Xiaomi preinstalled PhonePe app comes following a multi-year partnership deal that the smartphone maker signed with the fintech company last year. In the Xiaomi PhonePe partnership, the two companies agreed to replace the smartphone maker’s GetApps with the Indus App Store.

Big Milestone

Xiaomi devices will still have Google Play Store preinstalled. The smartphone manufacturer did not reveal whether Indus Appstore will be included in current Xiaomi smartphones that are already on sale in India. Even so, integration of the PhonePe’s App Store into Xiaomi smartphones represents a big milestone for the fintech company.

“Our partnership with Xiaomi India marks a significant milestone towards our goal of building a horizontal app store for mobile users and developers. By combining Xiaomi India’s reach with our localised app discovery platform, we’re creating opportunities for developers while delivering a seamless, culturally-relevant experience to users. This partnership is just the beginning of our vision to transform how India discovers and experiences mobile apps,” Indus Appstore Chief Business Officer Priya M Narasimhan said.

Xiaomi also sees the partnership as a strategic step towards promoting Indian innovations.

“As India’s digital ecosystem continues to grow, the demand for a locally driven app marketplace has never been more critical. At Xiaomi India, we have always championed ‘Make for India’ innovations, and this partnership with Indus Appstore is a strategic step in that direction,” Sudhin Mathur, Xiaomi India’s COO said.

Driving Adoption

The Indus App Store has been struggling to scale due to trust issues with users. Convincing them to install a different app store has been a challenge for PhonePe. One way that the company is trying to overcome this challenge and increase user adoption is to have its AppStore preinstalled in new smartphones.

“By integrating Indus Appstore with our ecosystem, we aim to offer users a seamless and enriched app discovery experience, while also supporting Indian developers in reaching a wider audience. This partnership reflects both brands’ unwavering commitment to fostering a robust and inclusive digital ecosystem in India, empowering users and developers alike,” Mathur added.

So far, the fintech company has not shared statistics on how many downloads its Appstore attracted or how much it has earned developers. PhonePe’s growth in India comes at a time when the fintech company is pursuing listing on the Indian stock markets. Indus AppStore currently supports at least 12 Indian languages. The App Store is also home to over 500,000 apps in varied categories and even has a video-led discovery feed.

Market Entry

PhonePe introduced the Indus App Store into the Indian market back in February 2024. The marketplace allows developers to list their apps in English as well as Indian languages. Developers can also upload videos and media to their application listings.

PhonePe has been trying to get a share of India’s app market from search giant Google. The company has previously offered to eliminate fees for in-app purchases in a bid to attract developers. Earlier this year, Indonesia fined Google $12.6 million for violating antitrust rules on its Google Play payment system service.

In November, PhonePe launched a new version of the marketplace that introduced better visuals and user interface improvements. The marketplace also comes with voice-enabled search capabilities, a self-publishing platform, growth monitoring tools, and localized services.

The post Xiaomi Preinstalled PhonePe App Store to Increase Adoption in India as Fintech Firm Takes on Google appeared first on Tech Research Online.

The smartphone AI race has become an Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI affair after Apple announced the entry of its AI system to the market in early September 2024.

Samsung had introduced Galaxy AI with its Galaxy S24 series devices in July 2024. Apple Intelligence is set to debut with its iPhone 16 and iOS 18 devices in October 2024. These AI systems represent important shifts in smartphone capabilities and user experiences.

Both companies are using AI to change a range of smartphone aspects like text editing, photography, and real time translation. However, their focus and approach to AI application vary, implying that each company is pursuing a different philosophy and applying varying ecosystem strategies.

As the two companies scramble for the smartphone AI market share, comparing Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI can help us understand who is ahead in the AI game in 2024.

The Performance Question: Apple AI vs Samsung AI

The Apple Vs Samsung AI battle is fueled by the difference between Apple Intelligence and Samsung’s Galaxy AI operating systems. Galaxy is an operating system-based AI while Apple intelligence is an on-device AI.

