Trending Tech News

India on Tuesday delayed the implementation of market share caps for a popular digital payments method by two years, a move that will benefit Google Pay and Walmart-backed PhonePe. According to the proposal, first made in November 2020, digital payment firms would not be allowed to hold more than 30 percent share of the volume of transactions processed via India's popular unified payments interface (UPI) . The mandate, which was to take effect from the end of 2024, will now kick in at the end of December 2026, according to a statement from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a quasi-regulator. Google Pay and Walmart-backed PhonePe are the two most widely used apps in India to make UPI payments. Other players include fintech companies such as Paytm, Navi, Cred and Amazon Pay. PhonePe's share of UPI payments stood at 47.8 percent in November 2024 while Google Pay's share was at 37 percent, according to regulatory data. The two firms processed a combined 1...

Between games industry layoffs, studio closures, live service disasters, and — despite it all — some excellent games, 2024 was a packed year for the medium. Some of the biggest stories of the year were marked by industry-wide shifts — from Xbox making its first-party games available on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, to live service games losing ground. 2024 also saw the release of PlayStation 5 Pro and Microsoft's acquisition of Activision -Blizzard finally bearing fruit with Call of Duty coming to Game Pass. But for all of 2024's biggest gaming stories, 2025 somehow promises to be bigger. From a little game called Grand Theft Auto 6, to the successor to a modestly successful console called the Nintendo Switch  – the coming year could be a landmark year in gaming. With 2024 in our rearview mirror, let's look at our picks for things to look out for in gaming in 2025: Grand Theft Auto 6 What feels like three decades after the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5 , Rockstar G...

India on Tuesday delayed the implementation of market share caps for a popular digital payments method by two years, a move that will benefit Google Pay and Walmart-backed PhonePe. According to the proposal, first made in November 2020, digital payment firms would not be allowed to hold more than 30 percent share of the volume of transactions processed via India's popular unified payments interface (UPI) . The mandate, which was to take effect from the end of 2024, will now kick in at the end of December 2026, according to a statement from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a quasi-regulator. Google Pay and Walmart-backed PhonePe are the two most widely used apps in India to make UPI payments. Other players include fintech companies such as Paytm, Navi, Cred and Amazon Pay. PhonePe's share of UPI payments stood at 47.8 percent in November 2024 while Google Pay's share was at 37 percent, according to regulatory data. The two firms processed a combined 1...

Between games industry layoffs, studio closures, live service disasters, and — despite it all — some excellent games, 2024 was a packed year for the medium. Some of the biggest stories of the year were marked by industry-wide shifts — from Xbox making its first-party games available on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, to live service games losing ground. 2024 also saw the release of PlayStation 5 Pro and Microsoft's acquisition of Activision -Blizzard finally bearing fruit with Call of Duty coming to Game Pass. But for all of 2024's biggest gaming stories, 2025 somehow promises to be bigger. From a little game called Grand Theft Auto 6, to the successor to a modestly successful console called the Nintendo Switch  – the coming year could be a landmark year in gaming. With 2024 in our rearview mirror, let's look at our picks for things to look out for in gaming in 2025: Grand Theft Auto 6 What feels like three decades after the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5 , Rockstar G...

Malicious crypto scammers have been found to be fishing for their victims posing as job recruiters online. Popular cyber investigator Taylor Monahan, who goes by the username @tayvano_, has posted an update to his 85,000 followers on X. As per the update, scammers are using recruiting platforms like LinkedIn to reach out to job seekers, asking them to fix issues with video-call software and subsequently injecting malicious malware to get access to the victims' computers. Monahan works in the security division of crypto wallet MetaMask. The post, part of a thread on the threat, published by Monahan shared screenshots of the job listing circulated by the scammers. The post shows the fraudulent job opening of “Business Development Lead” at an entity named ‘Halliday'. To entice people to apply for this senior level position, the post boasts an annual salary bracket of $300,000 (roughly Rs. 2.56 lakh) to $350,000 (roughly Rs. 2.99 lakh) Once job seekers end up answering questions,...

Until recently, banks watched from the sidelines with envy as stablecoin market leader Tether Holdings boasted of billions in profits. Now they want in. Earlier this year, Societe Generale - Forge made its Euro-backed stablecoin — which basically represents fiat on a blockchain ledger — available to retail investors. Financial group Oddo BHF SCA is also working on a Euro-denominated one, and London-based Revolut is considering issuing its own version. AllUnity, a venture involving Deutsche-Bank owned DWS, plans to issue another next year, and BBVA is also working on an entry. Banks in the US are expected to join in on the rush once legislation that could pave the way for them to issue stablecoins is enacted. In Europe, with the recent clarity brought on by the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MICA) , and the decision by Tether to discontinue its EURt stablecoin, that has presented an opening for competitors wishing to enable customers to make payments or hold fiat-like alternativ...

