Best phones under Rs 25,000 (Apr 2022): Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G, Realme 9 Pro+ 5G to Motorola Edge 20

Just like the last quarter, all the phones on this list are 5G ready. And we have some interesting new entries under Rs 25,000 that are sure to get you excited. We have phones with 108MP cameras, competent processors, AMOLED screens, high refresh rate displays and more to appeal to a wide variety of users. Choose one that appeals to you the most. Mind you, the choice may not be that simple.

Best phones to buy under Rs 25,000 in India

Motorola Edge 20 5G
The Motorola Edge 20 5G is now available for just under 25K, and that makes it an awesome buy. It has some very interesting features that no other phone on this list can brag about. For starters, it is less than 7 mm thin; something extremely rare in smartphones these days. Its 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display flaunts a flagship-grade 144 Hz refresh rate along with HDR10+ compliance and the capability to display a billion colour shades. It is protected against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. 

The camera department is equally impressive starting with a 108MP primary camera. The supporting cast is strong too with a 16MP ultra-wide shooter and an 8MP telephoto camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) that provides 3X optical zoom. Its 32MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie enthusiasts. This Motorola phone is powered by a capable Snapdragon 778G SoC, and you get 8 GB RAM with 128 GB internal storage to go with it. 

Its 4000 mAh battery suffices for a day of moderate use and supports 30W fast charging. It runs Android 11, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface that will appeal to a lot of Android purists. Long story short, the Motorola Edge 20 is an impressive all-round package and one of the best options in this budget.

Motorola Edge 20 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Realme 9 Pro+ 5G
Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is the only phone in this list that offers OIS with the main camera. It has three cameras at the back starting with a 50MP primary camera with OIS that does a commendable job in various conditions. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. Its 16MP front camera is more than decent for selfies and video calls. The phone runs the latest Android 12 out of the box with Realme UI 3.0. 

The Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 920 SoC, which is a good choice for the segment. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage with it. It has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate that is vibrant and fluid. It is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The 4500 mAh battery lasts well over a day of moderate use and the company bundles a 60W fast charger that promises to charge the phone fully in under 45 minutes.  

Realme 9 Pro+ 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G
The Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G is another phone that photography enthusiasts would like to look at closely, courtesy of its 108MP camera. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The 16MP front camera is good enough for selfies and video calls. This 5G phone is powered by a Snapdragon 695 SoC, and you get multiple RAM and storage variants in this budget to choose from. The internal storage can be expanded further with a microSD card. 

The Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that can get up to 1200 nits bright. It supports a 120 Hz refresh rate for a flicker-free experience in compatible apps, and is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. A 5000 mAh battery keeps it running for close to a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 67W turbo charger claims to take it from 0 to 100% in less than 45 minutes. This Xiaomi phone runs Android 11 with MIUI 13. 

Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G price in India: Rs 20,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 22,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 24,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage 

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G
Samsung too has a solid all-round option in this budget that is quite sleek and light. Just like the Moto Edge 20, the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G too is powered by a Snapdragon 778G SoC. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal (expandable) storage to go with it. It has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Its 5000 mAh battery lasts for over a day and a half of moderate use and supports 25W fast charging.

Despite the larger display and a high capacity battery, the phone weighs under 175 grams and is just 7.4 mm thick. The camera department is quite versatile with a combination of a 64MP primary camera, 12MP ultrawide snapper and a 5MP macro camera to capture some quality photos in various modes. The 32MP selfie camera embedded in a tiny punch hole at the top of the screen will have the selfie crowd interested. The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G runs Android 11 with One UI 3.1.

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 6 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

iQOO Z5 5G
Just like the Samsung phone, the iQOO Z5 5G retains its spot on our list. It offers impressive features and performance in this budget. At the heart of this phone too is a Snapdragon 778G SoC that remains one of the best options. You get the faster UFS 3.1 internal storage here. You generally get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget, but because of a Rs 2,000 instant discount on Amazon India, you can also get the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant under 25K while the offer lasts.

The iQOO Z5 5G has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Battery capacity stands at 5000 mAh, and you get a 44W fast charger, which promises to charge 50% of the battery in just 23 minutes. Photography is handled by three cameras at the back comprising a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. You also get a more than decent 16MP selfie camera. The phone runs Android 11 with FunTouch UI 12, and the company promises two major Android updates going ahead.

iQOO Z5 5G price in India: Rs 21,990 (effectively) for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 24,990 (effectively) for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

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Tata Avinya EV concept breaks cover: All you need to know

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM) has unveiled a brand new EV concept called the Avinya. In case you’re wondering, Avinya is derived from the Sanskrit language and translates to innovation. The Avinya concept is based on Tata’s Gen 3 architecture and will be the basis for a number of new electric vehicles from the homegrown automaker. Tata Motors officials state the Avinya concept will be introduced to the market by 2025.

Speaking at this landmark occasion, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons and Tata Motors said, “While making the Avinya concept a reality, the central idea was to offer a mobility solution like no other – a state of the art software on wheels that is well designed, sustainable and reduces the planet’s carbon footprint. Green Mobility is at the nucleus of TPEM, and the Avinya concept is the perfect reflection of what the company stands for – a creation that will not only accelerate the adoption of EVs but also lead this movement. Furthermore, at the Tata group, we are uniquely positioned to bring all the expertise that is necessary to build these mobility solutions and we are confident that in years to come we will make a larger and sustainable impact not only in India but globally as well.”

Adding to this, Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd., and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said, “It is indeed a matter of pride for us at TPEM to present the Avinya concept to the world, a vision pivotal in signalling a ‘New Paradigm’. Holding on to its values of Simplicity, Timelessness, Effortlessness and Grace, the Avinya is not only a concept but is our new identity, an identity which is here to challenge the status quo. It gives me an intense sense of optimism to present a new typology of vehicles that will introduce the automobile industry to options beyond mobility – a tranquil space which will offer you a complete sensory experience while on the move. At its heart, the Avinya concept has ‘IN’, which demonstrates our Indian roots and highlights how we pride ourselves in discovering new ways to move and power vehicles. The Avinya concept is the fruition of our first idea built on our Pure EV GEN 3 architecture, enabling us to produce a range of globally competitive EVs. Our vision for pure EVs is focused on delivering wellness and rejuvenation while travelling, backed by cutting-edge technologies, aimed at improving the overall quality of life.”

The Avinya concept is said to be originally inspired by a catamaran. Tata believes that it combines the essence of a premium hatch with the luxuries and versatility of an SUV and the roominess and functionality of an MPV. To our eyes, it sort of brings back the concept of the estate car. A significant highlight on the front and the rear of the vehicle is a new identity. This new identity as a part of the DRL is a subtle nod to Tata’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life and is a pivotal step in the evolution of EVs. Then, of course, there are the ‘Butterfly’ doors, which add a touch of class to the concept vehicle.

