iWorld
Prime Video grapples Apple TV+ for Indian streamers, all under one tent
MUMBAI: What happens when a Silicon Valley giant gets into bed with a streaming behemoth? No, it’s not the beginning of a dystopian tech romance, it’s your next binge-watch fix getting sorted. Prime Video India has just hitched Apple TV+ to its growing caravan of content partners, and it’s all yours for a wallet-friendly Rs 99 per month. That’s less than a fancy coffee and likely more satisfying.
Indian Prime Video users can plug into Apple TV+ directly via the Prime Video app as an add-on subscription. That means hit Apple Originals—think Severance, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Silo, Wolfs, Hijack and Disclaimer to name a few—now live happily in the same home as Mirzapur and Panchayat. No more app-hopping. No more billing circus. Just pure, uninterrupted streaming joy.
“We’re delighted to continue to roll-out Apple TV+ on Prime Video with the launch in India today bringing Prime Video customers an even greater selection of TV shows and films, all in one app experience,” said Prime Video vice president of international Kelly Day.
The move is part of Prime Video’s growing grab of content partners. With over 25+ OTT services already hitching their wagons to the Prime marketplace—including Lionsgate Play, Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures – Stream, Discovery+, and BBC Player—this new addition is like adding an Oscar-winner to your motley pub quiz team.
Prime Video, India head of marketplace (add-on subscriptions and movie rentals), Gaurav Bhasin said, “We are now thrilled to welcome Apple TV+ and its stellar content to Prime Video’s extensive library in India.”
Apple’s SVP of services Eddy Cue added, “We want to make Apple TV+ and its award-winning library of series and films from the world’s greatest storytellers available to audiences around the world.”
So, what’s the catch? There isn’t one.
Cancel anytime.
No new app downloads.
No platform-hopping fatigue.
Just more choice, more convenience, and a very smug smile when you find all your favourites in one place. As if you needed another excuse to stay in this weekend.
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.
