Apple Diwali Sale 2024: Ahead of the festive season, the Cupertino-based technology giant has officially announced the date for its much-anticipated Diwali sale, set to begin on October 3, 2024. Apple’s Diwali Sale is set to offer exclusive deals and discounts on iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and more, exciting fans and consumers across India. In the Apple Diwali Sale, the company hasn’t disclosed the specific discounts yet, but there are lucrative offers and benefits being provided by the tech giant.  Apple Trade-In:  With the Trade-In program, customers can exchange their current devices to receive a discount on new Apple products. No-Cost EMI Plans:  Customers can avail themselves of interest-free EMI plans for up to six months, applicable through leading banks. Free Engraving:  Apple is offering free personalization options, allowing users to engrave their AirPods, AirTags, Apple Pencils (2nd generation), or iPads with emojis, names, or numbers.    Complimentary Apple Music:  Buyers of select Apple devices will receive a three-month subscription to Apple Music at no additional cost. Meanwhile, Amazon’s Great Indian Festival Sale 2024 is now live, offering exciting deals on various iPhone models. Apple recently unveiled the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4, available with and without Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). It will be interesting to see if Apple has reduced the prices of these newly launched devices or if any exclusive offers are available on the latest products during the Diwali sale on October 3. 

Instagram Reels On WhatsApp: WhatsApp, an instant messaging platform, is utilised by billions of individuals across the globe. As Meta owns two widely used platforms, Instagram and WhatsApp. Over the past few years, WhatsApp has adopted several features from Instagram. The WhatsApp Status functionality draws inspiration from Instagram Stories, and the Channels feature resembles Instagram Channels. WhatsApp enables users to make voice and video calls, as well as share a variety of media with their contacts. Meanwhile, Instagram also allows users to share photos and videos along with calling and video calling features.  Notably, Instagram offers a distinctive feature called Reels, which is not available on WhatsApp. Currently, there are no signs that Meta plans to introduce Reels to WhatsApp.    You want to enjoy Instagram Reels without switching apps? You’re in luck! Now, you can easily watch Instagram Reels directly on WhatsApp, combining two of your favorite platforms for a seamless experience. However, this access is limited to a small selection of Reels, in contrast to the endless scrolling available on Instagram. In this article, we’ll tell you step-by-step how to share and view Instagram Reels within WhatsApp, making content sharing more fun and convenient.   How To Share Instagram Reels On WhatsApp  Step 1: Ensure that the WhatsApp application on your Android phone or iPhone is updated to the latest version to access all new features. Step 2: Locate the Meta AI icon on the WhatsApp home screen, which is easily identifiable by an animated blue-pink circle positioned above the chat list. Step 3: Tap on the Meta AI icon, and the Meta AI chatbot interface will appear on your screen, providing a familiar chat environment. Step 4: In the text input box at the bottom, enter a prompt like “Show me Instagram reels” to interact with the chatbot. Step 5: After sending your prompt, WhatsApp will quickly respond by displaying a selection of Reels within the chat interface for you to browse. Step 6: Tap on any of the displayed Reels to view them directly within the WhatsApp app, allowing for a seamless viewing experience.  Moreover, if a user wants to view Reels from a specific Instagram page or creator, they can mention the name in their text prompt to access the latest and most popular Reels from that account. 

