iWorld
Numero uno YouTuber takes a dig at Motu Patlu
MUMBAI: You know who Motu Patlu are but many around the world don’t. Well, large parts of the world just got to know them thanks to the antics of the world’s number one YouTuber PewDiePie (Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg). He recently uploaded a video on his YouTube channel (also called PewDiePie) calling Motu Patlu, with sarcasm, ‘a fantasticanime’, ‘one of the greatest creations of Nickelodeon since the 90s’, ‘to its very core, just a fine animation’, and ‘the greatest thing that has ever happened’ among other things.
He starts with saying that his life “changed for the better in every single way” since he discovered Motu Patlu. He then goes on to explain the character of Motu and his addiction to the Indian fast food item samosa, which he pronounces “samocha.”
The video has received 1.24 million (about 12 lakhs) views in just 15 hours. With 57 million subscribers to the channel, the numbers are only going to increase. Any publicity, however, is seen as good publicity. Due this flippant attempt to review Motu Patlu’s antics, people may start exploring Indian animated shows, which will only serve to benefit the cartoon show and movie franchise.
For the full story, visit: http://www.animationxpress.com/index.php/latest-news/no-1-youtuber-pewdiepie-takes-a-jibe-at-motu-patlu
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.