Operating system-based AI is integrated into the device operating system and uses cloud processing. System-based AI accesses huge cloud processing power and vast amounts of data, which gives it powerful capabilities. The main disadvantage is that it needs an internet connection. User privacy may also be compromised.

With on-device AI, data is processed on the smartphone. This guarantees user privacy and supports offline access to AI features. However, hardware capabilities may be limited.

Smartphone AI systems affect user privacy and experiences in multiple ways. These include:

• Functionality: Availability of cloud resources allows operating-system based AI to offer more advanced features. The features of on-device AI may be more limited.
• Speed: On-device AI can provide fast responses, allowing users to complete some tasks quickly.
• Battery Life: Complex processing can drain device batteries faster compared to system-based AI.
• Privacy: Information does not leave devices that use on-device AI, an aspect that offers users more privacy.

Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence: The Unique Distinction

Both Apple and Samsung have sought to differentiate themselves through their unique focus and approaches. Apple Intelligence is a personalized AI system that places generative AI in models that are the core of iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Apple AI is more focused on creating more personalized and integrated AI experiences for users. It’s designed to maintain user privacy by leveraging on-device processing. Apple Intelligence integrates with third-party AI models, which expands its capabilities beyond its in-built features.

Galaxy AI features a complete AI system that integrates different AI features across Samsung devices. Galaxy AI is designed to boost productivity and enhance user experience with its innovative search and powerful translation capabilities that enable users to transcend language barriers realtime.

Both smartphone AI systems come with text generation and editing capabilities. However, their approach towards processing and device compatibility varies. Galaxy AI is more accessible to users because it’s available on a wide range of Samsung devices. Apple Intelligence offers less device compatibility. However, it provides enhanced security and privacy through on-device processing.

AI Features: The New Apple-Samsung BattleFront

The intensifying Apple Vs Samsung competition has made the difference between the two smartphone AI systems more apparent. As Apple Intelligence becomes available this October, users will have to choose between the two smartphone AI approaches. Taking a deeper look at their features can make this decision easier and more rewarding. Here’s how Apple AI features compare with Galaxy AI features:

Translation Capabilities

When it comes to translating languages, the real-time call translation feature in Samsung Galaxy AI carries the day. Users can leverage this feature to overcome language barriers during phone calls. Since this feature works for both text and voice, it makes Galaxy AI incredibly powerful for cross-border communication.

Apple Intelligence offers translation capabilities through Siri and Translate App. Though it does not provide real-time call translation, translations are more private because they’re processed on-device.

Photo Editing Tools

Apple Intelligence offers users an Image Playground feature that integrates with the Apple Photo app and other Apple services. It allows users to remove objects from their images, replace backgrounds, and offer intelligent editing suggestions.

Similarly, Galaxy AI comes with powerful photo editing features. With the Generative Edit tool, users can move, remove, or resize objects in their images. Galaxy AI also gives suggestions for improving images to users. The two smartphone AI systems offer powerful image editing capabilities, personal preference should determine your choice.

AI-Powered Assistants

Apple Intelligence will feature an improved version of Apple’s AI assistant, Siri. In May 2024, Apple said it was revamping the virtual assistant with advanced AI to make it smarter.

The tech giant says the new Siri is designed for seamless integration across Apple’s ecosystem. The new Siri has a better understanding of speech and language. It’s capable of taking personal context into account and can take in-app actions.

Galaxy AI, on the other hand, uses Google’s advanced Gemini AI model which features a broad knowledge base. Historically, Siri has lagged behind Gemini in some aspects. However, Siri offers unique advantages when it comes to privacy, on-device processing, and integration with Apple devices. If you’re looking for an AI assistant that offers a broad knowledge base and advanced capabilities, Samsung AI would be the best choice.

Intuitive Search

Samsung AI comes with an innovative Circle tool that helps users search for anything on their screen by circling it. This feature gives users a powerful and intuitive search experience.

Apple AI uses Siri to power its search capabilities. Though the enhanced Siri version features higher contextual awareness and integrates well with the iOS ecosystem, it does not match Galaxy AI’s Circle to Search capabilities.