Diwali Gift For iPhone Lovers In India: Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Digital has delivered a massive Diwali surprise for Apple enthusiasts with an unbelievable offer on the upcoming iPhone 16. In a special festive deal, Reliance Digital is offering the much-anticipated iPhone 16 for just Rs 13,000 alongside Amazon and Flipkart, making it a steal for tech lovers across India.  This limited-time offer, bundled with Jio’s exclusive plans, marks a significant price drop from its expected market value. With Diwali around the corner, with bank discounts and a No-Cost EMI option, this is the perfect time to bring home an iPhone 16.   Notably, Apple’s iPhone 16 was launched in early September. iPhone 16 Price Break Up With No-Cost EMI At Rs 13,000 Reliance Digital is offering the 128GB variant of the phone at a sale price of Rs 79,900. However, if you make the purchase from Reliance Digital, you’ll receive an instant discount of Rs 5,000, bringing the cost down to Rs 74,900. Adding further, if you use an ICICI, SBI, or Kotak Bank credit card, you can avail of an instant discount of Rs 5,000, reducing the final price to Rs 74,900.  As an added benefit, Reliance Digital provides a No-Cost EMI option, allowing you to pay Rs 12,483 per month (around Rs 13,000) for six months, making the latest iPhone more accessible without stretching your budget.  iPhone 16 Specifications The premium phone features a 6.1-inch OLED display with 1179 x 2556 pixels resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The newly launched iPhone 16 is a dual SIM (US: eSIM, Worldwide: Nano+eSIM) handset that runs on iOS 18. It is powered by 3561mAh battery and a 3nm octa-core A18 chipset that features a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine.    It comes with upgraded Ceramic Shield protection and the Dynamic Island. The handset has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The iPhone 16 comes with a new camera control feature that enables users to adjust settings by sliding a finger on the screen, located on the right side below the on/off switch.    On the optics front, this phone uses a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. For Connectivity, the iPhone 16 supports 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. 

Funtouch OS 15 Update India: Chinese smartphone brands Vivo and iQOO have started rolling out the Android 15-based Funtouch OS 15 Update in India. The new Funtouch OS 15 update brings new algorithms, enhanced animations and effects along with artificial intelligence (AI) features which aim to improve the user experience along with the device’s overall experience. The latest update enables users to personalize their devices with more than 3,800 design elements, including system colours, fonts, icons, and wallpapers. Moreover, the new features include customisable app icon styles and adjustable icon shapes and sizes. Notably, the companies have become one of the first original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to introduce Android 15 on their handsets, leaving behind tech giants such as Samsung and Google.  The company has unveiled the full list of devices in India set to receive the beta update, with the rollout starting in mid-October 2024 and continuing through May 2025.  Key Features Of Funtouch OS 15 Update: -A new scheduling algorithm, ‘Priority Scheduling,’ has been introduced to improve app opening speed by up to 15% during heavy usage. -It uses an optimized zRAM compression algorithm, increasing compression speed by 40% and reducing GPU memory usage for background apps. -Animated effects have been added to system interactions, with over 700 touch scenarios optimized for smoother and more responsive performance. -The Lightning-Speed Engine aims to enhance app opening speed further, targeting a 20% improvement.  iQOO FuntouchOS 15 Rollout  According to the company, the Funtouch OS 15 update will be available for download on the iQOO 12. Hence, the iQOO 12 became the first smartphone to get Android 15, followed by the iQOO 11 in November. It is important to note that the other phones from the brand will receive the update in the coming weeks and months.   Vivo FuntouchOS 15 Rollout   Vivo is set to begin the Funtouch OS 15 rollout in mid-October 2024, starting with the Vivo X100, Vivo X100 Pro, and Vivo X Fold3 Pro. The V series will follow in mid-December 2024, while the Y series and T series will receive the update between mid-February and mid-June 2025. 

New Delhi: WhatsApp, an instant messaging platform, is used by millions of users across the globe. Want to keep your WhatsApp chats hidden without using the archive feature? While WhatsApp doesn’t offer a direct way to hide chats, there are some workarounds you can try on your iPhone or Android device. These tricks help you maintain privacy and keep certain conversations out of sight.  Many users prefer not to delete the chats as to refer to them later while others may want to avoid exposing the details of the chats. However, one way to hide a message on WhatsApp is by archiving the chat. However, one drawback of this feature is you do not receive any notification when a new message is sent from that chat.      In this article, we will show you simple methods to hide your WhatsApp chats without archiving them on iPhone, or Android so you can enjoy more privacy on your Android phone. (Also Read: How To Send WhatsApp Message Without Saving Number On iPhone, Android; Follow THESE Simple Steps) How To Hide WhatsApp Chats On iPhone Without Archiving  Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your device and tap the ‘Settings’ icon located in the bottom-right corner. Step 2: In the Settings menu, navigate to the ‘Privacy’ section. Step 3: Scroll down and select ‘Screen Lock’ from the options available. Step 4: You will be prompted to see either ‘Require Face ID’ or ‘Require Touch ID’ based on your device. Step 5: Toggle the switch to enable the Face ID or Touch ID feature. Step 6: Once enabled, choose one of the time options: Immediately, After 1 minute, After 15 minutes, or After 1 hour. WhatsApp will now require Face ID or Touch ID to unlock, based on your selected time interval.  How To Hide WhatsApp Chats On Android Without Archiving  Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your phone and tap on the three dots in the top-right corner to go to ‘Settings.’ Step 2: Navigate to ‘Privacy’ and then select ‘Account.’ Step 3: In the ‘Account’ section, choose ‘Fingerprint Lock,’ and enable ‘Unlock with Fingerprint.’ Step 4: Finally, select one of the time options to decide how long before WhatsApp should lock automatically.

