Nokia’s internal presentation to the iPhone announcement in 2007.
The Nokia Design Archive was opened to the public on January 15, 2025, and it has some interesting, previously confidential documents, including a reaction to the iPhone launch with a presentation titled:
Apple iPhone was launched (yes, it is “iPhone” *)
The asterisk led to the footnote:
*) Apple has agreed with Cisco on using the name, details not known.
We don’t know the details either, but let’s just say Apple got the better end of that deal.
The title sounds like they're mocking the iPhone, but the presentation tells a story of panic, fear, and stiff competition.
Not sure if this presentation should be in their Design Archive, but seeing references to the S60 Symbian OS and other Nokia phones was nostalgic.
This is as close to being a fly on the wall you could have been in Nokia’s executive meeting.
Full PDF of presentation in case they take it down.
The Nokia Design Archive was opened to the public on January 15, 2025, and it has some interesting, previously confidential documents, including a reaction to the iPhone launch with a presentation titled:
Apple iPhone was launched (yes, it is “iPhone” *)
The asterisk led to the footnote:
*) Apple has agreed with Cisco on using the name, details not known.
We don’t know the details either, but let’s just say Apple got the better end of that deal.
The title sounds like they're mocking the iPhone, but the presentation tells a story of panic, fear, and stiff competition.
Not sure if this presentation should be in their Design Archive, but seeing references to the S60 Symbian OS and other Nokia phones was nostalgic.
This is as close to being a fly on the wall you could have been in Nokia’s executive meeting.
Full PDF of presentation in case they take it down.
Which iPhones have Face ID that work in landscape?
I watch a decent amount of videos on my iPhone, and there’s nothing worse than trying to unlock your iPhone in landscape with an iPhone that doesn’t support Face ID in landscape.
You have to do that tilt gesture with your head while looking like an idiot to unlock your phone, or you have to turn your phone back to portrait mode to unlock it. You can also meet in the middle and do a slight head tilt and turn your phone at the same time, but the problem is you're eating fried chicken, and your hands are covered in refined oils.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
To avoid this, make sure you buy an iPhone that supports Face ID in landscape. Any iPhone 13 or later model on iOS 16 or later will support it.
I watch a decent amount of videos on my iPhone, and there’s nothing worse than trying to unlock your iPhone in landscape with an iPhone that doesn’t support Face ID in landscape.
You have to do that tilt gesture with your head while looking like an idiot to unlock your phone, or you have to turn your phone back to portrait mode to unlock it. You can also meet in the middle and do a slight head tilt and turn your phone at the same time, but the problem is you're eating fried chicken, and your hands are covered in refined oils.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
To avoid this, make sure you buy an iPhone that supports Face ID in landscape. Any iPhone 13 or later model on iOS 16 or later will support it.
How to make your iPhone Passcode more secure without changing it.
Apple released Stolen Device Protection (SDP) in response to criminals successfully ruining people’s lives by using an iPhone’s password to reset the victim’s iCloud password.
In 2023 the New York Times did a report on this new tactic, summarized on TidBITS:
Watch the video, but in short, a ne’er-do-well gets someone in a bar to enter their iPhone passcode while they surreptitiously observe (or a partner does it for them). Then the thief steals the iPhone and dashes off. Within minutes, the thief has used the passcode to gain access to the iPhone and change the Apple ID password, which enables them to disable Find My, make purchases using Apple Pay, gain access to passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, and scan through Photos for pictures of documents that contain a Social Security number or other details that could be used for identity theft. After that, they may transfer money from bank accounts, apply for an Apple Card, and more, all while the user is completely locked out of their account.
And yes, they’ll wipe and resell the iPhone too. Almost no crimes like this have been reported by Android users, with a police officer speculating that it was because the resale value of Android phones is lower. In the video, Joanna Stern said a thief with the passcode to an Android phone could perform similar feats of identity and financial theft.
Apple’s response? Stolen Device Protection:
With Stolen Device Protection, some features and actions have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. These requirements help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device.
• Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication: Some actions such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards require a single biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID — with no passcode alternative or fallback — so that only you can access these features.
• Security Delay: Some security actions such as changing your Apple Account password also require you to wait an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.
Thieves can still come after you if they see you entering your passcode because they’re hoping you don’t have this feature enabled, or they might not be aware of it themselves.
The goal shouldn’t be to prevent thieves from breaking into your accounts and your life, the goal is to prevent them from taking your iPhone in the first place. Even if you have all the safety measures in place and your phone gets swiped, you’re still without a phone, which will be expensive to replace and will take hours to get everything synced up again.
The best way to stop this is to hide your password when typing it in, but sometimes we might be in a hurry and forget to keep our guard up. Not to mention this type of attack is common in bars, so your guard is already lowered.
The next best thing? Change your password to an alphanumeric one.
You don’t have to actually change your password, but you do have to add something at the end of it. Like a period.
Say your passcode was “090708”. You can change your passcode and add a period, so your password is now “090708.” If the potential thief does see you entering your passcode, they will see the alphanumeric keyboard and will be more likely to skip past you because it’s almost impossible to really see what someone is typing. The keyboard is small enough, even on the Pro Max models, that your “fat finger” will obscure what you’re typing, compared to the huge numeric keypad.
It also helps to turn off haptics when typing in your code since people can’t hear how long your password is.