Custom Emojis

Apple Intelligence takes the lead when it comes to creating custom emojis. Galaxy AI does not offer an equivalence of the Genmoji feature available in Apply. Genmoji leverages generative AI to personalize user experience through the creation of expressive emojis. Users can customize emojis based on photos and text features.

Galaxy AI, on the other hand, comes with an AR Emoji that allows users to produce 3D avatars based on their appearances. AR Emoji is less flexible compared to Apple’s Genmoji.

Health and Fitness Features

Apple AI carries the day with its range of health features to users. This smartphone AI is designed to integrate deeply with Apple’s health-software and hardware ecosystem. This integration offers users health insights that are highly personalized. Apple Intelligence comes with trend analysis and predictive health capabilities that enable it to track health and fitness metrics across its devices.

Galaxy AI is designed to integrate flawlessly with Samsung Health. This allows users to access insightful and actionable data. With Samsung AI users can track workouts, develop personalized fitness plans, and access advanced health analytics.

Integration with Third-Party AI Models

Apple AI stands out with its third-party AI model integrations, which include ChatGPT. These integrations create numerous possibilities for users to expand AI capabilities across iOS devices. Galaxy AI is more focused on partnering with Google to develop its own capabilities rather than open up to integrating with third-party AI models.

Eyeing Premium Handsets for AI TakeOver

Both Samsung and Apple announced that AI will feature prominently in their premium handsets in their respective unveiling events. Samsung Galaxy AI first debuted on Galaxy S24 at the beginning of the year. In July 2024, Samsung made Galaxy AI available in its Galaxy Z Series and Galaxy Watch products which include Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch7.

Since then, the company expanded the range of products with Galaxy AI to include different Galaxy Series phones. The tech giant has said it’ll be bringing select Galaxy AI features to more affordable, mid-range handsets that include Galaxy A35 and A55.

On September 9, Apple announced that Apple Intelligence would be available in iPhone 16 smartphones when it hit the market this fall. However, iPhone 16 devices debuted on September 20 without the much anticipated Apple Intelligence. The company added that among existing devices, AI features would only be accessible through the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple intends to maintain Apple Intelligence access within these products, which makes its AI a privilege of a select few.

The widening range of Samsung phones that support AI presents a sharp contrast to Apple’s limited availability of Apple Intelligence in iPhones. Although Apple is set to make Apple Intelligence available in its premium handsets this October, Samsung appears to have taken a strong lead in the AI for smartphones race by offering Galaxy AI to a much wider audience.

Samsung Vs. Apple: Scramble for Market Dominance

Samsung successfully expanded its US market share for premium handsets in May 2024, thanks to its Galaxy AI phone, Galaxy S24. The company launched Galaxy AI about two months before Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence.

This time difference may have favored Samsung as it attracted demand from Android smartphone users like TCL and Google. Counterpoint Research reported that Samsung’s US smartphone market share hit the 31% mark in quarter one of this year, the highest for the phone maker since 2020.

According to KED Global, Samsung recorded an 8% dip in smartphone shipments within the US, but this decline was largely observed in mid-range and low-end phones. The company experienced a steady increase in demand for high-end premium phones, which was largely attributed to increased shipment of Galaxy S24 series phones. Samsung’s market share dropped to 24% in quarter two of 2024 after the momentum for the Galaxy S24 series was reduced.

Apple, on the other hand, maintained a 52% grip on the US market share in the first half of 2024. The launch of Apple Intelligence was expected to boost sales in the second half of the year and increase this market share. However, this expectation may not hold after sales of Apple’s iPhone 16 dropped by 12% compared to iPhone 15 sales last year.

This drop in sales was attributed to Apple’s failure to make Apple Intelligence available during its Glowtime launch event and at the time of the iPhone 16 release. Apple Intelligence was the main selling point of the premium handset.

Apple AI vs Samsung AI: Which Should You Take?

