New Delhi: Since Donald Trump’s decisive win in the U.S election, many X (formerly Twitter) users have been turning to alternative social media platforms, with Bluesky emerging as a major beneficiary. The platform has seen a surge in user growth which is fueled by growing discontent with X’s policies and Trump’s election. Bluesky, in just the past week has gained 2.5 million new users which brings its total to more than 16 million, as reported by Reuters. The Origins of Bluesky Bluesky, which launched in beta in 2023 began as a research project in 2019 with the goal of decentralising social media. It was conceived by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, and initially funded by Twitter. However, Twitter later ended its service agreement with Bluesky’s approval. Unlike Twitter, which relies on global servers, Bluesky aims to create an open and decentralised standard for social media. Bluesky vs. X: Key Similarities Bluesky’s design bears a strong resemblance to X. It offers similar features like character-limited posts, known as “skeets,” the ability to share images and videos, and options to engage with others through reposts, likes, and replies. Users can also follow accounts to personalise their timelines and send direct messages. Bluesky vs. X: What Sets Them Apart The key difference between Bluesky and many other social media platforms lies in its decentralised structure. While traditional platforms like X rely on servers controlled by a single company, Bluesky operates on independent servers, allowing for greater decentralisation. The Backlash Driving Users Away from X X has faced significant backlash for its role in the recent U.S. presidential election. It was accused of spreading misinformation. False claims about crucial battleground states gained traction on the platform, with election-related content drawing 46.5 million visits on November 6. As a result, over 115,000 U.S. users deactivated their accounts, marking the largest single-day exodus since Elon Musk took over the platform.

New Delhi: Food-delivery platform Zomato has introduced ‘District,’ an app for dining services and ticket booking for a host of other events. It is available on both iOS and Android platforms. The app combines dining services with ticket bookings for movies, live performances, sports events and more. With ‘District,’ Zomato introduces its third major service after its popular food delivery platform and BlinkIT’s quick-commerce service. The company aims to become the go-to app for anyone eager to dine out or explore events and experiences in their city. Zomato’s entry into the going-out segment is a smart step to broaden its revenue sources and tap into the growing entertainment market. The company, in August 2023 strengthened its position in this space by acquiring Paytm’s events and ticketing business for Rs 2,048 crore. Key Features of Zomato’s District App The District app brings together a wide range of services to enhance your outings: – Movie Ticket Booking: Easily book tickets for your favorite films at popular chains like PVR-Inox and Cinepolis. – Event Reservations: Secure your spot at concerts, plays, and live events with just a few taps. – Dining Reservations: Reserve tables at top restaurants using Zomato’s vast network for seamless dining experiences. Zomato’s ticketing services on the District app will face competition from BookMyShow, India’s pioneering ticketing platform, launched in August 2007 and backed by Reliance.

New Delhi: The popular online streaming service Netflix is currently facing a major issue—it has gone down. Thousands of users in the U.S. and India are experiencing difficulties accessing Netflix. This outage comes just before the highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. According to Downdetector.com, a website that tracks online service outages, around 14,000 users are facing difficulties accessing Netflix. However, the problem isn’t affecting everyone—some users can still stream Netflix without any issues. The disruption seems to be region-specific, with many users in certain areas unable to access the platform. The exact cause of the problem remains unclear, and Netflix has yet to release any official statement addressing the issue. According to Downdetector.com, the number of reports peaked at around 13,895 during the outage but has since dropped to approximately 5,100. The majority of users (86 per cent) are facing issues with video streaming, while about 10% are struggling to connect to the server, and 4 per cent are encountering login problems. In India, the issue has been reported as well. By 9:30 PM, over 1,200 complaints were registered. Most of these (84%) were related to problems with video streaming, while 10% were linked to app issues, and 8% were about difficulties with the website.