Over time, you’ll actually get faster at typing the alphanumeric code since it is all number based, but no one would know you would do such a thing…unless they read my blog.
I tried to be even slicker and just keep the exact same password even though I selected an alphanumeric option and keyboard, but the iPhone defaults back to a numeric keypad, so I had to add the period.
Apple released Stolen Device Protection (SDP) in response to criminals successfully ruining people’s lives by using an iPhone’s password to reset the victim’s iCloud password.
In 2023 the New York Times did a report on this new tactic, summarized on TidBITS:
Watch the video, but in short, a ne’er-do-well gets someone in a bar to enter their iPhone passcode while they surreptitiously observe (or a partner does it for them). Then the thief steals the iPhone and dashes off. Within minutes, the thief has used the passcode to gain access to the iPhone and change the Apple ID password, which enables them to disable Find My, make purchases using Apple Pay, gain access to passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, and scan through Photos for pictures of documents that contain a Social Security number or other details that could be used for identity theft. After that, they may transfer money from bank accounts, apply for an Apple Card, and more, all while the user is completely locked out of their account.
And yes, they’ll wipe and resell the iPhone too. Almost no crimes like this have been reported by Android users, with a police officer speculating that it was because the resale value of Android phones is lower. In the video, Joanna Stern said a thief with the passcode to an Android phone could perform similar feats of identity and financial theft.
Apple’s response? Stolen Device Protection:
With Stolen Device Protection, some features and actions have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations such as home or work. These requirements help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device.
• Face ID or Touch ID biometric authentication: Some actions such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards require a single biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID — with no passcode alternative or fallback — so that only you can access these features.
• Security Delay: Some security actions such as changing your Apple Account password also require you to wait an hour and then perform a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure.
Thieves can still come after you if they see you entering your passcode because they’re hoping you don’t have this feature enabled, or they might not be aware of it themselves.
The goal shouldn’t be to prevent thieves from breaking into your accounts and your life, the goal is to prevent them from taking your iPhone in the first place. Even if you have all the safety measures in place and your phone gets swiped, you’re still without a phone, which will be expensive to replace and will take hours to get everything synced up again.
The best way to stop this is to hide your password when typing it in, but sometimes we might be in a hurry and forget to keep our guard up. Not to mention this type of attack is common in bars, so your guard is already lowered.
The next best thing? Change your password to an alphanumeric one.
You don’t have to actually change your password, but you do have to add something at the end of it. Like a period.
Say your passcode was “090708”. You can change your passcode and add a period, so your password is now “090708.” If the potential thief does see you entering your passcode, they will see the alphanumeric keyboard and will be more likely to skip past you because it’s almost impossible to really see what someone is typing. The keyboard is small enough, even on the Pro Max models, that your “fat finger” will obscure what you’re typing, compared to the huge numeric keypad.
It also helps to turn off haptics when typing in your code since people can’t hear how long your password is.
Over time, you’ll actually get faster at typing the alphanumeric code since it is all number based, but no one would know you would do such a thing…unless they read my blog.
I tried to be even slicker and just keep the exact same password even though I selected an alphanumeric option and keyboard, but the iPhone defaults back to a numeric keypad, so I had to add the period.
Time to stand.
This is perhaps the most underrated health feature of the Apple Watch, and the most important.
The “Time to stand” function is so important, and something you hopefully you won’t realize too late in life.
As a healthcare professional and as someone who has to stand a lot for work, I can tell you with certainty that the days I have to work and move around a lot, I actually feel less lower back pain. When I am off and sit on a computer trying to think about what to write, I feel more back pain.
I would encourage everyone to take their “Time to stand” reminder seriously because it will help you in the long run.
Remember, sitting is the new smoking.
This is perhaps the most underrated health feature of the Apple Watch, and the most important.
The “Time to stand” function is so important, and something you hopefully you won’t realize too late in life.
As a healthcare professional and as someone who has to stand a lot for work, I can tell you with certainty that the days I have to work and move around a lot, I actually feel less lower back pain. When I am off and sit on a computer trying to think about what to write, I feel more back pain.
I would encourage everyone to take their “Time to stand” reminder seriously because it will help you in the long run.
Remember, sitting is the new smoking.
This feature needs to come back to Apple Watch.
You’re a busy person, and so am I.
You glance at your Apple Watch to pace yourself as you drive away, trying to conquer your checklist for the day.
After all, time is money.
But the reality is, you have already been defeated…
You’re a busy person, and so am I.
You glance at your Apple Watch to pace yourself as you drive away, trying to conquer your checklist for the day.
After all, time is money.
But the reality is, you have already been defeated.
You don’t have your iPhone, and you don’t even know it.
After a while, when you are well past the point of no return, you start feeling your pocket for your iPhone, only to find out it isn’t there. You have your watch on, so you know you can go to your Control Center and hope to see the green iPhone logo.
Maybe it’s in the center console, or it fell in the car somewhere, you tell yourself with an optimistic, anxious mind.
But when you raise your shaky finger and click the Side Button, that’s when you see it:
The red iPhone of death.
You feel helpless, and might even hyperventilate with this heart-piercing, visual confirmation of impending doom.
How could they not have told me sooner?
Why Apple??
Why couldn’t you let me know more aggressively that I forgot my beloved?
Why couldn’t you put the red iPhone logo front and center, staring right back at me the moment my iPhone was not in range?
Why?!
