The Wallpaper That Broke Phones: A Cautionary Tale

TLDRA seemingly harmless wallpaper is causing phones to crash and wipe data, due to a color space conversion issue. Android phones using Google's default color engine are affected. The problem lies in a single pixel with high RGB values, causing the conversion to exceed the maximum value. Screenshots of the image are safe because they are saved in the sRGB color space. Android 11 is expected to fix this issue.

Key insights

📱A wallpaper is causing Android phones to crash and wipe data due to a color space conversion issue.

🎨The problem lies in a single pixel with high RGB values that exceed the maximum value during conversion.

🖥️Screenshots of the problematic wallpaper are safe because they are saved in the sRGB color space.

⚙️The issue affects Android phones using Google's default color engine for conversion.

🆕Android 11 is expected to fix the color space conversion issue.

Q&A

Why is the wallpaper causing phones to crash?

The wallpaper has a color space conversion issue, where a single pixel with high RGB values causes the conversion to exceed the maximum value, leading to crashes and data loss.

Are screenshots of the wallpaper safe?

Yes, screenshots are safe because they are saved in the sRGB color space, avoiding the problematic conversion.

Which phones are affected by this issue?

Android phones using Google's default color engine for conversion are affected by the wallpaper crash issue.

Can the issue be fixed?

Yes, Android 11 is expected to fix the color space conversion issue, preventing crashes and data loss caused by the wallpaper.

Should I be worried about this issue?

The chances of encountering this issue in other wallpapers are low, and Android 11 will provide a fix. However, it is recommended to avoid applying the problematic wallpaper as a precaution.

Timestamped Summary

00:00A wallpaper is causing Android phones to crash and wipe data.

03:59The wallpaper has a color space conversion issue, affecting phones with high RGB values.

07:36Screenshots of the wallpaper are safe due to being saved in the sRGB color space.

09:37The issue primarily affects Android phones using Google's default color engine.

09:49Android 11 is expected to fix the color space conversion issue.