Users complain as Patanjali puts 'Kimbho' chat app on trial
New Delhi, Aug 16 : A day after Patanjali announced a refurbished "Kimbho" chat app, users who downloaded the app reported several issues, including problems in setting up profile pictures and complained about poor user interface (UI).
Downloaded over 5,000 times since it re-appeared on Google Play Store on Wednesday ahead of its official launch on August 27, first-time users reported problems while using the app.
"Is this a joke? Worst UI ever, never seen something bad than this ….. (sic)," wrote one user.
"When I'm registering, it says 'try later'. What's this? Rubbish!," wrote another.
After downloading the app, it asks for eight levels of permissions, including users consent to access photos, media and files; camera; contacts; calendar and events; make and manage phone calls; microphone; and send and record and send a view SMS messages.
The privacy policy of the app's trial version states that the company will not sell or share personal information of users (such as the mobile phone number) with other third party companies for their commercial or marketing use.
However, it also added that it may share your personal information with third party service providers "to the extent that it is reasonable necessary to perform, improve, or maintain Kimbhoh Service".
The "swadeshi" app -- now with "end-to-end encryption" -- was hastily taken down in May due to the poor security and performance.
Kimbho -- a Sanskrit word for "How are you?" or "What's new?" - is now equipped with "new and advanced features", Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna said in a tweet this week, adding that the company was working towards sorting out the apps' shortcomings before the official launch on August 27.
The app -- launched to take on Facebook-owned WhatsApp -- promises features such as chat, multimedia, voice and video calling, video conferencing and collaboration.
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
