- today
On this week's Tech Today, we tell you about the mega hack that's taken the internet by storm. More than a billion passwords have been leaked online, and what you should do to protect your digital identity. We also review the Poco F7, the phone with the biggest battery. Also, a quick look at wet cleaning technology. This and a whole lot more tech on this week's show.
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00:00Imagine if you found out that your Netflix or your Gmail password has been leaked online and
00:19the list is available on the dark web for anyone to view. Sounds scary, right? But this could be
00:25a reality. We'll talk more about this on the show because it's an important topic. Plus, in the
00:30studio with me, I have the phone with the biggest battery till now. So big that it can even charge
00:38your laptop. Don't believe it? Neither did I, but it is true indeed. There is so much happening in the
00:45world of tech that it's getting tougher for me to even keep track, which is why I have compressed
00:49all of it, the best parts in this week's Tech Today. This is Cyrus and let's get this show
00:55on the road.
00:59I bet you've seen the movie Iron Man, right? Tony Stark flying around in an iron suit and
01:04sometimes the suit is flying by itself. Hold your horses because this is now a reality.
01:10Yes, flying robots are here, driverless cars are also here and we have officially entered
01:17the future, ladies and gentlemen. Check out more on this in this week's headlines.
01:25Google has rolled out its new AI-powered search mode in India through Search Labs. This upgrade
01:31makes search feel more like a conversation. You can ask questions using voice, text or even
01:37pictures and get smarter context-aware answers. It's powered by Google's Gemini AI and is only
01:45available in English for now. So, if you've ever wanted your Google search to think a little
01:50more like you, now's your chance.
01:56Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi service has finally gone live. Well, sort of. A limited fleet of self-driving
02:04Model Y cars has started picking up passengers in Austin, Texas. Rides cost $4.20 and include
02:12a human safety driver just in case. While some trips look promising, others show the tech still
02:19needs work. Think of it as Tesla's first big test drive towards a driverless future and the
02:25real roadshow has just begun.
02:32The US government has told its house staffers to delete WhatsApp from official devices by
02:37June 30. The concern? Security and privacy. Officials are worried about how data is handled
02:44even with WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption. Instead, staff is being told to stick to apps like Signal,
02:51iMessage or Microsoft Teams. WhatsApp's creator Meta isn't happy, but this move shows just how
02:59seriously governments are taking digital safety in today's AI-driven world.
03:08OpenAI's mystery hardware project being developed with legendary iPhone designer Johnny Ive is starting
03:15to take shape. Code filings now confirm it won't be a wearable device like earbuds or smart glasses.
03:20So, what is it? That's still under the wraps. The launch is, however, likely more than a year
03:26away, but speculation is flying. Whatever it is, OpenAI wants to reimagine how we interact
03:33with AI beyond just our phones and screens.
03:36Say hello to IronCub3, the world's first humanoid robot that can fly using jet engines. Developed by
03:48researchers in Italy, this little bot hovers off the ground using four mini jets, stabilised by AI and built
03:55with aerospace E-grade parts. It's small, about three feet tall, but this early flight demo is a giant leap for
04:03robotic rescue missions. Imagine bots flying into disaster zones one day, Iron Man may just become real after all.
04:21Okay, let me hit you with a scary, scary statement. 16 billion passwords leaked online. That's not a joke.
04:29It is true because a recent report talked about this mega data dump on the internet. And if you think that you don't use
04:37any shady websites or your passwords should be fine, a lot of people are thinking the same. But remember,
04:43you could also be a victim and it's important that we talk about this. We're talking about logins from Facebook, Apple, Google,
04:51Netflix, even some government website, by the way. And basically, if you've been online for the past 10 years,
04:58there's a good chance that your details are floating around on the dark web.
05:08This isn't a single company getting hacked. It's years of stolen data gathered by sneaky malware
05:14called InfoSteelers, all packed together and briefly posted online.
05:23Experts are calling it one of the biggest leaks in internet history.
05:29Here's the thing, passwords can be tricky, which means you need to be smart enough of how to
05:34execute your password. If you've been using passwords like 123456 or even your pet's name for
05:40your passwords, it's basically an invitation for anyone to basically come and rob you. While you
05:45might have added these simple passwords, there is no need to panic right now because unlike pineapple
05:50or pizza, this is fixable. So let me share with you some very useful tips of what you should do when
05:57you are choosing a password that will make it tougher for hackers to crack the same. First up,
06:03stop reusing passwords. If you're using the same password for your email, Netflix, Swiggy and even your
06:09bank account, please stop doing that today. Always ensure that your password has at least
06:1612 characters, could be a mix of capital symbols, numbers, maybe even a little chaos,
06:20something like tech today at 1.30 pm exclamation mark. This is strong and kind of relatable.
