Vishal Mathur is Technology Editor for Hindustan Times. When not making sense of technology, he often searches for an elusive analog space in a digital world.
Articles by Vishal Mathur
More buttons, strong AI: Apple iPhone16 series and the cyclical charm of tech
The overall iPhone 16 theme is built on new hardware where it was needed, but software is taking forward experience.
Published on Sep 10, 2024 08:11 AM IST
Apple unveils artificial intelligence-boosted iPhone 16 line
The company also unveiled a new model of its watch — the Apple Watch X — that chief executive Tim Cook described as being the company’s thinnest ever
Updated on Sep 10, 2024 12:33 AM IST
Tech Tonic | Where are all of the world’s chips being made?
Would it be hyperbole to say that hidden within a chip circuitry, is the destiny of the human race? No surprise then, everyone’s eyeing a stake in that pie
Published on Sep 08, 2024 08:00 AM IST
To say a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an Apple Watch Ultra clone, is fallacious
Beyond the orange, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra’s feature set and AI play is in contrast to an Apple Watch Ultra
Published on Sep 06, 2024 11:25 AM IST
Microsoft Copilot+ PC intricacy aside, Asus handholds AMD’s resounding comeback
Asus’ portfolio expansion adds a Zenbook S16 waiting for Copilot+, but definitively marks AMD’s accession to the powerful chips’ conversation, in a new era for laptops
Published on Sep 05, 2024 09:51 AM IST
Expectations from iPhone 16 keynote, India’s tablet market and OpenAI investment
There are very few certainties in life, and one of those is Apple setting a new benchmark for smartphones every September.
Published on Sep 05, 2024 07:15 AM IST
Brimmed with AI, Canva’s hiking subscription prices but skips India for now
It may more be a case of when and not if, but Canva confirms to HT that Canva Pro, Teams and Enterprise substitution pricing for users in India remains unchanged, though a significant surge is on the horizon in other countries.
Published on Sep 04, 2024 03:59 PM IST
Have tablet makers found a magic formula in India? Shipment data suggests so
Tablet sales in India are picking pace, since users find value in a refreshed ‘mid-spec’ price band, better balancing price alongside significantly improved specs, and therefore longevity as well as utility
Published on Sep 03, 2024 11:53 AM IST
Tech Tonic | More tech bosses should be very worried about the law catching up
The larger a tech platform, the more a propensity to flout local laws, and show up smartly dressed for a regulatory earful. Durov’s arrest may have changed that
Published on Sep 01, 2024 08:30 AM IST
Decoding Proton Docs and Zoom Docs suites, mounting a challenge to Google Docs
While the approach to a document editing suite within the web browser remains intact, Proton’s making a privacy pitch in line with their Google-rivalling ecosystem.
Published on Aug 29, 2024 10:31 AM IST
Amazon and Flipkart face Blinkit, Zepto conundrum, and solving Telegram’s chaos
Either a lot has transpired in the past few days, or maybe I’m overthinking things (that’d be very much in line with my personality).
Published on Aug 29, 2024 07:15 AM IST
Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL as AI superphones, augmenting Android’s acumen
Pricing reflects significant annual inflation, but there is an overwhelming AI layer integrated deep within Android that needs Google One’s AI Premium subscription to derive best results
Published on Aug 28, 2024 01:30 PM IST
Decoding smart rings for health metrics, as Ultrahuman and Boat play their cards
Fitness tracking doesn’t get more low-key than smart rings, which have a form factor advantage over smart watches, the bulk of which renders them less than ideal for tracking sleep.
Published on Aug 27, 2024 11:51 AM IST
Tech Tonic | We must not ignore smart acquisitions as a route to AI domination
Tech giants want to obtain exceptional tech and talent, to boost their arsenal of tools for consumers and enterprises
Published on Aug 25, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Did that car just bleat again?: EVs are trying some wild experiments with sound
BMW is working with the Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer; Mercedes-Benz with rapper Will.i.am. Lamborghini may even draw inspiration from spaceships.
