iWorld
Mitron TV launches ‘Atmanirbhar Anthem’
KOLKATA: Short format video app Mitron TV has released the Atmanirbhar Anthem following the ban of 43 additional Chinese-origin apps by the Indian government. The anthem pays homage to the Indian technology community and reiterates the message of using homegrown products and services.
The anthem’s powerful lyrics evoke strong feelings of national pride amongst Indians, whilst imparting a message on the importance of the #VocalForLocal movement. The anthem went live today on more than 200 music streaming platforms including Gaana, Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes and Wynk.
Atmanirbhar Apps was launched this year on the National Unity Day to bring noteworthy Indian apps from various geographies across the country on one platform. In just two weeks since the launch, Atmanirbhar Apps has recorded over 50K downloads and currently hosts more than 256 Indian apps. The initiative has been appreciated by leading personalities in the tech fraternity.
CEO and co-founder Shivank Agarwal said, “We welcome the government’s move of banning 43 Chinese apps. Now more than ever, it is an opportune moment to focus on self-reliance and homegrown apps, which Indians have embraced whole-heartedly. To commemorate this spirit, we created the Atmanirbhar Anthem that pays homage to the country’s collective vision of embracing all things Made-in-India. I invite my fellow Indians to enjoy the upbeat lyrics and toe-tapping beat of this anthem as we work in unison to achieve our goal of an Atmanirbhar India.”
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.
