Tech Wrap March 9: Sandisk flash drive, Galaxy M17e 5G, PlayStation Store

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

Sandisk has launched the Sandisk Extreme Fit USB-C flash drive in India. The company describes it as the world’s smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive. The ultra-compact USB-C flash drive is positioned by the company as a “plug-and-stay” storage option, emphasising its small size, compact enough to remain connected to a laptop without needing to be removed frequently. It also comes in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage variants. The Sandisk Extreme Fit was launched globally last November, and now it has made its way to India.

Samsung is preparing to broaden its Galaxy M-series portfolio in India with the Galaxy M17e 5G, scheduled to launch on March 17. While revealing key features and specifications of the device, the South Korean electronics company said the smartphone will include several AI tools such as Google Gemini, Circle to Search, and others. Samsung also confirmed that the handset will come in Vibe Violet and Blitz Blue colour options.

Sony is reportedly experimenting with dynamic pricing for digital titles on the PlayStation Store. According to a report by The Verge, citing PSPrices, some games have been listed at varying prices for different users. The report further noted that Sony is carrying out A/B testing on pricing for more than 150 games across 68 regions.

OPPO has announced that it will introduce the Find N6 on March 17. The Chinese smartphone brand confirmed the launch date in its domestic market, though details about a global release and availability remain unclear. Notably, OPPO has yet to launch a book-style foldable smartphone in India. The company has instead released two generations of its clamshell-style “Flip” foldables in the country, while its book-style models have either remained limited to other markets or arrived through its sister brand OnePlus — the OnePlus Open debuted in 2023.

Samsung has revealed a few early details about its upcoming smart glasses. According to a report from 9To5Google, Samsung executive Jay Kim discussed the device during an interview with CNBC and confirmed some features, including a camera positioned at “eye level” and the ability to connect to a smartphone. The company has been developing extended reality (XR) and smart glasses technology for some time.

OpenAI has reportedly postponed the rollout of “Adult mode” in ChatGPT once again. According to a report by TechCrunch, citing news outlet Axios, an OpenAI representative confirmed that the company is delaying the “adult mode” for ChatGPT while it focuses on personalisation and other priorities. Axios quoted the representative as saying that OpenAI still believes in the idea of treating adults like adults, but delivering the experience properly will require more time.

Google is reportedly testing a ‘Tap to Draft’ feature in its Messages application. According to a report from 9To5Google, the latest beta version of Google Messages introduces a new option that alters how suggested replies function before they are sent. Smart Replies help users respond quickly to messages by suggesting possible responses. However, the report noted that the current system can sometimes result in accidental messages because tapping a suggestion sends it instantly. The new option is intended to add an extra step so users can review the response before sending it.

Google has reportedly indicated that it remains on schedule to release Aluminium OS, its unified operating system built on ChromeOS and Android, in 2026. According to a report by Android Authority, during MWC 2026 (held from March 2 to March 5), Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, was asked whether Aluminium OS is still expected to arrive in 2026. As per the report, Samat responded that he was “super excited” about what is planned for later this year.

LLMs may help fact-checkers track who’s behind pseudonymous accounts: Study

Large language models (LLMs) are capable of identifying at scale people behind pseudonymous online accounts. A new paper titled “Large-scale online deanonymization with LLMs,” published by researchers from Anthropic, ETH Zurich and the Machine Learning Alignment & Theory Scholars (MATS) programme shows that modern AI systems can re-identify anonymous or pseudonymous users at scale using only the text they write online.

After unveiling the MacBook Neo and rolling out updates across its Mac, iPad, iPhone and Studio Display lineup earlier this month, Apple is now reportedly focusing on another set of premium devices. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is planning a “significant shift” in its high-end product strategy by introducing several new “Ultra” devices. These may include a foldable iPhone, AirPods equipped with cameras, and a MacBook featuring a touch-enabled OLED display.

ConvoZen.AI, the enterprise conversational agentic artificial intelligence (AI) platform from NoBroker, has introduced its conversational AI stack along with new frontier speech models. The two models — Akshara (speech-to-text) and Ragini (text-to-speech) — were developed based on conversational infrastructure challenges faced by NoBroker. ConvoZen integrates the entire lifecycle within a single platform built on conversational AI agents, copilot AI agents, supervisor AI agents and customer AI agents.