Everything looks fine at first glance…
until you realize your iPhone is missing.
You feel defeated in the moment, until you realize that all hope is not lost.
You remember back to a time, a simpler time, where Apple used to let you know right on your watch face, that your iPhone is missing. It didn’t matter what watch face you had, but that red iPhone with a slash right through it would show up immediately, letting you know before you get too far that you need to grab your iPhone.
My Series 3 on watchOS 8 lets me know every time without fail.
Whether you use the Simple watch face, or are admiring the peaceful serenity of Mack Lake with a Timelapse, Apple didn’t hesitate to interrupt you with their passive aggressive way of letting you know:
“Hey genius, you forgot your iPhone.”
That subtle, red, “iPhone logo of death” on your watch face was quick and easy. Bring it back.
We can only hope that in watchOS 12, Apple gives us back this feature.
Just literally put the disconnected iPhone logo where the red notification dot goes (like it used to!), and call it a day.
Don’t think different with this one, just do it.
You’re using it too much.
Ten tips from MacRumors for saving battery life on your iPhone, but I have one more:
Stop using it too much.
Touch some grass, bruh.
Ten tips from MacRumors for saving battery life on your iPhone, but I have one more:
Stop using it too much.
Touch some grass, bruh.
Camera Control comes in for the win (for once).
Yesterday was the first time I really appreciated Camera Control on the iPhone 16.
I have to set the scenario for you to really appreciate it:
It was below freezing outside, and I was standing on a hilly, icy surface at an angle, trying to take videos of my kids. Not in any danger, but still easy to slip and take a small fall. I’m really sensitive to cold and had to wear gloves. The gloves had capacitive tips for both the thumb and pointer finger allowing for touch screen operation.
Even with the capacitive gloves, it was a challenge to navigate the touchscreen due to my new artificial problem of having fat fingers. I still had to use the screen to switch to video mode which was a bit cumbersome, but for other controls, I used Camera Control.
The problem with taking pictures and videos in the snow is the camera sees all the white snow and ice and underexposes the shot, thinking the scene is too bright. That leads to a slurry of underexposed, underwhelming videos. I had to adjust the exposure throughout my memory capturing journey to get the whites to pop just right.
I could have made exposure adjustments with the touch screen, but “fat glove fingers” are not the best. Camera Control was perfect for this situation, and swiping with my gloves was effortless and dare I say, satisfying.
Zooming in and out was also easy to do without having to resort to the touch screen.
As satisfying as it was to benefit from the Camera Control button, let’s see how often I use it when winter is over…
Yesterday was the first time I really appreciated Camera Control on the iPhone 16.
I have to set the scenario for you to really appreciate it:
It was below freezing outside, and I was standing on a hilly, icy surface at an angle, trying to take videos of my kids. Not in any danger, but still easy to slip and take a small fall. I’m really sensitive to cold and had to wear gloves. The gloves had capacitive tips for both the thumb and pointer finger allowing for touch screen operation.
Even with the capacitive gloves, it was a challenge to navigate the touchscreen due to my new artificial problem of having fat fingers. I still had to use the screen to switch to video mode which was a bit cumbersome, but for other controls, I used Camera Control.
The problem with taking pictures and videos in the snow is the camera sees all the white snow and ice and underexposes the shot, thinking the scene is too bright. That leads to a slurry of underexposed, underwhelming videos. I had to adjust the exposure throughout my memory capturing journey to get the whites to pop just right.
I could have made exposure adjustments with the touch screen, but “fat glove fingers” are not the best. Camera Control was perfect for this situation, and swiping with my gloves was effortless and dare I say, satisfying.
Zooming in and out was also easy to do without having to resort to the touch screen.
As satisfying as it was to benefit from the Camera Control button, let’s see how often I use it when winter is over…
Watching the original iPhone launch event with the next generation.
It’s hard for kids to imagine a world where smartphones don’t exist, especially if they were born after 2012.
The original iPhone event in hindsight is quite funny to watch and even condescending to kids because Steve Jobs was explaining how to use a multi-touch screen, something that was science fiction in 2007 for most people, yet is as natural as air in 2024.
It’s funny to just watch your kids reacting to people being oohed and aahed by something they take for granted.
Three of my favorite clips of the original launch:
“And to unlock the phone I just take my finger and slide it across.”
It’s hard for kids to imagine a world where smartphones don’t exist, especially if they were born after 2012.
The original iPhone event in hindsight is quite funny to watch and even condescending to kids because Steve Jobs was explaining how to use a multi-touch screen, something that was science fiction in 2007 for most people, yet is as natural as air in 2024.
It’s funny to just watch your kids reacting to people being oohed and aahed by something they take for granted.
Three of my favorite clips of the original launch:
“And to unlock the phone I just take my finger and slide it across.”
Be careful with Apple’s Drug Interaction Checker
“I had the exact same list of drugs on both phones, but I had more drug interactions on my 15 Pro. The 16 Pro was only showing 8 Serious and 4 Moderate interactions, while the 15 Pro was showing 2 Critical, 9 Serious, and 5 Moderate interactions.”
I set up my 15 Pro Max as a fresh new testing device, and I added the same drugs that I had on my 16 Pro Max. This list on my 16 Pro Max was ported over from my health data when I set it up initially.
Here’s the list of drugs that I setup as a dummy patient profile:
Crestor (generic name is rosuvastatin) - cholesterol medicine.
