TOI Tech

• newThese are apps that iPhone and iPad users spent most on in 2021
  
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:06pm -
• newOpt-out rate for mobile app tracking to decline by 2023: Report
  As Apple and Google aim to control mobile app tracking on their respective platforms, the opt-out rate for mobile app tracking is expected to decline from 85 per cent in 2021 to 60 per cent by 2023 as…
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:04pm -
• newSoftbank Group shares slide 3% after triple setback of Didi, Arm and Grab
  Shares in Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp dropped over 3% on Friday after the giant tech investor was hit with three disappointments within 24 hours, including a poor Nasdaq debut for ride-h…
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:03pm -
• newThis is how government is planning to take Aadhaar global
  UIDAI CEO Saurabh Garg during a panel discussion with Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma at the Infinity Forum said the authority is also exploring emerging technology to enhance security and increase…
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:00pm -
• newTwitter removes 3,465 state-linked info ops, Twitterati bemoans bigger 'losses'
  Ask a Twitter jock and youll hear metrics like "engagement" and "quality". Dig deeper and it comes down to the crude number of follows. "Oh, she has just xyz follows (and they are bots), I have a thou…
  - 47 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 10:14am -
• newElon Musk sells Tesla shares worth $1.01 billion
  Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk has sold another 934,091 shares of the electric vehicle maker worth $1.01 billion to meet his tax obligations related to the exercise of options to buy 2.1 million…
  - 44 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 10:11am -
• newUS FTC sues to block Nvidia deal to buy Arm
  The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued to block U.S. chip company Nvidia Corp's more than $80 billion planned acquisition of British chip technology provider Arm, adding to already significant global…
  - 42 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 10:09am -
• newDidi Global plans to delist from New York, seek listing in Hong Kong
  
  - 36 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 10:03am -
• newMetaverse won't be turning point in cryptocurrency adoption, investor Chesnais says
  The growth of online virtual worlds will help advance the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies for payment transactions but it won't be a game-changer, according to Frederic Chesnais, chief executi…
  - 34 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 10:01am -
• newGoogle delays mandatory return to office beyond January 10
  Alphabet Inc's Google said it is indefinitely pushing back its January return-to-office plan globally amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and some resistance to company-m…
  - 21 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 9:06am -
• newApple announces top free iPhone and iPad games on App Store in India in 2021: All the winners
  
  - 43 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 8:44am -
• IIT-M enhances wearable devices with IoT, ML for differently-abled
  The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) researchers are enhancing already developed wearable devices with latest technologies that will assist people with hearing impairment and motor disabi…
  - 9 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:11am -
• China imposes $235,000 fine on social media firm Douban, here's why
  The internet watchdog said in a statement that Beijing authorities fined Douban's operating entity 1.5 million yuan ($235,000)
  - 13 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:46pm -
• Online job searches in vernacular languages grow in India: Report
  Job seekers in tier-II cities are more likely to engage in a language apart from English on professional networking platforms and Hindi, Kannada and Tamil are the most preferred vernacular languages,…
  - 13 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:39pm -
• Ex-Google scientist Gebru opens own AI institute
  Timnit Gebru, the computer scientist whose disputed exit from Google's artificial intelligence research team prompted debate across the tech industry about diversity and censorship, said on Thursday s…
  - 13 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:38pm -

