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Andy Rubin’s Essential Spills Customer Data

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Andy Rubin Essential Spills,Essential Customer Data,Essential Customer Data Leak,Andy Rubin Apologizes,Essential CEO,Andy Rubin Customer Data,Startup Stories,Latest Technology News and Updates

Andy Rubin, also known as the father of Android, acknowledged in a blog post yesterday that a customer service glitch led to some customers’ personal information being shared with other customers. Rubins’s latest startup Essential Products is in the process of getting its first product, Essential smartphone out the door.

The glitch, which appeared last week, asked some customers buying the smartphone to send photo ID’s to verify their shipping address and complete their orders. These photo IDs which included drivers licenses and passports from approximately 70 customers was inexplicably forwarded to the whole list of customers.

In the blog post titled ‘An Acquired Taste,’ Rubin addressed the potential crisis describing how it is hard to be a founder and how thousands of micro decisions are required to keep the company laser focused. He went on to apologize for the error and ended the note with a promise to invest in infrastructure and customer care.

Yesterday, we made an error in our customer care function that resulted in personal information from approximately 70 customers being shared with a small group of other customers. We have disabled the misconfigured account and have taken steps internally to add safeguards against this happening again in the future. We sincerely apologize for our error and will be offering the impacted customers one year of LifeLock. We will also continue to invest more in our infrastructure and customer care, which will only be more important as we grow.”

Essential is a tiny company with only 100 employees but an amateur error leading to data leak is never a good sign. Although the problem was resolved pretty early, Rubin did not provide additional information on how it will fix its shipment confirmation requirements. The founder and CEO of the startup took the entire blame personally and added that he continues to believe deeply in the innovation they are bringing to life via their Home, Phone and 360 Camera products. “Being a founder in an intensely competitive business means you occasionally have to eat crow. It’s humiliating, it doesn’t taste good and often, it’s a humbling experience,” he added.

The Essential smartphone was launched on 30 May this year and will reach customers very soon. The phone packs a 5.7 inch screen with a 2560 x 1312 resolution. It also packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor backed by 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. One of the best features of this new age smartphone is that the phone works with a modular system as well, which lets users attach accessories such as a 360 degree camera and a wireless charging dock. But, similar to the Apple iPhone 7, Essential will not be supporting a 3.5mm headphone jack and neither will be it water resistant.

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Meta Expands AI-Powered Reels Translation to Hindi and Portuguese, Enhancing Global Creator Reach

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Meta has expanded its AI-powered translation feature for Reels to include Hindi and Portuguese, joining English and Spanish in empowering creators to reach a broader global audience on Instagram and Facebook. Originally launched in August 2025 with support for English and Spanish, this update now allows creators to seamlessly translate and dub their short videos, breaking language barriers across some of the largest Reels markets worldwide. The AI technology mimics the creator’s voice tone and even offers lip-syncing to ensure the translated videos feel natural and engaging for viewers.​

This enhancement is especially significant for India, the largest market for Facebook and Instagram, where over 600 million people speak Hindi. Content creators who are not fluent in Hindi can now easily access this vast audience, increasing their reach and engagement across diverse linguistic groups. To maintain transparency, all translated Reels are clearly labeled with “Translated with Meta AI,” and viewers can choose to switch translations on or off based on their preference.​

In addition to voice dubbing, Meta is developing features to translate captions and text stickers on Reels, making content more accessible even without sound. These AI translation tools are available free for eligible public Instagram accounts and Facebook creator profiles with over 1,000 followers. This innovation reinforces Meta’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural content sharing and enhancing creators’ ability to connect with audiences around the world through short-form videos.

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Dunzo’s Collapse: Reliance’s ₹1,645 Crore Loss Signals Challenges in India’s Hyperlocal Delivery Market

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Startup Stories

Reliance Industries has officially written off its $200 million investment in Dunzo, a once promising quick-commerce startup in India. Despite high-profile backing and the potential to disrupt the hyperlocal delivery sector, Dunzo faced insurmountable challenges including high operational costs, unsustainable cash burn, and stiff competition from larger players like Zepto and Blinkit. Reliance’s decision follows Dunzo’s operational suspension, leadership exits, and failed attempts at securing additional funding or acquisition partners, ultimately resulting in the company’s digital platforms going offline in early 2025.​

The downfall of Dunzo was accelerated by its inability to maintain a healthy balance between rapid expansion and revenue growth, with losses in FY23 reaching an alarming ₹1,800 crore. With monthly expenses crossing ₹100 crore and mounting pressure to scale, Dunzo resorted to layoffs and delayed payments before shutting down most services outside Bengaluru. Reliance’s significant stake, initially seen as a strategic advantage, ended up limiting the startup’s flexibility in making independent decisions during its final months.​

Reliance’s write-off sends a strong message to India’s startup ecosystem about the risks inherent in quick-commerce and hyperlocal delivery models. Investors are increasingly focused on sustainable growth, disciplined scaling, and profitability. For Reliance, lessons from Dunzo’s collapse are shaping future e-commerce strategies, driving greater emphasis on operational efficiency and prudent financial planning in an intensely competitive market.

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Zoho Arattai vs WhatsApp: 5 Reasons India’s Homegrown Messenger Is Winning in 2025

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Startup Stories

Zoho Arattai messenger has rapidly gained popularity in India by offering features tailored specifically for Indian users, setting itself apart from global competitors like WhatsApp. Arattai delivers exceptional regional language support, intuitive low-bandwidth messaging, and a lightweight interface, making it especially accessible to rural communities and users on lower-end smartphones. This focus on localization and inclusivity gives Arattai a significant edge in the Indian market, ensuring seamless communication even in remote areas.

Beyond usability, Arattai places a strong emphasis on user privacy and data sovereignty. The app stores all user data within India and follows a strict no-ads, no data-selling policy, which guarantees that personal information remains secure and uncompromised. While WhatsApp does provide robust end-to-end encryption, its global servers and Meta-owned data monetization model have raised concerns among privacy-conscious users. Arattai’s transparent approach makes it a trusted and attractive alternative for those who value privacy and wish to avoid intrusive advertisements or AI profiling.

Unique features such as integrated meetings, TV compatibility, and advanced mentions functionality further establish Arattai’s position as a well-rounded and future-ready messaging app. These India-first innovations, combined with Arattai’s ad-free philosophy, clean interface, and powerful optimizations for local contexts, make it the preferred messaging solution for those seeking a modern, secure, and regionally relevant alternative to WhatsApp.

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