iWorld
Facebook planning smart STB for TVs with video calling support
MUMBAI: According to a United States news website, Cheddar, social networking company Facebook is working on smart set-top boxes for TV.
And according to the sources, the set-top box will be camera equipped. It will also allow video calling along with entertainment services like Facebook’s YouTube competitor.
Internally codenamed ‘Ripley’, the device uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automatically detect and follow people as they move around during a video call.
Apart from opening the door for video chat feature, the new hardware would help Facebook compete in the TV market averse to Apple and Amazon.
With concepts like Ripley, Facebook is attempting to build consumer hardware business outside of its virtual reality brand ‘Oculus’. Oculus VR is an American technology company acquired by Facebook in March 2014 for around $2 million.
eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
