iWorld
discovery+ unveils its lineup of shows for August
Mumbai: August is here and discovery+ has a fresh list of shows that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seats. This month’s lineup takes you on an adventure – from the center of Tanzania’s unforgiving wildlands captured by BBC’s stunning cinematography to an action-packed survival of the fittest with Bollywood’s renowned actor and martial arts expert, Vidyut Jammwal. For those wanting to get a glimpse into the lives of the uber-rich of Mumbai like the Singhanias and the Birlas, the list features an observational documentary that is sure to tickle your fancy. Each show is crafted to captivate and thrill.
Highlights for August’s content lineup:
. Streets of Gold: Mumbai | 24 August: Meet the glamorous super-rich of Mumbai, India’s most fashionable city. This three-part observational docu-series explores the lives of Mumbai’s one-percenters, business tycoons like Gautam Singhania of the Raymond Group, Yash Birla of the renowned Aditya Birla Group, and Shaadi.com’s CEO Anupam Mittal, among others.
. Serengeti III (BBC) | 3 August: The real-life animal drama set in a spectacular corner of Africa’s Serengeti returns with even bigger, bolder stories and endearing new characters, now narrated by actor and Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh, popularly known for her portrayal of Lady Danbury. This six-part series is directed by Emmy award-winning director and producer John Downer.
. Adrishya | 15 August: In battles won and wars lost, there are many lives claimed regardless of the victor. It’s not easy to face the perils of warfare even as a trained soldier. Comprising 13 riveting episodes, experience life from the point of view of India’s great spies, living through the danger, fear, triumphs, and captures.
. India’s Ultimate Warrior: Reloaded | 11 August: Martial arts expert Vidyut Jammwal assembles 16 elite athletes and fighters from across India to compete in his Warrior Temple for the title of India’s Ultimate Warrior. In this eight-episode series, the fighters compete in an array of extreme challenges, each designed to test them on the five pillars of becoming a warrior: control, determination, focus, balance, and survival.
. Expedition Unknown: Sharks vs. Nazis in Paradise | 13 August: Just off Florida’s coast, Josh Gates braves shark-infested waters in search of an American ship sunk by a Nazi U-boat during WWII. In this one-off episode, Josh joins Tristan Guttridge, who has a bold new strategy to use sharks as spies to uncover the wreck.
. Expedition from Hell – The Lost Tapes | 20 August: Former military demolition expert Mickey Grosman leads a bunch of novice survivalists on a doomed Amazon expedition. See over 700 hours of archival footage detailing the hilarity, danger, and absurdity of the Amazon 5000. It’s Fyre Fest — in the jungle.
. Gold Rush S14 | 7 August: The hunt for treasures is back for its 14th season. Parker Schnabel decides whether to scale back or bet it all on buying Dominion Creek. Rick Ness returns to mine after going MIA for a year. The Beets finally get access to their coveted claims on the Indian River, but an absent kid may derail the dynasty.
. Ekaant – India’s Abandoned History S2 | 7 August: Traveling through the spread-out palaces and deserted forts, the show documents and investigates the eerie processes of abandonment of each site. How flourishing towns and cities came to be in ruins is the question each episode of this 12-part series seeks to answer.
Unlock a universe of captivating tales and exhilarating adventures with discovery+
iWorld
X launches XChat messaging app on iOS with calls and encryption
Standalone app marks shift from “everything app” vision, adds E2E messaging.
MUMBAI: From one big app to many small chats, X seems to be splitting its ambitions. X has rolled out its standalone messaging app, XChat, to iOS users, opening up a new front in its evolving product strategy. The app allows users to connect with existing X contacts through private and group messages, file sharing, as well as audio and video calls. The launch follows a limited beta phase, where the platform tested the product with a smaller user base to refine the experience. Now available publicly, XChat marks a notable pivot from earlier ambitions championed by Elon Musk to turn X into a single “everything app” combining messaging, payments, commerce and more.
Instead, the company under xAI ownership and backed by SpaceX appears to be building a suite of standalone applications, each targeting specific use cases while expanding its broader ecosystem.
At launch, XChat includes end-to-end encrypted messaging, PIN-based access, disappearing messages, and features such as message editing, deletion for all participants, and screenshot blocking. The company has also said the app is free from advertisements and tracking mechanisms, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a crowded messaging space.
However, security claims around the platform are likely to face scrutiny. Earlier iterations of XChat drew criticism from experts who argued it fell short of established encrypted platforms like Signal. With the wider rollout, the app is expected to undergo fresh evaluation to assess whether those concerns have been addressed.
Beyond messaging, XChat will also house X’s Communities feature, which is being discontinued on the main platform due to low usage and spam concerns. Migrating these users could provide an early boost to adoption, effectively turning XChat into both a communication and community hub.
The move underscores a broader recalibration at X less about cramming everything into one app, and more about spreading bets across multiple touchpoints, one message at a time.
