- 27 minutes ago
We're Renting Everything | Testing Samsung Smartwatches & Modular Home Theatre | Tech Today
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:13The more technology you buy today, the less you own it, and I have a theory when I say this.
00:19How this ownership of tech services is evolving and how you're being roped into buying subscriptions
00:26to just keep things running is something that we'll talk about on the show because that is our big tech
00:32story.
00:33Also, what if your home theater didn't have to be a permanent installation?
00:38Not a lot of wires you have around your house, but they offer you a home theater experience.
00:43And we look at how modular speakers can work with surround sound systems
00:49and give you a separate speaker experience as well.
00:52And finally, we test Samsung's premium smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Watch 9
00:58to see what they are getting you and what are you really spending on if you're buying this smartwatch.
01:05All of this on this week's Tech Today.
01:07I'm Cyrus, your host, and let's kick things off with the top tech headlines of the week.
01:16Apple has officially launched Apple Pay in India, allowing iPhone and Apple Watch users to make secure contactless tap-to
01:24-pay purchases.
01:25At launch, the service supports eligible Visa and MasterCard credit cards issued by Access Bank, with more banking partners set
01:33to follow.
01:33Users can now authenticate in-store terminal payments using Face ID and checkout across popular platforms, including Zomato and Blinkit.
01:47OpenAI has officially introduced DOTS, a new lineup of always-on personal AI agents designed to handle ongoing daily tasks
01:56with minimal supervision.
01:57Powered by the new GPT-6 Astra model, these agents run on their own cloud computers to schedule meetings, write
02:05code, and update projects across connected apps like Slack and Teams.
02:10OpenAI says users can set strict permission rules that require manual approval for sensitive actions like changing passwords or deleting
02:19data.
02:24UK-based brand Nothing has launched its first Headphone One Pro, introducing an advanced three-driver sound system developed with
02:33London's Metropolis Studio.
02:35Built with lightweight titanium arms and scratch-resistant glass scops, the over-the-ear cans feature upgraded adaptive active noise
02:43cancellation and tactile control dials.
02:45The premium headset delivers up to 68 hours of battery life and supports high-res, lossless playback over USB-C.
03:00Alright, I'm making a prediction on the Tech Today Show.
03:04By 2036, you will not own a single piece of tech completely and will either be renting it or be
03:12subscribed to a service.
03:13But you will not own it.
03:16Think about the way we have traditionally bought things till now.
03:20Be it cash or EMI, once you buy it, you are the owner.
03:24And I'm even talking about software we used to pay for like those Windows XP or Photoshop CDs because I
03:30still have them.
03:31But the idea is being challenged by the new generation of connected products now.
03:37Today, if you buy an EV, a smart TV or even a smartphone, the hardware may be completely yours.
03:44But some of the functions still depend on the software or some sort of a monthly payment that you have
03:50to keep paying.
03:51Think about how many of you have been forced to upgrade your devices just because the software support doesn't, you
03:58know, come to your new devices.
03:59Or how many of us have paid for an OTT subscription and still have to watch advertisements and we don't
04:06even own the content.
04:09Everything tech you use today has some sort of a subscription and you're not owning it basically.
04:15That's what I wanted to talk about on this week's episode because that's our big tech story.
04:20The shift started with things we consumed.
04:24Let's start with music.
04:25We went from cassettes and CDs to downloads and then to streaming.
04:30Today, you can pay Spotify or Apple Music every month to get millions of songs,
04:35but you don't actually own those songs as you did with physical tapes.
04:40And then movies.
04:42Once you bought a DVD, the movie stayed on your shelf.
04:45Now you subscribe to Netflix, Prime Video or another streaming service.
04:50A film can be available today, disappear tomorrow and your subscription simply gives you access while it's there.
04:58Even the offline downloads don't stay forever.
05:01Gaming has also changed.
05:03Instead of buying every game on a disc, you can now download it through a digital store,
05:08subscribe to services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass and build a library around your account.
05:14And Sony is even considering discontinuing physical discs altogether.
05:19Things we once bought as a one-time license are today either a monthly or annual subscription.
05:26And now we are taking the same idea into physical products.
05:30Look at your smartphone as an example.
05:32Your experience depends on software updates, apps, cloud services and the manufacturer's ecosystem.
05:38Your TV can come with connected services.
