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Musk is struggling to get Twitter’s financials to work. Will he succeed?

Published

2 years ago

on

Twitter

Elon Musk has been tweeting a lot recently, and in many of his tweets he is trying to brag about his new expensive toy: Twitter. It is $44 billion Dollar expensive, to be precise, and Musk is keen to get engagement figures on the platform to increase. He is even more eager to get people to sign up and pay $8 a month to buy the Twitter blue check mark. Well, it is not necessarily going as he intended, as many users are migrating to other platforms, to the extent that some of those other platforms have temporarily suspended new signups due to overload.

Musk is fighting hard to get Twitter to generate revenue, even though he wants to reduce the role of advertisement in generating income. And there are several reasons why he wants to generate positive cash flow from Twitter very quickly.

The first reason has to do with the amount of debts that Twitter currently owes to creditors. Before the acquisition took place, Musk already owned more than 9 percent of Twitter’s shares, so he only had to buy the rest in his acquisition deal which he could not back out of. In order to partially finance the deal, he had to sell $15.5 billion worth of shares in Tesla, whose share CFDs you can trade with a renowned broker like easymarkets.com.

Institutional and individual investors

The rest of the money came from different sources. Investment funds and institutional investors like Qatar Holding, which is under the control of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, contributed with funds. Individual investors like Alwaleed Bin Tala and Larry Ellison, the co-founder of software company Oracle, also contributed. The latter wrote a $1 billion cheque to buy shares in the social media company.

Loans

Yet, Musk is probably not worried about the money raised from investors. He is rather concerned about the loans raised to complete the payment of $44 billion. Loans from banks amounted to $13.5 to fund the purchase. Those banks include Japanese banks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho, Barclays and the French banks Societe Generale and BNP Paribas, among others.

Those loans have interest payments attached to them, and in such a high interest rate environment, this debt service periodic payment is likely to be huge. According to some estimates, those payments could amount to $1 billion per year. No wonder Musk is tweeting and trying to hype up the platform.

What the future holds for Twitter

At the end of last year, and based on publicly available documents, Twitter already owed more than $4 billion in long term debt – and that is before the acquisition. In the first half of 2022, it seems that the company operated at a loss. Bringing the company back to the private sphere will also close an available avenue for funding in case troubles begin to brew (if they haven’t begun to do so already).

Risks are mounting, and it is unlikely that subscriptions will compensate for the drop in revenues from advertisement, due not only to Musk’s intentions to reduce reliance on ads, but also due to many companies holding back on using the platform for promoting their products and services. Whether Musk will be able to achieve a turnaround is yet to be seen. Even if he does, it will have to be a really big and impressive one. Musk should perhaps tweet less and focus on strategy more.

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India News

AI-generated video of miniature humans making Indian sweets goes viral with 16 million views

A viral AI-generated video shows tiny human figures crafting oversized Indian sweets in a creative reel that has captivated social media, amassing over 16 million views.

Published

15 hours ago

on

March 6, 2025

By

AI-generated video of tiny humans making Indian sweets

Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to redefine creativity in the digital world, and the latest viral sensation is a testament to that. A mesmerizing AI-generated video featuring miniature human figures ‘making’ traditional Indian sweets has taken social media by storm, amassing over 16 million views on Instagram.

Miniature workers crafting oversized sweets

The viral reel, shared by the Instagram page @the.aiengineer, showcases tiny human-like figures engaged in the intricate process of ‘preparing’ various Indian sweets that appear much larger than them. Dressed as construction workers, the miniature figures are depicted as ‘perfecting’ stacks of jalebis, kneading soft rasgullas, glazing gulab jamuns, and shaping laddoos, kaju katlis, barfis, patisa, and other beloved treats.

One particularly creative scene features rasgullas floating in a pond of sugar syrup, with the tiny figures rowing a boat over them. In the background, more miniature workers are seen carting, collecting, and shaping ingredients such as dry fruits and nuts. Ladders, cranes, and other construction machinery are cleverly incorporated into the scenes, making the process look like a grand culinary project.

Social media reacts with admiration and humor

The video has sparked a wave of reactions in the comment section. While many users expressed awe and appreciation for the imaginative concept, others found it humorous. Some of the top comments included:

  • “Wow, so beautiful.”
  • “Can’t stop watching it. It’s amazing.”
  • “Get me a ticket to this city.”
  • “Love the imagination.”
  • “No hygiene at all… people are walking on laddoos!”

Some viewers even drew comparisons to the world of ants, while others humorously pointed out concerns about hygiene in this whimsical world of sweets.