New Delhi: WhatsApp has introduced a new “Message Drafts” feature for iOS and Android users worldwide. This makes it easier to manage unfinished messages. This new update automatically saves incomplete messages with a “Draft” label and places them at the top of the chat list. This ensures users can easily pick up where they left off. This feature helps you stay organised and get back to your conversations seamlessly. Whenever you start a message but don’t send it, a clear “Draft” label will appear, and the message will automatically move to the top of your chat list. This makes it easy to pick up where you left off, especially when you’re interrupted or forget to send a message, WhatsApp explained. The draft reminder at the top of your chat list ensures you won’t overlook any important messages. It lets you easily pick up conversations right where you left off. Instead of scrolling through multiple chats or struggling to recall where you paused, the Draft indicator offers a quick and simple way to find your unfinished messages. WhatsApp has rolled out several updates in recent years to improve communication which includes features like disappearing messages, multi-device support, and now, Message Drafts. These changes highlight the app’s dedication to listening to user feedback and making the platform more user-friendly for everyday use. The Message Drafts feature is now available worldwide and users can access it simply by updating their WhatsApp app. This update is part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to enhance functionality, save time, and make the user experience smoother. How to Use WhatsApp Drafts: – Automatic Draft Saving: WhatsApp will automatically save any unsent messages as drafts. – “Draft” Indicator: If you leave a message unsent, a green “Draft” label will appear next to the chat. – Easy Access: The draft will appear at the top of your chats, making it simple to find and continue where you left off. – Privacy: The recipient won’t see the draft until the message is sent. – No Extra Steps: No need for any manual saving – WhatsApp handles it for you.

New Delhi: Online scams remain a major threat, with a 25-year-old woman from Udupi, Karnataka, recently losing Rs 1.94 lakh in the latest incident. It all started when she came across a high-paying job ad while scrolling through social media. Intrigued, she clicked on the link, only to be lured into a scam. She was added to a group where members convinced her to invest money. However, it all turned out to be a trap. The victim, Archana, was looking for part-time job opportunities when she came across an Instagram post advertising an “Amazon Freshers Job in India,” according to The Times of India. Curious, she clicked the link which took her to a WhatsApp chat. There, she was promised high returns in exchange for a small investment. Archana believed the offer and ended up sending money to several unknown UPI IDs. Archana transferred a total of Rs 1,94,000 between October 18 and October 24 to the accounts, hoping to receive the promised returns on her ‘investment.’ Unfortunately, no returns came and she couldn’t contact the scammers to recover her money. After realising she has been tricked, she reported the incident to the Cyber Crime Police Station. How to Protect Yourself from Job Scams – Double-Check Job Ads: Always verify job postings, especially on social media. Research the company or person on official websites to ensure they are genuine. – Be Wary of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on unknown links, particularly those promising easy money or high returns. – No Upfront Payments: Legitimate employers will never ask for money. Treat any request for payment or investment as a warning sign. – Keep Personal Details Private: Never share sensitive information, like your bank details or UPI ID, without verifying the source. – Act Fast on Suspicion: If something feels off, report it immediately to the cybercrime agency for quick action.

New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground­ based Broadcasters’ on 18th October, 2024 for comments/counter-comments of stakeholders. The last date for receiving written comments from the stakeholders was fixed as 15th November, 2024 and counter comments, if any, by 29th November, 2024. The stakeholders have sought extension of time for sending their comments on consultation paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters’.  “In view of this, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments up to 22nd November, 2024. Counter comments, if any, may also be submitted by 6th December, 2024. No further requests for extension would be considered,” TRAI said.