05:42Your smart appliances can depend on an app or cloud account.
05:46And an AC, air purifier or water purifier can use software to recognize parts or manage servicing.
05:54There is some sort of expense around the corner every time.
05:57Think about the electric vehicles, the cars that you own right now.
06:02You buy the vehicle outright while all of the connectivity, the navigation or the remote functions or additional features
06:09can be tied to software packages and recurring services.
06:12They are now even offering battery as a service.
06:16So the journey is slowly transitioning from ownership to semi-ownership.
06:21Buy the hardware and get the services and software as subscriptions.
06:26And why are companies moving in this direction in the first place?
06:30It's all about money.
06:33The simplest answer is, a product sale happens once.
06:38A subscription can keep earning for years.
06:42Adobe moved from one-time licenses to creative cloud subscriptions, building a recurring revenue stream.
06:48Gaming did the same, with Sony's PlayStation Network keeping players playing and locked into its ecosystem for the online multiplayer
06:56experience.
06:57Now, hardware brands are using the exact same playbook.
07:01Tesla and Mercedes charged subscriptions to unlock faster performance and autonomous driving,
07:08while BMW tested monthly fees just to turn on heated seats.
07:12Buy a ring or nest doorbell and you have to pay a recurring fee to save your own footage.
07:18Wearables like the Aura ring lock health metrics behind a paywall
07:22and HP can remotely disable your printer ink the second your subscription lapses.
07:28It turns your gadgets into a running tab.
07:31A monthly fee or remote features or a one-time charge to unlock extra speed and small perks.
07:38Worse, the product is constantly taking notes.
07:42Modern smart TVs track your screen habits to sell advertisements.
07:46Electric scooters can track your daily commute, battery health and cabin temperature.
07:51Using your own data to decide which upgrades to push to your dashboard.
07:55As the auto industry turns cars into computers on wheels, the business model has flipped.
08:00Why sell a machine once when you can charge rent on it every single month?
08:06Now, from a company's point of view, all of this makes perfect sense.
08:11They've built the product already or the service and they want to keep you hooked to their product.
08:16But what if you want to use the product for longer than the promised software update?
08:22What if you want to replace parts or get repairs done maybe from third parties?
08:27These companies persist you to stick with their ecosystem only.
08:31And if you can see this, there is no going back.
08:35The harsh reality is classic one-time ownership isn't coming back.
08:40Economics no longer works for hardware makers.
08:43Maintaining secure cloud servers, ongoing firmware patches and AI pipelines cost money every single month.
08:51If a company sells you a box once and walks away, supporting it for 10 years becomes a financial liability.
08:58So if not the subscription, then what is the alternative?
09:04Your attention and your data.
09:07Instead of monthly fees, hardware is increasingly subsidized by advertising.
09:13Look at smart TVs from Roku, Fire TV or companies like Tele giving away hardware or selling it at razor
09:20-thin margins
09:20because the real profits come from selling unskippable home screen ads and tracking your viewing habits.
09:29So instead of cash, you pay in continuous surveillance.
09:33And when hardware brands failed to turn customers into recurring revenue streams, the end is brutal.
09:40Look at what happened to Insteon in 2022.
09:44The company abruptly ran out of money and killed its own cloud servers overnight.
09:49Thousands of smart homes across the world instantly went dark and bricked.
09:54When premium e-bike maker Vanmoof collapsed under warranty and software overheads,
10:00riders literally risked losing the digital keys to unlock their own bikes.
10:05Even Google famously bought and killed off the Revolve smart hub, turning a $300 purchase into an instant paperweight
10:14because keeping the back-end alive didn't fit their bottom line.
10:18That is the hidden trap of modern connected gadgets.
10:22You are buying an expensive terminal that only exists as long as someone else's server stays profitable.
10:28So where does all of that really leave us?
10:32How do you boycott subscriptions when literally every single piece of tech is playing the exact same game over here?
10:40The truth is, traditional ownership is gone.
10:44Whether it's your smartphone, your TV or even the car that is parked downstairs,
10:48we aren't really buying anything anymore.
10:51We're just paying the rent to keep them working.
10:54The real problem is not with the subscription model over here.
10:59It's about who's keeping these companies in check.
11:02Now, when a brand can randomly jack up monthly prices,
11:06lock your car's speed or remotely brick a device in your living room just because they felt like it,
11:12that's not innovation.
