Applications
Moser Baer develops innovations in Blu Ray disc technology
MUMBAI: Moser Baer India has announced a breakthrough in technology development in next generation optical media formats. The company, along with recently acquired OM&T, the former R&D subsidiary of Philips, has developed what it says is the world‘s first high speed 8x Blu-ray disc (BDR). The company was also the first company in the world to ship the blue laser based HD DVD-R product to its global OEM customers. |
Moser Baer executive director Ratul Puri says, “This is a major achievement for the Company and it gives us a significant advantage in the fast growing next generation optical format market. Moreover, this vindicates our strategy of acquiring OM&T and adding their capabilities to the strong in-house R&D team to lead the technology development curve in the optical and photovoltaic space. The pioneering work in the Blu-ray format will further enhance our global leadership position.” While the BDR market is witnessing development in the 1x-4x recording speeds discs, the company with its innovative technology has already demonstrated new benchmarks in 1x-8x discs. End users can now have a faster media that can record a 2-hour transmission equivalent of HD (High Definition) quality data in less than 15 minutes. The next generation formats have a capacity ranging from 15 GB to 50 GB and offer more than five to ten times the data storage capacity of standard DVD media. These next generation formats offer an ideal solution for reliable business backup, including medical and government imaging, photography, videography, as well as high definition video recording. Moser baer VP R&D and engineering Giriraj Nyati says, “This is a significant landmark for us. We are very proud that an Indian Company has once again set global benchmarks in the optical media market. Our intensive in-house R&D focus coupled with the capabilities of OM&T will ensure that we continue to set new global benchmarks for the industry. This is inline with our strategy of transforming Moser Baer from a technology recipient into a technology developer and innovator.” |
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.