India is strongly positioned as the next global platform for consumer technology, driven by expanding manufacturing base, stronger supply chain capabilities, and a shift toward aspirational, global-style preferences is reshaping demand in this “strategic market”, Akis Evangelidis, Co-founder and India President of smartphone maker Nothing has said.

Billionaire Leo KoGuan has doubled his holding in Nvidia Corp. to 2 million shares, increasing his investment in the chipmaker at a time when the war in the Middle East has triggered a global selloff across assets ranging from bonds to equities. “As promised, I bought an additional 1 million shares of NVDA today,” the investor wrote early Saturday on X, days after announcing his initial purchase.

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LLMs may help fact-checkers track who's behind pseudonymous accounts: Study

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

The researchers demonstrated that LLM-based systems can analyse posts, extract identity signals and match them with public profiles or other accounts. In experiments linking pseudonymous profiles across platforms such as Hacker News, LinkedIn and Reddit, the system was able to correctly match users with high precision.

While the findings raise concerns about online anonymity, researchers say the same capability could help fact-checkers and investigators track misinformation campaigns and coordinated influence operations.

Why this research matters for misinformation investigations

Investigations into online misinformation often rely on painstaking manual analysis of writing patterns, digital footprints and scattered clues across social media platforms. Analysts typically try to determine whether multiple accounts belong to the same person or organisation, or whether seemingly independent posts are part of a coordinated campaign.

The new research suggests that AI could automate much of that process.

According to the researchers, LLM-based systems can extract identity-relevant signals from unstructured text — such as interests, career details, writing style or geographic hints — and then search large datasets of potential profiles to find likely matches. The system can also reason over evidence to confirm whether two profiles likely belong to the same person.

This approach could help identify:

Coordinated propaganda accounts

Bot networks operated by a single actor

Influence operations running multiple identities

Individuals operating several pseudonymous accounts across platforms

Such capabilities could be particularly useful in investigating misinformation campaigns, where actors often rely on anonymous or pseudonymous accounts to spread false narratives.

Existing tools that use similar techniques

Although the use of LLMs is new, investigators and researchers have long used a variety of tools to analyse online identities and detect coordinated activity.

One such approach is stylometry, which attempts to identify authors based on their writing style. Stylometric systems analyse patterns such as sentence length, punctuation, vocabulary and grammatical structures. Tools such as JStylo and Writeprints, along with academic authorship-attribution systems, have been used to link texts written by the same individual.

However, these methods typically focus on stylistic patterns rather than the meaning of the text itself.

LLMs expand this approach by analysing semantic content — the topics people discuss, the personal details they reveal and the contextual clues embedded in their posts. This allows the system to combine both writing style and contextual information when trying to link identities.

Investigators also rely on open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools to uncover digital identities. Platforms such as Maltego, SpiderFoot and Social Links help analysts map relationships between accounts, websites and digital traces. Techniques developed by investigative groups such as Bellingcat often involve manually connecting small clues from different sources to identify individuals behind anonymous activity.

LLMs could significantly accelerate these processes by automatically extracting and analysing clues from large volumes of text.

In addition, several platforms already track coordinated disinformation campaigns by analysing social networks and posting behaviour. Services such as Graphika, Hoaxy and Botometer examine patterns in social media activity to identify bots or organised influence networks.

AI systems capable of analysing textual signals and identity clues could complement these tools, helping analysts identify when different accounts may actually belong to the same individual or group.

Privacy concern

Despite the potential benefits for misinformation research, the findings also raise broader concerns about online privacy.

Pseudonymous identities allow people to participate in discussions without revealing their real-world identities. The researchers said that this protection has relied on what they describe as “practical obscurity” — the idea that identifying someone from scattered online clues requires too much effort to be done at scale. LLMs could change that balance by dramatically lowering the cost of analysing and linking online information.

This means the same technology that could help journalists trace misinformation networks could also be misused for harassment, surveillance or doxxing.

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Google reportedly plans Aluminium OS launch in 2026: MacBook Neo effect?

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

Google has reportedly said that it is on track to release Aluminium OS, its unified operating system based on the ChromeOS and Android platforms, in 2026. According to a report by Android Authority, on the sidelines of MWC 2026 (held from March 2 to March 5), president of the Android Ecosystem at Google, Sameer Samat, was asked if Google still expects Aluminium OS to arrive in 2026. As per the report, Samat said he was “super excited” about what is coming later this year.