WhatsApp is said to be working on a new feature for WhatsApp Web that will allow users to perform a web lookup on shared images. The feature, dubbed Search on Web, is tipped to let users quickly do a reverse image search via Google without having to leave the messaging platform. The feature can be useful to curb the spread of misinformation and protect users from falling for online scams. Notably, the company started testing this feature on WhatsApp for Android in November. WhatsApp Web Could Get a Reverse Image Search Feature According to the WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the Search on Web feature is currently being developed for the web client of the instant messaging platform. However, the feature is currently not visible so beta testers will not be able to try it out. There is no word on if the Meta-owned platform is developing a similar feature for its iOS app. WhatsApp Web 'Search on Web' feature Photo Credit: WABetaInfo Based on a screenshot shared by the...

Redmi 14C 5G will be launched in India in January. As we wait for the official reveal, the Chinese smartphone brand has released new teasers via its social media handles, showing off the colour options and display details of the phone. The upcoming smartphone will be launched in three shades with a 6.88-inch display. The Redmi 14 C 5G will go on sale in the country through Amazon. The 4G variant of Redmi 14C is available in India since August. Through new teasers on X,  Redmi  has confirmed that the Redmi 14C 5G will be available in India in Starlight Blue, Stardust Purple and Stargaze Black colour options. The images show the rear design of the phones with glossy panels and centrally placed circular-shaped camera module housing multiple sensors and LED flash. The engraved text in the rear camera module confirms that it will ship with an AI-backed 50-megapixel main sensor. Redmi 14C 5G Display Details Further, the microsites of the Redmi 14C 5G on Mi India and A...

Samsung Galaxy S25 series is rumoured to be launched in January 2025 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be the top-of-the-line handset in the series. As per a recent report, the flagship handset will come with support for seamless software updates, leveraging Android's A/B over-the-air (OTA) update system. This is said to allow the user to continue using the purported Galaxy S25 Ultra even when the update is being installed without any downtime. Seamless Software Updates on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra In a report , Android Authority claimed to see some leaked files of the purported Galaxy S25 Ultra through which, they can confirm that it will support Android's A/B OTA update system. While the internal files were related to the top-of-the-line smartphone in the series, the publication speculates that it also applies to the Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus — the other two handsets in Samsung's flagship smartphone series. This revelation corroborates previous claims ...

The world of foldable phones was once reserved for those willing to spend a significant amount, but that's no longer the case. Last year, Motorola and Tecno were among the first to introduce affordable clamshell foldable phones in India, and this year, Infinix has joined the fray. In October, Infinix launched its first foldable phone in the country – the Zero Flip . The phone is priced at Rs. 49,999 and offers standout features such as a large cover screen, the largest battery in the segment, and more. But does the price and the large cover screen make the Zero Flip a strong contender in the affordable foldable flip phone market, especially against Motorola's offerings? Does it stack up in terms of features? How does it perform in everyday use? I spent the last few weeks on the phone to find out, and here's my take. Infinix Zero Flip Design: Premium Dimensions (Unfolded) - 170.4 x 73.4 x 7.6 mm Dimensions (Folded) - 87.5 x 73.4 x 16 mm Weight - 195g Colours - Blossom...

The world of foldable phones was once reserved for those willing to spend a significant amount, but that's no longer the case. Last year, Motorola and Tecno were among the first to introduce affordable clamshell foldable phones in India, and this year, Infinix has joined the fray. In October, Infinix launched its first foldable phone in the country – the Zero Flip . The phone is priced at Rs. 49,999 and offers standout features such as a large cover screen, the largest battery in the segment, and more. But does the price and the large cover screen make the Zero Flip a strong contender in the affordable foldable flip phone market, especially against Motorola's offerings? Does it stack up in terms of features? How does it perform in everyday use? I spent the last few weeks on the phone to find out, and here's my take. Infinix Zero Flip Design: Premium Dimensions (Unfolded) - 170.4 x 73.4 x 7.6 mm Dimensions (Folded) - 87.5 x 73.4 x 16 mm Weight - 195g Colours - Blossom...