Tata has also fitted the Avinya concept with a skydome that enhances the overall sense of space and natural light. That’s not all, there is also the funky steering wheel design, voice-activated systems, swivelling seats and an aroma diffuser for creating a relaxed aura. Furthermore, the Avinya concept is designed with lesser screen time in mind. Taking this into consideration the Avinya concept has been made screen-less, to bar any distractions inside the car and create a stress-free environment for the mind and soul.

The Pure EV GEN 3 Architecture is built with the use of next-gen materials, efficient electronic componentry and proprietary energy management strategies & algorithms for efficiency management. There is extensive use of light-weight materials, and optimized structure for an EV only powertrain with enabled appropriate stiffness which helps minimize the overall mass, leading to good weight management. Furthermore, the battery used will support an ultra-fast charge capability, in line with the infrastructure evolution, pumping a minimum 500 kilometres range in under 30 minutes.

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Realme GT Neo 3 with 150W fast charging launched in India, check out the price and specs

Realme launched the GT Neo 3 and a hoard of devices in the country today, in order to further solidify their growth in the Indian smartphone market. In over a year, they have shown 40 per cent YoY growth, which is the reason that they plan to go all guns blazing in the next couple of years.

The highlight of the event was the launch of the Realme GT Neo 3 150W edition. However, the up and coming tech company also announced another version of the GT Neo 3, the Realme Pad Mini, the Realme Smart TV X FullHd, and two TWS earbuds, the Realme Buds Q2s and the Realme Buds Air 3.

Realme GT Neo 3 Price, Specs & Availability

The Realme GT Neo 3 features a Dimensity 8100 processor and a dedicated display processor that powers the 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display which supports a 120Hz refresh rate.

As for the camera, the Realme GT Neo 3 packs a 50MP Sony IMX766 OIS system, an 8MP ultrawide unit, and a 2MP macro shooter. The front camera is a 16MP shooter.

The device is powered by a 5nm Dimensity 8100 processor, which has four Cortex-A78 units at 2.85GHz, and the MaliG610 graphics unit, along with UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM.

The device is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery, which comes with 80W SuperDart charging, as well as 150W UltraDart charging.

The Realme GT Neo 3 is available in 3 variants. The 8GB + 128GB unit is available for Rs 36,999, whereas the 8GB + 256GB unit is available for 38,999. The main highlight of the series, the Realme GT Neo 3 150W edition, with 12GB + 256GB variant is priced at Rs 42,999. 

The devices will be available from the 4th of May 2022 onwards, and up until the 9th of May, customers will be given bank discounts worth Rs 7,000 on all the three variants of the phone.

Other Products 

The Realme Pad Mini, with its 8.7-inch display, will be available in 4 variants. The WiFi with 3GB + 32GB unit will be available for Rs 10,999, whereas the WiFi unit with 4GB + 64GB spec will be available for Rs 12,999. The LTE unit with 3GB + 32GB will be available for Rs 12,999, whereas the LTE unit with 4GB + 64GB will be available for Rs 14,999.

The Realme Buds Air 3, with its 30 hours of playback time and segment-defining ANC features, are available at Rs 4,999. The Realme Buds Q2s, on the other hand, has been priced at Rs 1,999.

The 40-inch version of the Realme Smart TV X model will be available at Rs 22,999 whereas the 43-inch variant is priced at Rs 25,999.

Most of the products will be available on Realme’s website, across multiple e-commerce platforms and other stores from the 4th of May. For a part of the first week, i.e. till the 9th of May, Realme will be providing a number of discounts on the products launched today.

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Explained: How the world’s first space hotel plans on replicating the Earth’s gravity in space

One of the biggest challenges that most space-based tourism startups, especially those involved in lodging face are making it accessible to the general public. Replicating gravity in these properties is the biggest challenge that these startups face, as most people won’t be able to cope with extended periods of floating in zero gravity. An American startup is planning to employ a rather odd solution for this problem.

California-based startup Orbital Assembly Corporation recently announced that they are planning to make its first Pioneer-class space station operational by 2025. Orbital Assembly is planning to make this the first commercial hybrid and a modular space station that can be used for both research and leisure.

Basically, they plan to open the first hotel and business park in lower Earth orbit. The Pioneer station is supposed to be a luxury hotel that is capable of accommodating 400 people at a time. If successfully, deployed the property can accommodate 28 guests for up to two weeks.

In an email statement, Orbital Assembly said that they are planning to deploy their Pioneer design in a safe and secure manner, which would allow them to generate revenue and become profitable from both tourist and commercial sectors sooner than any of the vendors that NASA has employed.

NASA had awarded contracts to private US companies like Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origins & aerospace and defence manufacturer Northrop Grumman. They are supposed to launch their LEO (lower Earth orbit) space stations by 2030. These privately owned and maintained space stations are supposed to replace the International Space Station, by the time the ISS is decommissioned.

The Pioneer space module will be an orbiting outpost, that is designed to simulate one-sixth of the Earth’s gravity. They plan to do this by spinning around a gravity ring. Having a weightless environment on a space station would allow people to still move around “while eating or drinking out of a cup normally and sleeping without having to be attached to a bed,” according to the company’s statement. Creating artificial gravity is also a way to mitigate the detrimental health effects of microgravity on the human body.

The way the system works is that the entire unit will be surrounded by a ring-like external structure, which would rotate or spin the module. The centrifugal force that would be exerted would simulate gravitational force, and therefore a portion of the Earth’s gravity. This is called rotational simulated gravity. 

Given this has never been attempted in space on such a large scale, this seems to be a rather big leap that Orbital Assembly is going for. However, if they manage to pull this off, it would be a game-changing move for space travel and lodging.

The only thing off about this entire endeavour has to be the timeline. 2025 seems to be awfully close to being able to pull something off like this, even if Orbital Assembly are able to source the funding that they need to. Having said that, even if they are delayed by 5 years or so, they will be in a position to influence how people think of living in space for longer periods of time.

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Apple's Chinese manufacturer leaks how the new displays for iPhone 14 series look like

It has been long rumoured that with the iPhone 14, Apple will be ditching the infamous notched display and will be going for a pill-shaped and a punch-hole cutout for the front camera and the array of sensors that they use for Face ID. A leak by one of Apple’s Chinese vendors seems to confirm this rumour to be true.

The front glass panels for all four of the iPhone 14 phones have surfaced on Weibo, a Chinese social media website. The leak on Weibo comes from a reputed Chinese Apple leaker, whose leaks have often turned out to be true. As per the post, the photograph was accidentally leaked by one of the official vendors of the front glass panels that are used for the displays in the new iPhone 14 models.

The panels reveal that Apple will be ditching the notch for the iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max. It also shows that the regular iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will be getting a much thinner and refined notch. We wonder why did Apple not get rid of the notch completely for this generation of iPhones.