WhatsApp Message Without Saving Contact: WhatsApp has become the go-to messaging app for billions of users worldwide, offering a seamless way to send texts, photos, videos, and documents on iPhone and Android. There are some instances when you might need to message someone without saving their number. Usually, WhatsApp requires you to save a contact before sending a message. However, there’s a way to skip this step. This handy technique can save you time and prevent unnecessary contacts from cluttering your list.  How To Send WhatsApp Messages Without Saving Contacts on iPhone, Android Step 1: Open the WhatsApp application on your Android or iOS device. Step 2: Copy the mobile number you wish to message. Step 3: Tap the New Chat button at the bottom-right corner of the screen. Step 4: Select your own contact under WhatsApp Contacts to open a new chat with yourself. Step 5: Paste the copied number into the message text box and click Send. Step 6: Tap on the mobile number in the chat, and if the person uses WhatsApp, tap Chat to send them a message directly.  Users can send WhatsApp messages without saving contacts through various methods, including Google Assistant on Android, third-party apps, WhatsApp QR codes, or the Shortcut app on iPhone. These options provide flexible, time-saving solutions for communication, eliminating the need to save contacts before messaging.  Hence, these methods simplify the process of sending WhatsApp messages without the hassle of saving numbers, making it more convenient for casual and temporary communications.   Moreover, WhatsApp is also introducing a significant update in its latest Android beta version 2.24.20.28, aimed at boosting user safety and enhancing interactions with unknown contacts. A key feature of this update is a safety screen that appears when users receive a message from an unknown sender. The screen offers helpful guidance on managing these interactions, including options to block or report the sender. 

Apple iOS 18: Tired of your home screen? With Apple iOS 18, you can now fully customize and personalize your lock screen using widgets, making it more flexible and user-friendly than ever before. The widgets allow users to access information such as weather updates, calendar events, and reminders right from the lock screen, enhancing the convenience of your iPhone. With iOS 18, you can easily add, rearrange, and customize widgets to suit your preferences. iPhone users can now customize the colour of app icons and widgets, even matching them to the wallpaper, and adjust their size to appear larger. Moreover, several new apps have been introduced, including Journal and Passwords, along with an enhanced Calculator. The Photos app has undergone a redesign, while both the Notes and Camera apps have received improvements. How To Add, Rearrange, And Customize Widgets on Your iOS 18 Lock Screen Step 1: Press and hold the lock screen to enter customization mode. Step 2: Tap “Customize Widgets” from the menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. Step 3: Choose your widgets by tapping and holding one, then moving it to your preferred spot. Step 4: To add more widgets, tap the “+” button. Step 5: Customize the appearance of a widget by tapping and holding it, then selecting “Edit Widget.” Step 6: Rearrange widgets by tapping and holding one, then dragging it to a new position. Step 7: Add more pages by swiping left or right if you have more widgets that can fit on one page. Step 8: Organize the widgets across multiple pages for a better layout. Step 9: Tap “Done” to save your custom lock screen setup. Step 10: Review your changes to ensure your lock screen is customized as you like.