The report followed Apple’s low-cost MacBook powered by the A18 Pro chip, called the MacBook Neo. Despite being a budget device, the MacBook Neo runs the same macOS as Apple’s higher-end MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. At nearly half the price of a MacBook Air M5, the MacBook Neo delivers the full macOS experience, which is a significant move in expanding Apple’s ecosystem to more affordable devices.

The key advantage of running the same operating system is that even the lower-cost MacBook continues to support Apple’s ecosystem features such as Handoff. For the uninitiated, Apple Handoff is a continuity feature that lets users start a task on one Apple device and instantly continue it on another nearby device using the same Apple ID. For example, you can begin writing an email on an iPhone and seamlessly finish it on a Mac or iPad without restarting the task.

How could Google’s ecosystem compete with Apple’s Handoff?

Recent developments suggest that Google may be trying to compete more directly with such ecosystem features. The company has been testing an Apple Handoff-like capability in the Android 17 Beta 1 update. The feature, called Handoff, will allow users to move an app activity from one Android device to another nearby device. Supported apps are likely to resume the same task through the app itself or via a web link, enabling smoother cross-device continuity.

If this capability eventually becomes part of Aluminium OS, it could play a central role in Google’s broader ecosystem strategy. Integrating seamless cross-device continuity across smartphones, tablets, and PCs could allow Google to compete more directly with one of Apple’s strongest ecosystem advantages.

Desktop mode for Android phones

In related news, earlier last week, Google began rolling out a desktop-style interface for select Pixel devices with the March Pixel Drop. According to a report by The Verge, Pixel 8 and newer models can connect to an external monitor to access a desktop-like environment that supports multi-window apps along with mouse and keyboard input.

With the Android 16 QPR3 release, Google said connected display support is now generally available. When a compatible Android phone or foldable is connected to a monitor, it launches a separate desktop-style session instead of simple screen mirroring, allowing users to run resizable app windows, multitask with a taskbar, and move apps or the cursor across multiple displays.

Will ChromeOS devices upgrade to Aluminium OS?

Earlier in January, Google confirmed that not all devices running ChromeOS will be able to upgrade to the upcoming operating system due to hardware specification limits. According to a report by Android Authority citing Chrome Unboxed, ChromeOS VP of Product Management John Maletis said some older devices may not meet the technical requirements needed for the new OS.

However, Maletis emphasised that ChromeOS is not being discontinued. He said Google plans to enable upgrades for many newer devices wherever possible and will continue supporting Chromebooks, noting that millions of students, consumers, and workers rely on them for everyday use.

According to a 9To5Google report, filings submitted by Google in a US court suggest the company intends to gradually wind down ChromeOS by 2034. The documents reportedly state that many current Chromebooks are not compatible with the upcoming Aluminium OS, which means Google will need to continue supporting ChromeOS until at least 2033 in order to fulfil its 10-year update promise to existing users.

Once that support window closes, Google is expected to begin moving away from ChromeOS entirely. This indicates that the platform may continue mainly to meet current obligations rather than playing a central role in the company’s long-term strategy.

Aluminium OS: What features could the new Google platform bring?

Earlier at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit 2025, Google announced that Android for PC would arrive as part of its plan to merge ChromeOS and Android into a single platform. Aluminium OS is reportedly being developed with AI as a foundational element, pointing to tight integration with Google’s Gemini model.

While Gemini already enables advanced on-device AI features on high-end smartphones, the listing suggests Google is preparing to extend these capabilities to larger-screen devices, moving beyond Chromebooks’ traditional focus on the entry-level segment.

As per the 9To5Google report, Google is also planning to support a wide variety of hardware, such as laptops, detachable devices, tablets, and set-top boxes, across both budget and premium segments. This suggests Google aims to position Aluminium OS as a competitor in the high-end PC space alongside Windows and macOS, rather than restricting it to lower-cost devices.

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Samsung prepares Meta Ray-Ban rival AI glasses for 2026: What to expect

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

Samsung has shared a few details about its upcoming smart glasses. According to a report from 9To5Google, Samsung executive Jay Kim spoke about the device in an interview with CNBC and confirmed some features, including a camera placed at “eye level” and support for connecting to a smartphone. Samsung has been working on extended reality (XR) and smart glasses devices for some time.

