Topic
Software
Technology Turning Customer Data Into Real-Time Action Is Retail's Next Tech Challenge, Leaders Say
At the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, retail technology executives from GIVA, Titan Watches, Bangalore Airport City, Ramraj Cotton, SAS Infra and Urbanic agreed that digital discovery and data-led personalisation are becoming more sophisticated, but physical stores still need human interaction and trust. The panel focused on equipping store employees with customer data to continue conversations online shoppers started, rather than replacing staff with screens.
Technology PeopleFinders Launches Stud or Dud to Run Background Checks on Your Dates
PeopleFinders launched Stud or Dud, a subscription website that compiles public records into dating background reports. The tool categorises finances, property, employment, and criminal history, with AI-generated overviews and flagging. Privacy experts warn the service could be abused by stalkers.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces SaaS vs. Open-Source eCommerce: B2B Buyers Must Look Beyond the Sticker Price
Unilog's Matt Miller compares SaaS and open-source eCommerce for B2B buyers, covering total cost of ownership, security and PCI compliance, and maintenance responsibilities. The guide highlights that open-source's free license often hides hosting, development, and security costs.
Technology Excel Power Users Turn Spreadsheets Into a Spectator Sport With Speedruns and Obstacle Courses
According to WIRED, a community of Excel power users is turning spreadsheet mastery into a spectator sport with speedruns, obstacle courses, and championships. Creators like Dan Kidney and Jonathan Tristan amass millions of views and hundreds of thousands of followers while teaching keyboard-driven efficiency.
Supply Chain Maritime’s durability is its digitalization trap, ABS Wavesight CEO warns shippers
ABS Wavesight CEO Steve Bomgardner argues that maritime’s centuries-old conservatism is now the industry’s biggest obstacle to digital transformation. He warns that shipping evaluates software on a hardware lifecycle, underestimates AI’s value, and lets return uncertainty block modest SaaS investments.
Technology Meta Faces Biggest Trial Yet Over Child Safety as US States Seek $1.4 Trillion
Dozens of US states are suing Meta for up to $1.4 trillion, alleging Facebook and Instagram are designed to addict children. The trial begins this week in Oakland, with four states as plaintiffs. Legal experts doubt the maximum penalty will be imposed.
Technology EasyDMG Automates macOS App Installation, Ending the Drag-and-Drop Dance
Developer Jeff Schumann created EasyDMG, a free macOS utility that automates the traditional DMG installation process — mounting, verifying, copying to Applications, and deleting the disk image. WIRED reported the tool lets users double-click DMG files to install software, with optional auto-launch and no background processes or telemetry.
Technology Instapaper, the Original Read-It-Later App, Just Got a Huge Upgrade
WIRED reports that Instapaper, the read-it-later app launched in 2008, has received its biggest update in years. The revamp includes a full web-app rewrite, a three-column layout, keyboard shortcuts, and multi-select, plus AI Voices coming to Android.
Technology MySpace Comeback Hinted as Fans Demand Raw Images, No Filters
MySpace, once the world's biggest social network, is planned for relaunch by owners Tim and Chris Vanderhook, according to the BBC. Fans and creators recall its unfiltered, customisable pages as a contrast to today's algorithmic platforms. Experts say the comeback's success will hinge on balancing personal connection with usability.
Technology Meetily Lets You Transcribe and Summarize Meetings Without a Subscription—Here’s How
Meetily is a free, open-source meeting transcription tool for Windows and macOS that uses local AI models to record, transcribe, and summarize meetings without a subscription or cloud uploads. While it lacks speaker labels in the free version, its on-device processing addresses privacy concerns, making it relevant for confidential business discussions.
Technology WhatsApp @all Feature Rolls Out With Admin Controls, Poll Time Limits and Usernames
WhatsApp is rolling out an @all command that notifies every group member, with admin-only rules in groups over 32 people. The update adds poll time limits, anonymous voting, one-tap group creation from existing chats, and usernames that replace phone-number sharing, according to WIRED.
Technology Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Tech Team Is What DOGE Should Have Been
Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched Public Interest Technology Crews, a five-team civic-tech program based at New York City's Office of Technology and Innovation. Led by CTO Lisa Gelobter with a $5.24 million city budget and a $2 million Rockefeller Foundation grant, the crews echo the US Digital Service model that DOGE dismantled.
Technology AI Notetakers for Meetings and Interviews: What Enterprise Buyers Should Know
WIRED tested AI notetakers that record, transcribe, and summarize meetings and interviews. The category boomed at CES 2026. Hardware devices and apps like Otter.ai and Bluedot offer AI-generated outlines, action items, and quotes, with subscriptions costing $15-$30 per month plus hardware.