11:14That's an unchecked monopoly, I feel.
11:16And that's why this cannot just be left to the consumers anymore.
11:21Just like electricity or mobile networks, the government now has to step in and put real caps on these software
11:29paywalls.
11:29Because if a company can hold that hardware you already paid for as hostage,
11:35who will make sure that everyday tech doesn't become something you're simply priced out of tomorrow?
11:47Remember the older home theater systems we used to have?
11:50There used to be so many speakers around.
11:52There used to be a receiver, a subwoofer, all of the setup.
11:55And the most inconvenient part of that was there were so many wires all around the house.
12:01Now, it's 2026.
12:03Imagine, wireless experience, you can take one of the speakers to another room and have a different music listening experience
12:08all over.
12:09That's exactly what we are trying to show you on the Tech Today show this week.
12:13Customizable home theater systems that's a better solution and offers great audio experience.
12:18Let's check it out.
12:23The Sonos Arc Ultra is the centerpiece over here.
12:26At almost 1 lakh rupees, this is very much a premium sound bar, but it is also subtle.
12:32The curved design is sleek, the finish is understated and the touch controls on top are muted enough that the
12:38sound bar doesn't become the visual center of your living room.
12:40There is also a small LED indicator, but thankfully it's not in your face.
12:44And connecting the Arc Ultra to the TV is not a cumbersome process at all.
12:48You just need to download the app, connect your TV through a wire and then automatically, one step after the
12:55other, you just have to follow the process and the connection happens seamlessly.
12:59You can even control your TV and some of the settings using the app itself.
13:06The Arc Ultra uses Sonos sound motion technology and has 14 drivers, including upward firing speakers.
13:12It supports Dolby Atmos and can create a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with compatible content.
13:19And all that combined makes the sound pretty impressive.
13:23The dialogue is clear, the sound stage feels considerably wider than what you get from most TVs.
13:28And when you switch to a movie or a good Atmos mix, there is a noticeable sense of sound coming
13:34from around and above you.
13:36And in my setup, I also added the Sonos Sub 4.
13:40That changes the character of the system quite dramatically.
13:44Explosions have more weight, music gets a deeper low end and the entire system feels fuller.
13:49The Arc Ultra is already capable of producing surprisingly good bass for a sound bar, but the Sub 4 takes
13:56the experience a step further.
13:59But where this setup gets really interesting is the addition of the play speakers.
14:04Now imagine these are two portable speakers, each costing about 32,000 rupees.
14:08And you can connect them with the Arc Ultra to have a spatial audio experience.
14:13The good part is that they come with a charging case right there.
14:16So you can place the speaker on top and they can sit anywhere in the house.
14:20When you want to use the speaker individually, you just pick them up, take them away and have a portable
14:25speaker experience.
14:26So imagine this modular technology, you're picking the speakers up, taking them around the house and also having the home
14:32theatre surround sound experience is something that screams 2026.
14:39In terms of battery life, I got about 16 hours with each speaker and it can work over WiFi as
14:45part of your Sonos system or switch to Bluetooth when you are away from home.
14:49It also has automatic TruePlay which adjusts the sound to its surroundings.
14:54And this is the part I particularly like.
14:57When I am watching a movie, I can place these two speakers behind my seating position and use them as
15:02rear speakers in a home theatre setup.
15:05And also the setup is done through the Sonos app and once they are paired, the three products work together
15:11as one ecosystem.
15:13With compatible spatial audio content, you get a much more enveloping experience because the sound isn't just coming from the
15:20TV anymore.
15:21You have the Arc Ultra in the front, the play speakers behind you and you also add the Sub4 subwoofer,
15:28you get a dedicated low end punch.
15:31And this is the experience I am talking about.
15:33Once your movie is done, you want to have, you know, a different listening experience in another room or maybe
15:38outdoors.
15:39You pick up the play, move outside, connect it with your smartphone and the best part is the battery comes
15:45built in the speaker.
15:46So you don't have to worry about a charger outside.
15:49And also the advantage is instead of buying different speakers for a home theatre system, you can use the play
15:55to connect and have a spatial audio experience, which is great.
16:01And the play isn't just being treated as an accessory to the Arc Ultra.
16:05It's a proper speaker in its own right.
