iWorld
Sonic Lamb headphones breaking sound barriers
Mumbai: In a heart-warming twist of fate, social media influencer Sohan Rai (@Zikiguy) demonstrated the transformative power of Sonic Lamb headphones, fostering inclusivity for the hearing impaired through the gift of music.
Rai’s journey began with purchasing Sonic Lamb Headphones, an unusual headphone with unique hybrid driver technology that reproduces the physical experience of sound – you actually feel the music when listening to it on these headphones. Little did he know this choice would lead to a remarkable discovery at a restaurant? There he met Nandish, partially deaf, and Sohan’s curiosity sparked compassion. Sohan asked Nandish to try out Sonic Lamb headphones.
To their amazement, Nandish could experience the music flow through him, and joy welled up as he described it as the “best listen ever.” The power of this experience fuelled a fervent wish to share it with his sister, Netra, who has been completely deaf since birth.
Inspired and intrigued, Sohan approached Rapture Innovation Labs, the startup behind the Sonic Lamb headphones. Touched by the story, co-founder Navajith Karkera and his team embarked on a remarkable collaboration with Sohan. They customized a pair of Sonic Lamb headphones specifically for Netra by passing through bass and mid-range audio frequencies (vocals and instruments) through the Hybrid Driver technology, which reproduces through skin and bone conduction instead of just the sub-bass and bass as per their actual design, and they hoped for the best.
Taking the modified headphones to Nandish’s village, the team witnessed an incredible moment as Nandish’s sister, Netra, was able to experience music and feel the beats and rhythms of music for the first time in her life. Her sheer joy and excitement were palpable. This heart-warming event highlighted the power of Sonic Lamb to reproduce the physical and sensory experience of feeling the music but also to bridge gaps and bring the gift of music to those who had never experienced it before.
Sohan’s empathy and curiosity, coupled with Rapture Innovations Lab’s spirit of innovation, have woven a story of inclusivity and the transformative power of a single sound.
Join the conversation online using #soniclamb, #Inclusivity and #MusicForAll.
iWorld
Meta tests Instagram Plus with stealth features and extended story tools
New paid tier targets everyday users with more control and privacy perks
MUMBAI: Meta appears to be doubling down on subscriptions, quietly testing a new premium tier called Instagram Plus that brings a mix of privacy, control and visibility tools to everyday users of Instagram.
Unlike Meta Verified, which is geared towards creators and businesses, the new offering is aimed squarely at regular users who want a little more control over how they show up and what they see on the platform.
At the heart of Instagram Plus is a rethink of Stories, the app’s most widely used feature. The test introduces the ability to view Stories anonymously, meaning users can watch or preview content without appearing in the viewer list. It also adds “rewatch insights”, allowing users to see how many times their own Stories have been viewed, a metric that has long been a source of curiosity.
There is more. Stories can stay live for up to 48 hours instead of the usual 24, giving posts a longer shelf life. Users can also create multiple audience lists beyond “Close Friends”, making it easier to tailor content for different circles such as work, family or social groups.
For those chasing visibility, a weekly “Story Spotlight” feature lets users push a post to the front of their followers’ feed. Meanwhile, searchable viewer lists make it simpler to track who has seen a Story, and a new “superlike” reaction adds a more animated way to stand out in direct messages.
The feature set may feel familiar to some. Several of these tools have previously existed through third-party workarounds or have been widely requested by users, particularly the ability to browse Stories discreetly.
Pricing for the test is deliberately modest, suggesting a strategy focused on scale. Early trials show subscription costs at roughly $1 to $2 per month in markets such as the Philippines, Mexico and Japan. The feature has not yet rolled out in India, the United States or Europe, though a broader launch later in 2026 is widely expected if the pilot gains traction.
The move reflects a broader shift in Meta’s business model. With digital advertising facing increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny, subscription products offer a more predictable revenue stream. Rivals such as Snapchat Plus have already found success, building a sizeable paying user base with similar premium add-ons.
For Meta, the bet is simple: give users more control, a touch of stealth and a dash of exclusivity, and they may be willing to pay. If the early signs hold, Instagram Plus could turn everyday scrolling into a slightly more curated, and monetised, experience.