Technology WhatsApp tests privacy-protective age confirmation for DPDP Act compliance in India
WhatsApp is testing privacy-protective age confirmation in India to comply with laws like the DPDP Act. The optional test will not share age data with other users, a WhatsApp spokesperson said. IT Secretary S Krishnan linked the move to DPDP compliance deadlines, as the government reviews username features across messaging apps.
Technology Claire Stapleton's Account of the 2018 Google Walkout: How a Google Group Started It All
In an excerpt from her book 'Don't Be Evil' published by WIRED, Claire Stapleton recounts how she used a Google Group to organize the 2018 Women's Walkout at Google. The account details her initial email, the rapid decision to walk out on November 1, and the hub-and-spoke plan built with project manager Tanuja.
Technology Telegram Says Messaging App Restored on Apple's App Store After Availability Outage
Telegram said on Monday that its messaging app has been restored on Apple's App Store, according to Reuters. Reuters checks had earlier shown the app was unavailable, with the store page displaying an error message. Apple did not respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
Technology WIRED Names Bitwarden, Proton Pass and Keeper as Top Password Managers for 2026
WIRED's updated 2026 guide finds dedicated password managers like Bitwarden, Proton Pass, and Keeper more secure and feature-rich than browser-based storage. The report highlights Bitwarden's open-source design, auditability, and passwordless login support as key enterprise advantages.
Technology WhatsApp tests 'Offers & Updates' folder to declutter business chats
WhatsApp is testing a new 'Offers & Updates' folder that automatically moves messages from large businesses such as banks and airlines into a separate chat folder after a predefined period of up to 24 hours, according to a GSM Arena report carried by ANI. Users can disable the feature but cannot set custom timing. The feature currently applies only to large businesses, with an extension to small businesses under exploration.
Technology India Must Review Safe Harbour Rules After Russia's Move Against Telegram Founder, Experts Say
Russia's domestic security agency charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. Legal experts in India told businessline the country should review its intermediary liability regime and Section 79 of the IT Act to prevent misuse of safe harbour protections. Experts also highlighted India's existing powers to act on national security grounds, citing the TikTok ban and Telegram's recent one-week ban during NEET-UG.
Technology Nvidia’s Open Source Alliance Snubs OpenAI and Anthropic, Deepening AI Rift
Nvidia announced the Open Secure AI Alliance, a group of over 40 companies including Microsoft, SpaceX, and Palantir, to build open source cybersecurity tools. Notably absent are Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, deepening the rift between open and closed AI approaches. The move follows an incident where OpenAI agents breached Hugging Face during a security test.
Technology Indian IT sector's fresher hiring crisis deepens as AI reshapes demand for talent
India's IT sector is drastically cutting fresher hiring, with delayed onboarding and a shift toward AI, data, and cybersecurity skills. Freshers now account for just 15% of hiring, down from 28% a few years ago, as companies prioritise demand-led, skill-based recruitment over volume-driven campus intakes.
Logistics Freight Hero Raises $5 Million to Run Freight Broker Back-Office Operations
Freight Hero, a Durham, N.C. startup, has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Field Ventures to expand its back-office service for freight brokers. Unlike typical AI software, the company charges a flat fee per load and handles rate confirmation through proof of delivery, with AI agents managing over 90% of load touches and human operators handling exceptions. The company has managed more than 50,000 loads and counts Ally Logistics as a client, which saw 82.4% revenue growth without a proportional headcount increase.
Technology Zoho’s Arattai Adds Aadhaar Verification to Combat Fake Accounts and Spam
Arattai, Zoho's instant messaging and VoIP app, has introduced an optional Aadhaar-enabled identity verification layer to combat spam, impersonation, and digital fraud. Users can block unsolicited messages from unverified accounts. The platform also rolled out end-to-end encryption (E2EE), encrypted chat backup, and other privacy-focused features. Built entirely in India on Zoho's full-stack infrastructure, Arattai positions itself as a secure alternative to global messaging apps.
Technology WhatsApp Launches Browser-Based Web Calling with Call Transfer and Waiting Room
Meta-owned WhatsApp launched browser-based web calling, allowing users to make and receive audio and video calls directly from their browsers without a desktop app. The update also introduces call transfer between devices, a waiting room for call links with host approval, and audio/video enhancements including QuickHD and noise suppression. The features are rolling out gradually.
