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip.Besides new AI features, Samsung made some small design tweaks to each phone, as well. In addition to an oval-shaped rear camera housing, all three devices now have the same 6.7-inch full HD Plus display with an up to 120Hz refresh rate, as opposed to the smaller 6.6-inch screen on the A55 and A35, and 6.5 inches on the A25. The A56 comes with the same 12MP ultrawide sensor, 50MP main camera, and 5MP macro camera. It also has a 12MP selfie shooter (which is lower than the A55s 32MP front-facing sensor).Though the A56 comes with an upgraded Exynos 1580 chip, the A36 has a last-gen Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip. All three A-series devices have a 5,000 mAh battery, but only the A56 and A36 support 45W charging and come with a larger vapor chamber to improve performance. Samsung has also extended IP67 dust and water resistance to the A26 for the first time. The phones will ship with Android 15 and come in a range of colors that vary by device.The Galaxy A26 gets a slightly larger 6.7-inch display, too. Image: SamsungAt $499, the Galaxy A56 is the most expensive of the bunch and will launch in the US later this year. The A36 will be available on March 26th exclusively at Best Buy starting at $399, while the A26 will cost $299 when it launches on March 28th. The Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 will also be available for purchase in the UK on March 19th for 499, 399, and 299, respectively.See More:

Mobile World Congress 2025 is nearly upon us, and were heading to Barcelona to see what the worlds smartphone manufacturers have to offer as they launch new devices, tease new features, and talk incessantly about AI. The show officially kicks off on March 3rd and runs to March 6th, but the first announcements should arrive on March 2nd, when Xiaomi, HMD, and Honor all have press conferences scheduled.MWC may be a long way from its glory days when the likes of Samsung and Sony used it as the launchpad for that years flagship phones, but there are still some major players expected to unveil new hardware next week most notably, Xiaomi bringing its flagship 15 series to Europe. Nothing, HMD, and Realme are among the other companies we already know are planning to launch new phones.Read Article >