06:27The most important thing that you can do here is activate two-factor authentication and it is
06:33important. It's an extra layer of protection that you can have for your account. Now, like I said,
06:38this is an additional layer of security where you get an SMS code or an app where basically a login
06:45code comes to your phone and you can log into any platform. It's super efficient. So please activate
06:52two-factor authentication on your devices and I believe it's a safe way to use the internet.
06:58Now, I know what you are thinking. I have a universe of passwords. One password for Instagram,
07:03one for my crypto application, one for Gmail. Basically, how do I remember all of these complex
07:10passwords, right? Well, here's the thing. You do not have to remember all of them. Let your password
07:15manager do the heavy lifting for you. There are multiple platforms available online. Now, if
07:21Google is your dedicated platform, you can use Google password manager. It's built right into your
07:27Chrome browser and your Android phone. Every time you log in somewhere, it will ask to save the next
07:34time. Basically, it will also save their credentials, the password. Now, remember, this is synced to your
07:39Google account. So even if you switch phones or laptops, everything just travels with you and you can
07:46access these Google passwords from every device that you are using anywhere in the world. Now, talking about
07:52the other platform, the iOS, Apple platforms. Now, there is a password app, a dedicated password app,
07:58which was formerly known as Keychain. Now, this application also autofills passwords, suggests some
08:04very strong ones and even flags if a password of yours has been leaked or found in a data breach,
08:11which is something that is very useful. Also, there are free tools, by the way, like Bitwarden,
08:17NordPass, which can use, which, I mean, you can use, especially if you want something
08:21which is independent of all of the big tech. Okay, quick warning, while we have given you all of
08:26the information, remember, do not use your password manager in the office or shared computers. And I'll
08:34show you exactly why. Let's say you log into your personal Google account on your work laptop.
08:41If your IT guy or any of your colleague knows your system password, and they usually do, they can
08:47potentially access your passwords saved in Google password manager.
08:54Yup, even your bank logins, if you have asked Google to remember them. See how easily I can access
09:01all of these passwords. All right, for people who get bothered by long passwords, I have some very good
09:08news for you. We might be actually done with passwords entirely in the next few years because
09:15we are entering an era of passkeys and biometrics. With passkeys, basically, you don't need to type
09:21any characters, you don't need to remember long passwords. Your phone verifies your fingerprint or
09:26your face and logs you in securely to any of the platform that you want. So, basically, you will not
09:31have to remember these complex passwords and characters, which really is a good thing. Now, if you're
09:37already using iPhones or, you know, Apple gadgets, Face ID is important and even fingerprint scanners are
09:44available on your phone, right? Now, these are basically biometric logins and it's way harder for hackers
09:50to steal these when you compare it to text-based passwords. Now, Apple, Google, Microsoft, these biggies,
09:57they're all betting big on passkeys. Since people are changing all of these with cosmetics, try not
10:04to change because that could get you into trouble. All right, I have to ask you this question. What is
10:14the biggest battery phone you have heard of till now? 5,500 mAh, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000? Well, it's time to brush
10:21all of them aside because today on the show, I have the biggest battery phone in the Indian market,
10:27right now. And I'm not kidding, 7550 mAh battery inside this one and I can even power my laptop
10:35with this. I'm not kidding, I have done it. This is the POCO F7 here in India. It's priced under 30,000
10:42rupees and comes across as a solid deal. But what more is on offer? It's time for the Tech Today review
10:50of this big battery behemoth, the POCO F7.
11:03The POCO F7 sports a sleek design at 7.98 mm thick which is impressive for a phone with such a huge battery.
11:12There's glass protection at the back with this futuristic looking design.
11:19Looks nice, resists scratches, but attracts fingerprints and smudges. Plus, it's tough with
11:25up to IP69 rating means it can handle dust and even rainy days. But here's the catch. At 222 grams,
11:33this phone is heavy. If you're used to lighter phones, holding this might tire your hand.
