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In this episode of Tech Today, we dive deep into the biggest stories that are shaping the future of technology, from the new space race to the latest consumer hardware! BIG TECH STORY: The Artemis II Deep Dive We go behind the scenes of the successful moon mission to explore the massive tech upgrade since Apollo. Discover the secrets of the new "Glass Cockpit," the world's first Deep Space Laser Internet (260 Mbps), AI-driven Optical Navigation, and the surprising role of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in space. Plus, how all this influences India’s Gaganyaan mission. TECH REVIEW: OnePlus Nord 6: Is this a mid-range phone or a cheat code? We review the Nord 6 with its 9000mAh power-bank battery, 165Hz display, and Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset. Does it blur the line between flagship and budget? TECH & YOU: Smart Toothbrush: Are electric toothbrushes worth the ₹10,000+ price tag? We test the Oral-B iO Series 9 to see how features like the real-time pressure sensor and AI-powered 3D tracking can teach you to brush better, backed by science. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more tech deep dives!
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00:13Tech Today is headed to the Moon this week.
00:16I mean, not physically, but exploring the tech that drives space exploration.
00:22Now, with the success of the Artemis II Moon mission,
00:25I'm sure you're curious about the tech that drove all of it.
00:29How much has the technology evolved since we last went to the moon,
00:34and where exactly are we headed?
00:36That's our big tech story for this week, so stay tuned.
00:40Plus, we have a power bank that's also a smartphone.
00:44Why am I saying this?
00:45Because this one is the Nord 6 that has a 9000mAh battery inside of it.
00:50But what's more on offer beyond just battery juice?
00:53We'll try to figure that out.
00:55And the most important question, by the way, are electric toothbrushes.
00:59Any good?
01:00Because we have one with us in the studio,
01:03and we'll try to make sense whether it's really good to buy one or not.
01:09Lots to unpack on Tech Today this week.
01:11I'm Cyrus, and let's start with the top tech headlines of the week.
01:19Anthropik has unveiled its most dangerous AI yet, Claude Mythos.
01:24The new model is the company's most advanced one yet, surpassing the older Claude Opus 4.6 model,
01:30as well as rival models like Gemini 3.1 on various benchmarks.
01:35To prevent misuse, Anthropik is withholding a public launch and instead giving access to a group of major tech companies,
01:43which includes Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
01:46The group will use Mythos to fix critical infrastructure gaps before hackers can exploit them.
01:56Paytm is rolling out a new way to get cash without ever touching your wallet.
02:01The company has launched cardless ATM withdrawals across India,
02:05allowing users to scan a QR code on an ATM screen with their Paytm app to get cash.
02:11Alongside this, the app now supports biometric UPI payments, allowing users to skip the PIN for transaction under Rs. 5000.
02:20The update follows RBI's new security guidelines, which took effect this month.
02:29WhatsApp has finally launched a new native CarPlay interface, moving beyond simple Siri voice commands.
02:35The updated dashboard now features dedicated tabs for recent chats, call history, and favorite contacts.
02:43Drivers can now view missed calls and unread message notifications directly on their car screens without picking up their phone.
02:50The feature is part of the latest iOS update and aims to reduce driver distraction through better visual integration.
03:01Meta is re-entering the AI arms race with MuSpark, its most powerful model to date.
03:07Designed by the new Meta Super Intelligence Lab,
03:10MuSpark is built for deep reasoning and multi-modal perception,
03:14meaning it can see and analyze the world through a camera.
03:18Unlike previous Lama models, this one is proprietary and will not be open source.
03:23It's currently being integrated into Instagram and WhatsApp to power advanced shopping and health advice features.
03:34And a hacker group known as Flaming China claims to have pulled off one of the largest data thefts in
03:40history.
03:41The group says it breached the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin,
03:45siphoning off 10 petabytes of sensitive research and military data.
03:50The stolen data allegedly includes classified simulations for aerospace and defense projects.
03:55While the hackers are already attempting to sell samples on Telegram for cryptocurrency,
04:01Beijing has yet to issue a formal response.
04:12If I told you that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has 100,000 times more memory than the computer that
04:19first put a man on the moon,
04:22you'd probably believe me.
04:24But what if I told you that for the first time in history, NASA has actually certified a smartphone that
04:31we use as a consumer device, by the way,
04:34has been used on the Artemis to help document a moon mission on the lunar far side.
