iWorld
Flipkart Video launches ‘Crime Stories’ season 2 offering interactive experience
Mumbai: Should inspector Vikrant check the victim’s phone logs? Or should he check the surveillance footage to find the killer? Which lead should inspector Vikrant follow? The power to decide now rests in the hands of the viewer! Flipkart Video has announced the second season of its investigative drama series, Crime Stories by giving it a new avatar.
Launching 27 July (Tuesday) on the Flipkart app, the show has introduced ‘branching video’ technology, a feature that draws audiences to become a part of the narrative by letting them choose between different, compelling storylines.
Each episode, released daily, will be a stand-alone case, revolving around the interrogation of multiple suspects while also engaging viewers through one branching question per episode that lets them explore the story in the direction they want to, and win exciting prizes, said the platform in a statement.
Talking about the launch, Flipkart Video senior director & head of content, Aloka Guha said, “With the launch of the second season of Crime Stories, we continue to be at the forefront of innovation by launching interactive content that delivers a unique experience. By introducing the branching video technology, we are giving viewers a more immersive entertainment experience that is different from anything we have done before. This introduction is built on our deep consumer understanding, which has revealed a growing fascination in taking more ‘control’ of the content they consume. We are excited for audiences to watch this new season and determine for themselves, how the story moves forward.”
Commenting on his association with Flipkart Video, actor KC Shankar said, “Inspector Vikrant is one of the most interesting characters that I’ve ever played, and the experience of working on this show only got better with the new season. With the introduction of the ‘branching video’ feature, we had to shoot an alternate storyline which was thrilling and challenging at the same time. Audiences are looking to do more than just watch the show. They want to be involved, everyone loves having control and this new season gives them an opportunity to do just that. I can’t wait for everyone to tune in to the Flipkart app and catch the criminal along with me while winning exciting prizes.”
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.