Google Maps Air Quality Tracking Free: Google is rolling out a new feature for users in India to track real-time air quality index (AQI) data. The tech giant is expanding its AQI tracking capability on Google Maps—which already spans over 40 countries. This feature also offers timely updates on pollution levels, which tend to rise with the approaching winter.  With this enhancement, Google Maps users can access up-to-date air quality information, empowering them to make informed choices regarding their daily routines and travel plans based on current pollution conditions. Moreover, this feature is available in the US, Australia, Israel, Chile, Singapore India and more. Users in India can access this information directly within the app.  The AQI tracker on Google Maps displays air quality information by using a colour-coded system:  The air quality index is colour-coded to indicate levels of safety and health. Green represents safe and healthy air quality, while yellow indicates a moderate level. Orange suggests air that may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, and red signifies unhealthy conditions for everyone. Purple indicates very unhealthy air, and maroon is used to denote hazardous levels, posing serious health risks.  How To Use AQI Tracker On Google Maps  Step 1: Update Google Maps by ensuring you have the latest version of the app installed on your device. Step 2: Search for a location by entering the name of the place you want to check in the search bar. Step 3: Tap the layers icon, which looks like a stack of squares, located below the search bar once the location is displayed. Step 4: Select “Air Quality” from the menu options that appear.  Notably, the users can tap anywhere on the map to see the AQI for that specific area. Users can also access the new AQI tracker through the Google Maps app, along with trackers for traffic, public transport, bicycling, and wildfires. 

New Delhi: Reliance Jio has once again rolled out a budget-friendly recharge plan. Jio users can now get a 10 GB data voucher for just Rs 11. This plan is ideal for users who have exhausted their daily data limit or need extra data for a short time. Jio Rs 11 Data Voucher: Features and Validity The Jio Rs 11 data voucher gives users 10 GB of high-speed 4G date. Once the limit is reached users can continue browsing at reduced speeds. The voucher is valid for one hour from the time of recharge and is focused solely on internet access, without any voice call or SMS benefits. It’s an ideal choice for users who need quick, temporary data access. How can Jio users purchase the Rs 11 data pack, and who is it available for? The Rs 11 data pack is available for both prepaid and postpaid Jio users. It can be easily purchased through the MyJio app or by visiting the Jio website. Using the Voucher with Your Current Plan This Rs 11 data voucher is highly flexible as it works even without a base plan, providing internet access only. If you already have a base pack with calling and SMS, you can use the voucher alongside it to enjoy continuous voice and SMS services while benefiting from extra data. What are the other Jio data vouchers available? – Rs 49 Voucher: Provides unlimited 4G data, valid for 1 day – Rs 175 Voucher: Offers 10GB of data and access to 10 OTT apps, valid for 28 days – Rs 219 Voucher: Includes 30GB of data, valid for 30 days – Rs 359 Voucher: Provides 50GB of data, valid for 30 days Jio also offers booster packs starting at Rs 19 for 1GB, going up to Rs 139 for 12GB. These packs remain valid for the same duration as your base plan.

Google Chrome Features: Good news for Chrome Users! Google has rolled out four new updates for Chrome on iOS devices — including iPhones and iPads. Notably, Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world. The new features include shopping insights, Google Lens functionality, and the ability to save online content to Google Drive and Google Photos for Chrome users on iOS. Let’s have a quick look at the features – Saving Files and Pictures to Drive And Photos This feature enables users to free up storage space on their iPhone, iPad, or other iOS devices by directly saving content from the web to Google Drive and Google Photos through Chrome. Adding further, users can save images from Chrome to Photos by simply long-pressing on the picture and selecting ‘Save to Google Photos’ from the context menu. Google Lens Search Users can now enhance their photo searches with text descriptions. They can add words to their visual queries, allowing searches that combine images and text simultaneously. To use this feature, users must be signed into at least one Google account. Shopping Insights This feature helps users find deals while shopping online. Currently, it is available for Chrome iOS users in the United States. (Also Read: Google Introduces New Feature To Detect Spam Calls in Real Time: Check Compatible Devices And How It Works) Single Tap to View Map of an Address When browsing a website, if an address appears, users can tap the underlined address to instantly view a mini-map of the location within Chrome. This feature is still under development and will be rolled out globally over the coming months. How To Transfer Files And Photos From Chrome To Google Drive On Devices Step 1: Download the file you want to save from Chrome on your iOS device. Step 2: After the download completes, tap the ‘Share’ icon in Chrome to open the file options. Step 3: From the share options, tap the Google Drive option to save the file directly to your Drive. Step 4: The file will be saved in a new folder called “Saved from Chrome” in your Google Drive, where you can access it later.