TECHNOLOGY

New Delhi: Google has taken major steps to safeguard users by blocking over 1.75 million apps from being published on the Google Play Store in 2025. These apps posed significant risks, including financial fraud, malware, and privacy breaches. Using AI-powered security tools, the company also banned more than 80,000 developer accounts involved in repeated policy violations. Stronger Privacy Protections According to Google’s annual security report, the company prevented over 255,000 apps from accessing users’ sensitive data. Google has strengthened its privacy policies and introduced tools such as Play Policy Insights in Android Studio and the Data Safety section on Google Play. These measures help developers request sensitive permissions less frequently and prioritize user-centric des...

New Delhi: Many people diligently update their phones and laptops but overlook software updates for their Smart TVs. While TV updates don’t arrive as frequently as mobile or laptop updates, installing them is crucial. Missing these updates can lead to poor picture or sound quality, unreliable WiFi connectivity, and various software bugs that spoil the viewing experience. Here are five key benefits of keeping your Smart TV updated: 1. Access to New Features Leading brands like Samsung and LG often include new features with software updates. For instance, Samsung added HDR10+ support to its QLED and NeoQLED TVs via updates. Installing these updates lets users enjoy the latest features without buying a new television. 2. Fixing Old Issues Updates also address long-standing bugs...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak playfully remarked on Delhi’s traffic, opening his speech with, “AI can do many things, but it cannot fix Delhi’s traffic.” While lighthearted, his comment underscored the larger point: AI has enormous potential to bring transformative change in society, even if it cannot solve every local problem. Sunak praised India’s readiness to become a global AI leader, citing its talent pool and robust digital infrastructure. He noted that while Western countries approach AI with caution and concern, India demonstrates enthusiasm and confidence in its AI ecosystem. He highlighted that India ranked third in the Stanford Global AI Vibrancy Report, reflecting a highly active AI environment. Leadership in AI Is Abo...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Microsoft President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith highlighted India as a key hub for the future of artificial intelligence. He announced that Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion by the end of this decade to expand AI across the Global South, with India being a primary focus. Smith emphasized that infrastructure alone is not enough to drive AI adoption. “Data centers and basic facilities like computing, connectivity, and electricity are essential, but equally important is providing skills and training to people,” he said. According to him, AI must be effective in every language to address local challenges and serve humanity meaningfully. He added, “To make AI truly useful for the Global South, we need widespread training so that populati...

New Delhi: Realme has launched its budget smartphone, the Realme P4 Lite 4G, in India with a starting price of ₹9,999. The device will be available for purchase on Realme’s official website and Flipkart, with the first sale starting on 24 February 2026. Early buyers can avail of ₹2,000 discounts through bank offers and coupons, bringing the effective price down to ₹7,999 for the base variant. The phone comes with a massive 6300mAh battery, supports 6W reverse charging, and features a 6.67-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels and peak brightness of 450 nits. It runs on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0, powered by a UNISOC T7250 processor, and offers up to 12GB virtual RAM. Storage options include 64GB and 128GB, expandable via microSD card up to 2TB. Photography is ...

New Delhi: At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 held in Delhi, leaders from Adobe and Accenture expressed strong confidence in India’s AI potential. Adobe CEO and Chairman Shantanu Narayen highlighted that India, with its vast population and rapid digital adoption, could become the world’s largest base of AI users. He emphasized India’s potential global leadership in data security and combating deepfakes. Speaking at the summit, Narayen said, “India’s AI journey will not be limited to creating models alone. The country has the opportunity to lead globally on issues of data, privacy, security, and trust. In the AI era, the biggest question is not just technology, but how data is used, how privacy is protected, and how systems earn people’s trust.” He also pointed to content authenticity as...

With summer arriving early, it’s important to adjust your refrigerator settings to ensure optimal cooling and prevent potential damage. Ignoring these changes can lead to insufficient cooling, higher electricity bills, and even wear and tear on the appliance. Experts recommend three key adjustments for summer: temperature, airflow (ventilation), and anti-frost/defrost settings. Making these changes helps your fridge perform at its best and withstand the hotter months without issues. 1. Adjust the Temperature During winters, refrigerators are often set to a milder cold. In summer, you should set your fridge to the coldest setting to cope with higher ambient temperatures. Digital Thermostat: Set it to the minimum temperature. Dial-based Thermostat: If numbered 1 to 5, set it ...

Can ordinary button-based phones become smart? Indian AI company Sarvam AI is planning to bring its AI models to Nokia feature phones and HMD devices, offering AI-powered assistance even on basic phones. These edge models can work offline, allowing users to access information about government schemes, markets, or other services in their local language at the press of a button. AI for Most Phones At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Sarvam AI revealed that its edge AI models are compact and require just a few megabytes of space. They are compatible with most existing phone processors and can operate offline in many cases, making AI accessible even on budget devices. Dedicated AI Button on Phones Sarvam AI is collaborating with HMD Global to integrate a dedicated AI b...

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Mukesh Ambani announced that Jio aims to make Artificial Intelligence as affordable for Indians as mobile data. Drawing a parallel with how Jio revolutionized internet access with low-cost data, Ambani said the company is now focused on bringing AI to the masses at accessible rates. Jio AI to Support Indian Languages Mukesh Ambani emphasized that Jio AI will operate in multiple Indian languages, enabling farmers, students, youth, and small business owners to use AI in their native tongues. To this end, Jio has launched several language-focused platforms: Jio Shiksha AI – for education Jio Arogya AI – for healthcare Jio Krishi – for agriculture Jio Bharat IQ – for general use These platforms aim to provide localized, AI-powered solu...

Following its expansion in India, Apple is reportedly planning to begin iPhone manufacturing in Pakistan. According to recent reports, the tech giant will not only assemble new devices but also refurbish older iPhones for re-export, leveraging incentives under Pakistan’s proposed mobile and electronics manufacturing framework. Pakistan to Host Apple iPhone Manufacturing Sources indicate that Apple is exploring Pakistan as a new manufacturing hub after the government agreed to provide incentives under its proposed Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Framework. These incentives aim to attract global tech companies to set up local production, with the goal of boosting employment and reducing import dependency. Refurbished iPhones to Generate Revenue Under the new framework, Apple...