All the devices are also getting thinner bezels. Eagle-eyed users on the platform have also observed that all the models of the iPhone 14 are getting a taller aspect ratio.

Reports for the pill-shaped and hole-punch display for the iPhone 14 were first reported by Ross Young, a display industry consultant, and Mark Gruman, a reputed journalist who has reported on numerous in the past that turned out to be accurate.

Other rumoured features and details around the iPhone 14 include a 48-megapixel rear camera, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, and more.

If indeed this is the direction that Apple is going for the iPhone 14, we have to say that the notch pill-shaped cutout and the separate punch-hole cutout look rather intrusive and more jarring than the notch. The notch, as disruptive as it was looked much cleaner and practical. The display with the two holes will need some getting used to.

It will be interesting when the pill-shaped and punch-hole cutouts will become standard across all iPhones. Clearly, this year the new design changes have been kept exclusively for the top tier models to differentiate them from the regular versions of the iPhone.

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IPL 2022 Orange Cap: A look at top run-getters in the competition

Jos Buttler

KL Rahul

Shikhar Dhawan

Hardik Pandya

Tilak Varma

Faf du Plessis

Prithvi Shaw

Shreyas Iyer

Shivam Dube

Ambati Rayudu

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From iPhone 6S to iPhone SE, these devices will not be getting the iOS 16 update

With WWDC 2022 just around the corner, people who follow Apple and developments around iOS are excited. One of the most anticipated announcements from Apple at this year’s WWDC hs to be the introduction of iOS 16.

When iOS 15 was released last year, it actually disappointed a lot of people. Apart from a reworked and somewhat improved notification centre, a redesigned Safari and the introduction of Memojis, there was nothing that could really entice users.

With iOS 16 though, rumour has it that Apple is adding a ton of new features that will have iPhone users all excited. These new features include the introduction of interactive widgets, quick action shortcuts right on the lock screen, and a number of health-tracking features.

However, not all iOS devices that run on iOS 15 will be getting the iOS 16 update. As per several reports, the iPhone 6S, the iPhone 6S Plus, and the 2016 iPhone SE will not be getting the iOS 16 update. The interesting thing to note is that all these devices, do support the latest versions of iOS 15.

As disappointing as the news may be to some users, it does make sense. Last year, Apple took many people by surprise when it launched iOS 15 for all devices that ran on iOS 14. 

However, with mobile operating systems becoming more demanding, and the iOS 16 being heavier and more feature-rich, the hardware and the computing power of the older devices just might not be enough. 

Users who have been using the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and the 2016 iPhone SE may feel that they have to ditch their phones and plan to upgrade. Well, that is not exactly the case, especially if you have bought any one of these devices recently, and still find the devices adequately powerful for their usage. These devices are now six or seven years old and have had great support from Apple, especially when you consider their Android counterparts.

Also, upgrading your purely based on the upcoming OS isn’t exactly a wise idea. With iOS 15, phones older than the iPhone XR and iPhone XS missed out on features like Live Text and Spatial Audio in FaceTime.

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TVS partners with PETRONAS to form PETRONAS TVS Racing Team

TVS Motor Company has announced a partnership agreement with PETRONAS, an alliance that will see the progressive energy company become the title partner of TVS Racing, India’s first factory racing team. In fact, it has been rebranded as PETRONAS TVS Racing Team.

This particular outfit will don a new livery as part of the alliance effective this season. PETRONAS is also set to supply its high-performance engine oil, PETRONAS Sprinta to the team that will participate in road-racing, supercross, and rally formats of racing, including the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship (INMRC), Indian National Supercross Championship (INSC), and Indian National Rally Championship (INRC).

KN Radhakrishnan, CEO TVS Motor Company: “We are delighted to have PETRONAS as our partner for TVS Racing. PETRONAS comes with many progressive technological solutions, backed by significant wins in prominent racing events. I am confident that PETRONAS’ global expertise and solid presence in motorsports combined with TVS Racing’s four decades of strong racing heritage will take us to greater heights.”

Datuk Sazali Hamzah, Executive Vice President and CEO Downstream PETRONAS: “PETRONAS continues to make headway across the value chain in India. Amongst the examples of a significant portfolio, enhancements include supplying LPG through IndianOil PETRONAS Pvt. Ltd. (IPPL), provision of rooftop solar panels via AmPlus Energy. Today, we seal a stronger partnership with one of India’s most respected OEM, TVS Motor Company, with the PETRONAS TVS Racing Team launch. PETRONAS lubricants have a solid track record in global motorsport events, and we are proud to support TVS Racing’s ambitions.”

The partnership is further complemented by a strategic business alliance with PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) to develop a co-branded oil – PETRONAS TVS TRU4 RacePro – which will be available for consumers in the high street market across India in May 2022.

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MG partners with Bharat Petroleum to bolster EV charging infrastructure

MG Motor India has announced a partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to bolster the EV charging infrastructure across the country. With this, MG Motor India becomes the first passenger car company to tie up with BPCL to rapidly enhance the adoption of ‘green mobility'.

Commenting on the development, Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “The key to a successful transition to electric mobility is a robust EV ecosystem. MG has been at the forefront of the development of a strong EV ecosystem since the launch of the ZS EV in 2020. Along with our ecosystem partners, we are working to create a vast network of EV charging stations, in addition to battery recycling & battery second life solutions for end-to-end sustainability for electric vehicles. Furthermore, our customers also benefit from the unique 6-way charging ecosystem that makes using an EV every day much easier. Our partnership with BPCL is yet another step to strengthening the EV charging infrastructure in India to energize and enhance customer confidence in EVs. BPCL's strong presence and vast network in India will ensure that existing and prospective customers across the country have convenient access to charging solutions. We aim to further expand the opportunities of charging an EV and educate consumers on the environmental benefits of the same.”

Commenting on the partnership, Arun Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, BPCL said, “Sustainable consumption is the present and future as we move into the era of mass electric mobility. As we herald the phase of rapid energy transition to electric mobility, BPCL is at the forefront of addressing the three big anxieties amongst electric vehicle owners (range anxiety, time anxiety, and discovery anxiety) in order to build consumer confidence for the accelerated adoption of electric vehicles in the country. BPCL is setting up fast-charging corridors across major highways in the country, inter-connecting major cities, and economic centres, and will have a network of 7000 conveniently located fast-charging stations in the country in the next 2-3 years. These fast-charging stations will come with a host of customer amenities viz, hygienic washrooms, refreshments, micro ATMs, etc. This era calls for strategic cross-industry collaboration to reach new and important milestones in the EV charging ecosystem and at BPCL, we are excited to expand our ambit and create positive synergies with innovative brands like MG Motor India to usher in the era of best-in-class EV charging solutions. MG Motor India is known for creating differentiated customer experiences through its wide range of evolved Internet SUVs and is a leading player in EVs in India. We look forward to this partnership, providing a fillip to countrywide adoption of electric mobility and opening up opportunities for creating exciting customer offerings in the personal mobility space.”