Samsung has been working with US-based chipmaker Qualcomm and technology company Google to develop a new ecosystem of AI-driven wearable devices. This partnership, which features Qualcomm’s specialised chipsets and Google’s Android XR platform, focuses on combining advanced AI capabilities with seamless smartphone connectivity. The first product from this partnership was the Galaxy XR headset, which went on sale last year in select regions and was based on Google’s Android XR.

Samsung smart glasses: What we know

According to a report by 9To5Google, during the interview Kim confirmed a few features that Samsung is planning for its first pair of smart glasses. One of the key elements mentioned is a camera positioned at “eye level”. This could allow the glasses to capture photos or videos from the user’s point of view.

Artificial intelligence is also expected to play a role in the experience. As reported, Kim said the AI will be able to understand “where you’re looking at”, which could allow the system to analyse objects or scenes in front of the user and provide relevant information. Samsung has earlier confirmed that its AI glasses will be powered by Gemini AI.

As reported, Kim also said the glasses will connect to a smartphone, suggesting that much of the processing may take place on the phone rather than inside the glasses themselves. Visual data captured by the glasses could be sent to the smartphone, where the AI analyses the scene and provides contextual responses.

However, Samsung did not confirm whether the glasses will include a built-in display. When asked about this, Kim reportedly noted that users could rely on other devices, such as smartphones or smartwatches, if they need a screen. This has led to speculation that Samsung could be developing different versions of the glasses, including models with and without a display.

According to the report, the company is aiming to launch its first smart glasses in 2026, marking Samsung’s entry into the growing AI wearables market. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has also suggested a similar timeline for the device, indicating that development is already underway.

Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses

A key rival in the AI glasses segment is Meta, which has already launched its Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) AI glasses in India. The wearable, developed in partnership with eyewear brand Ray-Ban, offers upgrades such as 3K video recording, improved battery life of up to eight hours and additional design options compared with the first-generation model.

Meta has also introduced the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, positioned as a more rugged option for sports and outdoor use.

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After Neo, Apple eyes OLED MacBook, iPhone Fold, AirPods with camera next

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

After unveiling the MacBook Neo and rolling out updates across its Mac, iPad, iPhone and Studio Display lineup this month, Apple is now reportedly turning its attention to a new set of high-end products. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is planning a “significant shift” in its premium product strategy by introducing several new “Ultra” devices. These could include a foldable iPhone, new AirPods equipped with cameras and a MacBook with a touch-enabled OLED display.

Gurman also noted that Apple is preparing updates for the Mac Studio, Mac mini and iMac with newer chips. The iMac is also expected to receive new colour options.

Apple’s new high-end “Ultra” products: What to expect

Foldable iPhone

Apple is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone this year, potentially alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in the second half of the year. According to Gurman, Apple could market this model under the “Ultra” branding, positioning it above the current Pro Max models. The device is expected to introduce new technologies to the iPhone lineup, such as in-display sensors and a crease-free folding display, which may also push its price above existing flagship models.

A report by 9to5Mac suggests that 3D CAD renders of the foldable iPhone have surfaced online. These images indicate that the device could feature a book-style folding design with dimensions that are wider and shorter compared to devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The renders also show a two-tone finish on the back similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models and a camera plateau housing two rear cameras. Both the inner display and the cover display appear to include circular cut-outs for front-facing cameras.

The design shown in the images broadly aligns with previously reported specifications. Earlier reports from Six Colors and 512 Pixels suggested that the foldable iPhone may be wider than existing iPhone models and could use a folding display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, similar in shape to the iPad mini.

Analyst Jeff Pu has shared similar expectations, indicating that the foldable iPhone could feature a 5.5-inch cover display with a resolution of 2088 × 1422 pixels, along with a 7.8-inch inner display offering a resolution of 2713 × 1920 pixels.

In terms of cameras, the device is said to include four cameras in total. This could consist of a dual-camera system on the rear and one front-facing camera on each display. The primary rear sensor is expected to be a 48MP unit, paired with either an ultra-wide or telephoto lens. Both front-facing cameras are reportedly expected to use 24MP sensors.

Unlike Apple’s current iPhone models that rely on Face ID for biometric authentication, the foldable version may adopt Touch ID. This change could allow Apple to move away from the pill-shaped Dynamic Island in favour of punch-hole camera cut-outs, similar to what appears in the leaked 3D CAD renders.