04:40Now, in this big tech story, we are talking about a massive hardware and software upgrade,
04:47which took more than 50 years in the making, from touch screen cockpits to AI-driven navigation,
04:53and the first deep space laser internet.
04:56This is the big tech that powered the Artemis to Moon mission,
05:00and we are giving you the other side of this extravaganza, the tech that delivered it all.
05:10Here is the most viral image from the mission so far, and it is shot on an iPhone 17 Pro
05:16Max.
05:20For Artemis II, NASA broke a 50-year-old rule, allowing each of the four astronauts to carry a personal
05:27iPhone.
05:28But it wasn't as simple as packing a phone.
05:31To get past NASA's safety board, these devices underwent a four-phase hazard analysis.
05:38Engineers had to account for the shatter risk of the glass in microgravity.
05:43The solution? Ceramic Shield II and custom-made flight suit pockets.
05:48While the phones are in airplane mode to prevent signal interference,
05:52they are acting as the crew's primary personal documentation tools.
05:57It's a massive validation of consumer-grade hardware.
06:01The same sensors you use for TikTok are now capturing 4K HDR footage of the lunar surface.
06:09Also to understand how far we have come, look at the brain of the ship.
06:15Back in the 60s, the Apollo guidance computer had 4KB of RAM.
06:19That's not enough to load a single low-res emoji today.
06:24Orion, by contrast, runs on dual redundant flight computers with 128,000 times the memory and 20,000 times the
06:33speed.
06:34But the real flex is the cockpit.
06:37The Apollo cockpit was a nightmare of nearly 6,000 physical switches and circuit breakers.
06:43If one flipped, the mission could end.
06:49In comparison to that, the Orion cockpit is a glass cockpit.
06:53It uses three large displays and a streamlined set of physical switches.
07:01Most of the heavy lifting is done through advanced avionics and fly-by-wire controls.
07:07Just like a modern fighter jet, the pilot's inputs are processed by a computer first, ensuring the ship stays within
07:14safe structural limits, regardless of how hard the stick is pulled.
07:18And while the Apollo computers were built to be physically indestructible, Orion's deck is built to be mathematically indestructible.
07:28It uses triple modular redundancy, where three computers vote on every single command.
07:35If cosmic radiation causes a glitch in one, the other two instantly override it.
07:41It's a self-healing brain for deep space.
07:45But it's one thing to build a rocket that can reach the moon.
07:49It's another to keep four people safe and connected when they are further away than anyone has been in history.
07:57You'd think the signal would be grainy and delayed, right?
08:00Well, thanks to some bright new ideas, we are seeing the moon in better resolution than we see some of
08:07the other things on Earth.
08:08Let's look at the MVP technologies that are the real game-changers for this mission.
08:16First up is the optical navigation, OPNAV.
08:20In the 70s, astronauts used a sextant to look at stars.
08:25Today, Orion uses machine vision.
08:30Advanced cameras snap photos of the Earth and the moon,
08:34and an onboard AI algorithm instantly calculates the ship's position and velocity.
08:39It's an autonomous backup that works even if NASA's ground tracking goes dark.
08:46Then there is the O2O laser communication system.
08:49Meaning the mission is testing Orion optical communications.
08:56Using infrared lasers, it's beaming data at 260 Mbps.
09:02We are literally watching 4K live streams from 250,000 miles away.
09:08It's the transition we are witnessing from space dial-up to space fiber.
09:16However, none of this matters without the air that listens.
09:20While the lasers are the flashy tech, the backbone is the Deep Space Network 2.0.
09:29This is a global array of massive 70-meter antennas that have been overhauled with cryogenically cold amplifiers.
09:38By trailing the hardware to nearly absolute zero, NASA eliminates electronic noise,
09:43allowing them to hear Orion's signal even when it's whisper quiet.
09:48It's the difference between trying to hear a friend in a crowded stadium versus a soundproof room.
09:59This isn't just a radio.
10:01It's the most sensitive scientific instrument on the planet, ensuring the crew is never truly alone.
10:09But the real software flex is Callisto.
10:13For the first time, NASA is using a modified version of Amazon's Alexa and Cisco's WebEx on iPads.
10:21Imagine being 250,000 miles away and asking a voice assistant to check your oxygen levels while you are busy
10:28with a manual repair.
10:30Alexa, can we go to space?
10:33This isn't just for comfort.