From its inception, MG Motor India has set its multi-step charging system with AC chargers and DC fast chargers in residential communities and MG showrooms. MG also extends a 6-way charging ecosystem to its customers, which includes a free-of-cost AC fast-charger (installed at the customer’s home/office), an extended charging network, a plug-and-charge cable onboard, and charge-on-the-go with RSA (Roadside Assistance), and community chargers. The proposed EV Charging Network with BPCL will facilitate an uninterrupted driving experience for EV users and boost the country's EV manufacturing ecosystem.

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Explained: Why Google is cracking down on third party call recording apps

One of the best uses of smartphones on Android is the ability to record calls. Many people will attest to the fact that the ability to record calls has saved their lives on a number of occasions. This is especially true for journalists or people in similar professions, for whom taking notes on a simple paper with a pen, wasn’t an option.

The Crackdown
Now, though, all that is about to end for Google is updating its policy that ensures third-party call recording apps will longer be supported by the Play Store, by denying access to its Accessibility API, starting from May 11.

The reason that Google gave for this policy update, was that the Accessibility API was only meant to be used by developers to build apps for people with disabilities to access their devices.

Has Been Restricting Call Recording Capabilities For Years
Ever since 2015, Google has been restricting Android’s ability to record calls. With Android 6, Google blocked access to real call recording, by removing Android’s call recording API. With Android 10, Google disabled the ability to call records over the microphone. This took place back in 2019.

Using the Accessibility API was basically a loophole, which Google had ignored for some time now, Well, that is until this year.

Google Protecting Itself
The main reason why Google needs to shut down any system that allows a user to record a call on his or her Android device is because of the laws and regulations of various states in the US, where it is based. 

In the US, Federal law only requires one party (generally the recorded) to consent to a conversation being recorded. However, there are several state laws that contradict this. Google has decided to play it safe, and stay on the side of the law in all jurisdictions.

As per the policy update, Google will be targeting apps that record calls without alerting the person on the other end of the call (i.e the person being recorded). However, even if an app does notify all parties before recording, it still will not be able to use the Accessibility API, they will have to go about it some other way.

Grey Areas
Having banned all third-party apps, Google will still allow users to record calls if the phone has a native call recording feature. In other words, if you have been using the Google Phone app, you will still be able to record calls.

This opens up another pandora’s box for users who need to use the feature rather regularly. The only viable alternative option in such a scenario is that a user uses an app that uses three-way calling. Here, an app adds a third party to the call, usually a bot, which records the conversation. Not only are such apps expensive, but they also cannot be trusted to store your audio data in a legitimate manner.

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Explained: What could make Elon Musk back out of his bid to acquire Twitter

As slim as they may be, there are some chances that Elon Musk might have to abandon Twitter’s takeover bid. The acquisition of Twitter is going to be a long drawn process, during which a lot of things can go wrong.

On the face of it, it seems all but certain that Elon Musk will be the new owner of Twitter, and that one of his companies, X Holdings, will be acquiring Twitter, by the 24th of October this year. However, between now and then, there are a number of hurdles that may trip Musk and derail his bid to take over Twitter. 

And if Musk or Twitter for that matter decide to pull out of the takeover bid under certain conditions, one will have to pay the other a withdrawal fee of $1 Billion. We a look at some of the biggest issues that Musk and his team might face.

Shareholders May Not Agree

We begin with the unlikeliest of scenarios. Yes, the board of directors have accepted Musk’s bud, but they still need the approval of their shareholders. If the majority of the shareholders agree with the proposal that the board of directors present them with, i.e. of $54.20 per share, then the company will be sold to Musk, and then delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. If the majority of the shoulders vote against selling their stocks, the sale of the company will not be going through. Given that Musk’s offer for each share contains a small but still significant premium, most shareholders are likely to sell their holdings.

FTC, SEC Or Other Regulatory Agencies Intervening

This wouldn’t be unprecedented. Several government agencies have blocked mergers and takeover bids in the past, citing a variety of issues. These agencies have the power to shut down the takeover bid, even if they get just a hint of misappropriation or fraud.

Musk anyway has a tumultuous relationship with the SEC, or the Securities and Exchange Commission, and has been charged with fraud before.

Twitter Getting A Better Offer

Another unlikely, but still plausible scenario, is that the board of directors at Twitter, get a better offer. In such a scenario, they will have to allow Musk to make a counteroffer. However, if the board finds the counteroffer not satisfactory, they can pull out of the deal. In such a scenario, Twitter will have to pay Musk a withdrawal fee of $1 Billion.

Surprising Discoveries During Due Diligence

The reason why the takeover will take a long time is that Musk and his team will be going over Twitter’s finances, business dealings, and a number of other aspects, with a fine-toothed comb. In case they find any irregularities that may come to haunt Musk and X Holdings, they have the right to pull out of the deal.

The Platform Undergoing A Massive Shift

This is where things get a little tricky. The platform will obviously be undergoing a massive change, with several users leaving and several other users coming back to the platform. Just the announcement of Musk buying up Twitter saw hundreds of thousands of account deactivations which have been all organic, according to Twitter.

Plus, there is also the issue of bots. In case during discovery, it is found that the number of real users that Twitter claims it has is significantly bloated, Musk can step away from the deal, without any consequences. 

Tesla’s Performance

Ever since news broke that Twitter’s board of directors had accepted Musk’s bid to buy Twitter, Tesla’s stock has dropped by 10 per cent. Now, given the volatility of the US market, a movement like this can be expected. The issue is that it hasn’t been able to rally upwards ever since the fall, not in any significant manner at least.

Invariably, if Tesla’s stocks continue to fall, Musk may have to revisit his bid to take over Twitter. In such a scenario, Musk will have to pay the withdrawal fee.

It will be interesting to see how the takeover process plays out. What will be more interesting, is whether Musk continues to tweet details about the acquisition, as it goes along.

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Android 13 Beta 1 released for the general public, check out these new features and functionalities

People who follow the development of Google’s Android OS are in for a treat. A Beta version of the upcoming Android 13 was released to a handful of Pixel devices earlier this week, which showcased some of the new functionalities and features that are coming to the OS.

Users who were expecting some major changes will be a little disappointed. The changes and tweaks are mainly geared to provide quality-of-life additions to last year's massive Android 12 overhaul, as expected.

A New Media Player Notification

The new media notification now has a unique playback bar. Instead of a basic line, which shows the progress, you see a squiggly line based on the eq levels of the song. The portion in front of the player's head remains to be a flat line. This makes it a lot easier to see how much of a track, podcast or any other audio-based media has been consumed, making it easier for users to track.

Screenshot-like clipboard notifications

A new screenshot-like menu with all the options for a clipboard will now start popping up in the bottom-left corner of your display when you copy a piece of text, just like when you normally take a screenshot. Also, when you tap the new edit icon, a new menu will pop up that shows you what app or UI sections are available to use the copied text in.