New high-end AirPods

According to Gurman, Apple is also developing a new AirPods model that could incorporate computer-vision cameras. These cameras would capture visual information and feed it into a future AI-powered version of Siri, enabling features such as contextual suggestions and improved environmental awareness.

The report suggests that this device could be positioned above the current AirPods Pro in terms of pricing and may be marketed as “AirPods Ultra”.

Gurman had previously reported that Apple’s goal with camera-equipped AirPods is to extend its Visual Intelligence technology into additional hardware categories. This could enable real-time assistance related to physical objects in a user’s surroundings.

With Siri expected to gain AI capabilities through integration with Google’s AI models, Apple could combine Visual Intelligence with the assistant to enable more conversational responses based on what the user is seeing. The concept is broadly similar to how Meta AI operates on Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses.

MacBook with OLED touch screen

Gurman also reported that Apple is working on a future MacBook Pro model featuring a touch-enabled OLED display. The addition of OLED technology could increase the price of the device, similar to how Apple raised the pricing of the iPad Pro when it introduced OLED panels.

Rather than replacing the existing MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, this new variant may sit above them as a higher-tier offering. Apple could potentially market this device under the “MacBook Ultra” name. Alternatively, the company may offer the OLED display as a premium configuration option with the next-generation MacBook Pro lineup.

Alongside the OLED touchscreen, the new MacBook model is expected to introduce a redesigned chassis that could be thinner than the current MacBook Pro design.

The device is also expected to run on Apple’s next-generation M6 chip, which is anticipated to be manufactured using a 2nm process. This transition could deliver improvements in power efficiency and performance compared to the existing generation of Apple Silicon.

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OPPO's book-style foldable 'Find N6' to launch on March 17: What to expect

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 9, 2026 | Technology

OPPO will launch the Find N6 on March 17. The Chinese smartphone maker has confirmed the launch date in its home country, with no word yet on global launch and availability. For context, OPPO has not launched a book-style foldable smartphone in India to date. In India, the company has released two generations of its clamshell-style “Flip” foldables, while its book-style foldables have remained exclusive to other markets or launched by its sister brand OnePlus — the OnePlus Open debuted in 2023.

According to OPPO’s China website, the Find N6 will feature a book-style foldable design and will be available in three colours: Golden Orange, Original Titanium and Deep Black. The official pre-orders page on its Chinese website confirms that the Find N6 will come in three configurations — 12GB+256GB, 16GB+512GB and 16GB+1TB — with the top variant supporting satellite connectivity. The smartphone will also feature a camera system co-developed with Swedish optics brand Hasselblad, similar to its predecessor.

OPPO Find N6: What to expect

According to a report from GizmoChina, OPPO said that the Find N6 has been designed with a new engineering approach that combines a titanium alloy hinge with a special memory glass layer. Together, these components aim to reduce the crease and maintain a flatter display surface even after prolonged use.

As reported, the hinge structure is said to distribute physical stress more evenly when the phone is folded and unfolded. At the same time, the memory glass helps the display return to a flatter shape once the device is opened. OPPO reportedly claims this approach may help reduce the visibility of the crease compared with earlier foldable phones.

The upcoming smartphone is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and will be paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. The OPPO Find N6 could feature an 8.12-inch inner display and a 6.62-inch cover display. The device may include a battery close to 6,000mAh with fast-charging support. The rear camera system is expected to include a 200MP Samsung HP5 primary sensor, accompanied by a pair of 50MP Samsung JN5 sensors for ultra-wide and periscope telephoto cameras.

As per the teaser released, the Find N6 will support a new OPPO AI stylus. The stylus is intended to make writing, note-taking and creative tasks easier on the foldable screen.

OPPO Find N6: Expected specifications

Main display: 8.12-inch foldable AMOLED display

Cover display: 6.62-inch AMOLED screen

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM: Up to 16GB

Storage: Up to 1TB

Rear camera: 200MP Samsung HP5 + 50MP ultra-wide + 50MP periscope telephoto

Battery: Around 6,000mAh

Charging: Fast-charging support\

Build: Titanium alloy hinge with memory glass layer

Connectivity: Satellite connectivity on the 1TB variant

Colours: Golden Orange, Original Titanium, Deep Black

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