10:35It's about reducing the cognitive load on the crew.
10:38It's the transition from a pilot-only cockpit to a smart home cockpit.
10:45All this tech is for the world to witness and as an Artemis Accord signatory,
10:51India is watching these systems closely because our own Gaganyan mission in 2027
10:56will utilize similar fly-by-wire and autonomous emergency systems.
11:06When the crew splashed down this Friday, they literally stepped out of one of the most digitally advanced vehicles ever
11:12built
11:13that went the farthest humans have ever been.
11:16Now, the Artemis II has proven that the Moon is no longer a distant dream.
11:20It's more like a neighborhood we've finally figured out how to visit safely.
11:24Now, the future is looking bright and for the first time, it's powered by the most advanced technologies there ever
11:31have been.
11:32And it fascinates me to think that soon we'll be online with the Moon and we're seeing all of this
11:37happen.
11:38You are a lucky generation to witness this and I hope you stick around for maybe us to colonize the
11:44Moon someday.
11:46Okay, that's a joke.
11:47Okay, right now it's enough of space talk.
11:50I want you to come back to Earth and let's talk about another marvel of engineering.
11:55And this tech is also something that's very interesting.
11:58It won't go to the Moon, but it's definitely fun.
12:13Get this, a flagship grade processor, 9000mAh battery inside of this and a 165Hz display, which you today get on
12:22gaming monitors.
12:23Because when a mid-range smartphone starts giving this much, especially in this kind of price range, you have to
12:29ask yourself, is there a catch over here?
12:32And is this one of those cases where the spec sheet kind of feels more than the real experience?
12:37Let's find out.
12:42The build feels solid, slightly on the heavier side at around 217g and that's not surprising once you know what's
12:50inside of this phone.
12:53The frame feels sturdy thanks to the aluminium frame and there is a certain reassurance in the hand, like this
12:58is a phone that's built to last.
13:01And durability is actually a big focus over here.
13:06You're getting multiple higher IP ratings including IP66, 68 and even 69, which basically means that this phone is ready
13:13for dust, water and everything that you have to throw at it, even in high pressure conditions.
13:23Now move to the front of the phone, you're greeted by a beautiful 1.5K AMOLED display and that too
13:30topped up with a 165Hz refresh rate, which is absolute flagship level.
13:35The display is sharp, vibrant, gets extremely bright, up to 1800 nits in high brightness mode and even higher in
13:42HDR scenarios.
13:46There is also support for 10-bit color, HDR playback, so content consumption is a strong point on this phone.
13:53And OnePlus has added practical touches too, like improved touch response even with wet fingers and something that actually matters
14:01in daily use.
14:03And for the Nord series, to add a flagship display to this smartphone really speaks volumes about the kind of
14:09functionality and features that OnePlus is trying to give in this segment.
14:13So, you're getting a flagship display on a mid-range phone, that matters.
14:20Now let's talk about the performance, which I feel is the headline feature of this smartphone.
14:29Because this phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen4 chip, a borderline flagship grade processor.
14:36Now you pair that up with 12GB of DDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage and on paper this thing
14:43is seriously fast.
14:45And I felt that too when I was using the smartphone.
14:48But where it gets a little more interesting is the 165fps gaming supported on titles, specific titles and it is
14:58true.
15:03I played heavy graphic titles like COD Mobile and BJMI on ultra high graphics and they ran smoothly for hours.
15:15There is also a large cooling system inside the phone, a dedicated touch response chip and gaming focused enhancements, which
15:22mean that this is a serious phone for gamers.
15:26And look at some of these benchmarks, almost touching the scores that top flagships are able to deliver today.
15:33And in today's day and age, when people are doing so much on their phones, even working AI, you need
15:39performance levels like these.
15:45In terms of usage and experience, I loved Oxygen OS and don't really find any problems navigating this phone.
15:54It's been garnished with a few AI features that make the experience better, but nothing out of the ordinary.
16:00Which is fine I feel, it's at least acing all of the basics, which should be your top priority when
16:06you're buying a phone.
16:06It runs on Oxygen OS 16 based on Android 16 and OnePlus is promising four years of OS updates and
16:13six years of security updates, which is great for long term value.
16:17There is also deeper integration with AI tools, including more personalized assistant experience, which is something we're seeing across smartphones
16:24in 2026.
16:28So overall a fantastic performance phone, yes, it's clean, it's fluid, got a little bit of AI features.