Controlling smart devices from the lock-screen

The display section in the Settings app now, allows you to remove the need to unlock your phone to control your smart-devices home. This means that now, you can adjust your Google-home connected lights and other devices.

Pixel Launcher search reverts to the old Google app search

The Pixel launcher search bar now has reverted to an older version, in which it was just using the Google widget. This version included the Google Lens, a shortcut for the Google App, and the voice search button. Now, when you open up the app drawer, Google’s search bar will let you search for apps, but it will prioritize internet search results instead of apps and settings.

Increased Material You colour options

The overhauled Material You UI relies heavily on your wallpaper to set up a theme for your phone. You can also opt not to use your wallpaper’s colour for the theme, and instead go for a handful of available themes. Google has expanded the colour options that are available for the themes. You can choose from 16 different options within the two sections. These additions are multi-toned.

If you prefer using the default colour schemes, and even these have a lot of options, which are based on different hues.

Minor UI Tuning

There are several minor tweaks to the UI that enhance the user experience by a mile. 

Google Calendar, for example, now shows the correct date, just like the clock app, instead of the number “31.”

Priority Mode, which has been a source of contention for a lot of users, has now been renamed back to Do Not Disturb. The term ‘Priority Mode’ was a bit confusing, especially given how it functioned more like a slightly tweaked ‘Do Not Disturb Mode.’

We also see haptic feedback returning in the Silent mode. Users won’t feel vibrations when scrolling through the Recents menu. In all other areas, such as typing or tapping, you’ll get vibration-based feedback. You’re also able to access the sound and vibration menu to adjust the strength of haptics and vibrations for alarms, and touch feedback.

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What the future holds for Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal after Elon Musk’s takeover

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is all set for a Twitter takeover. He struck a deal to buy the social media giant for $44 billion with its board, including Chief Executive Offer (CEO) Parag Agrawal and its former head Jack Dorsey.

Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist”, wants to revamp Twitter and as the owner, he will have the power to overhaul the board and dismiss those who do not align with his vision for the organisation. In a securities filing on 13 April, the entrepreneur said that he did not have “confidence in the management”, reports TIME.

What does this mean for the India-origin executive?

An uncertain future

The Twitter CEO told worried employees on Monday at a town hall that the future of the firm was uncertain.

Employees asked Agrawal whether former US president Donald Trump, who was permanently suspended from Twitter last year, would be allowed to return once Musk takes over. “Once the deal closes, we don’t know which direction the platform will go,” he said, referring to the question regarding Trump.

During a virtual meeting with Twitter employees, hours after the company had agreed to the buyout, Agrawal said that he would remain the CEO until the deal is closed. However, he did not comment on what would happen after that.

Agrawal would get an estimated $42 million if he were terminated within a year of a change in role at the company, according to research firm Equilar, reported Reuters. The amount includes a one-year base salary of him and accelerated vesting of all equity awards, the research firm estimated. It is based on the price of $54.20 per share that Musk has offered.

Agrawal’s rise in Twitter

Agrawal took over from Twitter co-founder Dorsey last November. However, the IIT-Bombay alumnus is considered a veteran in the company.

He was well-known in the San Franciso office much before he took the top job. He joined the company in 2011 as a software engineer and went on to build a reputation as one of its top engineers. He became part of the team that transformed Twitter’s developing projects and was instrumental in focusing the platform’s efforts on the “timeline” structure of tweets on users’ homepages, reports TIME.

In 2017, he was promoted to chief technology officer. He moved Twitter onto cloud computing services to address engineering problems that caused sluggish growth, according to the magazine.

Agrawal has managed the firm’s technical strategy, overseen machine learning and AI, re-accelerated user growth, and scaled ad system and revenue during his time in the company. He also looked into Twitter’s effort to incorporate cryptocurrencies into the platform, letting users send tips to each other, a report in the Times says.

The stint as CEO

Agrawal has been CEO for five months and it has been a tumultuous stint so far. Dorsey quit in November last year after being questioned by investors for the time he spent on other projects. However, he picked Agrawal for the job and put all his weight behind him.

“He’s been my choice for some time given how deeply he understands the company and its needs,” Dorsey had said. “Parag has been behind every critical decision that helped turn this company around… He leads with his heart and soul, and is someone I learn from daily.”

not sure anyone has heard but,

I resigned from Twitter pic.twitter.com/G5tUkSSxkl

— jack⚡️ (@jack) November 29, 2021

When Agrawal was appointed CEO, he received an annual package of $1 million, with a potential bonus of up to $1.5 million. His net worth is at least $26 million, according to regulatory filings compiled by Factset. However, being the top boss at the firm has not been easy.

Twitter reported a net loss of $221 million last year and the past few weeks have been the most difficult for the company in its 16 years existence with Musk gunning for ownership.

Musk and Agrawal

When Musk bought a 9.2 per cent stake in Twitter earlier this April, he was appointed to the company’s board of directors. Agarwal then wrote a note that sounded grateful.

He later announced Musk’s rejection. “… Elon shared this morning that he will no longer be joining the board. I believe this is for the best,” Agrawal said.

Elon has decided not to join our board. I sent a brief note to the company, sharing with you all here. pic.twitter.com/lfrXACavvk

— Parag Agrawal (@paraga) April 11, 2022

After Agarwal was appointed the CEO, Musk tweeted that the US benefits greatly from Indian talent. However, a lot has changed since.

USA benefits greatly from Indian talent!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 29, 2021

And like Twitter, it’s not certain what the future holds for Parag Agrawal.

With inputs from agencies

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Twitter: Not even Elon Musk is wealthy enough to bring absolute free speech to the platform, here’s why

Elon Musk is the planet’s number one billionaire. If anyone can turn cyberspace into a heaven – or hell – of free speech “absolutism” via a US$44 billion (£35 billion) Twitter takeover, then surely he’s the man. Right?

When free-market elephants like Musk or Jeff Bezos (who bought the Washington Post in 2013) take charge of major mass-media outlets, concerns are raised about the direction of free speech, which remains the essential ingredient of democratic participation.

This feeds into wider concerns around the ever-increasing privatisation of public spaces. In the online age, the fact that we spend so much of our time in private spaces earning advertising revenues for billionaires is seen by many as an affront to human dignity. The Twitter deal may only move ownership from one set of private hands to another, but the fact that the world’s richest (and controversial) billionaire is involved seems to make it worse.

Also read: ELON MUSK’S PLANS FOR TWITTER COULD MAKE ITS MISINFORMATION PROBLEMS WORSE

But the reality is more complex. The nostalgic idyll of free speech is that once upon a time there was a “town hall” or “public square”, where citizens would come together as equals to debate the issues of the day. Every idea could be freely aired because an enlightened citizenry would sift truth from falsehood, good from evil.

