Instagram Down: Social media platform Instagram is experiencing a major outage, leaving users worldwide unable to send, receive direct messages or upload videos on the platform. As per the updates from the Downdetector, which tracks service outages, the issues began at approximately 5.14 pm on Tuesday.   It is important to note that over 2,000 reports have been filed till now, indicating a substantial disruption to the Meta-owned photo-sharing platform after Instagram went down in the evening. However, the actual number of affected users may vary. This issue, affecting both personal and business accounts, has disrupted communication for millions, highlighting just how integral Instagram has become in day-to-day interactions.  Notably, Meta has yet to acknowledge the outage on Instagram, but it appears to be a technical glitch affecting users worldwide reportedly. Instagram Technical Glitch  Instagram is currently facing a technical glitch that not only prevents users from sending messages but also blocks message delivery. This issue follows a series of recent outages. For instance, on October 15, both Facebook and Instagram encountered a major disruption impacting thousands of users across the US. Earlier this year, another widespread outage affected hundreds of thousands of users globally, lasting over two hours due to a similar technical malfunction. Instagram’s recurring issues highlight the platform’s ongoing challenges with stability, affecting millions who rely on it daily.  Netizens Reaction On X: Users have turned to other social media platforms like X (formerly twitter) to vent their frustration and see if others are experiencing similar issues.  I’m not able to send anyone message on Instagram!!!! #instagram pic.twitter.com/QvaNyPZYu5 — Vivek Mandal (@Vivek_Mandal_1) October 29, 2024 Be Honest! is far better than Instagram. Yes or No? pic.twitter.com/8D5JCzwv2y — Elon Musk – Parody (@elonmuskADO) October 27, 2024 Me opening Twitter to see if Instagram is down for everyone or just me #instagramdown #IPLAuction #Dhanteras #HappyDhanteras #Dhanteras2024 #सपा_के_गुंडे pic.twitter.com/0722z5i4rx — Alok Thakur  (@AlokThakurrr) October 29, 2024 Everyone coming to twitter to check if instagram is down#instagramdown pic.twitter.com/fP1Gj6WNap — lil cray-z 2.0 (@khusskhusss) October 29, 2024 Instagram users on Twitter rn: Is it my wifi?’ ‘Is it my phone?’ ‘Did I get banned?’  ‘Did I break Instagram?’ Meanwhile Instagram: just taking a nap #InstagramDown” pic.twitter.com/uwLhC91PUF — Kunal Bagul (@ikunalbagul) October 29, 2024

Traffic Challans On Whatsapp In Delhi:  The process of paying challans for traffic violations is about to become as easy as making payments while shopping online on e-commerce platforms. The Delhi government has now issued a tender to provide WhatsApp Business and an application programming interface for traffic rule-related challan. So, Delhi’s transport department will soon start sending e-challan to commercial vehicle owners through WhatsApp. Currently, around 1,000-1,500 e-challans are issued daily.  Following this, the challan for violating traffic rules will be automatically sent to the violator’s WhatsApp. This message will also contain a payment link. After this, users can use UPI or any other payment gateway to pay one or more challan directly from there.  According to the tender document, the service provider needs to develop a system through which the Transport Department can make payments directly via WhatsApp. These messages will be sent in both Hindi and English. Furthermore, the new system will automate various notifications, including e-challan, payment reminders, due date alerts, payment receipts, and certificates. This automation ensures vehicle owners stay informed about pending dues, which is expected to improve compliance and reduce traffic violations.  Payments Can Also Be Made Via UPI According to a report from the Times of India, an official familiar with the matter stated that this framework should be capable of sending messages in media formats such as photos, PDFs, and videos. This has been permitted by WhatsApp.  In addition to the WhatsApp payment option, challan payments can also be made through popular UPI apps like Google Pay, BHIM, and other platforms. With the introduction of the new system, people will be able to pay their challan quickly and easily. The official further stated that after making a payment through one of these apps, a push notification will be sent every time a new challan is generated. Goal To Resolve Pending Traffic Challans This system will initially focus on traffic-related challan. The official said that since WhatsApp has a push message feature, it will continue to remind individuals that there is a pending challan. Currently, people use the government’s transport e-challan website to pay fines. Another official said, “Many vehicle owners do not receive SMS notifications for challan for weeks. Once our system is developed, this problem will be resolved.” How To Pay Traffic Challan Online  Step 1: Open the website – echallan.parivahan.gov.  Step 2: From the drop-down menu under ‘Check Online Service,’ select ‘Check Challan Status  Step 3: Enter the required information, including your vehicle details and the captcha code provided.  Step 4: Click on the ‘Get Details’ button to view your challan status.  Step 5: If there are any outstanding challans, click on the ‘Pay Now’ option. Step 6: Choose your preferred payment method to settle the challan fees and note down the transaction ID for future reference after completing the transaction.