16:34But if you're looking for a clean experience, even if it's not pure Android, this is one of the best
16:40skins that you can get out there.
16:43Now, camera is one department where OnePlus has gone with a more balanced approach.
16:49And I'll tell you why.
16:53First up, you get a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS paired with an 8 megapixel ultrawide sensor and also
17:00a 32 megapixel front camera.
17:03I played around with the camera a little bit and it left me pleasantly surprised.
17:07Colors are natural with improved clarity and consistency over the Nord 5 and it manages well especially in tricky scenarios
17:14like low light shots.
17:16There are also AI powered editing tools built in so things like fixing photos, enhancing details or cleaning up shots
17:23become much easier.
17:25I did notice that the shots from the ultrawide tend to be slightly cooler but that's not a deal breaker
17:30as the clarity is good.
17:35Portraits come out well and even selfies have a very natural tone to them.
17:41You get up to 4K recording at 30fps on the selfie camera which makes this setup better than the competition
17:47in this segment.
17:48And the quality is also good for vlogs and social content.
17:53So overall, this camera system is decent if you compare it with the competition right now in the market and
17:58OnePlus is saying that we might not be able to give you exemplary camera but if you want to get
18:03your social media content out, then this camera system is pretty decent.
18:11Now let's come to the feature which almost sounds like a joke on this phone.
18:17A 9000mAh battery.
18:22Yes, you heard that right. 9000.
18:25That's almost power bank territory and OnePlus claims that you get up to 2.5 days of usage on a
18:31single charge.
18:35And that's true because when I was using it with average daily use, obviously, I was able to get up
18:40to 3 days and on 9000mAh, I just wait for the phone to die of battery juice.
18:46And even if you want to charge quickly, there's 80W of charging, wired charging that's been given on the smartphone
18:53that can get you from 0 to 100 in almost 90, just a slight over 90 minutes, which I feel
18:58is fine considering you're getting almost 3 days of backup with this one.
19:03And you also get features like bypass charging which helps during gaming sessions and also comes with reverse charging so
19:10you can also charge other smartphones, just plug the USB and attach other phones, it will just work.
19:19So to wrap it up, I feel battery is one of the biggest reasons you should be considering the OnePlus
19:24Nord 6 because 9000mAh in this slim form factor, I think it's a marvel of engineering and you will never
19:31have battery problems when you consider smartphones if you're getting this one.
19:38So, verdict time, is the OnePlus Nord 6 really worth it because I feel that this smartphone is blurring lines
19:45between what a flagship should be and what a mid-ranger should be.
19:49And the only deal breaker I feel that could be for many people is the pricing because at almost 39
19:55,000 rupees, it is a little steep compared to the last edition Nord 5 which was launched at around 32
20:02,000 rupees for the 250GB,
20:04variant and if you're increasing 7,000 rupees for a phone in 2026 when obviously the market is a little
20:11price conscious, that could decide whether one would go for this phone or not.
20:19And especially at a time when there are other products in the market like the Nothing 4A Pro and also
20:25the IQ 10R.
20:26So, you really need to think and understand whether spending extra 10,000 or maybe 7,000 rupees is really
20:35justifying what you're getting with the Nord 6.
20:38Now, of course, the real test really matters when you're handling the phone on a daily basis but if you're
20:43looking for a long-term solution and if you don't want to change your phone in maybe four to five
20:47years,
20:48then the Nord 6 is something that you can worth considering and also then you would have that thought that
20:53maybe that extra 7,000 doesn't matter a lot especially for a phone that's giving me such great durability.
21:17This is a regular toothbrush and this is a toothbrush that comes with a motor, a display and a battery
21:24inside of it.
21:30Now, dental studies worldwide suggest that most people either don't brush long enough, miss key areas or apply too much
21:38pressure.
21:39And that's where the debate really begins, which is better, manual or electric?
21:46Now, this isn't just a marketing war between toothbrush companies, there's actual science behind why electric toothbrush are better.
21:58One of the most credible reviews comes from the Cochrane collaboration which analyzed over 50 studies and found that electric
22:07toothbrushes reduce plaque and gingivitis more effectively than manual ones.
22:13We're talking about measurable improvements, around 11% reduction in plaque in short term and even higher over time.
22:23Similarly, bodies like the American Dental Association have acknowledged that powered toothbrushes can be beneficial especially for people who struggle
22:31with brushing technique.
