Global technology giant Apple held their annual product keynote in the Steve Jobs Theatre at the new Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, Calif, yesterday. The event was started with an homage to the Apple founder and icon Steve Jobs using an old voice recorded message from the founder.
Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook then took the stage to begin the event at the company’s new head office. Speaking about the tribute he said, “It’s taken some time, but we can now reflect on him with joy, rather than sadness.” The head office was designed by Jobs before his demise six years ago. Cook also spoke about Apple’s efforts in helping Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey victims in Florida and Texas respectively. The new headquarters Apple Park was built using sustainable materials and will be the first campus to use 100% renewable energy with a solar paneled roof to generate power.
The special event was the launchpad for multiple new products the company has been designing including their rebranded retail stores, now called the Apple Town Houses. The Apple Town Houses will also hold a new program called ‘Today At Apple’ where people can come together to learn different art forms such as coding, designing and photography. The new Watch Series 3 was also launched, which for the first time will allow users access to Apple Music to stream its 40 million songs, podcasts or Beats 1 radio shows. Priced at $399, the new upgraded watch comes with built in cellular connectivity that can be used to make phone calls as well. The Apple watch will be available in stores from 22 September.
The Apple TV was also unveiled at the event and offers a 4K resolution to the users along with standard HDR. Apple’s latest streaming device will be partnering with Netflix and Amazon to offer their programming in super high resolution. The high end TV will also be available from 22 September and will be more tightly integrated with Apple Music in its new iteration.
The real stars of the event were the three new iPhone models. The first iPhone that created ripples in the smartphone industry had up to 16 GB storage space, 1400 mAh battery, 3.5 inch screen and a 2.0 MP camera. The newly launched devices, according to Tim Cook, are far more intelligent, far more capable and far more personal than ever before. The three new models are named iPhone 8,iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X, which is pronounced as iPhone ‘ten.’ Along with the color, the camera and software of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have been upgraded while iPhone X packs a whole new arena of features.
The future of the smartphone is here.
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will be priced at $699 and $799 for the 64 GB versions respectively, while the iPhone X will cost a whopping $999. Both the iPhone 8’s will be available from 22 September where as the iPhone X will begin shipping from 3 November.
PayU India, owned by Prosus, has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator, a year after getting in-principle approval in April 2024. This authorization allows PayU to onboard new merchants and offer digital payment solutions, joining other major players like Razorpay, CCAvenue, and BillDesk.
The RBI’s nod comes as PayU prepares for its planned IPO in the second half of 2025, following a delay from its original 2024 timeline due to market conditions. The company, which serves over 450,000 merchants, reported $319 million in revenue from its core payments and credit business in the first half of FY25.
PayU stated that the approval will help it build a resilient, compliant, and innovation-driven institution, supporting merchants of all sizes and advancing the Digital India vision. The company has also strengthened its risk management and expanded its presence in real-time payments through a strategic stake in Mindgate Solutions.
Google has refreshed its iconic ‘G’ logo for the first time in nearly 10 years, replacing the familiar solid blocks of red, yellow, green, and blue with a smooth, vibrant gradient that blends these colors seamlessly. This subtle update gives the logo a softer, more fluid, and modern appearance, aligning with Google’s evolving digital identity and current design trends.
The new gradient transitions smoothly from red to yellow, yellow to green, and green to blue, making the logo more visually appealing and adaptable across various devices, especially on mobile platforms. This redesign also reflects Google’s growing emphasis on artificial intelligence, echoing the gradient style used in the branding of Google Gemini, the company’s AI-generative assistant.
The updated ‘G’ logo has started rolling out on iOS through the Google Search app and on some Android devices, particularly Pixel phones running the Google app beta version 16.18. However, most other platforms, including the web and non-Pixel Android devices, still display the classic solid-color logo. A wider rollout is expected in the coming weeks.
So far, Google’s main wordmark and other product logos like Chrome, Maps, and Gmail remain unchanged. Given the shift toward gradient designs and AI-inspired visuals, similar updates to other Google icons may follow in the future.
In summary, this first major update to the ‘G’ logo since 2015 signals a subtle but meaningful shift in Google’s branding strategy, blending tradition with innovation as the company deepens its focus on AI and modern design aesthetics.
Indian online travel platform ixigo has suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan in response to these countries expressing support for Pakistan after India’s military strikes-dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’-against terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The move, announced by CEO Aloke Bajpai on X, was described as an act of solidarity with India during heightened diplomatic tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
ixigo’s decision aligns with similar actions by other Indian travel companies, including EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings, which have also restricted travel services to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan. The suspensions come amid widespread calls for boycotts after these countries condemned India’s military response and backed Pakistan.
The travel industry’s collective response underscores how geopolitical developments are influencing business decisions, with Indian companies emphasizing national interests and unity in the face of international criticism