Smartphone AI is a major factor when choosing between iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones.
You’ll need to consider your use cases and priorities when choosing between Apple Intelligence and Galaxy AI. If privacy is among your biggest concerns, Apple Intelligence would be a great pick. But if you’re looking to power your productivity with smartphone AI that you can access on a wide range of devices, Galaxy AI would be the best option.

Apple and Samsung AI smartphone price is another crucial factor to consider when choosing between the two. While it’s possible to get either of the smartphones for less than $1000, prices vary based on storage capacity. With a budget of between $650 and $800, you can get a Galaxy S24 FE with 128GB or 256GB storage capacity. If you prefer an iPhone 16, this budget can only get you one with 128GB. For higher storage capacity, you’ll have to spend $100 to $300 more.

The post Apple Intelligence vs Galaxy AI: The Silent Fight for AI Dominance appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Custom Cloud Solutions:
E-Learning Industry

About Mindfire Solutions

We are a 24+ years old, 650+ workforce, B2B software development and testing services company. We offer tailored solutions in web, mobile, and testing for a diverse array of tech companies, ranging from startups and SMBs to large enterprises. Till date, we have successfully delivered 2000+ projects, serving the needs of 500+ global companies that work across all major industries. Our solutions are built leveraging leading-edge frameworks and tools. 

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Privacy has now become a commodity.

Companies are buying and selling your data without your knowledge. If you are concerned about your chats being read by a third party or you just want to have some private conversation. We have curated a list of the best-encrypted messaging apps to help you protect yourself from companies’ eavesdropping on your private chats and calls.

While some of these apps are developed by huge corporations, few are run by start-ups. Some of the messengers on the list are so heavily encrypted that even government intelligence agencies can’t break into them.

Here are some of the best encrypted messaging apps available for Android as well iOS.

1. Signal

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Signal: Android, iOS  

If you are a security-conscious mobile user then Signal is a fantastic messaging solution for you. The app is free and offers messaging, voice-calling, and group-chatting services. The app uses its end-to-end encryption protocol to protect your privacy.   

Signal is an encrypted messaging app that allows you to send text messages, voice calls, group messages, media, and attachments to your contacts without messing with your special login credentials or PIN codes.   

The application even offers you an option to set all the messages to self-destruct after a certain amount of time.   

Signal’s encryption is so strong that Facebook uses it for WhatsApp and Messenger. However, unlike my tech giants, Signal’s parent is a non-profit foundation created by a cryptographer who is also the founder of WhatsApp.  

Over time, Signal has become a favorite application for security-conscious users and other privacy advocates due to its ease of use and strong, open-source, regularly audited encryption.   

The application offers user-friendliness without compromising on security making it’s a fantastic option. The application also offers user-friendly features such as for customization such as wallpapers and animated stickers.  

2. Threema

Available on: Android, iOS

Price: $3.99  

Download Threema: Android, iOS  

Threema is a very secure end-to-end encrypted messaging app that leverages the NaCl cryptography library for privacy protection.   

The application keeps your identity anonymous by not requiring any personal information and generating a unique Threema ID key. However, you can also associate your account with a phone number or email address to allow other users to easily find you.   

If in any instance, you meet other Threema users in person but don’t want to exchange names then you can use a scannable QR code to connect with them.   

Other than the raft of messaging features such as encrypted text, voice, picture, and video messaging, the application also offers a file-sharing limit of 20MB and a polling system for feedback 

3. WhatsApp Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download WhatsApp: Android, iOS   

WhatsApp has single-handedly become the most widely used chat and call app. The encrypted messaging app has used Signal’s end-to-end encryption since 2016 which is continuously being tweaked by its developers.  

The app’s security and privacy features allow users to fine-tune group invitations. This in turn gives you control over them.   

After WhatsApp was sold to Facebook, the company now uses its behavioral data, however, the messages entirely remain walled off.   

WhatsApp remains the easiest end-to-end encrypted messaging application. For users not comfortable with Facebook’s presence, you can always opt for other applications on this list.   