Lisinopril - blood pressure medication.
Zocor (generic name is simvastatin) - this is the same drug category as Crestor, used for cholesterol medicine.
Chantix - for smoking cessation.
Simvastatin - literally the same drug as Zocor.
Rifampin - used for treating tuberculosis.
Gemfibrozil - cholesterol medicine.
Promethazine VC with Codeine - used to treat cold, stuffiness, and allergy symptoms.
Accutane - for severe acne.
I had the exact same list of drugs on both phones, but I had more drug interactions on my 15 Pro. The 16 Pro was only showing 8 Serious and 4 Moderate interactions, while the 15 Pro was showing 2 Critical, 9 Serious, and 5 Moderate interactions.
I tried to see what was the reason behind this, and I could not see anything different. Sure, I skipped putting an image background and pill color for my 15 Pro drugs, but that shouldn’t matter.
The main drug causing more interactions was Gemfibrozil, so I archived it and then unarchived it to see if it would “fix” the amount of drug interactions I had. That did fix the problem.
In fairness to Apple, these type of glitches happen in all software based systems, including Pharmacies.
Considering there were 2 Critical and 1 Serious interactions that would not be seen, it’s always a good idea to consult with your care team whenever new medications are added or doses are changed. Even when taking over-the-counter medications, you should add it to your drug list to see if it can have harmful effects.
It also can’t hurt to archive and then unarchive your medications every so often.
After I archived Gemfibrozil and then unarchived it…
I got the proper amount of Drug Interactions to display.
Sleep Apnea detection on the Apple Watch could have been much better with Blood Oxygen data.
Lauren Jeffries from Tom’s Guide talking about how reliable Apple Watch’s sleep apnea detection works:
To avoid the possibility of false positives, Apple decided to prioritise specificity over sensitivity. These terms mean:
Specificity: The percentage of those without moderate to severe sleep apnea who wouldn’t receive a notification
Sensitivity: The percentage of participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea who are correctly identified by the algorithm.
Apple recorded the notification performance as 66.6% for sensitivity and 95.9% for specificity. This means that there is potential for many cases of sleep apnea to remain undetected even when using the Apple Watch.
This is what concerns Dr Runge, who says, "The lack of accuracy is a significant issue. I don’t mind the idea that the Apple Watch will “over diagnose” sleep apnea. At least in that setting people will get formal evaluations. It is the under diagnosis that concerns me — people with sleep apnea may say to their partner 'see, I told you I didn’t have sleep apnea.'"
If you look at Apple’s study, sensitivity for severe sleep apnea had a sensitivity of 89.1%, while sensitivity for moderate sleep apnea was 43.4%, giving an average score of 66.3%. What that actually means is the Apple Watch is best at detecting severe sleep apnea 89% of the time. It is not that great at determining moderate sleep apnea at only 43%.
Apple would rather underdiagnose people than give false positives, which is still better than no diagnosis at all. They were able to get this far with just the accelerometer sensor:
The Sleep Apnea Notification Feature is a software-based medical device that analyzes Breathing Disturbance data collected nightly by the Apple Watch accelerometer sensor.
I wonder how much better the Apple Watch could have been at detecting Sleep Apnea if they included Blood Oxygen data, which is another key component in diagnosing sleep apnea. To perform another study at this scale would take years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple’s sleep apnea detection gets better sensitivity with more crucial data points like blood oxygen levels once the battle with Masimo ends.
Lauren Jeffries from Tom’s Guide talking about how reliable Apple Watch’s sleep apnea detection works:
To avoid the possibility of false positives, Apple decided to prioritise specificity over sensitivity. These terms mean:
Specificity: The percentage of those without moderate to severe sleep apnea who wouldn’t receive a notification
Sensitivity: The percentage of participants with moderate to severe sleep apnea who are correctly identified by the algorithm.
Apple recorded the notification performance as 66.6% for sensitivity and 95.9% for specificity. This means that there is potential for many cases of sleep apnea to remain undetected even when using the Apple Watch.
This is what concerns Dr Runge, who says, "The lack of accuracy is a significant issue. I don’t mind the idea that the Apple Watch will “over diagnose” sleep apnea. At least in that setting people will get formal evaluations. It is the under diagnosis that concerns me — people with sleep apnea may say to their partner 'see, I told you I didn’t have sleep apnea.'"
If you look at Apple’s study, sensitivity for severe sleep apnea had a sensitivity of 89.1%, while sensitivity for moderate sleep apnea was 43.4%, giving an average score of 66.3%. What that actually means is the Apple Watch is best at detecting severe sleep apnea 89% of the time. It is not that great at determining moderate sleep apnea at only 43%.
Apple would rather underdiagnose people than give false positives, which is still better than no diagnosis at all. They were able to get this far with just the accelerometer sensor:
The Sleep Apnea Notification Feature is a software-based medical device that analyzes Breathing Disturbance data collected nightly by the Apple Watch accelerometer sensor.
I wonder how much better the Apple Watch could have been at detecting Sleep Apnea if they included Blood Oxygen data, which is another key component in diagnosing sleep apnea. To perform another study at this scale would take years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple’s sleep apnea detection gets better sensitivity with more crucial data points like blood oxygen levels once the battle with Masimo ends.
Which Apple Watches have Blood Oxygen availability?