16:08There are two angled tweeters for high frequency and stereo separation, a mid woofer for vocals and bass and dual
16:14passive radiators to get you more bass out of its relatively compact body.
16:19In my experience, it sounds surprisingly substantial for something you can pick up and carry around.
16:24And because the charging bass keeps it powered whenever you are at home, it can effectively have a permanent place
16:30in your home setup as well.
16:32The idea over here is increasingly building a system rather than buying a fixed home theatre.
16:37Start with one speaker, add another when you need it and then later add a subwoofer and then move the
16:43speakers between rooms.
16:45Take a portable speaker outside and when you want to watch a movie, bring everything together again.
16:51Sonos itself describes the play as a speaker designed to work independently but become a part of a larger system
16:58as you expand it.
16:59But remember, a technology like this, experience like this does not come cheap because when you combine this entire setup
17:07price wise, you are going to have to spend about 2.5 lakh rupees.
17:12Yes, you are getting the modularity, you are getting the flexibility to move things around and also the wireless experience,
17:18but it also comes at a price.
17:20So, if you are looking for that premium audio experience and also the fact that you can take the speakers
17:26around and have it multitask basically, this is the setup that you can consider.
17:48The smartwatch ecosystem in India specifically has evolved over the past couple of months and I am seeing people spend
17:54a little more to get some of the premium features that they do not get in the mid-range segment.
17:59Now, today on the show, I have two such premium smartwatches.
18:03One is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the other one is the Watch 9.
18:07Now, both are very different. One offers a more lifestyle-centric, you know, philosophy.
18:12The other one is all about adventurers and fitness enthusiasts.
18:16So, on the show today, I have been using, by the way, both of these watches.
18:20I want to tell you what is the difference in both these watches, what is the price factor like for
18:25both if you're wanting to buy one and which of these is better for you.
18:30So, let's start.
18:34Let's start with the big one.
18:36The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a serious piece of hardware.
18:40Now, this is a 47mm watch, weighs about 61 grams without the strap, has the titanium frame, a sapphire crystal
18:49display and 64 GB of storage and also a 800 mAh battery inside of this.
18:54And yes, you feel all of that size on your wrist.
18:57And I'll be honest, I found this one to be a little bulky for my wrist and one specific problem
19:02that I was facing consistently was whenever I was bending my wrist, I was accidentally triggering this button.
19:09So, for people who have sort of like a bigger wrist, for them, this might be a problem, but I
19:16understand.
19:16Samsung has really, really put a lot of sensors, a lot of hardware in this smartwatch, which is why the
19:23extra weight.
19:23So, if you want the features, you'll have to manage the bulk.
19:30The display of this watch is the biggest highlight.
19:34It has a 1.52 inch Super AMOLED panel and also the resolution is great.
19:38And Samsung says it can reach up to 5,000 nits.
19:41And with watches, you need that because you can actually look at the watch and read what's on it without
19:47shielding it with your other hand.
19:51Notifications, workout data, maps, everything remains very legible outside.
19:57And that's particularly useful because the Watch Ultra 2 is designed to be used away from your smartphone.
20:05It has dual frequency GPS, LTE, Wi-Fi and the usual connectivity options.
20:11So, when I go out for a run, I don't need to carry my phone just to track where I
20:15am.
20:17Now, both the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Watch 9 are loaded with sensors.
20:21And if you're wanting performance on your smartwatches, that is very important.
20:27The Ultra 2 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite platform with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
20:36The animations on the screen are smooth, apps open quickly and I did not run into any obvious performance problems
20:42during my time with it.
20:45You can also use the watch for calls as it has a built-in microphone which worked perfectly for me.
20:51There is a camera control as well which is genuinely useful when you are trying to take a group photo
20:56or a selfie from a distance.
20:59Now, where the Watch Ultra 2 really makes sense is the amount of fitness features that this watch has
21:05because I have been using it to play football, for my gym workout activities and there are so many modes
21:10on this watch
21:11that you can look across a multiple array of fitness activities to do and I am sure that you will
21:16be able to find it on the watch to track.
21:23Along with fitness, you also get heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, body composition, ECG and blood pressure monitoring.
21:29However, you have to set these features up in order to get all of the metrics.
21:33The one feature that does not come on the watch 9 particularly is the vascular load.
