Applications
Akai unveils LCD, LED TV lineup in India
MUMBAI: Japanese consumer electronics brand Akai has announced the launch of its new range of LEDs and LCD televisions in India.
The company has launched two new models of LED TVs and one new model for LCD TV. The range includes India‘s first 29 inch ultra slim LED with only 9 mm narrow bezel (model LED29E12) whose initial response has been extremely encouraging.
Akai India is targeting a growth of 50 per cent in the next quarter with its diverse range of LEDs, High Definition LCDs and CRT televisions.
Akai India MD Pranay Dhabhai said, “With our new range of affordably priced and technologically superior LEDs and LCD TVs, we hope to make a strong value proposition to the buyer in the Indian hinterland across smaller towns and villages.We are targeting a growth of 50 percent in the festive season and our innovative launches coupled with festive offers and discounts will further help us achieve these figures”.
Akai stated that its new 29-inch LED TV 29E12 has a narrow bezel of only 9 mm, possibly the narrowest amongst the available LEDs in India. There is a Blu-ray USB feature that allows the user to enjoy playback of full HD movies straight on the LED TV through the provided two USB slots. Besides, full HD format, these USB slots have capability of playing all other popular movie, picture and music formats.
Other key features include natura light technology with dynamic back light, brushed finish, 3D dynamic noise reduction, 3D comb filter and dynamic skin correction. The model with 236 channels also allows one to pack in sports, movies and games with a backlit picture, amplified and enhanced surround sound, and the convenience of sleep timer and picture freeze. It also supports USB 2.0 for both movies and still photos.
Akai 40-inch Full HD LED Television model Takashi 40 comes with narrow bezel of 12 mm and displays super-high resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Akai Takashi 40 LED has 3 HDMI slots which allows the user to stream high definition content from Blu-ray players, laptops, camera and other devices. It has special features like dynamic skin correction, natura light technology, 3D comb filter, 3D noise reduction. Like the 29 inch LED, Takashi 40 is also equipped with Blu ray USB feature which has capability of playing all popular Full HD movies, picture and music formats. The model is available across India at leading retail outlets.
Akai 15-inch LCD TV model Cutie comes with a USB Blu-ray player which allows playing all popular Full HD movies, indeed a first-of-its-kind for the size and segment of LCD. Also, Cutie has digital photo frame feature which allows one to store numerous pictures in USB and use the product as a photo frame. The high definition television comes with dynamic contrast of 100000:1 and a strong sound of 200W PMPO stereo.
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