Technology India Fuels Bitchat's Global Rise Despite Government Takedown Order
Bitchat, the internet-free messaging app founded by Jack Dorsey, has seen explosive growth in India despite a government order to remove its source code from GitHub. New data from Appfigures shows India accounted for 53% of the app's global downloads, with daily installs surging from 291 to over 28,000 in a week. The Internet Freedom Foundation has criticised the takedown order as unconstitutional.
Technology Kagi Revives Human-Curated Web Search with Small Web Project and Paid Privacy
Kagi, known for its paid privacy-focused search engine, is expanding into a Small Web project that curates human-made websites. The company offers search starting at $5/month for 300 searches, with a free trial of 100 searches, and aims to counter AI-generated and ad-dominated content. The Small Web project features a 'Next Post' button for random discovery of blog posts and niche topics.
Technology CMFRI Launches DeepDATA Mobile App for Digital Documentation of Deep-Sea Fish Biodiversity
The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) has launched DeepDATA, a mobile application for digitally documenting deep-sea marine biodiversity. The app allows users to browse verified information on deep-sea fish species and contribute field observations, which are then validated by CMFRI experts before being added to a national digital repository.
Technology EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Own Services in Search Rankings
The European Commission has fined Google $1 billion for violating the Digital Markets Act by giving preferential treatment to its own services in search results and restricting app developers from communicating with users outside the Play Store. Google stated it will consider appealing, while industry groups argue that heavy-handed enforcement harms European consumers. The fine adds to a series of multi-billion-dollar EU antitrust penalties against Google.
Technology Apple's iOS 27 Public Beta Adds Adjustable Liquid Glass Transparency Setting
Apple released the iOS 27 public beta in mid-July, featuring a new slider that lets users adjust the transparency of the Liquid Glass interface. The update responds to criticism of legibility since the translucent design launched in 2025. The full software release is expected in September.
Valve's Steam Machine Brings the Best and Worst of PC Gaming to the Living Room
Valve's Steam Machine aims to bring PC gaming to the living room with 4K 120Hz support via AMD FSR. Testing on multiple games shows variable performance depending on resolution and settings, with best results at 1080p. Poorly optimized games struggle.
Technology Trump Media Plans Truth PSI Premium Feed for Faster Access to Truth Social Posts
Trump Media & Technology Group announced Truth PSI, a premium data feed allowing Wall Street firms to access Truth Social posts in milliseconds. The service, launching next month, would include posts from President Trump, whose announcements on tariffs, Iran, and ICE crackdowns affect financial markets and supply chains. Critics raise conflict-of-interest concerns as Trump, the largest shareholder, directly benefits. The stock has fallen 70% since he took office.
Technology Harsh reality for H-1B visa returnees: Changed Indian IT hiring landscape, lower salaries and fewer jobs
H-1B visa holders returning to India amid US layoffs and tighter immigration policies are encountering a dramatically changed IT hiring landscape. With active tech job openings down 17% year-on-year and compensation often far below US levels, returnees must adapt to a market that prizes specialised AI, cloud, and cybersecurity skills. Global Capability Centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurugram offer some hope, but experts say the shift is structural, not cyclical.
Technology Six Ways to Share Your Location from Smartphones: Google Maps, Find My, Messenger, and WhatsApp
Sharing your location from a smartphone is easy with built-in features in popular apps. This article covers six methods, including Google Maps, Apple's Find My, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, with step-by-step instructions for both Android and iOS devices.
Technology Sony Erases Digital Content From Libraries: A Reminder That You Don’t Own What You Buy
Sony has informed UK PlayStation customers that 551 previously purchased movies and shows from StudioCanal will be removed from their libraries as of September 1, due to licensing agreements. This incident underscores the reality that digital purchases are merely long-term licenses, as Sony has a history of content removal, including 314 titles in Germany and Austria in 2022 and the deletion of Funimation libraries after merging with Crunchyroll.
Technology Plex Keeps Getting Worse. Is Jellyfin a Decent Replacement?
Plex's recent price hike and feature bloat have frustrated users, according to WIRED. Jellyfin, a free open source media server, offers solid local streaming but requires technical setup for remote access. The comparison highlights trade-offs in proprietary vs open source software.
Technology 9 Google Chat Tips to Boost Enterprise Communication and Productivity
Google Chat offers enterprise teams powerful collaboration features beyond basic messaging. This guide covers 9 tips including Spaces, threaded chats, message scheduling, and tight integration with Google Workspace apps.
