Applications
Sony launches Walkman video models
MUMBAI: Sony India has expanded its Walkman Video MP3 player family with the new NWZ-S540 and the NWZ-E440 series. |
The NWZ-S540 series integrates Sony‘s new Digital Linear Phase Speaker System. Combined with its 2.4-inch LCD screen, the NWZ-S540 player allows users to share music with friends and family. The NWZ-E440 series features an extended battery life for longer music and video playback. The NWZ-S540 series is bundled with a convenient stand, making it easy to prop up the player instead of holding it when watching videos or recording lectures. The Digital Linear Phase Speaker System is developed by Sony to enhance sound quality from stereo speakers. The advanced audio technology allows for natural sound reproduction and powerful bass sounds to be amplified in a compact body. Also incorporated are voice and FM recording and multiple codec support for convenient music and video playback. In addition, the included Content Transfer software easily transfers files such as music, movies and photos from Windows Explorer, iTunes® or even Cyber-shot cameras to the Walkman® with its simple drag-and-drop interface. For users who like to wake up to tunes every morning, the new Walkman S540 series features the new alarm function that allows users to set a daily ‘wake-up call‘. A timer function switches off the Walkman within a set time, which helps to preserve battery life and enable longer hours of audio enjoyment. Both Walkman series feature an extended battery life with up to 42 hours of music playback and 6.5 hours of video playback on the NWZ-S540, and up to 30 hours of music playback and 6 hours of video playback on the NWZ-E440. With superior sound quality brought about by the stereo speakers, the new Walkman S540 series and E440 series provide an audio experiences for users who enjoy music on-the-go. |
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.
