News September 18, 2024
Amazon taps long-time exec to lead India business as competition intensifies
Samir Kumar has been named as the new head of Amazon’s India consumer business, following the sudden exit of Manish Tiwary. He will oversee Amazon’s operations in India, including its domestic business and Middle East, South Africa, and Turkey. The leadership transition was announced by Amit Agarwal, Amazon’s senior vice president for emerging markets. Despite investing over $7 billion in India, Amazon is facing challenges in smaller cities and towns, where local competitors Flipkart (owned by Walmart) and Meesho (backed by SoftBank) have gained stronger market positions. In urban India, Amazon is facing growing competition from quick-commerce companies such as BlinkIt, Swiggy, and Zepto, which offer deliveries within 10 minutes.
The best dating sites for working professionals
The article discusses the challenges of being a single, working professional in today’s society. It highlights the limitations of traditional dating apps and websites that cater to singles who are looking for casual relationships. The author suggests that career-focused individuals should consider using dating sites and apps that have a section for job or career matching, as this can help them find people who share their goals and lifestyle.
The article also notes that while there are free dating apps available, they may not be the best option for working professionals. The author suggests that paid dating sites and apps offer better features and a more comprehensive experience. However, the author acknowledges that not all dating sites or apps are created equal, and some may have limitations or requirements that do not align with career-focused individuals’ needs.
The article concludes by highlighting several of the best dating sites for working professionals in 2024, including EliteSingles, eharmony, and Match. The author suggests that these sites offer a range of features and options that can help career-focused individuals find their perfect match.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: Smarter iPhones
The iPhone 16 has been one of the more unusual smartphone launches I’ve seen from Apple in the nine years I’ve been covering tech. While much of its new capabilities are wrapped around Apple Intelligence, a suite of smart features powered by artificial intelligence, which isn’t available at launch. However, my entire testing period with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has been on a developer beta of iOS 18.1, which has many (not all) of these Apple Intelligence features already running. I feel like I have a good handle on what the experience will be like for iPhone owners in October, though this early version of the software also had some bugs. While doing some performance testing, for example, Resident Evil Village crashed a few times no matter whether I had maxed out the graphics settings or not. Apple couldn’t replicate the issue but suggested I roll back to the stable version of iOS 18 to fix the problem.
Broadly, there are some nice improvements with the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. They deliver some of the best performance on a phone, have solid battery life, and have excellent camera systems. When you throw in Apple Intelligence, there are moments when the new capabilities are helpful day to day, but there is no must-have software perk (yet) that makes Apple’s AI features leaps ahead of the smartphone pack, nor worthy of an upgrade alone.
In some ways, Apple Intelligence makes it feel like the company is playing catch-up. Take smart replies as an example. This is one of the new “AI” features in Apple’s Mail client and the Messages app. If someone messages you, you’ll get a prompt above the keyboard to send a reply generated based on the context of the conversation.
It might not be a surprise for my recipients, but I have been liberally using smart replies in Gmail and Google Messages on Android for years. I am very thankful for the seconds I’ve saved not having to type out, “Thank you!” or “Sounds good.” Now, iPhone owners can take advantage. However, I have only seen these smart replies in the Messages app (likely another beta bug).
Siri is a big part of the Apple Intelligence package. Now, when you activate the voice assistant, there’s a lovely glow around the entire screen. You can even keep using your phone after triggering Siri so asking a question doesn’t have to interrupt what you’re doing. If you make a mistake in your question or change your mind mid-sentence, Siri can still decipher what you’re asking and answer.
The best VPN for Kodi
Kodi is a free and open-source media player app that allows users to access and stream various types of content from their devices. One of the benefits of using Kodi is that it acts as a hub for all your music, movies, and TV content, which can be shared across all of your devices. Additionally, Kodi provides customizable features via add-ons such as iPlayer, which are needed for streaming content. However, there are also drawbacks to using Kodi, such as the potential for security flaws exploited by hackers.
To protect against these security threats, it is recommended to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when using Kodi. A VPN creates a private network that hides your real IP address and encrypts all of your online traffic, making it impossible for others to see what you’re downloading or accessing. This can be especially useful when accessing geo-blocked content or watching pirated material.
There are several VPN providers available that offer good security features and no logging policy, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN. These services have user-friendly apps for various devices and provide high speeds and easy interfaces. Whether you’re looking for high speeds or an easy interface, these are some of the best VPNs for Kodi in 2024.
The best VPN for China
If you’re planning a trip to China or have made the country your home, using a virtual private network (VPN) can be a useful tool to ensure unfettered access to foreign websites and maintain your privacy while browsing. The Chinese government has strict internet censorship policies that block access to foreign websites and slow down cross-border internet traffic. However, VPNs can help you circumvent this system by assigning a virtual IP address to obscure your real location and encrypt data, making it difficult for others to see what you’re downloading.
When using a VPN in China, it’s important to consider that while it’s technically legal, it will be frowned upon by the authorities. It’s also easier to install a VPN before you arrive in China, and you should look for reliable customer service in case of technical difficulties. Some popular VPNs for China include PureVPN and NordVPN.