Also, will Apple be one of Jay Z's 99 problems? Apple could come out with its own paid streaming service to challenge Jay Z's Tidal -- which the rapper and business mogul has been defending on Twitter. Tidal has been attacked by critics since it launched less than a month ago. Jay Z tweeted that the streaming service has more than 770,000 subscribers and needs time to grow to take on the competition, like Spotify. CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch Bridget Carey every afternoon for a breakdown of the big stories, hot devices, new apps, and what's ahead. Subscribe to the podcast via the links below.

iTunes (HD) | iTunes (SD) | iTunes (HQ) | iTunes (MP3), RSS (HD) | RSS (SD) | RSS (HQ)| RSS (MP3), Download the audio version of today's episode, Apple passes on gas gags for the smartwatch, as Discover cards join the Apple Pay service, Meanwhile, Jay Z takes to Twitter to defend his Tidal music streaming service, Some apps just won't lovecases check yo self iphone 8 / 7 case - sparkling black reviews cut it for the Apple Watch, Those still waiting for an Apple Watch shouldn't hold their breath for a fart app, But in the fall, you will be able to use Apple Pay with a Discover card..

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company for India-based conglomerate Tata Group, has made an investment in Xiaomi, the China-based handset maker announced Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Xiaomi closed a $1.1 billion funding round in December at a $45 billion valuation. Given the valuation, it's unlikely that Tata's investment was sizable enough to give him a large equity stake in the company. "Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing companies in the world," Ratan Tata said in a statement. "It has brought its innovative business model and high-quality products to India with huge success."His investment could be more important from a public relations perspective than from a cash perspective. Indeed, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun eschewed all mention of what the company would do with the cash, saying instead that Tata's investment "is an affirmation of the strategy we have undertaken in India so far."Last week, Xiaomi unveiled a flagship smartphone for India, called the Mi 4i. The device, which comes with a 5-inch screen and octa-core processor, is widely viewed as a key first step in Xiaomi's self-professed plan to become the most dominant smartphone maker in the emerging India market. At the end of the fourth quarter, Xiaomi was ranked the fifth-largest smartphone maker in India. Samsung was tops.

The Tata name carries significant weight in India, and lovecases check yo self iphone 8 / 7 case - sparkling black reviews having Ratan Tata on Xiaomi's side could help the company and its smartphone gain more traction in the country, Tata Group, which had $103.3 billion in revenue last year, is a massive conglomerate, The company, which has over 581,000 employees, competes in a range of industries, including communications, technology, engineering, steel and chemicals, It's one of the most well-known companies in India and a prominent player in several industries globally..

India is a crucial country for nearly all handset makers. It has a fast-growing middle class and is adopting technology at a rapid rate. With the potential to target hundreds of millions of people, India represents a massive opportunity for all companies, including those like Xiaomi that have been successful in emerging markets where there is an appetite for higher-end devices priced at a level that budget-conscious shoppers would find appealing. Even before the Tata announcement was made, Xiaomi attracted customers to its Mi 4i. Xiaomi said in a statement Monday that over 225,000 India customers have registered to buy the Mi 4i. The device launched last week, but due to excessive demand for its products, Xiaomi often uses a registration model to provide customers products on a first-come, first-serve basis.