The Blood Oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch is a nice tool to help those that require frequent monitoring of their oxygen levels. It can provide data that can help treat people who have lung issues, heart problems, and even blood issues. Unfortunately, support for the Blood Oxygen sensor is limited in the United States due to Apple’s ongoing legal battle:
The removal of the Blood Oxygen feature is the result of an intellectual property ruling from the United States International Trade Commission, which Apple is appealing.
The Blood Oxygen feature is no longer available on units sold by Apple in the United States on or after January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A. Learn how to identify your Apple Watch.
To make it easier I have made two lists here to show you which Apple Watches do and don’t support Blood Oxygen availability in the United States…
The Blood Oxygen sensor on the Apple Watch is a nice tool to help those that require frequent monitoring of their oxygen levels. It can provide data that can help treat people who have lung issues, heart problems, and even blood issues. Unfortunately, support for the Blood Oxygen sensor is limited in the United States due to Apple’s ongoing legal battle:
The removal of the Blood Oxygen feature is the result of an intellectual property ruling from the United States International Trade Commission, which Apple is appealing.
The Blood Oxygen feature is no longer available on units sold by Apple in the United States on or after January 18, 2024. These are indicated with part numbers ending in LW/A. Learn how to identify your Apple Watch.
To make it easier I have made two lists here to show you which Apple Watches do and don’t support Blood Oxygen availability in the United States.
With Blood Oxygen availability:
Series 6
Series 7
Series 8
Series 9 model numbers NOT ending in LW/A.
Apple Watch Ultra 1
Certain Apple Watch Ultra 2 Natural Titanium models NOT ending in LW/A.
Without Blood Oxygen availability:
Series 9 model numbers ending in LW/A
Apple Watch Ultra 2 model numbers ending in LW/A. This includes all Black Titanium models.
All Series 10 models.
If you own a Series 9 or an Ultra 2 in Natural Titanium, you need to go to your Apple Watch app under General > About > Model Number, to see if your watch has Blood Oxygen capabilities.
I have a Series 10 which doesn’t support Blood Oxygen at all, but it is confirmed with the LW/A at the end of my model number.
This patent dispute will eventually get resolved, and once that happens, Apple will resume Blood Oxygen availability for all watches that had it disabled.
If you are buying online through a 3rd party retailer or on eBay, make sure you check the model number so you can tell if the watch has Blood Oxygen capability.
You can also get the model number from the box:
This one has Blood Oxygen enabled…
This one doesn’t.
How about other countries?
If you live in one of the countries where Blood Oxygen is supported (almost every country except the USA), all Series 6 models and higher have Blood Oxygen availability, except the Apple Watch SE and SE2.
If you are traveling abroad, it might be worth buying your Apple Watch from abroad since it will have Blood Oxygen enabled, and you can bring it back to the States and not lose functionality.
Update 1/9/25 @ 7:37PM - changed the description of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 from “Slate” Titanium to “Black”Titanium.
iOS 18 does not give you the freedom to move widgets wherever you want.
18 years.
We have been waiting 18 years to move our apps wherever we want to in iOS, and now we have complete app freedom.
After all, it took a new generation of engineers to make this happen.
Developers had to be born first, in order to handle the complexities of moving the icons from the top, to the bottom, per Craig Federighi himself.
Truly a remarkable feat.
Unfortunately, we may need to wait for another batch of engineers to be born to fix the widget situation…
18 years.
We have been waiting 18 years to move our apps wherever we want to in iOS, and now we have complete app freedom.
After all, it took a new generation of engineers to make this happen.
Developers had to be born first, in order to handle the complexities of moving the icons from the top, to the bottom, per Craig Federighi himself.
Truly a remarkable feat.
Unfortunately, we may need to wait for another batch of engineers to be born to fix the widget situation.
All jokes aside, Apple states we can place widgets where we want them, but that is not the case.
Apple’s claim:
Place your apps and widgets right where you want them. Arrange them along the bottom for quicker reach, or off to the side to frame a favorite wallpaper. Or give each page of your Home Screen a unique layout that's most helpful for you.
When it comes to apps, we do have complete freedom. With widgets, we cannot place them where we want them.
If you use the large widget, you have 2 spots to place them, but you cannot center the widget:
If you are using a medium-sized widget, you have 3 spots to place them, but you cannot place them in rows 2-3 and 4-5:
The smallest widget size, perhaps the most used by people to customize their home screens, has even more limitations. There are 6 layouts that you can use, but there are 9 layouts that you cannot use.
Apple’s walled garden gives you these six choices…
but not these nine choices.
This is the definition of freedom, within Apple’s walled garden.
The situation is more optimistic on iPadOS 18. You still have similar restrictions with the large and medium sized widgets, but for small widgets, you can place them anywhere. The extra space between icons allows for that luxury. It’s actually quite satisfying turning your apps into small widgets, and nothing moves.
I turned whatever apps I could into small widgets, and nothing shifted position.
Also works in portrait mode.
In order to fix this issue, we need the birth of a new generation to rise.
A new generation, with the skill and capabilities to fix what was thought to be unfixable.
A new generation, filled with hope and ambition.
A new generation, to give us the freedom we deserve.
Springboard, here we come!
Does Apple still repair the Series 3 Apple Watch?
With the Series 4 watch now considered a vintage product by Apple, I thought for sure the Series 3 would also be vintage, but it is not.
What is Apple’s definition of vintage?
Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.
