Latest news with #TarunPathak
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Samsung leads as Apple's share dips in Q2 smartphone market globally
Samsung retained its top position in the global smartphone market in Q2 2025, according to preliminary estimates from Counterpoint Research's Market Monitor service. The company captured a 20 percent sell-in market share, holding steady from the previous quarter and up from 19 percent in Q2 2024, marking an 8 percent year-over-year growth in shipments. Sell-in shipments refer to the number of devices that manufacturers ship into the sales channel (distributors, retailers, and mobile operators), rather than the number of devices sold directly to end-users. As per the report, Samsung's growth was driven by continued strong demand for the Galaxy S25 series, supported by a stabilizing mid-tier lineup, particularly the refreshed A-series. The company also benefited from growing traction in foldable smartphones and early adoption of AI-led features, which helped sustain customer engagement across key markets including North America, Europe and Japan. 'Samsung maintained the first position in the global smartphone market in Q2 2025 while witnessing an 8 percent yearover-year growth in shipments. The growth, which followed a strong Q1 driven by the Galaxy S25 series, came on the back of mid-tier phones, stabilizing performance across key markets— especially the A-series refresh. The company's foldables and AI-led features helped retain brand stickiness,' said Senior Analyst Shilpi Jain. The report also noted that the global smartphone market recorded its second consecutive quarter of growth, with total shipments increasing 2 percent year-over-year in Q2 2025. Growth was largely driven by strong performance in North America, Japan, and Europe. 'The earlier concerns around tariffs, which disrupted shipments in Q1, started to ease in the second quarter. Still, markets like China and North America continued to feel some impact, leading North America to stockpile shipments. Entry-level and budget 5G devices saw growing traction in emerging markets, while premium demand remained steady in mature markets,' said Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jio Platforms launches JioPC, a virtual desktop service that turns TV into PC; free trial start
JioPlatforms has launched a new virtual desktop service called JioPC. The service is aimed at turning televisions into personal computers and works through the Jio set-top box, which comes free with Jio's broadband plans or can be bought separately for Rs 5,499 ($64). JioPc is currently available on a free trial basis and by invitation only. The move signals Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani 's ambition to expand computing access in a country where PCs are still out of reach for many. What is JioPC As mentioned above, JioPC is a virtual desktop service. It lets users access a cloud PC setup on their TV by simply plugging in a keyboard and mouse. At this stage, JioPC does not support external devices such as cameras or printers. It also does not come with Microsoft Office pre-installed. Instead, users can access Office tools through the browser. The system comes with LibreOffice, an open-source alternative, already installed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Despite these restrictions, the concept appears promising. JioPC could become a new way to offer basic computing to homes that already have TVs but no computers. According to the government data, India has around 57 million active set-top box users. But the traditional direct-to-home (DTH) TV market is declining as more people switch to online streaming. Between March last year and this year, DTH subscriptions dropped by 8%. Meanwhile, the overall PC market in India grew over 8% in Q1 2025, reaching 3.3 million units. Still, India lags behind countries like the US and China in PC ownership, mainly due to the high cost of devices and the popularity of smartphones. 'JioPC is a very effective way for the Mumbai-headquartered company to increase its user base,' Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint told TechCrunch. He noted that while 70% of Indian households have a TV, only about 15% own a PC. However, he also warned of a challenge: 'You need to convince people that you can still use a PC on your TV using the set-top box.' Prabhu Ram, vice president at CyberMedia Research, believes the product could succeed among new users in underserved regions. 'While its potential reach is broad, its success will depend on execution — especially in addressing connectivity gaps and digital literacy,' he said. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Mukesh Ambani's JioPC turns your TV into an AI computer, here's how
India's largest telecom company, Jio, is taking another big step in tech innovation. This time around, the company has introduced JioPC — a cloud-based virtual desktop service that runs through its set-top box. The idea is simple: turn any TV connected to a Jio set-top box into a full-fledged personal computer. With millions of households across the country owning a TV but not a PC, this could be a pretty big deal. All it takes is a keyboard and mouse plugged into the set-top box, and once your invite is approved, you can access a complete desktop interface right on your television. Since it works through the cloud, it can also power basic AI features in future — like smart document tools, virtual learning apps, and more. This service is currently in a free trial and available via offers a desktop experience designed for day-to-day computing tasks — be it browsing the web, attending online classes, or using office apps. The set-top box itself comes bundled free with JioFiber broadband plans or can be bought separately for Rs 5,499. The service includes LibreOffice, an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office. While native support for Microsoft apps isn't built-in, users can access them via the browser. It's still early days, and there are limitations for now. Devices like cameras and printers are not yet supported, but for basic use cases, the system seems to a report by TechCrunch, Jio is aiming to increase its already massive user base of 488 million by offering PC functionality at minimal cost. Tarun Pathak from Counterpoint Research notes that this could be an effective way to reach under-penetrated markets. Around 70 per cent of Indian homes have a TV, but only about 15 per cent own a computer. With internet connectivity improving, JioPC could find traction in rural and lower-income households where affordability has always been a concern. Of course, there's promise, but also a few things to fix. The lack of support for external peripherals and the need to rely on web apps for full productivity tools could limit the experience. However, as a first big move into the AI PC space for regular users — not just enterprises — JioPC is definitely a big step as we the success of JioPC will depend on how well Jio communicates its value to people who may not be familiar with the idea of a cloud PC. As per government data, there are currently close to 57 million active pay-TV users in India. However, the DTH market is slowly shrinking due to the rise of streaming platforms, so this could also be Jio's way of keeping users on its platform.- Ends
