Opening thoughts. By the time you read this, NASA’s Artemis II will have set the record for taking humans farther from Earth (more than 248,665 miles) than any previous space mission. By then it would have also completed its lunar flight. And if all goes according to plan, the names of the two moon craters proposed, Integrity and Carroll, will be finalized. But the space mission is also a tale of two tech companies, as technology likes to find an intersection in most things these days. Get a big victory. And the second one? Not so much.
Since I like to be positive as a matter of habit, let’s look at Apple Inc. first. let’s talk about. NASA is using apple iphone 17 pro max Artemis II mission to capture stunning images of Earth. #ShotoniPhone in space, and the iPhone has now far outstripped any Android phone. Each crew member is believed to have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, which has been approved for use in orbit.
Metadata from Flickr confirmation of this Using the FaceTime camera, and then processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic – most likely to adjust contrast, exposure and crop. A big milestone in a big year Apple is completing 50 yearsAnd I fully expect the marketing teams in Cupertino to take advantage of it at this summer’s WWDC keynote and the iPhone keynote a few months later.
And then there’s Microsoft Corp. About seven hours into the Artemis II flight, Commander Reed Wiseman reported something that many of you Windows PC users will know well – Outlook on his system had stopped working. The crew can be heard on stream saying “there are two Microsoft Outlooks (on their PCD), and neither of them are working”. In this case, the PCD is a personal computing device. This obviously means Outlook (new) and Outlook (classic) – because we are all familiar with this pain.
While I don’t know the specifics of the PCD on this spacecraft, it’s puzzling that a company that loves to talk big about AI hasn’t figured out the basics of a stable computing experience. In the office, or in space.
Editor’s Corner: Airtel’s strategic masterclass
Bharti Airtel Limited has become the world’s second largest telecom operator with over 650 million customers. I will explain the structure of this milestone in a moment, as it is imperative to first discuss the foundations with which Airtel has worked to get here.
The last few years (or for that matter, the last decade) have seen some of the most brutal price wars, especially after the entry of Reliance Jio into the telecom sector in 2016. Fighting in a market that often sets prices based on the lowest priced recharge options, while trying to maintain ARPU numbers, buying 5G spectrum and maintaining infrastructure investments is nothing short of a corporate strategic masterclass.
The rise of Airtel is due to its presence in India and the African continent. It is not possible that Airtel has won so much by aiming to be the “cheapest”. In fact, you have to consider reliability (in my experience, in 2020, 2021 and 2022, Airtel 4G and 5G mobile services. Fiber broadband and now 5G led wireless broadband services. DTH and now IPTV are connected with internet connection.
What next for Airtel? Of course, aiming for the throne of China Mobile, which has about 350 million more users than Airtel’s 650 million.
Critics may well say that Airtel is chasing a massive capex cycle. But the tech giants in Cupertino and Mountain View have proven that once you have a user base of 650 million active participants, it becomes much easier to solve the economics of everything else. Standalone 5G is on Airtel’s agenda. Also a financial services plan. Airtel is no longer just a telecom company. And this will be his trump card.
Tech Spotlight: Hisense Intelli Cool Pro
The times we live in warrant a “smart” element to home appliances. And this essentially means the convenience of connectivity with an app on the phone.
When Hisense, a brand that already has a very vibrant range of TVs (including Laser TVs and Mini LED TVs), suggested an experience with its 2026 edition Intelli Cool Pro residential air conditioning system, or RAC, there was some intrigue. The model I’m specifically referring to is a 1.5-ton split AC (the specific model is AS-18TW4RXSKG02), and its smartness suite goes far beyond a smartphone app (which itself is quite slick; I’ll get to that).
If you are looking to buy a smart split AC before summer, getting maximum long-term value for your money would be the ideal strategy.
I’ll start with the basics. This is a 3-star rated system and it costs so much ₹28,990. As per current AC pricing structures, this is a pretty good deal. Before you point out the fact that this is a 3-star system, not a 5-star system, and I must agree with you: Hisense should also have a 5-star version for living room and especially heavy bedroom use and consider it now.
That said, the 2026 edition IntelliCool Pro has AI (of course, it’s impossible to even sell a pen without AI these days), which builds in a number of functionalities, including a 5-in-1 convertible mode to significantly reduce power consumption. Regardless of the mode selected (depending on room size), Hisense has tuned it well enough to instantly cool a usually hot room on a summer afternoon and maintain it at the set temperature.
Basically, the powerful fan throw (and it’s very quiet) defines the cooling efficiency. The remote can be better configured to toggle eco modes (C1, C2, and C3). Some other AC manufacturers keep it simple – press the button to toggle between modes, with percentage figures to indicate capacity usage (40%, 60%, and so on). Additionally, Intelli Cool Pro does not remember these Eco Mode settings upon next power on. Nor does the remote remember certain clock settings.
To get started, you’ll need to download the ConnectLife app (it’s available for iPhone and Android devices) and follow the “Add Device” process to set up the IntelliCool Pro RAC. It will replicate the entire wireless remote functionality in the app, and its beautifully tuned interface is very useful and quite intuitive. Pay attention to the “Routine” option, as this is where you can configure the AC to perform automatic tasks such as time-based power on/off, or indoor temperature-based configuration. It is particularly interesting to configure the latter, if continuity of ambient comfort is the objective.
It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant if you want voice control for the AC (it wouldn’t be wise to use Home for controls and ignore the neat ConnectLife app). For example, in Google’s Home app, look for the ‘+’ sign > select a device > link apps or services > search for ConnectLife.
Beyond the WiFi features, it is interesting to note that Hisense has designed a four-layer filter for air purification for the 2026 version of the Intelli Cool Pro AC – it consists of HEPA and activated carbon layers.
One thought that lingers long after it’s cooled off is that Hisense has understood the modern brief well. A room AC in 2026 will be judged not only by compressor tonnage, cooling efficiency (full marks to Hisense here too) and ease of use, but also by automation and smart controls. Hisense’s Intelli Cool Pro gets a lot of things going, with thoughtful app integration and strong core cooling performance at a price that’s certainly competitive. The 5-star version would make this lineup more complete, and is perhaps the next logical step. For now, a smart home gadget that’s smart for the right reasons.
Second thought: the big moment of credibility
A few days ago, CRED did a few things. In a first, introduction of biometric authentication for UPI payments up to Rs. ₹5,000 on their mobile app. Second, and more importantly, the Reserve Bank of India is giving final authorization to CRED (Dreamplug Paytech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) to operate as a payment aggregator.
This development is important for fintech growth aspirations. This now means that CRED can onboard merchants, collect payments on various devices on their behalf and handle settlements and refunds. Fintech says in FY25, platforms handled payments of more than ₹8.5 lakh crore. A lot of this will be through UPI payments as well as something the app is famous for – handling credit card bills and settlements for millions of users.
“Stakeholder trust has been central to how we have built CRED from the beginning; we have operated with high standards for performance, reliability, transparency and governance from day zero. The authorization to serve as a payments aggregator reflects the trust we have consistently built across the ecosystem and lays the foundation for the next chapter of enabling financial progress for India’s most creditworthy people.” – Kunal Shah, Founder of CRED.
CRED and its subsidiaries now hold two licenses from RBI: the already secured Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) license and the Payment Aggregator license now comes with a Corporate Agency license from IRDA, Registered Investment Adviser license from SEBI and TPAP license from NPCI. This is definitely a big moment for fintech.
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