Twitter expands Safety Mode, but not to India; Microsoft launches Surface Laptop Studio; Offgrid out of stealth with ZincGel

Twitter is making its Safety Mode auto-blocking feature available to a wider set of users in its beta version, to help people protect themselves from abuse on the microblogging platform, the company said yesterday. Microsoft has a new powerful laptop aimed at professionals. Plus, Offgrid Energy Labs, a battery tech startup, has launched its first product ZincGel Notes: Twitter expands the reach of the Safety Mode beta version Twitter is making its Safety Mode auto-blocking feature available to a wider set of users in a beta launch to help people protect themselves from abuse on the microblogging platform, the company said yesterday. The expanded coverage of the beta version of Safety Mode will reach about 50 percent of users in English-speaking markets, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, according to The Verge. India does not figure in this rollout. Twitter is also testing a feature to send direct messages right from a tweet, which could make it easier for cyberbullies to send unwanted messages, according to The Verge. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio open for pre-orders Microsoft India yesterday announced that its new Surface Laptop Studio will be available from March 8. Built as the ideal product for developers, creative professionals, designers, and gamers, this device brings you the power of a desktop, the portability of a laptop, and a creative studio all in one, Microsoft said in a press release. Pre-orders are open and the laptop starts at Rs. 156,999. EdgeQ appoints Ajit Pai, former US FCC chair, to the advisory board EdgeQ, a 5G wireless startup founded by Indian American entrepreneur Vinay Ravuri, yesterday announced the appointment of former US FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to the company’s board of advisors. Pai joins EdgeQ as the company scales to deliver the industry’s first software-defined 5G and AI Base Station-on-a-Chip for wireless infrastructure, EdgeQ said in a press release. Pai is credited with implementing major initiatives during his tenure at the FCC, including freeing up cellular and unlicensed spectrum and instituting reforms to encourage private sector investments in wireless infrastructure. He also modernised outdated regulations to promote 5G backhaul and wide-scale fibre deployment; and held the first-ever FCC-led fora on open radio access networks and artificial intelligence, according to the press release. 5ire blockchain venture raises $100 million ahead of IPO 5ire, a blockchain network founded by two entrepreneurs of Indian origin—Pratik Gauri and Prateek Dwivedi along with crypto financier Vilma Mattila—has secured $100 million in capital commitment from GEM Global Yield (GGY), as it seeks to file for an IPO, the company said in a press release yesterday. Offgrid Energy launches first product, ZincGel for stationary batteries Offgrid Energy Labs has come out of stealth mode with its first product, a rechargeable zinc-based battery, with the brand name ZincGel. Backed by investors including Shell Ventures, Ankur Capital, and APVC Singapore, Offgrid Energy Labs is targeting the energy storage market through new materials and designs for stationary batteries, the company said in a press release yesterday. Theme music courtesy Free Music & Sounds: https://soundcloud.com/freemusicandsounds