Technology Trust Is the New Currency: How Couple Founders Mohammad Imran Shaikh and Saarah Fatima Are Redefining Business Communication Through TrustSignal
As digital fraud and phishing rise, TrustSignal offers a trust-first communication platform. Founded by couple Mohammad Imran Shaikh and Saarah Fatima, it focuses on verified, secure interactions. The platform moves beyond traditional CPaaS by prioritizing trust, transparency, and technology.
Technology Python Is So Slow. Can Julia Solve the Two-Language Problem?
Python's slowness forces researchers to rewrite performance-critical code in faster languages like C++ or Rust, creating the two-language problem. Julia, a language launched in 2012, promises to be as easy as Python yet as fast as C. The article traces the history of the two-language problem from APL to Julia.
Technology Apple’s iOS 27 Child Safety Features: A Response to Advocacy and Lawsuits
At WWDC 2026, Apple dedicated 10 minutes to new child safety features in iOS 27, including expanded Communication Safety and improved reporting tools. The move follows years of pressure from advocates like Heat Initiative and a West Virginia lawsuit over CSAM. Critics, however, highlight ongoing issues such as nudify apps on the App Store.
Technology AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years
A Linux kernel use-after-free vulnerability, GhostLock (CVE-2026-43499), went undetected for 15 years until Nebula Security's AI bug-hunting tool VEGA found it. The flaw lets any logged-in user gain root privileges without special permissions or network access, and has a 97% reliable exploit. Patches were released in April 2026, but some distributions like Ubuntu LTS versions remain vulnerable as of early July.
Technology Meta Appeals Landmark Verdict in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Over Platform Design
Meta has appealed a landmark social media addiction verdict in Los Angeles, challenging the jury's finding that its platform design harmed a young user. The appeal follows a $3 million damages award plus $3 million in punitive damages. A similar New Mexico case resulted in a $375 million penalty against Meta.
Technology WhatsApp Submits Reply on 'Username' Notice; Government Examining Response, Sources Say
Meta-owned WhatsApp has submitted its reply to the Indian government's notice on the proposed username feature, which raised concerns about increased cybercrime. The government is now reviewing the response, while the username feature remains on hold in India. Similar notices were sent to Telegram and Signal.
Optimal Scheduling in QA Forums Could Boost Knowledge Worker Efficiency, New Research Shows
Researchers Negi, Rohit, Yilmaz, and Mustafa present a model for optimal scheduling in question-answering forums where knowledge workers answer requests. They calculate system capacity and design schedulers to keep the system stable, also exploring how collaboration can increase capacity.
DynAMO: Dynamic Asset Management Orchestration via Topological Multi-Agent Scheduling
A new research paper introduces DynAMO, a deployment-ready engine for LLM-powered agent orchestration in Industry 4.0. Using Plan-then-Execute architecture with sequential and parallel workflows, it achieves 1.6x median latency reduction, rising to 1.8x on parallelizable tasks. Structured context pruning cuts inference time 30%. Tests on AssetOpsBench show robust performance under fault injection.
DeXposure-Claw: New Agentic System Uses AI to Supervise Credit Risk in Decentralized Finance
Researchers have introduced DeXposure-Claw, a forecast-grounded agentic supervision system for decentralized finance (DeFi) risk. The system uses a graph time-series foundation model called DeXposure-FM to forecast future exposure networks, followed by deterministic monitors, stress scenarios, and confidence gates to produce auditable supervisory tickets. A companion benchmark, DeXposure-Bench, evaluates the system on six axes including decision accuracy and false-intervention rate. Experiments on five years of weekly real data validated the approach.
DataMagic System Transforms Raw Tabular Data into Narrative Data-Insight Videos
DataMagic, an interactive system, transforms raw tabular data and natural language queries into narrative data-insight videos. It uses DVSpec to bind visuals to data fields and a Generate-then-Orchestrate architecture to optimize narrative coherence. Evaluated on 109 real-world samples, the system enables explorable interactive data interfaces.
Technology IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw orders MeitY to summon Meta over Instagram child abuse ads: Report
India’s IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to summon Meta over Instagram advertisements that promoted child sexual abuse material, according to a report from The Times of India.
Technology How Palestinians Built a Digital Archive That Can't Be Erased: Lessons in Resilient Data Preservation
Since October 2023, destruction of cultural sites in Gaza has accelerated. The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit has built an open-source digital archive with over 500,000 digitized items, designed to be 'unlootable.' This article examines the technology, team, and funding behind the project and offers lessons for any organization seeking to preserve data against physical or political threats.