The people’s elected representatives would then proceed to reach conclusions faithful to the “will of the people” and would frame wise laws accordingly. Those images of a town hall or public square are assumed to be public in the full sense – they are freely open to all, and no private citizens own them.

In fact, no such arenas have ever existed, at least not in modern democracies. In years gone by, blasphemy laws in many western nations placed restrictions on people’s abilities to speak with candour about what was, at the time, far greater church influence over public policy. More importantly, women, ethnic minorities, colonised people and others often enjoyed nothing like the prerogatives to speak out without fear in the public forum, let alone as equal citizens.

Yet myths often contain a grain of truth. There can be no question that protest and dissent which used to take place in public spaces has now largely shifted to online media platforms that are owned and operated by private companies. (We do still have street demonstrations, yet even they rely upon online publicity to swell their numbers.)

Public power

Yet if we should not underestimate the power of private media interests, neither should we overestimate it. Almost the same day as Musk’s Twitter deal broke, the European Union announced it would adopt a Digital Services Act.

This will vastly increase the bloc’s powers to restrict content that promotes terrorism, child sex abuse, hate speech (which the EU has tended to define in broad terms), disinformation, commercial fraud, and other speech that poses problems for individual safety or democratic society.

I should say, as I have written elsewhere, that I disagree with several elements of the EU law, and of similar UK rules, but that is not the point here. The point is that even Musk’s billions will not shield him.

He can go ahead and fire all Twitter’s speech monitors if he wants to, but it will not be long before he needs to rehire them. For each of the categories of content that are covered in the EU law, hefty fines can be levied for breaches, so the only way to avoid the fines would be to continue doing monitoring.

In fact, why were these monitors ever hired in the first place? It was not because Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other online platforms started out with a profound social conscience.

Quite the contrary: they started out very much as the supposed free speech absolutists that Musk now fancies himself to be. As American companies, they assumed they would follow free speech law as set down under the first amendment to the US constitution.

Since the 1960s, the US supreme court has construed the first amendment to allow more provocative speech than other nations have allowed. Nonetheless, and contrary to popular belief, even US law is by no means absolutist about free speech and never has been. Loads of speech is regulated, such as restricted military data, professional confidentiality agreements and details of jury proceedings, to cite only a few among many examples.

As I explained in my 2016 book, Hate Speech and Democratic Citizenship, no society has ever permitted absolute free speech, and nor is that something that any legal system would ever have the means to sustain. Our arguments about regulation are always about degree, and never all or nothing.

Unsurprisingly, the first-amendment bubble of the big US online media platforms quickly burst. Given their global reach, they are subject to the laws of all nations in which they operate.

Once the EU started cracking down, these companies were suddenly hiring legions of online monitors. And the new EU laws – completed before Musk’s takeover was even in the works – show that countries hosting key markets can bear down even harder.

The coming showdowns will therefore not be between dictatorial censorship in the one corner and free speech absolutism in the other. They will be between business and governments. And as Elon Musk will soon be aware if he is not already, plenty of governments seem up for the fight.

Eric Heinze, Professor of Law, Queen Mary University of London. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Elon Musk may reinstate Jack Dorsey as Twitter’s CEO, share same views on how the platform should be run

Following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter for a record $44 Billion, and privatising the micro-blogging site, several trade analysts are of the opinion that the eccentric tech billionaire may hire co-founder Jack Dorsey to be reinstated as the CEO of Twitter.

 

Musk and Dorsey share a great bond and have been very close friends for years now. Both of them also share the same ideas and vision as to how Twitter should function, and how pressure from Wall Street and advertisers had made Twitter a hostage to shareholders. Dorsey and Musk also share the same views on cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and web3 and its future possibilities.

Earlier this month, when Musk was invited to join the board of directors (which, Musk finally refused), Dorsey had stated that he hoped musk would serve as a director on the board of Twitter for a long time. 

Back in 2020, when Dorsey was being pressured to step down as the CEO of Twitter by the board of directors, it was Musk who came out in his support. 

Musk and Dorsey also share the belief that Twitter’s algorithm, especially how the Twitter Feed operates, should be transparent and open-source, meaning that it should be open to all. Both of them have also been critical of Twitter’s control over free speech. Musk, who claims to be an absolutist when it comes to freedom of speech, may harbour views that go the extremes. Dorsey’s take on free speech, however, isn’t that far behind.

Another reason why Musk might appoint Dorsey as the CEO is the fact that the Tesla & SpaceX CEO has a lot on his plate, with several vital space missions coming up, and the numerous development and production deadlines that Tesla needs to meet. 

Managing Twitter will be a monumental task, given all the reforms and changes that are being planned for the platform. The fact that Dorsey and Musk share the same views about Twitter, is another reason why analysts are favouring Dorsey to return.

Having said that, these are conjectures at best. For a long time, Musk has believed that if he wants something to be done in a certain way, he has to be involved very closely. Also, Dorsey at the moment is occupied with Block, a financial payments company that he is trying to scale up.

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TweetDeck, Gnip and more: Strategic acquisitions by Twitter that will now be handed to Elon Musk

After months of pitching, billionaire Elon Musk has finally acquired Twitter. The social media company confirmed the development on Monday, announcing that it had entered into a 'definitive agreement' to be acquired by an entity owned by Musk, for $ 54.20 per share in cash, a 38 percent premium to Twitter's closing stock price on 1 April, 2022.

Musk and his backers will be paying a total of $44 billion for the acquisition. The billionaire has secured $25.5 billion of fully committed debt and margin loan financing and is providing an equity commitment of nearly $21.0 billion. With this, Musk is also set to take charge of all the existing acquisitions of Twitter Inc.

Since being founded in 2006, Twitter has made a series of strategic acquisitions that will now be handed to Musk.

Tweet Deck

One of the first strategic acquisitions by Twitter Inc was Tweet Deck, a third party social media dashboard application for the management of Twitter accounts. The social media giant paid $40 million for the acquisition back in 2011.

Tap Commerce

In 2014, Twitter acquired mobile ad retargeting startup Tap Commerce for $100 million. Tap Commerce in its early years, helped mobile businesses retarget their ads based on previous user activity. The service of Tap Commerce at the time of acquisition was also being used by Facebook.

Gnip

Twitter also acquired its long time data partner Gnip for $134 million in 2014. Gnip was among the first social media API aggregation service provider and had long provided access to public Twitter data. Apart from Twitter, Gnip was also offering API aggregation services to other social media networks like Reddit, Instagram Tumblr, Bitly and others.

TellApart

In its largest acquisition till then, Twitter paid $479 million for taking over the business of Adtech Startup TellApart. The acquisition was initially reported to cost $ 533 million but the deal was sealed at a $ 54 million lower price.