WhatsApp’s ease of use, ubiquity, and ability to send voice and video messages, and photos make it a robust and fully encrypted mobile messaging app. 

4. Silent Phone 

Available on: Android, iOS

Price: $9.95 per month  

Download Silent Phone: Android, iOS   

Silent Circle, is a secure-communications software, that provides encrypted audio and video calls. It also offers encrypted messaging and file transfers that are self-destructing.  

The best part is the encryption keys are not held by Silent Circle but by subscribers themselves. This means that even though your encrypted messages may pass through Silent Circle’s network, they won’t be able to read your data.  

However, there is a downside to this encrypted messaging app which is its high price. While installation is free of cost, it won’t work till the payment of $9.95 per month.   

Silent Circle aims to provide enterprise users total privacy for work. This also means that you’ll find fewer people who use it for personal communications. 

5. Wire 

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Wire: Android, iOS  

Wire offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, audio and video clips, and Dropbox file sharing. The encrypted messaging app has multiplatform for cross-device syncing and multiple accounts support. This allows you to keep your personal and work communications separate.   

The application has its own Proteus encryption protocol with open-source code. It is also subjected to external security audits.   

You can use the mobile and web versions of the application for free, but the premium tier is a paid version. Like Silent Circle and Wickr, Wire wants to primarily appeal to business users.  

6. WickrMe 

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Wickr Me: Android, iOS  

Wickr Me is an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that allows you to send private, self-destructing messages for free.   

This encrypted messaging app uses strong encryption as it takes your privacy seriously. With Wickr, you can configure the amount of time for a message to self-destruct.   

A new layer of security is added by the video-key verification system which allows each user to verify each other with short encrypted video. The app even has a $100,000 bug-bounty program for anyone to point out a security flaw.  

However, Wickr is not as versatile as one might think. Its audio and video calls are one-to-one only and group chats are limited to 10 members.  

7. Viber

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Viber: Android, iOS  

Originally developed in Israel, Viber is now owned and operated by Rakuten. The encrypted messaging app offers end-to-end encryption messaging with stickers and augmented-reality filters.  

Viber also features a color-coded lock icon to show users conversation protection. The application also has a self-destructing Secret Chats and a Hidden Chats feature.   

Additionally, the app also offers a solid mobile messaging feature set tied to your phone number. The app is free to communicate with other Viber users, but you’ll have to pay to call non-Viber users. 

8. Facebook Messenger

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Facebook Messenger: Android, iOS  

Facebook Messenger is not the first app that comes to mind when thinking about encrypted messaging, however, its mobile versions include end-to-end encrypted communication.   

The application uses the same encryption system used in Signal but you have to opt into the feature for Secret Conversations. You can also send and receive encrypted text, pictures, and stickers with the option for time-limited self-destructing messages.   

That said, Facebook Messenger is still vulnerable mainly because it’s Facebook. 

9. Silence

Available on: Android  

Price: Free  

Download Silence: F-Droid, Google Play  

Silence is an open-source SMS and MMS Android app offering more security than your standard text message. The application leverages the Axolotl encryption protocol pioneered by Signal and applies it to SMS.   

This encrypted messaging app works similarly to your normal text messaging app with an option to send encrypted SMS.   

Though Silence is available on Google Play Store, American users can’t install it due to trademark issues. A newer version of the application is available to Americans on the F-Droid open-source app repository.  

10. Dust

Available on: Android, iOS  

Price: Free  

Download Dust: Android, iOS  

Dust, formerly called Cyber Dust, offers multiple encryptions and security features to maintain user privacy. The encrypted messaging app leverages a combination of AES-128 and RSA-2048 encryption. It is designed to keep direct messages in RAM, rather than in your phone’s storage.   

You can also set messages to self-destruct within 24 hours after being read. However, the application does not display user names in a message and alerts you if a screenshot is taken.   

Additionally, the application offers privacy-watchdog features along with a stealth search tool for your privacy during a web search.  

These are the top picks for the best-encrypted messaging app. Do let us know if we missed your favorites in the comment section below.   

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