Technology Microsoft lays off 4,800 workers, restructures Xbox in major shake-up
Microsoft has cut 4,800 jobs, roughly 2.1% of its workforce, with Xbox bearing a large number of the layoffs. The company is restructuring to focus on areas that can deliver for customers amid a fast-changing industry, according to executive vice president Amy Coleman.
Technology Tamil Nadu launches paperless Anywhere Registration for property deals from August 17
The Tamil Nadu government approved the first phase of its 'Anywhere Registration' initiative under the STAR 3.0 platform, making two categories of property transactions mandatory through a fully paperless, presenceless process from August 17, 2026. The move aims to improve transparency, efficiency and citizen convenience, with Aadhaar-based biometric verification and same-day approval commitment.
Logistics Descartes Acquires Last-Mile Tech Provider Drivin for $30 Million
Descartes Systems Group has acquired Latin American last-mile logistics technology provider Drivin for $30 million. Drivin's platform uses machine learning and agentic AI for routing, dispatching, and real-time visibility, and has been widely adopted in high-density urban areas. The deal expands Descartes' fleet performance management offering and its presence in Latin America.
Technology India's Top IT Firms Set for Muted Q1 as AI Spending Fails to Lift Growth: Report
India's leading IT services companies are likely to post muted Q1 FY27 results, with growth constrained as clients prioritize cost-cutting over large-scale technology spending, according to an Equirus Securities report. AI adoption is accelerating but funded through productivity gains, not increased budgets. Revenue growth for top six firms is expected between -1.7% and 1.1% QoQ.
Technology Apple's Assistive Access Feature Turns iPhone into a Kid-Friendly Dumb Phone
Apple's Assistive Access, introduced in iOS 17, allows parents to create a simplified, browser-free iPhone for children. Unlike standard Screen Time restrictions, it prevents web access via links, making it an ideal free alternative to paid dumb-phone apps. WIRED's Jeremy White details the setup process and benefits.
Technology Zoho's Arattai Disables Username Feature to Comply with Indian Government Directive Amid WhatsApp Scrutiny
Zoho-owned messaging app Arattai has disabled its username feature to comply with a regulatory change, following the Indian government's notice to WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram directing them not to roll out username features until consultation. The Internet Freedom Foundation has questioned the legal basis of the government's action.
Technology BBC Finds Instagram Running Paid Ads Promoting Child Sexual Abuse Material in India
A BBC Eye investigation found Instagram running paid adverts that promote child sexual abuse material in India, using terms like 'rape video' and 'child video'. The ads link to Telegram channels where material is sold for about $1. Meta initially said one reported ad did not violate guidelines but later disabled ads and suspended accounts. Telegram said it removed over 274,000 related groups/channels in 2026.
Technology Spotify Confirms Streaming Fraud After Kalshi Trader Flags Botting
Spotify confirmed it investigated and found evidence of artificial streaming after Kalshi trader Caleb Davies flagged suspicious activity. The streaming giant removed over 500,000 streams from Malcolm Todd's song 'Earrings', adjusting its chart from number one to fourth. Kalshi and Polymarket responded, with Kalshi removing Spotify's logo from related markets at Spotify's request.
Logistics Triumph Debuts RFP Manager to Help Freight Brokers Keep Pace with Compressed Bidding Cycles
Triumph (NYSE: TFIN) launched RFP Manager to help brokers manage compressed freight contract cycles. The tool uses transaction and payment data from the Triumph Network, which covers about 70% of North American brokered freight, to provide real-time pricing insights. The launch comes as RFP cycles shrink from 18 months to as short as 30 days.
Technology Google Must Pay €4.1bn Fine for Using Android to Block Rivals, Europe's Top Court Rules
Europe's top court has dismissed Google's appeal and ordered the company to pay a €4.1bn fine for using its Android mobile operating system to block competitors. The European Commission originally imposed the penalty in 2018, citing three illegal practices such as requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google apps. The court's decision is final, marking the largest antitrust fine ever levied by the Commission.
Technology 7 Lesser-Known Google Account Settings You Should Change for Better Security and Privacy
WIRED highlights seven often-overlooked Google account settings that can improve security, privacy, and personalization. Settings include home/work addresses, profile visibility, recovery contacts, and ad customization. Users can manage these via their Google account page.
E-Commerce & Marketplaces The Sale Starts Without You: Winning B2B Buyers Before They Call
B2B buyers now research and shortlist suppliers online before contacting sales. Unilog's CX1 Essentials offers small distributors a cost-effective way to build a professional digital storefront with clean product data and ERP connectivity.