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Reliance Jio launches JioPC to bring cloud desktops to TV: Explained
Jio Platforms, a digital arm of Reliance Industries, has launched a virtual desktop service in India called JioPC. This new offering will allow users to turn their televisions into personal computers using Jio's set-top box. The set-top box, which comes with Jio's home broadband service or can be purchased separately for Rs. 5,499, offers a cloud-based PC experience on a TV screen. Jio has launched JioPC, a virtual desktop service that turns televisions into personal computers using set-top boxes.(Jio) JioPC Lets TVs Function as Personal Computers JioPC is currently in a free trial phase and available through a waitlist. Once invited, users can access the virtual desktop by connecting a keyboard and mouse to their TV. The service includes pre-installed LibreOffice, while Microsoft Office applications can be used via the browser. However, JioPC does not support external peripherals such as cameras and printers at this stage. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 FE, and Watch 8: Here's everything announced at Galaxy Unpacked July event Potential to Expand PC Access in India According to industry experts, this service has the potential to change the PC landscape in India. Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint, pointed out that JioPC aims to expand Jio's already vast user base of over 488 million. While about 70% of Indian households own a television, only 15% have a personal computer. JioPC could tap into this large market of TV users who do not currently own a PC, TechCrunch reported. Furthermore, the government data shows India has nearly 57 million active pay-TV set-top box users. At the same time, the traditional direct-to-home (DTH) TV market is shrinking as more consumers switch to internet-based platforms. The active DTH subscriber count fell by 8% year-over-year as of March. Also read: Starlink coming to India: Airtel vs Jio partnerships explained Prabhu Ram from CyberMedia Research noted that JioPC could appeal to new users in rural and low-income areas where PC penetration is low. He added that the service's success will depend on overcoming connectivity issues, improving digital literacy, and expanding beyond early adopters to reach underserved communities. Challenges and the Road Ahead Marketing JioPC may present challenges. Pathak emphasised the need to clearly communicate the idea that a TV can function as a PC through the set-top box. The growing PC market in India, which saw over 8% shipment growth in the first quarter, indicates demand for new computing solutions. To fully realise JioPC's potential, partnerships with app developers and productivity tool providers will be important. Pathak highlighted that a range of productivity apps will make the service more useful for consumers. Also read: OpenAI prepares to take on Google Chrome with AI-driven browser, launch expected in weeks While virtual desktop solutions from companies like Microsoft have existed for enterprise clients, Jio's service marks a significant consumer-focused effort in this area. The future of JioPC will rely on how effectively it addresses connectivity, education, and adaptability challenges in India's diverse market.
Hans India
10-06-2025
- Hans India
WWDC 2025: Apple delivers biggest visual overhaul after iOS 7 in AI era
Analysts on Tuesday said that this year, Apple highlighted its one of the core strength: delivering a unified and seamless experience across all its hardware and added an additional visual appeal to it — the biggest visual overhaul after iOS 7. Apple has previewed iOS 26 at its flagship developer conference 'WWDC 2025' here — a major update that brings a beautiful new design, intelligent experiences, and improvements to the apps users rely on every day. The new design provides a more expressive and delightful experience across the system while maintaining the instant familiarity of iOS. Counterpoint Research Director, Tarun Pathak, told IANS that the updated visual design, featuring the new "liquid glass" aesthetic, is set to further enhance user engagement across Apple's device ecosystem. 'However, two announcements particularly captured our attention: 'On-device AI for Developers' and 'iPadOS Reimagined'. The ability for developers to access Apple's on-device models through the Foundation Models framework, coupled with the introduction of Apple Intelligence across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro, is a positive move in its AI journey where it is being perceived as being behind wrt the competitors,' Pathak explained. However, AI of 2025 is different to the AI hype of 2024. Users are still getting warmed upto AI use-cases and 'we have not see a killer use case yet'. The most impactful revelation came from the iPadOS updates. These enhancements will solidify the iPad's position as a robust device for both content creation and consumption on the go, Pathak noted. The tech giant showcased watchOS 26, offering a beautiful new look and even more intelligence for a more personalised experience, to support users in staying active, healthy, and connected. A new design with Liquid Glass makes features like the Smart Stack, Control Center, the Photos watch face, and in-app navigation and controls more expressive, while maintaining the instant familiarity of watchOS. According to Prabhu Ram, VP at CyberMedia Research (CMR), Apple adopted a fundamentals-first approach, emphasising user interface (UI) enhancements over AI. Rather than chasing speculative AI trends, Apple focused on delivering immediate, tangible value to users. 'A key highlight was the introduction of on-device access to Apple's large language model through the new Foundation Models framework. This move signals a decentralised AI strategy, empowering developers to create differentiated experiences directly on Apple devices,' Ram told IANS. However, the success of this approach will hinge on developer adoption, the strength of Apple's tooling, and the company's ability to iterate quickly. Apple's tightly integrated hardware ecosystem gives it a significant advantage and a unique opportunity to lead in AI monetization. However, this window of opportunity may close rapidly if Apple fails to keep pace, especially as agentic AI and cross-platform innovations accelerate elsewhere, said Ram.
