iWorld
Mirchi 95 launches Kiraak Kreators season 2
Mumbai: Mirchi, a city-centric music and entertainment company, announces the launch of the second season of its regional content IP, Kiraak Kreators, in Hyderabad. Coinciding with RJ Gaurika’s one-year anniversary on the airwaves, this season promises to be an even bigger celebration of diverse musical talents shaping the country’s cultural landscape.
Building on the success of the first season, which featured a mix of local Hyderabadi influencers across food, fashion, and music, Kiraak Kreators Season 2 expands its horizons. This time, the platform not only spotlights local talent like Vanishree, Peekay, and Priyanka Nath, who have captivated audiences at various music festivals, but also shines a spotlight on renowned Bollywood artists like the acclaimed band Threeory, popular singers Shalmali Kholgade, Jasleen Royal, Lothika, Anuv Jain, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, and OAFF.
The first season of the show featured a mix of local Hyderabadi influencers across verticals – food, fashion, and music. This second season not only provides a platform for local talent but also hosts renowned Bollywood artists, celebrated for their original musical contributions, for candid conversations. The lineup features artists and bands including the recently acclaimed band Threeory, popular singers Shalmali Kholgade, Jasleen Royal, Lothika, Anuv Jain, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, and OAFF. But the star power doesn’t stop there! The season also showcases three exceptionally talented local Hyderabad artists—Vanishree, Peekay, and Priyanka Nath—whose performances have left an indelible mark at various music festivals.
Tune in from 12 pm to 5 pm on 95 Mirchi Hyderabad for Kiraak Kreators Season 2.
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.