21:40So, if you're someone who runs, cycles, hikes, swims, dives or generally spends a lot of time outdoors,
21:46this is where the Ultra 2 starts justifying the size.
21:52Now, there is this one thing that I observed when I'm using the watch is that the metrics, especially the
21:56calorie counter and the distance covered
21:58is about 10 to 15% more than I was getting on the treadmill or the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
22:05Now, there could be differences because the algorithms and the sensors work differently on different devices,
22:10which is why it's not a deal breaker but that's something that I noticed and wanted to let you know.
22:15Now, the battery department is where I was genuinely impressed with this one because it gave me about three to
22:21four days of charge easily.
22:23Yes, always on was turned off and I was always tracking all of my steps, my metrics, my fitness activities
22:30on the watch
22:31and it easily gave me about four days, which is really impressive and that 800mAh battery inside is giving you
22:38enough time so you don't have to keep charging the watch.
22:41However, from a complete debt to 100%, it took me roughly two to three hours to charge.
22:47For a watch this expensive, that's surprisingly a long time to be sitting on the charger.
23:00And that brings me to the Watch 9, which when I was using the Watch Ultra made me question, why
23:06should I go for the Watch 9 rather than the bigger sibling?
23:10Because the Watch 9 is much slimmer and lighter.
23:14The 44mm version weighs just 34 grams compared to the 61 grams on the Ultra 2 and it's only 8
23:20.6mm thick.
23:22And honestly, that's the difference that's immediately noticeable.
23:26The Watch 9 sits much more comfortably on the wrist, especially if you're wearing it every day, even when you
23:32are sleeping.
23:33The display is smaller, but you still get an AMOLED panel and up to 3000 nits of brightness, so outdoor
23:39visibility isn't really an issue.
23:41Performance is also smooth and importantly, you're not sacrificing the core health features just because you've gone for the smaller
23:48watch.
23:49So the Watch 9, I feel, is catering to people who want more like a lifestyle watch on their wrist,
23:54don't want the extra bulk.
23:55Yes, you miss out on certain important features like the durability and also GPS.
24:01However, if you don't want that extra bulk on your wrist, the slimmer option is much better.
24:07And in terms of battery, I was getting around a day and a half on a full charge and from
24:110 to 100, it takes about an hour and 25 minutes to charge.
24:18Remember, all your data is synced to the watch on the app, so you can track all of your details
24:22there as well, including metrics like sleep data and also your fitness data.
24:29And now let's finally talk about the pricing of these watches.
24:33Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in India at almost 65,000 rupees, while the Watch 9 starts at
24:3938,000 for the 40 millimeter Bluetooth version and the larger 44 millimeter Bluetooth model costs about 41,000 rupees.
24:47The LTE versions cost more.
24:49And that's pretty much the price difference of both these devices.
24:53And if you're okay with that 20,000 difference, I feel, yes, it is indeed better to invest on a
24:59bigger watch that gets you better battery life.
25:01And if you're someone who is absolutely serious about their fitness, go on a lot of adventure activities, even diving,
25:09then I feel the Ultra 2 is best suited for your needs.
25:12The Watch 9, on the other hand, can double up as your daily driver if you're someone who wants to
25:17maybe take it to the office, constantly wear it and also want it to track your fitness activity.
25:23The Watch 9, slimmer and more subtle option for you and obviously cheaper.
25:31Considering that these two options are something that I'm showing you on the show, do let us know which one
25:35is something that you would prefer as your daily fitness tracker.
25:39And obviously for more tech and more smartwatches, we'll be getting you more reviews, especially this one, the Apple Watch
25:48Ultra 4, which will be coming on the show very soon.
25:52We're moving towards a world where tech is more flexible, more connected and increasingly something we pay for rather than
26:00own.
26:01And that makes the question of what we actually want from our tech more important than ever.
26:07That's all for this week.
26:09Thanks for watching Tech Today.
26:10I am Cyrus and I will be seeing you next week on a brand new show right here.
26:14Till then, take care.
26:23I am Cyrus and I will be seeing you next week on a brand new show.
26:24I am Cyrus.
26:24I am Cyrus.
26:24I am Cyrus.
26:25I am Cyrus.
26:26I am Cyrus.
26:26I am Cyrus.
26:27I am Cyrus.
26:28I am Cyrus.
26:29I am Cyrus.