Twitter Blue to relaunch this week (higher prices for Apple Users)

Here are the top trending stories from the world of technology. Stories that we feel every tech enthusiast should keep a tab on.

1)

Twitter Blue to relaunch this week (higher prices for Apple Users)

Twitter is all set to reintroduce its ‘Blue’ subscription plan starting from this week, according to unconfirmed media reports. However, the plan will be relaunched in a phased manner with the Blue subscription initially available only in five countries before expanding to other markets. Blue subscription will also cost more for IOS users who will have to shell out $11 as opposed to the standard $8 charged for Android and web users. The relaunch of Twitter Blue comes nearly a month after it was abruptly halted following Musk’s decision to increase the Blue subscription plan from $4 to $8. The decision drew stinging and swift criticisms from Twitter users across the board.

2)

Snapdeal Withdraws its $152 Mn IPO Plan amid Tech Meltdown

Snapdeal, once the darling of India’s e commerce industry, announced last week that it is pulling the plug on its $152 Mn IPO. Snapdeal IPO has become the latest causality amid the ongoing tech rout in the Indian stock market. The Gurgaon based company had filed for an IPO in December last years when scores of tech startups were filing for public issue. Snapdeal, which was once backed by the likes of SoftBank, was once the poster boy of India’s burgeoning e-commerce sector. However, Snapdeal’s fortunes rapidly dwindled as it failed to sustain the increasing competition in the online shopping industry.

3)

Elon Musk Targets US Govt’s top COVID Advisor

Elon Musk on Sunday targeted American government’s top COVID advisor Anthony Fauci on Twitter. Musk, who as we all know owns Twitter, tweeted “my pronouns are prosecute/Fauci.” He also tweeted a meme showing Fauci telling U.S President Joe Biden “just one more lockdown, king.” Through his tweets, Musk clearly suggested that Fauci should be prosecuted for implementing ill informed and fatal COVID policies that supposedly proved disastrous for the U.S. Musk’s tweet immediately went viral, receiving 8 lakh likes in barely 11 hours or so. However, Musk’s tweets also received lot of backlash with many calling his tweet unscientific and reactionary.

4)

Microsoft acquires 4% stake in London Stock Exchange’s parent company

American tech giant Microsoft has bought nearly 4% stake in the London Stock Exchange’s parent company LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group). As part of this deal, London Stock Exchange or LSE will use several products of Microsoft including Microsoft’s very own cloud product Azure. The deal also mandates that LSE will spend minimum $2.8 Bn on Microsoft’s cloud related products over the course of 10 years. Microsoft was recently in news over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard after the deal was sued by FTC, which said that the deal should be called off.

5)

Tata Group to Open 100 exclusive Apple Stores in India

India’s conglomerate Tata Group may soon open small exclusive Apple stores in India, according to Economic Times. Apple will be partnering with Tata owned Infiniti Retail which runs the popular Croma Stores across the country. Economic Times  (ET) claims that Infiniti Retail plans to operate Apple outlets compromising of 500-600 sq ft each at malls, high-street and neighborhood locations. The report further claims that Tata has already started discussion with premium malls and high streets for spaces. However, neither Tata or Apple has so far not officially commented on this report.