iWorld
Mitron App introduces categories for video content
Indian short-format video app Mitron has become the first in the space to introduce categories. As a result, Mitron is providing a bespoke service that matches categories based on the talent of content creators to specific interests of viewers. On the app users can see content organised in affinity-based categories, enabling them to discover content of their interest with one click. Content creators, based on their skillsets, will be able to create an engaged community of followers. Categories thus enable users to enjoy greater control over the content they view, whilst also providing a fillip to content distribution, by ensuring that the right content is discovered by the right audience. The app downloads have crossed 35 million on the Android play store.
To begin with, user-generated videos have been mapped against 15 categories such as entertainment, food, funny, sports, travel and nature, education, motivation, devotion, dance, lifestyle, music, health and fitness and pets, amongst others. This will offer an experience that is unlike the typical user experience on short video apps, where users do not necessarily discover videos that have a perfect match with their interests and content creators do not always get the exposure they deserve among the audience that appreciate such content. Mitron app will keep adding more categories for skillsets; enabling more Indian talent to find their following. Going forward Mitron plans to build strong and vibrant micro-communities around categories and give each category a life of its own; content creators and distributors finding an audience that is relevant to them and is invested in them.
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“With this launch, there’s finally a home for new local independent voices to build, share and inspire audiences in the farthest corners of the nation. This is going to transform how short video content is organised and discovered. Our aim has been to promote and give our content creators an opportunity to showcase their skills to a Bharat audience that is interested in their content. One click is all that it will take to make the match happen. We will grow every category on Mitron into a community of passionate content creators and their followers. The possibilities here are endless, based on the talent of creators and the interest of users. This will be a game changer in the space,” Mitron TV founder Shivank Agarwal said.
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.
