Applications
CBS releases Star Trek Padd for iPad
MUMBAI: CBS Interactive, a division of CBS, has announced the launch of the official Star Trek Padd app, based on the
television franchise ‘Star Trek‘.
The Padd (Personal Access Display Device) app provides fans with a mobile ‘Trekker‘ experience.
The app features an authentic reproduction of the LCARS interface-the fictional computer operating system depicted in the television series—as well as a rich, interactive database of the television series information, including images and an episode guide.
The Star Trek Padd app is now available for $4.99 in the App Store.
Developed in conjunction with CBS Mobile by app development studio ArcTouch, the Padd app transports fans back through the 40-year history of the television franchise, including its characters, planets and technology spanning from ‘Star Trek: The Original Series‘ all the way to ‘Star Trek: Enterprise‘.
The app also includes a recognisable computer voice as well as familiar Star Trek-related sounds.
CBS Mobile senior VP, GM Rob Gelick said, “The Star Trek Padd app lets die-hard fans and casual enthusiasts use the authentic LCARS interface to access the extensive official Star Trek database, and easily connect with other Trekkers. We expect that the app will also introduce the show to a new generation of fans, leveraging 21st century technology to provide a glimpse into the 24th century”.
The app includes the following features:
A LCARS graphical interface that provides an authentic and immersive experience, complete with STAR TREK-related sound effects and prompts from a recognizable computer voice.
An official database of Star Trek information, including aliens, ships, places, and technologies as depicted in the Star Trek television series, plus a detailed episode guide.
The official Star Trek Facebook fan page and Twitter feed integrated into the app to let fans catch up on the latest news and connect with other Trekkers.
Michael Okuda, who was in charge of computer interface design for the Starships Enterprise and co-authored the Star Trek Encyclopedia along with wife Denise, said, “Back when the Padd first appeared on ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation‘, none of us imagined that today we‘d be able to hold the real thing in our hands. But the Star Trek Padd app, running on your iPad, is an actual miniature, handheld, touch-sensitive, 24th-century-style computer screen “
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.