When the Series 5 was launched in 2019, the Series 4 was discontinued, and the Series 3 stuck around as a low-cost option. The Series 3 was discontinued in September 2022, so it cannot “achieve” vintage status until at least September 2027.
Even though it stopped getting watchOS updates after watchOS 9, it is still more than functional and does the basics well. You can get repairs done by Apple, including screen and battery replacements for at least 5 to 7 years, depending on where you live.
With the Series 4 watch now considered a vintage product by Apple, I thought for sure the Series 3 would also be vintage, but it is not.
What is Apple’s definition of vintage?
Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.
When the Series 5 was launched in 2019, the Series 4 was discontinued, and the Series 3 stuck around as a low-cost option. The Series 3 was discontinued in September 2022, so it cannot “achieve” vintage status until at least September 2027.
Even though it stopped getting watchOS updates after watchOS 9, it is still more than functional and does the basics well. You can get repairs done by Apple, including screen and battery replacements for at least 5 to 7 years, depending on where you live.
Is my Apple Watch band going to give me cancer?
Stephen Warwick from TechRadar:
Scientists from the University of Notre Dame have called for more comprehensive studies and greater transparency from manufacturers after a study found elevated levels of so-called "forever chemicals" in some consumer smartwatch and fitness tracker bands.
The study, published this week in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, analyzed 22 watch bands from numerous brands and price points and found that some of these bands contained elevated levels of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), namely perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). These chemicals are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they have an almost unbreakable chemical structure which means they don't degrade or break down over time.
The tested brands include many of the bestsmartwatch manufacturers and accessory makers including Apple (and Apple Watch Nike sport bands), CASETiFY, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung.
As reported by Notre Dame News, nine of the 22 bands tested contained elevated levels of PFHxA, with more expensive bands generally found to have higher levels.
The conclusion of this study? Inconclusive:
While the study does mention some big names in the smartwatch sector, notably Apple, Samsung, and Google, it's difficult to extrapolate too much because the study doesn't give the results for each brand. Companies like Apple clearly advertise Fluoroelastomer as present in its best Apple Watch bands, notably its Nike offerings, Sport Band, and the Apple Watch Ultra's Ocean band. However, the study doesn't tell us which of the bands offered by these major players were tested, or if they were the bands with notably high PFA levels.
Also why it’s inconclusive:
Speaking to Yahoo Life, Jamie Alan, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University called the findings "interesting", but said that the study doesn't give any insight into how much PFHxA is absorbed through the skin, if any is absorbed at all. Other specialists in toxicology and dermatology agreed, stating that it is unlikely a significant amount of PXHxA would be absorbed through the skin. Finally, Alan pointed out that the study involved chemically extracting these compounds from Apple Watch bands, something users aren't doing when they wear these items day-to-day. "So although they found very high levels, that does not mean any significant amount is getting into our system," she concluded.
Apple sells 4 bands that are made of fluoroelastomer:
Interestingly the solo loops are made of liquid silicone which is a safer material.
If you look at Apple’s (and any company’s) Substance Specifications Report, you will see a number of substances on that list that can freak you out. On Apple’s 2023 report on page 8, you will see PFAS and specifically PFHxA used in “All Materials,” and an example of their use is “Protective and oleophobic coatings.”
If you remember your Apple history correctly, the iPhone screen has an oleophobic coating.
It could very well be that your iPhone and many other phones out there are coated with PFHxA, and your touching them all day while you’re snacking on Chick-fil-A.
Your Apple Watch band is not the only thing with dangerous chemicals in it. Millions of products out there have them.
It is good to be aware of these studies and how likely it can harm the human body, but the unfortunate reality is that these chemicals are everywhere.
Your pizza boxes are coated with an oleophobic coating so the oil doesn’t seep through the box. It makes for a better presentation to the customer.
Your heat-printed receipt from Best Buy that fades before the 14-day return policy? It has phthalates. Another chemical that can harm the body and cause cancer.
The list goes on.
If someone gets cancer or any other illness, most of the time you can’t blame one specific factor and say that is the cause. It is the cumulative effect of many factors, including these chemicals that are growing in our highly industrialized world.
What does Apple plan to do about PFAS? They plan to phase it out based on a 2022 report.
What can you do about it? Make informed decisions and take realistic steps to decrease exposure.
Even though the Apple bands with fluoroelastomers might not actually be harmful, you can choose to play it safe and use another band.
Just like you can opt for emailed receipts instead of physical ones and dine-in for pizza.
This study just stirred the pot, but it hasn’t cooked any solid information.
Stephen Warwick from TechRadar:
Scientists from the University of Notre Dame have called for more comprehensive studies and greater transparency from manufacturers after a study found elevated levels of so-called "forever chemicals" in some consumer smartwatch and fitness tracker bands.
The study, published this week in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, analyzed 22 watch bands from numerous brands and price points and found that some of these bands contained elevated levels of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), namely perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). These chemicals are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they have an almost unbreakable chemical structure which means they don't degrade or break down over time.
The tested brands include many of the best smartwatch manufacturers and accessory makers including Apple (and Apple Watch Nike sport bands), CASETiFY, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung.
As reported by Notre Dame News, nine of the 22 bands tested contained elevated levels of PFHxA, with more expensive bands generally found to have higher levels.