Magic Pony Technology

Twitter announced the acquisition of London-based Magic Pony Technology in 2016. The social media giant paid $150 million for the deal. Magic Pony Technology worked in the development of neural networks, a system that essentially is designed to think like the human brain. The technology could be used differently, for example, it could help in enhancing the quality of a picture or video taken on a low spec camera phone or also help to develop graphics for virtual reality or augmented reality applications.

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Elon Musk buys Twitter: A look at 15 significant merger and acquisitions in tech industry

Tesla CEO Elon Musk struck a deal on Monday to buy social media giant Twitter for $44 billion. In a statement released on the microblogging platform, the world’s richest man stated that he wants to make Twitter “better than ever”.

Twitter’s sale to Musk will see the company become private. The shares of the social media giant had reportedly halted for a while on Monday, amid reports of the deal. NASDAQ ended higher after the announcement. Shares of Twitter also jumped 5.6 percent after the news broke.

As the news about Musk’s takeover of Twitter dominates the headlines, let’s take a look at mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector that shook the world:

Elon Musk buys Twitter ($44 billion):

The deal is expected to be one of the biggest mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector, with Musk acquiring Twitter for $54.20 a share. The price is 38 percent over the company’s stock close on 1 April this year.

Yahoo buys Tumblr ($1.1 billion):
In 2013, Yahoo bought social media platform Tumblr for $1.1 billion. However, six years later, the blogging social network was sold to the owner of WordPress for an undisclosed amount, according to reports.

Microsoft buys Yammer ($1.2 billion)  
Social media platform Yammer was purchased by Microsoft for $1.2 billion in 2012. The platform is now part of Microsoft 365 enterprise suite and is only accessible to business users who have access to a Microsoft 365 Enterprise plan.

Twitter buys Vine ($970 million):
The social media giant acquired the short video making website for $970 million in 2012. According to A TechCrunch report, the platform became the number 1 app on the iTunes app store six months after it was acquired by Twitter. At one point, Vine boasted of over 200 million active users. However, the platform soon declined due to stiff competition from other social media platforms.
It was shut down by Twitter in 2016.

Facebook buys WhatsApp ($19 billion):

The social media giant acquired messaging service Whatsapp for a sum of $19 billion in 2014. According to a Reuters report, the company paid WhatsApp $12 billion in stock, $4 billion in cash and $3billion in restricted stock that vests over several years.
The messaging app is still owned by the social media giant.

Facebook buys Instagram ($1 billion):

Facebook (now Meta) bought the photo and video sharing platform for $ 1 billion. An email exchange between Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and former Chief financial Officer David Ebersman revealed that the company was acquired as it was seen as a ‘threat’. Instagram is part of Meta, Facebook’s parent company.

Google buys YouTube ($1.65 billion):

Google purchased YouTube way back in 2006. The video sharing platform is one of the most popular social media applications now and remains one of the most visited websites.

Google buys Fitbit ($2.1 billion):

Google bought Fitbit for $2.1 billion in an all-cash deal in 2019. According to TechCrunch, the move was part of Google’s entry into the wearables sector, which was dominated by rival Apple.

Apple buys Beats by Dre ($3 billion):

Apple acquired Beats Electronics (maker of popular headphones) and subscription streaming music service Beats Music for $3 billion, including $400 million in restricted stock. Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre also joined Apple, according to a press release by the company.

Google buys Nest ($3.2 billion)

Google purchased Nest in 2014 for $3.2 billion in cash. The acquisition of the smart thermostat maker was part of Google’s efforts to boost its own range of smart devices.

Microsoft buys Nokia ($7.2 billion)

Microsoft bought Nokia’s phone business in 2013. But the $7.2 billion deal failed and two years later, the company wrote off the business and cut down several thousand jobs.

PayPal buys Honey ($4 billion)

The payments company brought the online shopping deal service for $4 billion in 2019. This remains Paypal’s biggest acquisition to date.

Microsoft buys GitHub ($7.5 billion)

Github, the open-source software development and code hosting platform was acquired by Microsoft in 2018. The deal, which cost $7.5 billion, was made by Microsoft to “strengthen our commitment to developer freedom, openness and innovation,” according to a press release.

Microsoft buys Skype ($8.5 billion)

Microsoft bought Skype for $8.5 billion back in 2011. The video conferencing platform saw a huge rise in users after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, before it was overshadowed by the popularity of Zoom.

Microsoft buys LinkedIn ($26.2 billion)

Microsoft also bought LinkedIn for an all-cash deal in 2016 for $196 per share. The $26.2 billion deal saw the tech giant acquire one of the biggest professional networking and job search websites.

 

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Nine things we want from Elon Musk, Twitter’s new owner

There is unlikely to be another human on this planet who announces a $44 billion purchase with a ‘Yesss’ posing between two symmetrical walls of emojis — a heart, rocket, and a dizzy star — on each flank.

But that is Elon Musk for you. He just bought Twitter.

🚀💫♥️ Yesss!!! ♥️💫🚀 pic.twitter.com/0T9HzUHuh6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022

Beneath his fascinating array of masks — the maverick, the prankster, the clown, the trippy hippie and the benevolent bully — Musk is an extraordinarily cold and sharp businessman. But he is also an incurable dreamer and a man of great curiosity about the mysteries of the universe. If José Arcadio Buendía of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Thousand Years Of Solitude were unimaginably rich, he would probably be Elon Musk.

Also Read: Elon Musk seals deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion, says 'want to make it better than ever'

Amazon's Jeff Bezos prompts China conspiracy theory after Elon Musk's Twitter takeover

His choice of businesses shows his obsession with the future and a compelling need to shape it by putting his wealth to use. If Space X is his foray into the galaxies, Tesla is about tomorrow’s mobility. If X.com is a new-age online bank, Neuralink Corporation develops implantable brain-machine interfaces. If OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory, The Boring Company makes tunnels as part of inter-city transit systems.

It is hard to believe that he became the world’s richest man with such exotic, tangential leaps of business imagination. It is equally hard to believe that Twitter was frivolous vanity shopping for him.

In spite of Twitter’s reach being far smaller than YouTube or Facebook, Musk sees a lot more intrinsic value in it. It is a global, political and cultural influencer. It could be the harbinger of free speech. As Musk describes in his tweet, “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.”

Also read: 6 THINGS THAT ELON MUSK WANTS TO CHANGE ABOUT TWITTER NOW THAT HE’S ALMOST BOUGHT IT

IT'S ELON MUSK'S WORLD AND WE JUST LIVE IN IT: TECH VISIONARY TURNS SOCIAL MEDIA KING

So, what do we expect him to do with the platform? Or rather, what do we want him to do?

Here is a wish-list:

First, let us have free speech across ideologies, except when there is a clear threat of physical harm and violence. On Indian Twitter, for instance, bring both True Indology and Sanjay Hegde back. They are from two extremes of the ideological spectrum, and neither of them deserve to sit out. People cannot be randomly deplatformed.

