iWorld
NGC US teams up with VOD service provider Akimbo
MUMBAI: This is an initiative that sees National Geographic in the US trying to leverage the strength of emerging digital media delivery platforms.
American company Akimbo Systems which claims to be the first company to deliver digital-quality video-on-demand (VOD) to any television through a broadband-Internet connection has announced a deal with National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F).
NGT&F has joined a list of companies that provide video programming for the Akimbo Service. Akimbo offers consumers a video-on-demand (VOD) service that is delivered to televisions via the Internet and allows consumers to create their own personal television experience.
The Akimbo Service will be offering a selection of titles from National Geographic’s library consisting of 25,000 hours of adventure, science, natural history, current affairs and cultural programming. In addition, feature films will include Inside the Pentagon,, Ambassador: Inside the Embassy, Egypt: Quest for Eternity and 21 Days to Baghdad.
Akimbo CEO Josh Goldman said, “The National Geographic brand is recognised and respected worldwide. Movies and documentaries from their vast library represent the type of A-level programming that makes the Akimbo Service unique. Now, Akimbo users can access these informative and educational programmes on demand.”
The Akimbo Service works with the Akimbo Player. This is a set-top box that can store up to 200 hours of video, and provides consumers with viewing controls such as pause, rewind and archive. The Akimbo Player has an onscreen programme guide and a customised remote control. The Akimbo Player utilises widely adopted technology for playback including Windows Media 9 technologies for audio and video compression, and digital rights management.
e-commerce
Samsung Galaxy S26 series now available for instant delivery on Instamart
AI powered flagship phones start at Rs 87,999 with launch offers up to Rs 9,000.
MUMBAI: In the age of quick commerce, even flagship smartphones are learning to arrive at your doorstep at lightning speed. Instamart has partnered with Samsung to make the newly launched Galaxy S26 series available for instant purchase on the quick commerce platform, expanding the category beyond groceries and daily essentials into premium consumer electronics.
The Galaxy S26 lineup, which includes the S26 Ultra, S26+ and S26, is now available across several major Indian cities including Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune, among others.
The flagship series introduces several new features, led by what Samsung describes as the world’s first built in Privacy Display on a smartphone, available exclusively on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The display is designed to enhance privacy while unlocking a new class of screen experiences.
The devices also integrate agentic artificial intelligence designed to quietly manage routine tasks in the background, allowing users to focus on more meaningful interactions with their device.
Positioned as a major step forward in AI powered smartphones, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also introduces enhancements in areas such as nightography photography and Photo Assist tools, aimed at improving low light imaging and AI driven creative editing.
Through the partnership, Instamart is extending its quick commerce proposition to high value electronics, allowing customers to order the Galaxy S26 series and receive it almost instantly once sales go live.
The Galaxy S26 series will be available starting at Rs 87,999. As part of the launch offers on Instamart, customers can avail an instant discount of up to Rs 9,000 using an HDFC Bank credit card. Buyers can also opt for No Cost EMI options for up to 9 months.
The move reflects the growing overlap between quick commerce and consumer electronics, as platforms race to deliver not just groceries but also premium technology products with the same promise of speed and convenience.
