TECHNOLOGY

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has officially rolled out the full version of the Aadhaar mobile application, introducing a major upgrade that allows users to verify another person’s identity directly through their smartphone. Although UIDAI had earlier announced January 28 as the launch date, the update has been made available a day in advance. The newly launched full version brings significant functional and visual changes to the Aadhaar app, marking an important step toward fully digital and paperless identity verification. What’s New in the Aadhaar App? The most notable addition in the updated app is the QR code scanning feature, which enables users to scan the digital Aadhaar QR code of another individual and instantly verify whether the Aadhaar is genuin...

Vivo X200T has officially launched in India with a starting price of ₹59,999, putting it in direct competition with the recently launched Motorola Signature, which is available at a similar price. Both devices offer a host of premium features, but Vivo may have an edge due to its strong after-sales service network in India. Vivo X200T OverviewThe Vivo X200T sports a 6.67-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 5000 nits. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ chipset built on a 3nm process and features the Immortalis-G925 GPU. The device comes with 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB/512GB UFS 3.1 storage. On the software front, it runs Android 16 with OriginOS 6 and supports dual SIMs. Camera and Photography Triple rear camera setup: 50...

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink has not received approval in India for its Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity technology. The Indian space regulator, IN-SPACe, rejected the company’s Gen 2 application, while approval for Gen 1 remains in place, allowing Starlink to provide traditional broadband services. What Happened?Starlink had applied for permission to deploy both Gen 1 and Gen 2 technologies in India. Gen 1, which uses 4,408 low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, has been approved and allows the company to provide standard broadband services. However, the Gen 2 application, which includes advanced D2D connectivity enabling signals to reach devices directly from space, was rejected by IN-SPACe. Why Was Gen 2 Rejected?According to officials, Gen 2 did not meet several ...

YouTube might soon require users to purchase a Premium subscription to access one of its most useful features—playback speed control. According to a post on Reddit, YouTube is experimenting with restricting this feature to premium subscribers, potentially limiting free users from speeding up videos in the future. What is the Playback Speed Feature?With attention spans shrinking in the era of reels and shorts, many users watch long videos at higher speeds to save time. This function, called playback speed, allows viewers to fast-forward content. The Reddit post revealed that YouTube is testing a change that could make this feature exclusive to premium users. If implemented, free users might have to subscribe to YouTube Premium to adjust video speeds. YouTube’s Testing MethodYouTube is...

In a special Republic Day offer, BSNL has launched the Bharat Connect 26 Plan, offering 2.6GB of daily data, unlimited calls, and 100 SMS per day for an entire year, all at ₹2,626. The plan is priced lower than comparable annual plans from Airtel and Jio, making it a cost-effective option for users. Plan Details Validity: 365 days (1 year) Daily Data: 2.6GB Unlimited Calls: Yes SMS: 100 per day OTT Subscriptions: Not included BSNL officially announced the plan via a tweet on its official X account. Users can recharge through BReX (chatbot.bsnl.co.in) to avail of this annual plan. The offer is valid for a limited period, until 26 February 2026. Comparison with Competitors Airtel: Annual plan priced at ₹3,599, offering 2GB daily data, unlimited calls, 100 SMS/da...

Pakistan is gearing up to launch 5G services in the coming months, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claiming that 80% of smartphones in the country are already 5G-ready. However, industry experts remain skeptical of this figure. Here’s a detailed look at Pakistan’s 5G readiness and how it compares to India. 5G Launch and Spectrum AuctionThe PTA is expected to hold a spectrum auction by the end of February 2026, covering frequency bands from 700 MHz to 3500 MHz. Once operational, 5G users in Pakistan could experience minimum download speeds of 50 Mbps, a significant improvement over current average internet speeds. Mid-band frequencies such as 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz may be used in cities to enhance network capacity and handle high data demand. Boost to 4G ServicesThe...

India has emerged as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), ranking among the top five countries in AI preparedness and adoption, according to a recent Stanford study. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted India as the third-largest AI power in the world, after the United States and China. Here’s a detailed look at why India is making rapid strides in AI: 1. Global AI RankingCountries are ranked on the Global AI Index based on AI research and development, AI talent and skills, investment and startups, computing infrastructure, government policies, and adoption speed. India stands out as the only lower-middle-income country in the top three, with the following scores: CountryScoreUSA78.6China36.95India21.59 2. AI Ski...

Apple and Google have joined forces to make Siri smarter and more helpful through Google’s Gemini AI model. The update will allow Siri to provide direct answers as well as emotional support to users. Importantly, all data will remain secure on Apple’s private cloud, ensuring user privacy. Gemini to Power Siri, But Apple Keeps ControlThe partnership will enhance Siri’s responses and conversational abilities, making them more advanced than ever. Users, however, will not see any mention of Google or Gemini—the experience will feel entirely Apple-native. Google provides the base structure of the Gemini model, but Apple will fine-tune it according to its own standards, deciding how Siri responds, the tone it uses, and how formal or friendly it is. Apple can request changes from Google, but m...

WhatsApp, the messaging app used by millions worldwide, may soon introduce a subscription model, according to reports. The change, revealed through the code of WhatsApp version 2.26.3.9, will primarily affect the Status feature, not messaging itself. Subscription Model for Ad-Free StatusUnder the upcoming model, users who subscribe to WhatsApp will enjoy an ad-free Status experience. Non-subscribers, however, will see advertisements in their Status tab. While sending messages will remain free, users who wish to avoid ads in Status updates may have to pay a subscription fee. This move comes as WhatsApp continues to explore ways to monetize its platform while maintaining its massive user base. Despite user concerns, the company has reportedly been working on this feature for a long tim...

A striking example of how AI can have unintended consequences has emerged from the UK, where a government-launched AI character designed to prevent youth extremism has now become a symbol of online hate. Meet Amelia, the AI schoolgirl at the center of this controversy. Amelia Sparks Online UproarThe UK has witnessed a unique AI-related case where an AI-generated schoolgirl named Amelia has become a viral and contentious figure online. Originally created to identify and counter hateful and racist content, the purple-haired AI girl has now been co-opted in memes spreading racist and extremist messages. What was intended as a tool for social good has increasingly been used to propagate hateful ideologies. Who is Amelia?Amelia was developed for an educational game titled Pathways: Naviga...