Updated on Aug 23, 2024 05:07 PM IST
Countering AI’s overbearing influence and Indians are buying more tablets too
This week, the world of tech got reminded that there can be two different ways of doing the same thing.
Published on Aug 22, 2024 07:15 AM IST
Procreate adopts a risky stance against Gen AI’s influence on digital art apps
This approach comes in stark contrast to Procreate’s rivals, Adobe and Canva, with the high-risk approach gives users choice of apps that aren’t reliant on generative AI, and worthy of praise
Published on Aug 20, 2024 10:45 AM IST
Withings finds a way to blend aesthetics with ScanWatch Nova’s smartwatch brains
There are unique elements to Withings ScanWatch Nova pegging it on an even kneel as an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, and they’re the benchmark smartwatches.
Published on Aug 19, 2024 01:44 PM IST
Decoding appeal of budget wireless earbuds as OnePlus, Xiaomi write new chapters
Indian tech brands are dominating the wireless earbuds space, with new OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro and Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5c hoping to make inroads in that competitive space.
Updated on Aug 19, 2024 09:09 AM IST
Tech Tonic | AI has wedged itself into elections, and there’s nothing we can do
Misinformation, deepfakes and even voter roll manipulation are all on the agenda of AI-based tools in the hands of actors with nefarious intentions.
Published on Aug 18, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Among 65-inch TVs, this QLED+ TV may deliver budget bang for the binging buck
Crucial structural changes to the QLED display panel technology leads us to the QLED+ moniker, and the advantages become clear soon enough.
Updated on Aug 16, 2024 01:26 PM IST
Google plays its Pixel 9 cards, Intel’s chip mess and Honeywell’s GaN chargers
It is uncharacteristic of Google to announce new Pixel phones much ahead of usual form (that timeline usually pinned in the second half of Sept or early Oct).
Published on Aug 16, 2024 12:59 PM IST
Meta is asked a pointed question – why are there ads for drugs on FB, Instagram?
In a letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, lawmakers demand Meta share various details, including how many users interacted with such ads. Another question to be asked is, are they being served based on a user’s tracked browsing habits?
Published on Aug 16, 2024 11:05 AM IST
Apple unlocks tap-to-pay on iPhone for other apps, ending Apple Pay exclusivity
Third party apps, with iOS 18.1, get access to the iPhone’s NFC chip as well as Security Enclave components, but this doesn’t mean Apple Pay is coming to India
Published on Aug 15, 2024 09:47 AM IST
In a Copilot+ PC era, HP’s flagship EliteBook Ultra bets on unique AI smarts
PC makers rarely go to an extent HP has with an AI layer that includes a chatbot, document summarisation and an antivirus. That said, you’re paying a stiff premium for this laptop
Published on Aug 14, 2024 11:36 AM IST
Google Pixel 9 phones with Pixel 9 Pro Fold foldable, are their boldest bets yet
Broadening portfolio has its advantages when paired with solid specs. Yet, generational inflation is simply too steep, and buyers may struggle to find value.
Published on Aug 13, 2024 10:36 PM IST
FLUX.1 image generator may worry DALL-E 3, because it gets human hands right
FLUX.1[pro] and [schnell] models exhibit eerie parity with DALL-E 3, but the AI company is yet to come clean on where its training data comes from
Published on Aug 13, 2024 09:36 AM IST
Tech Tonic | It may be time to stop regulation evolving into avoidable activism
If tech companies increasingly choose to create silos to protect themselves from scrutiny, users lose out, the tech ecosystem loses out and innovation suffers.
Published on Aug 11, 2024 07:30 AM IST
Decoding QoS rules for telcos, India’s phone shipments and Oakter’s Wi-Fi UPS
For a while, things became better. Perhaps it was the mind playing tricks. Or it was perhaps the quality bounce as networks received 5G
Published on Aug 08, 2024 07:20 AM IST
Can Windows 11 underpin a gaming console? Asus’ ROG Ally X template suggests so
Asus has consistently built bridges to compensate for Windows 11’s limitations on this handheld form factor. Microsoft knows work is needed, and the compact mode for the Xbox app, is hopefully the start.
Published on Aug 07, 2024 12:36 PM IST