Business Today Tech

• newApple's chip manufacturer hints iPhone 14 may get 3nm A16 processor next year
  Apple's foundry, TSMC, has reportedly started the low-yield production of 3nm chipsets, which could find their way to next year's iPhone 14 in the form of the A16 chipset.
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:28pm -
• newWorld Esports Cup (WEC) 2021 Pakistan Invitational Qualifiers Day 2 results out; Here is the Day 3 live stream schedule
  World Esports Cup (WEC) 2021 is the first and largest Free Fire tournament between India, Pakistan and Nepal.
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:22pm -
• newIf you have used Zoom between 2016 and 2021, you are eligible to get Rs 1874 from the company
  Zoom was accused of sharing personal information of users with third parties. The company has denied the allegations but agreed to pay $85 million to settle the action.
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:05pm -
• newGoogle Pixel Watch codenamed "Rohan" is in the works, could launch next year to compete with Apple Watch
  New reports have suggested that Google is working on its own line of wearables, starting with a smartwatch which will likely be featured under the Pixel brand. If things are just as being reported, we…
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 2:01pm -
• newJio discontinues Rs 499, Rs 666 and Rs 888 3GB daily data plans, check revised tariffs
  Jio is currently offering Disney Hotstar benefits with only one prepaid plan and has discontinued the three plans with 3GB daily data that were announced in September altogether.
  - 4 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 1:31pm -
• newOnePlus RT: Specs, feature, India launch, price, and everything we know so far
  The OnePlus RT is likely to launch in India this month. As per a recent report, the OnePlus RT could be priced at Rs 39,999 in India. Considering the launch is around the corner, we have put down ever…
  - 4 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 1:08pm -
• newPhonePe launches affordable health insurance plans starting at Rs 999 only
  PhonePe has introduced a new Health@999 plan for first time health insurance buyers. The insurance cover can be bought using three easy steps.
  - 4 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 1:00pm -
• newMeta has new tools for women to anonymously flag revenge porn
  The age of revenge porn might be inching to a close, starting with Meta’s new tools.
  - 3 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:56pm -
• newRealme 9i leak reveals GT Neo 2-like design, key specifications
  Realme has confirmed that it will launch the Realme 9 series next year and ahead of that, the specifications and design for the Realme 9i have cropped up.
  - 3 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:53pm -
• newMeta to expand Facebook Protect program to India by 2021-end
  This program was first tested in the US in 2018 and expanded during the 2020 Presidential Elections.
  - 3 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:47pm -
• newHow will video calls look in future? Google Project Starline gives a sneak peek
  I have always imagined a time when the person you call will be standing right in front of you in the form of a hologram, speaking and moving just as in a real-life conversation. Finally, it seems Goog…
  - 3 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:42pm -

Techmeme

• newSingapore-based LingoAce, which helps students learn Mandarin from native speakers, raises a $105M Series C led by Sequoia Capital India (Kul Bhushan/Tech in Asia)
  Kul Bhushan / Tech in Asia:Singapore-based LingoAce, which helps students learn Mandarin from native speakers, raises a $105M Series C led by Sequoia Capital India  —  Hugh Yao, a former executi…
  - 2 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 7:50am -
• newClarity AI, whose AI helps fund managers gauge environmental impact of their investments, raised $50M in August, led by Vision Fund 2 at a $450M valuation (Simon Jessop/Reuters)
  Simon Jessop / Reuters:Clarity AI, whose AI helps fund managers gauge environmental impact of their investments, raised $50M in August, led by Vision Fund 2 at a $450M valuation  —  Softbank Gro…
  - 4 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 5:45am -
• British asset manager Abrdn to buy Interactive Investor, an online investment platform, for $1.98B in cash (Reuters)
  Reuters:British asset manager Abrdn to buy Interactive Investor, an online investment platform, for $1.98B in cash  —  Abrdn (ABDN.L)is to buy investment platform interactive investor for 1.49 b…
  - 5 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 4:15am -
• Records show at least three US federal agencies bought Lorex video surveillance equipment from Chinese firm Dahua Technology despite a government ban (Zack Whittaker/TechCrunch)
  Zack Whittaker / TechCrunch:Records show at least three US federal agencies bought Lorex video surveillance equipment from Chinese firm Dahua Technology despite a government ban  —  Lorex is own…
  - 6 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 3:45am -
• US prosecutors charge two men with running a music royalty scam, collecting $20M+ from YouTube, by falsely claiming rights to 50,000 Spanish language songs (Lukas I. Alpert/MarketWatch)
  Lukas I. Alpert / MarketWatch:US prosecutors charge two men with running a music royalty scam, collecting $20M+ from YouTube, by falsely claiming rights to 50,000 Spanish language songs  —  Pros…
  - 6 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 3:00am -
• Didi Global says it will begin the process of delisting from the NYSE and listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange (Reuters)
  Reuters:Didi Global says it will begin the process of delisting from the NYSE and listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange  —  Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Global (DIDI.N) said on Friday it wi…
  - 8 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 1:45am -
• A look at the Xbox Series X and PS5 markets, as holiday shoppers navigate a world of "purchase bot" resellers, retail memberships, and social media tips (New York Times)
  New York Times:A look at the Xbox Series X and PS5 markets, as holiday shoppers navigate a world of “purchase bot” resellers, retail memberships, and social media tips  —  New gaming console…
  - 9 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 12:35am -
• Uber says it is launching an optional audio recording pilot program to enhance safety in three US cities this month, following a Latin America rollout in 2019 (Tina Bellon/Reuters)
  Tina Bellon / Reuters:Uber says it is launching an optional audio recording pilot program to enhance safety in three US cities this month, following a Latin America rollout in 2019  —  Uber Tech…
  - 10 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 11:45pm -
• Crunchbase: investments in crypto-based gaming and commerce startups increased 26x YoY, totaling $3.7B so far in 2021 (Berber Jin/The Information)
  Berber Jin / The Information:Crunchbase: investments in crypto-based gaming and commerce startups increased 26x YoY, totaling $3.7B so far in 2021  —  Venture capitalists investing in consumer s…
  - 11 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 10:50pm -
• Marketers are reacting to privacy laws and Big Tech policy changes with quizzes and other events to collect their own customer info and build detailed profiles (Suzanne Vranica/Wall Street Journal)
  