New Delhi: In a major step to curb the misuse of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) in messages, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a Direction on 20th August 2024, instructing all Access Providers to block any traffic containing URLs, APKs (Android Package Kit), or OTT (Over The Top) links that have not been whitelisted. The Direction is set to be implemented by 1st October 2024. To ensure smooth flow of SMS traffic containing URLs, TRAI advises registered senders to promptly upload their whitelisted URL/APK/OTT links to the portal of the respective Access Providers. So far, over 3,000 registered senders have complied with this requirement by whitelisting more than 70,000 links. Senders who fail to whitelist their links by the due date will not be able to transmit any messages containing URL/APK/OTT links. This initiative by TRAI is designed to safeguard consumers from unsolicited messages containing malicious links while fostering a transparent and secure communication system. By complying with these new rules, both Access Providers and registered senders can help in creating a more reliable and safe messaging environment.

New Delhi: Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom company has launched three new prepaid data plans to offer more options for its users. These data-only plans are priced at Rs 161, Rs 181 and Rs 351. These plans provide extra data without affecting your regular service validity. It’s Airtel’s latest effort to keep customers happy and stay ahead in the competitive telecom market. Here’s a quick overview of Airtel’s newly introduced data plans: – Rs 161 Plan: Offers 12 GB of data for 30 days with no daily usage limits. It comes at approximately Rs 13 per GB, providing flexibility for moderate data users. – Rs 181 Plan: Provides 15 GB of data for 30 days without any daily cap. Priced around Rs 12 per GB, it also includes access to Airtel Xstream Play, giving you 22+ OTT benefits for entertainment. – Rs 361 Plan: Delivers 50 GB of data for 30 days with no daily usage limit, making it cost-efficient at around Rs 7 per GB—ideal for heavy data users. Moreover, Airtel has revised some existing plans: Rs 77 Plan now offers 5 GB of data for 7 days. Rs 121 Plan provides 6 GB of data for 30 days. For smaller, one-day needs, the Rs 26 Plan offers 1.5 GB of data. These new Airtel plans are designed as data-only vouchers. This means that the users will need an active base prepaid plan to access the data. Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea (Vi) has also made some changes to its plans. The Rs 479 prepaid plan, which originally offered 56 days of validity, now lasts for 48 days. This plan includes 1 GB of data per day, 100 daily SMS, and unlimited voice calls. The Rs 666 prepaid plan, which comes with Vi Hero benefits, has had its validity reduced from 77 days to 64 days.

New Delhi: More than 3,000 registered senders have whitelisted more than 70,000 URLs, APKs (Android package kit) or OTT (over the top) links as per the government directive to safeguard consumers from unsolicited messages containing malicious links, it was announced on Thursday.  In a major step to curb the misuse of URLs (uniform resource locators) in messages, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued a directive on August 20, and then extended it till September 30. The new rule, instructing all access providers to block any traffic containing URLs, APKs, or OTT links that have not been whitelisted, is set to be implemented by 1st October 2024. To ensure smooth flow of SMS traffic containing URLs, TRAI advises registered senders to promptly upload their whitelisted URL/APK/OTT links to the portal of the respective Access Providers. “So far, over 3,000 registered senders have complied with this requirement by whitelisting more than 70,000 links. Senders who fail to whitelist their links by the due date will not be able to transmit any messages containing URL/APK/OTT links,” said the Ministry of Communications. This initiative is designed to foster a transparent and secure communication system. “By complying with these new rules, both Access Providers and registered senders can help in creating a more reliable and safe messaging environment,” said the telecom regulator. Whitelisting is a cybersecurity strategy under which only pre-approved or trusted users, entities, or actions are allowed to operate on a system or network. By preventing unauthorised access, whitelisting can greatly reduce the risk of malware infection and cyber intrusion. Telecom service providers blocked over 50 entities and disconnected more than 2.75 lakh mobile numbers and telecom resources earlier this month. The TRAI has also introduced punitive measures for non-compliance. Content templates registered under the wrong category will be blacklisted, and repeated offenses will lead to a one-month suspension of the sender’s services.