11:44The 6.83 inch display looks good. The 120 Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smooth and 3200 nits peak
11:52brightness means it's clear even in bright sunlight. This is a good display for playing games, watching
11:59movies and a whole lot more. The POCO F7 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 which is an
12:12efficient chipset. In plain words, it's fast whether you're gaming, streaming or juggling applications.
12:19It also comes with vapor cooling to keep things smooth and cool even during intense sessions,
12:30especially in extreme weather conditions.
12:37You also get 12 GB of RAM and files load in a blink. But here's the downside. It runs HyperOS on Android
12:4515 and while it's feature packed with some extras for gaming, HyperOS can be a bit clunky.
12:54The interface isn't as intuitive as some competitors with too many pre-installed applications.
13:00It could be a learning curve for new users.
13:05On the plus side, you get 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, so it's built to last.
13:15The F7's camera setup includes a 50 megapixel dual rear camera.
13:26Samples are sharp, colorful photos in good light. Think of vibrant landscapes or group shots.
13:32The 20 megapixel front camera is solid for selfies and video calls. But let's be real. It's not
13:43competing with flagship cameras. In tricky lighting or complex scenes, details can get muddy and the dual
13:50camera setup lacks the versatility of phones. And the 8 megapixel ultra-wide lens isn't that good.
13:59For casual users, it's fine, but photography buffs might want more. Here are some samples we clicked with this.
14:16The 7550 mAh battery is the F7's superstar feature. It's a monster,
14:23lasting more than 2 days even with heavy use. Gaming, videos, you name it. With 90W fast charging,
14:31you're back to 100% in under an hour using the included charger. And 22.5W reverse charging lets you
14:38power up devices like earbuds and even a laptop. But that massive battery comes at a cost. It's partly
14:47why the phone is so heavy. If you're always on the go and need a phone that lasts, this is a dream.
14:54But the weight might bug you if you prefer something lighter.
14:58So is the POCO F7 worth it at under 30,000 rupees? It's kind of a mixed bag.
15:14On one hand, it's a powerhouse with a stunning display, blazing fast performance and a mammoth
15:197,550 mAh battery. I mean come on, it can actually charge a laptop.
15:31The IP69 rating and Gorilla Glass 7i add durability and long software support keeps it future ready.
15:38Compared to the Samsung Galaxy A36 and the Nothing 3A Pro, it offers a better battery,
15:44which can be a deciding factor. But the 222g weight can be a deal breaker for some.
15:51The camera is decent, but not exceptional.
15:55So if you want a budget-friendly phone with flagship-level battery life and solid performance,
16:00the POCO F7 is a good pick. It's ideal for students, gamers or anyone who hates charging daily.
16:14The next day that we are about to talk on the show about, it got me really curious about how people
16:22are going about cleaning their houses and it's interesting to explore more around it.
16:27So I went to the mall to check out a few vacuum cleaners, but to my surprise,
16:32I found something even more interesting. So, let's check that out.
16:44Whether it's robot vacuums or upright floor washers, wet cleaning is the modern method
16:53that doesn't just sweep up the dirt, it mops, scrubs and in some cases even sanitizes it.
17:08So what exactly is wet cleaning technology?
17:11In simple terms, it's when your cleaning gadgets use water or cleaning solutions along with suction,
17:17scrubbing or mopping to lift sticky grime, stains and fine dust off your floor.
17:29Unlike traditional dry vacuuming, which just sucks up loose debris,
17:33wet cleaning dissolves and wipes away the dirt that's stuck to the surface.
17:37And here's the cool part, many of today's wet cleaners come with smart sensors,
17:43self-cleaning rollers and even hot air drying, so your floor isn't just clean,
17:49it's dry and safe to walk on right after.
17:53In fact, many robot vacuum cleaners in the Indian market right now come with wet mopping modules,
18:07like the Dyson Wash G1 here. It even spreads the water on the microfiber on the base to clean the
18:14entire surface area and the best part is that the draining and cleaning of this setup is very easy.
18:25All right, I understand that people might be confused between the two
18:29methods of cleaning dry and wet, so let me just try to break it down for you.
18:33Dry methods of cleaning might be good against dust or hair but when it comes to wet cleaning,
18:38it can be very different because we need technology like this which can basically compartmentalize
18:43the clean water from the dirty water and this is where wet technology comes into play.