New Delhi: Poco has launched the Poco C75 smartphone globally. The phone sports a flat design with a water-drop notch on the front and a centred circular camera module on the back. It is an affordable smartphone from the Xiaomi subsidiary and comes in three colour options: Black, Gold, and Green.  The Poco C75 runs on Android 14, with Xiaomi’s HyperOS skin on top that succeeded MIUI 14. The dual-SIM (Nano+Nano) smartphone is offered in two variants—6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage.  Poco C75 Price And Availability: The handset is priced at $109 (roughly Rs. 9,170) for the 6GB+128GB RAM and storage configuration. The 8GB+256GB variant carries a price tag of $129 (roughly Rs. 10,900) for the 8GB+256GB variant. However, these prices are for ‘early birds’. Hence, the company could revise the prices at a later date.  The Poco C75 is listed on Xiaomi’s global website and will soon be available for purchase.  Poco C75 Specifications  The handset features a 6.88-inch HD+ LCD display with a resolution of 720×1,640 pixels, offering a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 600 nits. It runs on MediaTek’s Helio G81 Ultra processor, supported by up to 8GB of RAM for efficient multitasking. This device is powered by a 5,160mAh battery, compatible with 18W charging, although the charger is not included in the box. In terms of connectivity, the Poco C75 supports 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port. On the camera front, the phone is equipped with a 50-megapixel main rear camera, along with an auxiliary lens for added versatility. A 13-megapixel front camera handles selfies and video calls. Additional sensors include an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, e-compass, and a virtual proximity sensor, enhancing user experience and functionality.

WhatsApp New Feature: WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging platform owned by Meta, has launched a new feature that allows users to privately add and manage their contacts across multiple devices. Earlier, users could only add contacts on WhatsApp through their mobile devices by entering a phone number or scanning a QR code. Now, with this update, users can manage contacts on WhatsApp Web, Windows, and soon on other linked devices using their keyboards. This feature is particularly useful for individuals who access WhatsApp on multiple devices or prefer using it on a computer for personal or business communications. it’s true, you no longer have to reach for your phone  add or edit your contacts from whichever linked device you’re on pic.twitter.com/AKtYTqVZRD — WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) October 22, 2024 The platform is also launching a new feature that lets users save contacts directly within WhatsApp, separate from the device’s main contact list. These WhatsApp-only contacts will be automatically restored when users switch devices or if their phone is lost. This functionality is expected to expand to other linked devices in the future. Adding further, WhatsApp has also rolled out a new storage system, Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS), to securely store contact information, allowing users to restore contacts even if they lose their phone. The system uses Key Transparency, which ensures the authenticity of contacts and monitors any changes to identity keys. Furthermore, Meta is working on enhancing the personalization of Meta AI within WhatsApp. This feature will allow Meta AI to retain user-shared details, offering more personalized responses based on learned user preferences. 

New Delhi: Almost 750 million additional people were covered by 5G in 2023 and more than half of that was due to rollouts by operators in India alone, a new GSMA report said on Wednesday. The consumer experience on mobile networks continued to see significant improvement in 2023, with global average download speeds increasing from 34 to 48 Mbps. “This represents the largest proportional and absolute increase seen to date. The biggest increase was in South Asia, where India’s launch of 5G drove a 70 per cent increase in average download speeds in the region,” according to the GSMA ‘State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2024’ report. Unlike many surveyed countries, smartphone ownership increased from 2022 to 2023 among rural populations in India. Across all seven survey countries with sufficient sample size for analysis, literate mobile internet users were more likely to perform a wider variety of tasks on a weekly basis than those with low literacy levels. “Interestingly, mobile internet users with low literacy levels in India are, on average, using mobile internet for at least eight different activities on a weekly basis, which is higher than both low-literacy and literate groups for all other countries analysed,” the GSMA report mentioned. The report stated that mobile internet connectivity continues to grow globally but barriers for 3.45 billion unconnected people remain. Connecting those with access to existing mobile internet services would deliver an estimated additional $3.5 trillion in total GDP during 2023-2030, the findings showed. John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA, said that despite continued progress in expanding the reach of network infrastructure and in increasing mobile internet adoption, significant digital divides remain. “Although most users access mobile internet daily, their activities are often limited to just one or two activities, even though many express a desire to do more. This highlights persistent barriers to enabling meaningful connectivity, preventing users from getting online and getting the full benefits of the mobile internet,” Giusti mentioned. The report said that 4.6 billion people (57 per cent of the global population) are now using mobile internet on their own devices and 350 million people (4 per cent of the global population) live in largely remote areas without mobile internet networks (the coverage gap). About 3.1 billion people (39 per cent of the global population) live within mobile internet coverage but do not use it (the usage gap).