The conclusion of this study? Inconclusive:
While the study does mention some big names in the smartwatch sector, notably Apple, Samsung, and Google, it's difficult to extrapolate too much because the study doesn't give the results for each brand. Companies like Apple clearly advertise Fluoroelastomer as present in its best Apple Watch bands, notably its Nike offerings, Sport Band, and the Apple Watch Ultra's Ocean band. However, the study doesn't tell us which of the bands offered by these major players were tested, or if they were the bands with notably high PFA levels.
Also why it’s inconclusive:
Speaking to Yahoo Life, Jamie Alan, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University called the findings "interesting", but said that the study doesn't give any insight into how much PFHxA is absorbed through the skin, if any is absorbed at all. Other specialists in toxicology and dermatology agreed, stating that it is unlikely a significant amount of PXHxA would be absorbed through the skin. Finally, Alan pointed out that the study involved chemically extracting these compounds from Apple Watch bands, something users aren't doing when they wear these items day-to-day. "So although they found very high levels, that does not mean any significant amount is getting into our system," she concluded.
Apple sells 4 bands that are made of fluoroelastomer:
Interestingly the solo loops are made of liquid silicone which is a safer material.
If you look at Apple’s (and any company’s) Substance Specifications Report, you will see a number of substances on that list that can freak you out. On Apple’s 2023 report on page 8, you will see PFAS and specifically PFHxA used in “All Materials,” and an example of their use is “Protective and oleophobic coatings.”
If you remember your Apple history correctly, the iPhone screen has an oleophobic coating.
It could very well be that your iPhone and many other phones out there are coated with PFHxA, and your touching them all day while you’re snacking on Chick-fil-A.
Your Apple Watch band is not the only thing with dangerous chemicals in it. Millions of products out there have them.
It is good to be aware of these studies and how likely it can harm the human body, but the unfortunate reality is that these chemicals are everywhere.
Your pizza boxes are coated with an oleophobic coating so the oil doesn’t seep through the box. It makes for a better presentation to the customer.
Your heat-printed receipt from Best Buy that fades before the 14-day return policy? It has phthalates. Another chemical that can harm the body and cause cancer.
The list goes on.
If someone gets cancer or any other illness, most of the time you can’t blame one specific factor and say that is the cause. It is the cumulative effect of many factors, including these chemicals that are growing in our highly industrialized world.
What does Apple plan to do about PFAS? They plan to phase it out based on a 2022 report.
What can you do about it? Make informed decisions and take realistic steps to decrease exposure.
Even though the Apple bands with fluoroelastomers might not actually be harmful, you can choose to play it safe and use another band.
Just like you can opt for emailed receipts instead of physical ones and dine-in for pizza.
This study just stirred the pot, but it hasn’t cooked any solid information.
Are all 42mm Apple Watch bands the same size?
If you want to skip this writeup about watch band compatibility, I found an image from chargerstore on eBay that sums it up beautifully in just one image.
If you want the nitty gritty, keep reading.
If you want to skip this writeup about watch band compatibility, I found an image from chargerstore on eBay that sums it up beautifully in just one image:
Source: chargerstore
If you want the nitty gritty, keep reading.
Apple Watch Series 10 hits several new milestones. As usual, it’s the best Apple Watch since Apple Watch, with an even bigger screen that matches the size of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple says it’s bigger than the Ultra, but to the naked eye, it is the same.
There is one more milestone for the Series 10 that is not discussed.
The smaller 42mm Series 10 is now the same size as the bigger version of the original Apple Watch. The Series 10 is thinner, but the length and width are the same.
The Series 3 (same design as the original Apple Watch), measures 42mm x 36.4mm, and the Series 10 measures 42mm x 36mm.
This now begs the question:
If they both have a 42mm case size, are all 42mm bands that Apple sells or has sold in the past, interchangeable with both these watches?
The short answer is no, but let’s really dive into the details.
If you look at the Series 3 (and older), it is much more square in shape while the Series 10 has more rounded off corners. That square body of the Series 3 adds extra real estate and needs a wider band to fit into the slots.
Not all 42mm case sizes are created equal.
When you’re about to buy a watch band on Apple’s website, there is a link showing compatibility details.
Here is part of what it says:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.
38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, 42mm case sizes. 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes.
The first sentence is a bit misleading because a 42mm Series 3 will be compatible with the new 42mm bands that Apple sells today, but there will be a gap on each side:
The gap isn’t a deal breaker and can be perfectly usable and presentable. You might even forget the gap exists. Might.
At the same time, if you are buying a 42mm Series 10 Apple Watch, and you want to scour the internet for some classic bands that Apple used to sell, you might get burned buying a rare band that is 42mm, only to realize it is bigger than your Series 10:
A rare Ceramic Edition Series 2 band (42mm). Not a good look.
Imagine buying a light colored band, only to have it stick out.
This is how Apple should word their compatibility description:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.
38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and Series 10 42mm case sizes.
44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes, and Series 3 or earlier models with a 42mm case size.
I know what most of you are thinking.
“Who actually uses a Series 3 or earlier Apple Watch??”
Last week, I saw someone using an iPhone 5S as their main device. It had the polished chamfered edges and not the matte-finished edges of the 1st gen iPhone SE.
If you know, you know.
If people can still rock an 11-yr-old iPhone 5S as their primary communication device, they sure as heck can rock a 7-yr-old Series 3 Apple Watch as a secondary, “no problems if I forget it at home,” device.