18:48These would be great against ketchup, coffee stains and basically you know,
18:52things that are difficult to clean. Now what's happening here is the convenience that you're
18:57getting, you're saving up on time, your cleaning method is much more efficient and the best part is
19:02that the water that you're using is not spreading across the house because most of the times what
19:08happens is you use the same water and it kind of makes the entire house dirty. That's not the problem
19:13with this technology.
19:28Brands like Eureka Forbes and Philips offer products in the wet and dry segment
19:32which starts from around 8,000 rupees and go up to 40,000 rupees depending on features like hot water
19:38cleaning and self drying brushes. Then there are robot vacuum mop combos. These are your smart home
19:50gadgets that can map your home, schedule cleanings and clean different rooms differently.
19:55These typically range between 20,000 and 1.25 lakh with brands like Dyson, Xiaomi, Dream, Roborock and iRobot leading the pack.
20:11I think you've got to think about your home everyone has versatile needs so think about the how many
20:18what floor coverage you have. So this machine is designed to cover 290 square meters. So is that going
20:25to be enough for your home or do you want to use a machine that's got a vacuum cleaner with a wet cleaning attachment?
20:33But here's the bottom line. Wet cleaning technology is not just a luxury anymore. It's quickly becoming a necessity with rising pollution and dust at home, deep cleaning needs to go beyond dry dusting because today hygiene should be non-negotiable.
20:45So if you're looking to upgrade your overall cleaning experience, save time and also a little
21:15effort. I think this is one thing that you should definitely consider getting your home because I think this is the future of cleaning and it's something that everybody in India should definitely try.
21:32Now this segment is quintessential especially when people are consuming so much of content online and especially when AI generated content is being propagated on social media.
21:42And it's very important for you to judge what is real and what is not which is why in this segment we will show you a couple of videos which by the way are AI generated but how can you
21:54basically take the fake out from the real now if you watch this particular video here as you can see the traffic yes while it looks natural but this is a conflict zone traffic like that the movement is very unnatural and you need
22:07you need to spot all of this when you need to spot all of this when you are watching videos online because cars if you look carefully appear out of thin air and that is not natural and these are some of the cues that you need to be careful about when you
22:19are watching videos online. If you can just like go to the next video again this is an AI generated video a rocket basically falling on a building now the movement of the rocket like you've seen in the reality
22:33it's not very natural and the way it impacts the building the explosion the way it happens all of it looks very uncanny it is not the way the natural explosions happen but the biggest chew that gives it away is the VO logo at the bottom right corner or anywhere in the video this watermark is by the way by the company
22:51which basically tells you which basically tells you that this is an AI generated video so again moving to more examples of what you can see online and many of these videos have been cropping up on social media
23:02it's not easy to tell but again this is also an AI generated video lightning from a bomb explosion this is an anomaly that you usually see during volcanic explosions or volcanic eruptions but this is basically a bomb exploding and lightning falling this is AI generated
23:20this is not even an outline of any Israeli city and that is something that has been confirmed via an original TikTok video screenshot which we have seen on social media
23:31so yes these little cues when you watch content online be careful about these because most of them can be AI generated and we are not done here there are more videos and this one really just blew me away
23:43because the way it showed how reality can be confusing with you know what's AI generated it was a bit confusing for me because this was a missile launcher by the way which kind of comes across as very liable but if you see the flag moving inside a tunnel it's very unnatural it doesn't happen like that and also the man standing behind the vehicle the motion of that person is also not very natural and also the VO logo all of this just give it away that this is an AI generated video but
24:12kudos to how AI is really creating these videos and making them look so real and finally we would move to this airport bombing video again the logos on the plane there is no authentication around this and these are some of the subtle cues that you need to be careful about when you are consuming viral content online because the purpose of these videos is to go viral people should be spreading these and creating a kind of mass hysteria and that's not something that you would want to have a
24:42do or be a part of so be very careful when you are consuming videos online look for these cues and please use AI responsibly because the future as you can see is scary
24:54I understand that this episode of Tech Today might be scary for a lot of the viewers with passwords leaking AI getting closer to reality but this is how technology is progressing
25:08it's evolving but the good thing is the tools are with you you can also evolve with technology and try not to get left behind
25:17we also saw the POCO F7 the big battery phone and if you are looking for battery as a priority you should definitely consider this one
25:24that's it for this week's show please do send in your suggestions and feedback and we'll try to incorporate them on the show
25:31that's it for this one this is Cyrus signing off on Tech Today I'll be back next week with a brand new episode
25:37till then take care
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