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Gadgets

Apple launches MacBook Air M4 in India at Rs 99,900, Rs 15,000 cheaper than M3 model

Apple launches the MacBook Air M4 in India at a lower price than the M3 version, featuring a new M4 chip, better performance, and an attractive Sky Blue color.

Published

19 hours ago

on

March 6, 2025

By

Apple MacBook Air M4 in Sky Blue color

Apple has officially launched its latest MacBook Air M4 in India, unveiling both 13-inch and 15-inch models. The latest iteration comes with the powerful M4 chip, an upgraded Thunderbolt 4 port, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and a brand-new “Sky Blue” color option. Additionally, Apple has significantly reduced the price of the new models compared to the M3-powered MacBook Air, making them more affordable.

MacBook Air M4 pricing in India

One of the most notable highlights of the new launch is its pricing. The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is priced at Rs 99,900, while the 15-inch variant comes at Rs 124,900. This marks a Rs 15,000 price drop compared to the M3 MacBook Air, which launched at Rs 114,900 for the 13-inch model and Rs 134,900 for the 15-inch version last year.

Apple has also revised its pricing strategy in the US, where the MacBook Air M4 now starts at $999 (approximately Rs 86,800)—a $100 reduction compared to previous models. For students, the price has been lowered to $899 (around Rs 78,100).

Key upgrades and features of MacBook Air M4

The MacBook Air M4 lineup introduces a fresh “Sky Blue” color option, joining the existing shades of Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. Apple is also providing color-matched MagSafe charging cables for a cohesive aesthetic.

Performance & hardware enhancements

M4 chip: Equipped with a 10-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, offering significant performance improvements over the M3 model.

Memory & Storage: The base variant comes with 16GB RAM, expandable up to 32GB, with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.

Camera Upgrade: Features a 12MP Center Stage camera that automatically adjusts the frame to keep users in focus during video calls. It also supports Desk View, allowing users to display their workspace during virtual meetings.

Improved Connectivity: Apple has upgraded the Thunderbolt ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4, allowing support for two external displays while keeping the laptop’s screen active.

MagSafe & Audio Enhancements: Retains MagSafe 3 charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers for improved sound output.

The MacBook Air M4 is available for pre-order now and will hit stores on March 12 in India.

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Gadgets

Vivo T4x 5G launched in India with Dimensity 7300 SoC and 6,500mAh battery

Vivo T4x 5G launched in India featuring a Dimensity 7300 processor, a 6,500mAh battery, and a 50MP camera setup. Available from March 12, starting at Rs13,999.

Published

2 days ago

on

March 5, 2025

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Vivo T4x 5G smartphone with MediaTek Dimensity 7300 and 6,500mAh battery

Vivo has officially launched the Vivo T4x 5G in India, offering a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, up to 8GB RAM, and a massive 6,500mAh battery, which is the largest in its segment. The device also boasts military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H) and an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance.

With a 50-megapixel dual rear camera, 120Hz display, and 44W fast charging, the Vivo T4x 5G arrives as the successor to the Vivo T3x 5G. The phone is set to go on sale starting March 12 through Flipkart and Vivo’s official e-store.

Vivo T4x 5G price in India and availability

The Vivo T4x 5G is available in three configurations:

  • 6GB + 128GB – Rs13,999
  • 8GB + 128GB – Rs14,999
  • 8GB + 256GB – Rs16,999

The device will be available in Marine Blue and Pronto Purple color options. Customers purchasing the phone on the first day of sale can avail a Rs1,000 discount on select bank cards.

Vivo T4x 5G specifications and features

Display & performance

The smartphone features a 6.72-inch Full-HD+ LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,050 nits brightness, and TÜV Rheinland Eye Protection certification for reduced eye strain. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The device runs FuntouchOS 15 based on Android 15.

Camera setup

The dual rear camera system consists of:

  • 50-megapixel primary sensor
  • 2-megapixel depth sensor
  • LED flash with a squircle Dynamic Light unit

For selfies, the 8-megapixel front camera is housed in the display notch.

Battery & charging

The 6,500mAh battery supports 44W fast charging, ensuring extended usage without frequent recharges.

Other features

  • Dual stereo speakers
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4
  • USB Type-C port
  • GPS, GLONASS, and Beidou support
  • Military-grade durability certification (MIL-STD-810H)
  • IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance

The Vivo T4x 5G measures 165.7×76.3×8.09 mm. The Pronto Purple variant weighs 204g, while the Marine Blue version weighs 208g.

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