  - 11 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 10:00pm -
• Panther Labs, which helps companies detect and respond to security threats in real time, raises a $120M Series B led by Coatue at a $1.4B valuation (Mehnaz Yasmin/Reuters)
  Mehnaz Yasmin / Reuters:Panther Labs, which helps companies detect and respond to security threats in real time, raises a $120M Series B led by Coatue at a $1.4B valuation  —  Panther Labs raised…
  - 12 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 9:00pm -
• The FTC sues to block Nvidia's acquisition of Arm, arguing the chip deal is anticompetitive; the $40B deal has risen to ~$75B due to Nvidia's share price (Wall Street Journal)
  Wall Street Journal:The FTC sues to block Nvidia's acquisition of Arm, arguing the chip deal is anticompetitive; the $40B deal has risen to ~$75B due to Nvidia's share price  —  The agency alleg…
  - 13 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:41pm -
• The four leading virtual worlds recorded over $100M in NFT land sales in the past week, with The Sandbox alone seeing trading volumes of over $86M (Hristina Yordanova/DappRadar)
  Hristina Yordanova / DappRadar:The four leading virtual worlds recorded over $100M in NFT land sales in the past week, with The Sandbox alone seeing trading volumes of over $86M  —  The Sandbox…
  - 13 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:30pm -
• Sources: Goldman Sachs is among a handful of tier-one US banks working on ways to use bitcoin as collateral for cash loans to institutions (Ian Allison/CoinDesk)
  Ian Allison / CoinDesk:Sources: Goldman Sachs is among a handful of tier-one US banks working on ways to use bitcoin as collateral for cash loans to institutions  —  Goldman Sachs is among a han…
  - 14 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 7:55pm -
• Report: Google's Pixel hardware group is working on the company's first smartwatch, internally codenamed "Rohan", which it plans to launch next year (The Verge)
  The Verge:Report: Google's Pixel hardware group is working on the company's first smartwatch, internally codenamed “Rohan”, which it plans to launch next year  —  A Pixel Watch is finally in…
  - 14 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 7:36pm -