Second, remove the shadow bans with immediate effect. Users, especially conservatives, have repeatedly complained about Twitter limiting their reach, capping their follower count of eroding it, and forcing them to remove media without any explanation or investigation.

Third, make algorithms transparent. Right now nobody knows on what basis Twitter punishes some users and promotes some others. What is the scientific basis behind its actions? Transparent algorithms will enhance trust.

Fourth, every single human user of the platform whose identity can be verified should get a blue tick. Twitter has created a small uberclass of blue ticks mainly from media and politics who go around with a great sense of entitlement and self-importance. Many of them are not even minor influencers. This artificial hierarchy and rocky playing field must be evened out.

Fifth, Twitter can do with some new features, like a time-bound edit button (which shows changes that have been made). It also needs to create a better video and livecasting environment to take on YouTube or Instagram.

Sixth, it should stop rewarding the mob. Targeted and politically motivated mass-reporting of an account cannot be the basis of bans.

Seventh, ban the bots. Musk has stated clearly that he will fight the bots till the end and that is quite reassuring. Multiple fake accounts hounding others with replicated tweets or trending PR stuff for companies must end. Bots are dementors that suck the soul out of Twitter.

Eighth, Twitter must follow the laws of the land. It cannot function like an unaccountable super-government.

And ninth, get Donald Trump back. Whether one agreed with him or not, deplatforming a sitting American President, an incorrigible motormouth, was the darkest hour of social media when it comes to freedom of speech. It showed that Big Tech and a powerful woke set can casually unseat the most powerful person elected by the people.

Politicians with a far more contentious track record are allowed to use the platform. Why should Trump be left in the cold because Democrats and Big Tech connived to get him out while brazenly blocking any coverage of Hunter Biden’s alleged corruption?

Elon Musk’s job with Twitter won’t be easy. He is no longer dealing with machines of the future. He is now dealing with human societies of the future — an oceanic, unpredictable mass of life hurtling forward with hope, fear, anger, love and zen.

He has dynamite in his hands. He has to choose whether to blow up a road or make one with it.

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Six things Elon Musk wants to change about Twitter now that he’s almost bought it

Tesla CEO and tech wizard wants the world to know that Twitter is changing for good. Late last night, Twitter announced that its board of directors has decided to go through with Musk’s takeover offer, and will be selling the micro-blogging site to Musk for a record $44 Billion.

Ever since Musk announced that he was interested in buying up Twitter, he has often been asked what would he do if he owned Twitter, or, if he was inducted as a board member. Elon has stated his intentions with the company in a number of tweets since then. Unfortunately, some of the most telling of his tweets were deleted, probably because the tech billionaire felt that he was giving away too much information then, which would have ultimately harmed his takeover bid.

Now that he is on the verge of buying up Twitter for good (remember, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the USA can still cause some issues), we take a look at what all Musk wants to do with Twitter, once he takes the ownership and management into his own hands.

Tweak How Content Is Moderated

One of the biggest issues that Musk has had with Twitter is the opaqueness with which the social media platform moderated its content. Not just Musk, but many people have felt, that over the years, some of the decisions that Twitter has taken regarding accounts and posts of Public Figures have been arbitrary at times, and completely undemocratic at others.

Musk once tweeted a poll asking whether users believed Twitter was protecting free speech. He also asked, "Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?" Of the 2 million respondents, an overwhelming 70 per cent responded, no.

Musk himself has been at odds with Twitter, especially regarding his tweets on Cryptocurrency and the Pandemic. He once claimed that children were basically immune to the coronavirus, and for the longest time, he has been a COVID denier.

Eliminate Bots & Crypto Scams

Elon Musk has been one of the biggest proponents of cryptocurrencies and a number of alternate coins. Despite the fact that Bitcoin and Ethereum mining is extremely damaging to the environment, he was instrumental in making Tesla one of the first mainstream car companies to accept payments in crypto. This move was despite the fact that most engineers at Tesla believe that crypto’s high energy requirements are antithetical to what Tesla stands for.

Twitter is the go-to platform for crypto enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it is also home to some of the most prolific crypto scams, something which Musk has personally fallen victim to.

Scammers have impersonated Musk using fake accounts on various social media sites in an effort to get people to give away cryptocurrency. In 2020, Musk's personal account was among a few high-profile Twitter accounts that were hacked to push a scam. Musk recently tweeted that if his bid to acquire succeeds "we will defeat the spam bots or die trying!" and "authenticate all real humans."

Release An Edit Button

There are many arguments as to whether Twitter should have an edit feature or not. No matter what side of the argument you’re on, it is rather difficult to deny, that there are ways that the micro-blogging site can implement an edit feature, just like several other platforms. When Musk had put out a tweet asking if users want an edit ‘button’ over 4 million users responded, with almost three quarters responding with a yes.

Twitter has rightly pointed out that such a feature can lead to abuse as Twitter is the social media platform where most people get their news from. Jack Dorsey in a 2020 interview had said that if he had his way, Twitter would never have an edit feature. Parag Agrawal, too, responded to Musk’s tweet, asking users to vote carefully, given the consequences that it may lead to.

Open Up Twitter’s Algorithm

For a long time, Musk has stated that he believes all social media platforms should make their algorithms open source. He believes not only will that allow users to check how algorithms affect the content they consume, but it will also allow them to choose the algorithm that affects the content they are served. Although he has been rather vague as to what an open-source Twitter would actually entail, this will be one of his biggest projects at Twitter.

Get Rid Of Ads

On April 9th, Musk targeted Twitter’s business model and stated “And no ads. The power of corporations to dictate policy is greatly enhanced if Twitter depends on advertising money to survive.” Musk has since deleted the tweet. There is also a very good chance that he would continue with a service like Twitter Blue, wherein users pay $3/month. He is also likely to add a few value-added services to get more users to sign up for Twitter Blue.

Have His Own ‘Media’ Outlet

Now, this is a more sinister and convoluted area that we are getting into. Most billionaires, especially in the US, own a media outlet. If Jeff Bezos has The Washinton Post. Bill and Melinda Gates have given away up to $319 Million Dollars to various media outlets. Michael Bloomberg owns Bloomberg. 

Musk on the other hand has had a contentious relationship with traditional media. So much so, that he actually shut down Tesla’s media outreach division. 

Given that most people get their news from Twitter, it wouldn’t be farfetched to imagine that Musk, given the visionary and sagacious individual that he is, Musk decided that he would control the medium through which people consume news. Medium, after all, is the message.

It would be wrong of us to assume that Musk is some benevolent saviour of the masses and that of Freedom of Speech. Be it cryptocurrency, having his own media outlet, or having his own social media platform, Musk sees some value in having Twitter as a part of his portfolio of companies that he owns. What we can say for sure, is that for Twitter, and users of the social media platform, some big things are around the corner.

 

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