TECHNOLOGY

Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink, is expanding its services worldwide. However, in the small Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea, the company has been forced to suspend operations due to licensing and reliability concerns. Reports reveal that Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, had not received formal approval from the Papua New Guinea government, yet the services were being offered to residents. Operations Began Without a LicenseAccording to RNZ, Starlink began providing internet services in Papua New Guinea without official government permission. Terminals were being sold, installed, and subscriptions were being accepted despite the lack of clearance. The National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) issued an order last week directing SpaceX to ce...

Tech enthusiasts have reason to rejoice as Vijay Sales launches its Apple Days Sale, offering massive discounts on a wide range of Apple products. Running until 4 January 2026, the sale features attractive deals on iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, AirPods, and more, allowing customers to save up to ₹20,000 on select products. iPhone 15 at an Unbeatable PriceThe iPhone 15, originally priced at ₹51,490, is now available for just ₹45,990 during the sale. HDFC Bank cardholders can avail an instant discount of ₹3,500, along with an exchange bonus of ₹2,000 for old devices, making this a steal for tech buyers. MacBook Air M4 Chip DiscountApple MacBook Air with the M4 chip is also part of the sale, available at ₹89,990 after a ₹10,000 instant discount on payments made via IDFC First Bank cards. ...

Keeping the geyser on while taking a shower might seem convenient, especially in winters, but it can be extremely dangerous. Experts warn that leaving the geyser on during showers increases the risk of blasts, electric shocks, faulty wiring, and other hazardous situations, putting users at serious risk. Why It’s RiskyModern geysers contain high-power heating rods that raise water temperature rapidly. Leaving the geyser on for extended periods while showering can increase pressure and heat inside the tank, sometimes resulting in explosions. Such accidents are particularly dangerous in bathrooms, where people are in close contact with water. Electric Shock HazardBathrooms are naturally wet environments. When a geyser is on during a shower, electricity and water come into direct contact...

Renowned computer scientist Jeffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” has issued a stark warning about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment in 2026. Speaking on a recent CNN program, Hinton highlighted that AI is set to accelerate further next year, posing the greatest threat to jobs, particularly for the working class. AI’s Rapid AccelerationAccording to Hinton, AI’s capabilities are expanding at an unprecedented pace. Fortune reports that AI doubles its efficiency approximately every seven months. Tasks that previously took hours, such as coding, can now be completed in minutes. Software development projects that once required months may soon be handled entirely by AI. This rapid progress could significantly reduce employment opportunities in software engineer...

The year 2025 witnessed several significant technological failures that disrupted the digital world. From social media outages to streaming interruptions, these incidents highlighted how dependent we have become on a few major tech companies. Here’s a look at the four biggest tech failures of the year that affected millions worldwide. 1. Amazon Web Services (AWS) OutageOn October 20, 2025, Amazon’s cloud service AWS experienced a major failure in its US-East-1 region, affecting the automated DNS system of DynamoDB. The outage lasted over 15 hours and was the largest incident of the year, with more than 17 million complaints logged on DownDetector. This disruption caused services like Snapchat, Netflix, and several e-commerce platforms to go offline, halting streaming, social media use, ...

OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla AI director Andrej Karpathy has recently described AI as a powerful “alien tool” that everyone is using without a manual. He emphasized that programmers need to upgrade their skills to harness its full potential. AI: The Alien ToolKarpathy calls AI an alien tool because it operates in a completely different way from traditional programming. Earlier, programs were fixed—running the same code repeatedly would produce the same results, and errors could be easily traced. Today’s large language models, however, can give different responses to the same query each time. Their internal processes are difficult to fully understand, making them a “black box,” even for their creators. The Programmer AdvantageKarpathy noted on social media platform X that integr...

In today’s digital world, we are constantly connected to the internet. While this brings convenience, it also exposes us to the risk of online fraud. Hackers and scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to target unsuspecting users. However, protecting yourself doesn’t require expertise—just awareness and a few simple steps can go a long way. Here are some practical tips to stay safe online. Limit Personal Information on Social MediaMany people overshare personal details on social media, which can make them targets for scams. Even sharing information about children can be risky. For instance, scammers often call elderly people pretending to be grandchildren or warn of a “relative in danger” to extract money. Limiting the information you share online is a crucial first step ...

In today’s digital age, your SIM card has become the key to banking, UPI, emails, and social media. Losing control of your phone number can be extremely dangerous. SIM-swap fraud and duplicate SIM scams have become increasingly common, allowing fraudsters to gain access to your OTPs and empty your bank account effortlessly. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution: SIM lock. Here’s how it works and why it’s essential. Why SIM Lock Is NecessaryA SIM lock acts as an extra layer of security. When enabled, no one can use your SIM without entering the correct PIN. This prevents fraudsters from porting your number or generating a duplicate SIM. Since most SIM-swap scams aim to gain control of your phone number, enabling SIM lock is a powerful safeguard against such fraud. What Does SIM Lock ...

Do you place your smartphone on a table with the screen facing up? If yes, you might be putting both your phone and yourself at risk. While it may seem like a small habit, the way you place your phone can have significant benefits if done correctly. Here’s why keeping your phone screen-down on a table is smarter. Protect Your PrivacyWhen the screen faces up, your phone becomes like an open book. Bank alerts, personal messages, office emails, and other notifications are easily visible to anyone nearby. Placing the phone screen-down eliminates the risk of prying eyes, ensuring your sensitive data stays private. In today’s world, protecting your identity and personal information is crucial, making this simple habit highly effective. Enhances FocusWe all know the trap: picking up the pho...

Have you ever wondered why, while smartphones come in a variety of colors, their chargers are almost always limited to black or white? It’s not due to company oversight. In fact, this is a deliberate strategy driven by science, safety, and business considerations. Here’s a detailed look at why most chargers come only in these two colors. The Science of Heat ControlThe primary reason behind black and white chargers is heat management. Chargers generate heat while charging devices, and these two colors are effective in dissipating it. Black and white surfaces help regulate temperature and reduce the risk of overheating, making them ideal choices from a thermal safety perspective. Cost-Effective and Easy ProductionManufacturers produce millions of chargers, and using black or white make...