Forbes Tech

Techcrunch India

• Facebook is making two-factor mandatory for high-risk accounts
  Facebook, a recently added subsidiary of Meta, said it will make two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory for high-risk accounts likely to be targeted by malicious hackers. The move is part of a majo…
  - 19 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 2:00pm -
• Falcon Edge Capital eyes raising a fund of over $10 billion
  Falcon Edge Capital, the New York-headquartered investor that has emerged as one of the most aggressive in recent years, is pushing to make its most ambitious bet yet. The firm is in early stages of t…
  - 21 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 12:56pm -
• Swiggy to invest $700 million in instant grocery delivery service
  Swiggy, India’s top food-delivery startup, will invest $700 million in its express grocery delivery service Instamart, significantly intensifying the competition for quick commerce in the world’s…
  - 24 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 9:30am -
• Bounce’s first electric scooter features swappable battery, costs less than $500
  Bangalore-based Bounce on Thursday priced its first electric scooter at as low as 36,000 Indian rupees ($480), considerably undercutting the heavily-backed rival Ola as the mobility war intensifies in…
  - 1 day ago 2 Dec 21, 9:00am -
• LinkedIn adds Hindi to reach 500 million people in India
  Less than 20% of India’s 1.3 billion people speak English. But LinkedIn, the largest professional social network globally, has so far catered only to this sliver of the population in the world’s …
  - 1 day ago 2 Dec 21, 6:08am -
• India’s Simpl raises $40 million for its buy now, pay later service
  Bangalore-based fintech startup Simpl has raised $40 million as it looks to expand its online buy now, pay later service’s offerings in the world’s second-largest market. Valar Ventures and IA Ven…
  - 2 days ago 1 Dec 21, 1:41am -
• Lightspeed China raises $920M for new funds, adds five partners
  Lightspeed China Partners, the China-focused vehicle of Lightspeed Venture Partners, said Tuesday it has closed the largest fundraising rounds in its history. The new injection came under three years…
  - 3 days ago 30 Nov 21, 3:22am -
• Equity Monday: New unicorns kick off the week as India get cross with Starlink
  Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. With a holiday-impacted week behind us, we hope that you are r…
  - 4 days ago 29 Nov 21, 3:17pm -
• India’s Slice becomes unicorn with $220M funding from Tiger Global, Insight Partners and Advent
  Rajan Bajaj, founder of fintech Slice, chimed in on a Twitter thread early this year and wondered aloud what he needs to do to turn his startup into a unicorn before he turns 30. At just 28, the Flipk…
  - 5 days ago 28 Nov 21, 9:13pm -
• India’s Spinny valued at over $1.75 billion in $280 million funding
  Spinny, a Gurgaon-based startup that operates a platform to facilitate the purchase and sale of used cars, is the latest firm to become a unicorn in the world’s second-largest internet market. Spinn…
  - 9 days ago 24 Nov 21, 1:45pm -
• India’s Blume Ventures raises $105 million in the first close of its fourth fund
  Blume Ventures said on Wednesday it has raised $105 million in the first close of its fourth fund, less than two years after finalizing its previous fund, as investment activity intensifies in the wor…
  - 9 days ago 24 Nov 21, 1:42am -
• India plans law that will prohibit ‘all private cryptocurrencies,’ with ‘certain exceptions’
  India plans to introduce, evaluate and enforce a bill to prohibit “all private cryptocurrencies” in the country, according to a legislative agenda for the winter session. The Indian government sai…
  - 10 days ago 23 Nov 21, 2:59pm -
• NoBroker becomes India’s first proptech unicorn with fresh $210 million funding
  An Indian startup that is improving the way millions of people in the nation lease or buy an apartment is the latest firm to become a unicorn in the South Asian market. Bangalore-based NoBroker has ra…
  - 10 days ago 23 Nov 21, 9:30am -
• What happened to Paytm’s IPO valuation?
  Paytm's IPO price was simply too high compared to its recent financial results. Trailing results matter as well, and Paytm's were just too weak to support its IPO price.
  - 11 days ago 22 Nov 21, 4:25pm -
• Equity Monday: Paytm’s rocky debut gets rockier
  Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines. Happy Monday everyone, and welcome to a holiday week here in t…
  - 11 days ago 22 Nov 21, 3:39pm -

TechCircle

• Enterprise payments firm Airpay secures Series A funding from Kalaari Capital, others
  Mumbai-based payment services startup Airpay has raised Rs 24 crore ($3.6 million) as part of a Series A round led by Kalaari Capital and existing investors Rakesh and Rajesh Jhunjhunwala. The company…
  - 21 Mar 17, 12:00pm -
• Exclusive: Tiger Global may be part-exiting Flipkart with 3x return
  Tiger Global, the biggest investor in Flipkart, may have struck a deal with Microsoft and other new investors to sell a part of its stake in the e-commerce company in the latest fund-raising round tha…
  - 21 Mar 17, 9:34am -
• Two Bangalore women give a ‘clean’ twist to co-working spaces
  Co-working spaces – the idea of an open and communicative work culture – is finally picking up in the Indian startup ecosystem. The past two years have witnessed many startups, including Innov8, I…
  - 21 Mar 17, 7:40am -
• Bombay High Court bars taxi unions from disrupting Uber’s operations
  US-based Uber Technologies Inc’s India subsidiary Uber India Technologies Pvt. Ltd has obtained a restraining order from the Bombay High Court that prevents dissenting taxi union bodies from disrupt…
  - 21 Mar 17, 7:24am -
• ShopClues looks to raise $75-100 mn in pre-IPO round
  Clues Network Pvt. Ltd, which runs e-commerce company ShopClues, is looking to raise $75-100 million (Rs 490-652 crore) in fresh funding even as it begins discussions with merchant banks for an initia…
  - 21 Mar 17, 6:42am -
• Exclusive: GrabOnRent close to raising Series A round
  Bangalore-based GrabOnRent Internet Pvt. Ltd, which runs product rental marketplace GrabOnRent, is close to raising $3 million (Rs 19.5 crore) in Series A funding from new and existing investors, two…
  - 20 Mar 17, 2:24pm -
• Flipkart raises $1 bn in down round: Report
  Flipkart Pvt Ltd, the Singapore-based holding company of India’s largest e-commerce marketplace, has reportedly raised $1 billion in a massive fundraising round. The funds were secured at a down rou…
  - 20 Mar 17, 1:49pm -
• Tips to make the Startup culture a resounding success
  The startup culture that is slowly gaining momentum calls for adequate support at various levels to sustain itself. In the absence of the same, the enthusiasm may soon lose its vitality. It is necessa…
  - 20 Mar 17, 12:15pm -
• Snapdeal strategy head Jason Kothari formally takes over at FreeCharge
  E-commerce firm Snapdeal, operated by Jasper Infotech Pvt. Ltd, has appointed Jason Kothari as chief executive officer of its mobile recharge platform FreeCharge. Kothari will also continue his key le…
  - 20 Mar 17, 9:11am -
• After venture capital, startups taking ‘vendor capital’ for granted
  The bloodletting in the Indian startup ecosystem continues with hotel-booking app RoomsTonite shutting shop on the heels of the Stayzilla fiasco, which is still playing out in the media. I have previo…
  - 20 Mar 17, 8:29am -

