Applications
Pioneer enters into home entertainment segment in India
MUMBAI: Pioneer, which specialises in car audio and home theater entertainment products, has entered into the home entertainment segment in India.
The company has launched its LX series of audio video (AV) receivers and home theatre packages in addition to its regular AV receivers, home theatre in box and Blu Ray and DVD players.
The company says that its USP is superior technology and sound quality.
The LX series of AV receivers have DSB file playback, Android compatibility over MHL and Pioneer control application for Android based devices and ipod Touch, ipad and iphone. The regular AV receivers have been upgraded with a new lineup and have Pioneer proprietary technologies like Precision Quartz Locking System, control application for smartphones which substitutes the need for a remote control. The aim is to cater to the tech savvy consumer.
The company has introduced two home theatre packages that offer connectivity features. The packages are HTP-822ES and HTPRS32. The former offers connectivity options and applications like Airjam, control application for smartphones and tablets.
Pioneer India Electronics India GM Shingo Ikeuchi said, “During the test marketing phase last year we discovered that Indians appreciate high quality of sound. The aim is to be the perfect partner for home entertainment. It is fascinating to see the speed at which the Indian consumer adopts new technologies. Our endeavour is match up to their ever evolving needs.”
He added that Airjam a proprietary Pioneer technology allows the user to create, edit and play common playlists with different phones at the same time. There is no need for messy cabling or multiple inputs. This feature is available with some models and is compatible with touch based devices on iOS and the Android platform.
Pioneer India Electronics manager marketing, product planning Gaurav Kulshreshtha said that the aim is to address every kind of consumer from the mass to the premium. “We meet high end audio solution requirements with our LX series audio video receivers as well as entry level consumer needs with home theatre in a box. Right now we are focussing on South and West India. We have 50 direct dealers which is important as we have to give personalised service,” he added.
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.