22:34So yes, evidence does say that electric toothbrushes do have benefits but I don't feel that it's the knockout punch
22:42because there are also studies that say that technique is also crucial if you want to get results.
22:52A well used manual toothbrush can perform just as well as an electric one and a badly used electric toothbrush
22:59can still be bad.
23:01And that's exactly where the discussion brings us to this new gadget which is the Oral-B IO Series 9
23:08which kind of makes us understand the difference between knowing how to brush and then doing it right.
23:18One of the biggest problems dentists point out is brushing too hard.
23:22It sounds counterintuitive but more pressure doesn't mean cleaner teeth.
23:26It actually damages your gums over time.
23:29That's why the IO Series 9 tackles this with a real pressure sensor that literally tells you when you're pressing
23:36too hard, too soft or just right.
23:40It uses a color coded system red, white and green so even if you're half asleep in the morning, you
23:46know instantly if you're doing damage instead of good.
23:51Then there's the issue of time. Most people don't brush for the recommended two minutes and even if they do,
23:58they don't divide it properly across all areas of the mouth.
24:06This brush has a built-in timer and nudges you every 30 seconds to switch zones, essentially training you to
24:13brush like a dentist would recommend.
24:15It's a small feature but one that directly addresses one of the biggest real-world problems.
24:22And this is where things get really interesting because the IO Series 9 recommends oscillating rotations with micro vibrations.
24:31Which is a technology that's been clinically associated with better plaque removal, especially near the gum line.
24:41And remember the Cochrane review that we talked about? It specifically found that the rotating oscillating brushes tend to perform
24:48better than the standard manual brushing in multiple studies.
24:51So this isn't just a fancy motor. It's backed by the same mechanism that research suggests it's effective.
25:03But Oral-B doesn't stop at mechanics. The brush comes with AI-powered tracking through its app, which maps your
25:10mouth in 3D and tells you which areas you're missing.
25:13Now you might think that is overkill, but think about it. If your brush is telling you the exact areas
25:19that you need to brush constantly, it can give you an understanding of where you are missing out and it
25:25can help you in the long run.
25:28There are also multiple brushing modes, like daily clean, sensitive, gum care, intense clean, each designed for different needs.
25:36For someone with gum sensitivity, that matters. And for someone dealing with plaque build-up, that matters too.
25:45It's personalization, but in a space where we usually just wing it every morning.
25:50And then there is the display. It shows modes like feedback and even a smiley face when you've done it.
25:57You've brushed well, which I feel is just cute.
26:00I know it sounds a little gimmicky, but like psychologically, it just reinforces this whole habit of you brushing well
26:06every day.
26:07I mean, I like it.
26:09Because when you step back, this isn't just about whether electric toothbrushes are better.
26:14The real question is, can they help you brush better?
26:17And the answer is, according to both research and real world use, yes, they can.
26:25There are various use of electronic brushes, most commonly used for the vibration of the teeth or the cleaning of
26:31the teeth.
26:32It acts on a sonic waves. So, it cleans the teeth naturally without causing enamel damage.
26:39The next thing, it will not damage the gum tissue.
26:41Nowadays, we have a good effect of the powered brush on the medically compromised patients and the children.
26:49So, the Series 9, it guides your pressure, tracks brushing time and improves consistency.
26:56And those are exactly the areas where most of us fail in the short run.
27:03But let's be very clear, buying an electric toothbrush with all of the gizmos and gadgets and sensors doesn't guarantee
27:09you gum health.
27:11Because in the end, it's more about technique and consistency.
27:15And if you get a normal toothbrush, but your technique is pristine, then your gum health will be good.
27:21However, with an electric toothbrush, you're getting that coaching, that assistance.
27:26And for someone who is just lazy or maybe not aware, all of this can really help.
27:34And maybe that's the real upgrade people require here.
27:38Not just from manual to electric, but from brushing blindly to brushing smartly.
27:49These are exciting times for technology.
27:53I can assure you that things will keep getting more thrilling from here on.
27:57Next week, we're going to take a look at attack drones made in India.
28:02And this tech is beating global giants when it comes to efficiency and cost.
28:08So, stay tuned for that because that is going to be big.
28:12That's it for this episode of the Tech Today Show.
28:14I'll be back next week with more excitement, more tech.
28:17This is Osiris, signing off.
28:18Take care.
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