Inc42

• newOnline Quick Commerce Grocery Startup Satvacart Raises Funding
  Online grocery delivery company Satvacart closed its Pre Series A round of funding today.  Angel Investors including Kuldeep Puri, senior…
  - 49 mins ago 3 Dec 21, 8:39am -
• newScaler Denies Trademark Infringement Charges Of upGrad
  Edtech startup Scaler has denied allegations of trademark infringement levelled against it by upGrad. The company has come up with…
  - 1 hour ago 3 Dec 21, 8:22am -
• newSoulflower Raises Funding From Wipro Consumer Care-Ventures
  Clean beauty D2C startup Soulflower has raised an undisclosed amount from Wipro Consumer Care-Ventures, the VC fund of Wipro Consumer…
  - 1 hour ago 3 Dec 21, 8:03am -
• newD2C Brands Should Serve Functionality & Emotional Needs Of Consumer: Wellversed Founder Aanan Khurma
  The many facets of preventive healthcare, a market expected to reach a market size of $170 Bn by 2025 —…
  - 2 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 7:30am -
• newYuvraj Singh On “Living A Brand” & What Potential Startup Sectors Interest Him
  Indian celebrities have been exploring investments in the technology space to diversify their interests and use their reach for entrepreneurial…
  - 2 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 7:15am -
• newPaytm Money Partners With PMS Bazaar To Offer Portfolio Management Services For HNIs
  To assist HNIs (high net worth individuals) in managing their portfolio, fintech giant Paytm’s wholly-owned subsidiary Paytm Money has partnered…
  - 4 hours ago 3 Dec 21, 5:51am -
• The D2C Summit Goes Live Today: Here’s A Sneak Peek At Everything That’s In Store For You
  In the early days of October, we announced the 2nd edition of The D2C Summit. Now, after almost two months…
  - 12 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 8:59pm -
• Exclusive: CureFit Raises $145 Mn From Temasek, South Park Commons, Zomato
  Tata-backed fitness startup CureFit has raised around $145 Mn (INR 1,088) Cr led by Zomato along with San Francisco-based South…
  - 16 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 5:32pm -
• OYO Appoints Former SBI Chief Rajnish Kumar as Strategic Group Advisor
  IPO-bound hospitality major OYO has announced the appointment of Rajnish Kumar, former chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI)…
  - 18 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 3:54pm -
• Clubhouse Introduces Support In 13 More Languages Including Bengali, Marathi
  US-based social audio app Clubhouse has rolled out support for 13 more languages including Bengali, Marathi. It has also said…
  - 18 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 3:47pm -
• Vu Televisions Forays Into D2C, Eyes Over INR 500 Cr Segment Revenue In 2022
  Consumer technology company Vu Televisions has announced its entry into the direct-to-consumer (D2C) segment with the launch of its online…
  - 19 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 2:20pm -
• Google Play Asks Users To Bank On Tokenisation; To Halt Card Data Storage Under RBI Mandate
  Aimed at regulating India’s fintech ecosystem, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has brought in a slew of changes in…
  - 20 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 1:50pm -
• Exclusive: Instoried In Talks To Raise $30 Mn In Series B At $100 Mn Valuation
  Bengaluru-based AI pre-publication sentiment analysis tool startup Instoried is in talks to close its Series B funding round. Sources aware…
  - 20 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 1:22pm -
• Swiggy To Invest $700 Mn In Its Express Delivery Platform Instamart
  Amid a growing competition in the quick hyperlocal delivery services, online food delivery major Swiggy has announced to invest $700…
  - 21 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 12:33pm -
• India’s Crypto Economy | Fast-Spreading Bitcoin Thuggery On WhatsApp 🥷
  Dear reader, Last week, Inc42 unearthed the fast-mushrooming crypto thuggery on WhatsApp. We have deep-dived into how a bunch of…
  - 21 hours ago 2 Dec 21, 12:18pm -