Applications
PICT faculty learn to develop mobile apps using android
NEW DELHI: It was a time for the teachers to learn few lessons when Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) hosted a one-of-its-kind Faculty Development workshop on “Mobile Application Development using Android:A Next generation platform”.
The 12-day program, supported by AICTE, started on 2 December and concluded on 13 December, 2013 at PICT College. Faculty from various AICTE approved Engineering/DiplomaInstitutions/Industries/other Institutes present in Pune, Amravati, Nagpur, Sangamner, Aurangabad, Karaad & Raichur participated in the workshop.
The workshop provided insight into the Android application development platform covering the environment concepts and hands on experience on Android Software Development Kit. Experts from industries and research institute including faculty experts of PICT and other institutes conducted the sessions. The program provided a platform to the faculty members to explore product developments, identify problems in the area of mobile platforms like user interface, basic building blocks, media and web home-screen widget, broadcast receivers, sensors, accelerometer, GPS, NFC, animation and 2D graphics in Androids.
Major topics covered in the session were concepts of open source operating systems, open source developments on mobile platforms, Android platform architecture, Android application design essentials, developing android applications, research topics in Android platforms, hands on experience on applied research, algorithms, hi-performance computing using android, service oriented architecture and its implementation for the Linux kernel, concepts of open source operating systems, open source developments on mobile, platforms and Android platform.
Sixty faculty members participated and developed 18 mobile applications under the guidance of the industry experts. Among these, PICT facilitated top three apps on the closing ceremony on 13 December. Winner of the Android application workshop was ‘Note Writer’ app, second runner up was the food application app ‘Ruchira’ and the third runners up were ‘PayCal’ app and ‘Pressure Unit Converter’ app.
The Faculty Development Program will help various institutes and the faculty to keep pace with syllabus updates and preparing students to meet the industry challenges in the domain of Mobile Operating System.
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