I have been wearing a Series 3 for over a week now, and it is still usable today, but we’ll take a deep dive into that another time.
Like I said earlier, the main issue isn’t really for Series 3 users since you can get by with a slimmer band. The problem is for 42mm Series 10 users who want to buy older bands or discontinued leather bands that are labelled 42mm.
Let’s not forget about 3rd party bands either, which only compounds the problem.
That being said, here are the rules for buying watch bands for your 42mm watch:
Series 3 or earlier - Look at the item description. If 42mm is paired with numbers above it (44mm, 45mm, 46mm, 49mm), it is compatible.
Series 10 - Look at the item description. If 42mm is paired with numbers below it (38mm, 40mm, 41mm), it is compatible.
If they advertise the band as 42mm by itself, God help you.
6 settings you must have for your Apple Watch
Whenever I get an Apple Watch (it’s a yearly thing for me), I always do these six things to give me peace of mind.
Note: You can setup most of these features on the Apple Watch under Settings, but it is easier to use the Watch app on your iPhone…
Whenever I get an Apple Watch (it’s a yearly thing for me), I always do these six things to give me peace of mind.
Note: You can setup most of these features on the Apple Watch under Settings, but it is easier to use the Watch app on your iPhone.
1. Add a passcode
This seems like a no-brainer, but our watches are now phones, whether we like it or not. There is too much sensitive data on our watches, and you don’t want anyone looking at your messages, emails, and photos, just to name a few apps. If you jump in the shower and take off your watch, all someone has to do is pick up your watch, and you just gave them access to your life.
You can choose between a simple 4-digit passcode, and go up to a 10-digit passcode. Pick what works for you, and get peace of mind.
Open the Watch app and go to Passcode, and follow the prompts to set up your passcode.
Adding a passcode is also the only way to get Apple Pay on your watch, which is #2 on my list.
2. Adding Apple Pay
I had an issue recently with my bank where I had a fraudulent transaction posted to my account. Someone somehow used my debit card and it was time to file a fraud claim. Of course I had to wait 5-7 business days to get my new card in the mail.
What I didn’t have to wait for was my digital card. I could login to my Bank’s app, and activate the digital card instantly. Having Apple Pay on my watch gave me the ability to purchase goods without having to resort to another credit card or bank account.
A more common occurrence is when you forget your iPhone or wallet, and now you can’t pay for anything. Having Apple Pay on your Apple Watch will bail you out in these all too common situations and once again, give you peace of mind.
Open the Watch app and go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and select which cards to add to your watch. If you scroll down, you can even Allow Payments on Mac and use your watch to confirm payments.
3. Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
This is a handy feature that any Mac user can appreciate. It is compatible with macOS Sierra and onwards, so odds are it will work with your current Mac.
It works on my 2013 MacBook Pro.
On your Mac, go to Settings > Touch ID and Password and scroll all the way down to the Apple Watch section, where you can allow the Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. This is especially handy on older macbooks that don’t have Touch ID. Now you don’t have to be paranoid that someone might be watching you enter your password when your watch will unlock it for you, and give you peace of…you get the idea.
If you have an older mac with the older Settings menu, just search “Apple Watch” in Settings and you will see the option to unlock with Apple Watch.
4. Swipe to change watch faces
This used to be a staple feature of the Apple Watch, but now it is hidden. The draconian way of changing watch faces is to tap and hold your finger on the current watch face screen until it zooms out, swipe left or right to another watch face, and then tap your finger on the screen to select your new watch face. You can do this a lot faster and get access to more information by simply swiping from the edge of your screen to the next watch face, just like in the early days of the Apple Watch.
Open the Watch App and go to Clock, and toggle ON Swipe to Switch Watch Face.
5. Configure your Live Activities
This is a personal preference, but I would recommend setting up this feature from the get go so you’re not confused. Live Activities give you more upfront information about a particular activity, such as current media being played, workouts, parking timers, stopwatch, etc.
Think of it like Dynamic Island on your watch, except you get these cards at the beginning of your Smart Stack. This is nice when you’re playing a podcast and you want quick access to the pause and play buttons. However, it can also be annoying on other apps such as the ParkMobile app, where the information displayed is limited.
The ParkMobile Live Activity isn’t useful and clicking on the timer button on the right just tells you to “Open on iPhone.”
The great thing about Live Activities is you can customize which apps are shown.
Open the Watch App and go to Smart Stack. Here you can disable or enable Live Activities altogether, and if you do allow them, you can customize which apps get to have the Live Activity feature.
But do yourself a favor and disable Auto-Launch Live Activities. It’s just easier to access the Live Activities with a swipe up from your watch or by turning the Digital Crown when you want to, instead of fighting with it all the time when it pops up automatically.
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to look at your watch and get some info from your complications (left), only to see that your Live Activities are automatically displayed with just the time and date (right).
6. Unlock your watch with your iPhone
Open the Watch App and go to Passcode, and toggle on Unlock with iPhone. Now once you unlock your iPhone, your watch will be unlocked as long as you are wearing it. This is great if you have a longer passcode for the watch.
People got iPhones for the holidays.
Amber Neely from AppleInsider:
This year, CNBC reported that Apple's "Move to iOS" app has made its way into the top 40 apps on the Google Play store. It is not terribly surprising — after all, many people are excited to set up their new devices, but not without ensuring all their files come with them.
I couldn’t find the actual CNBC report, but as of 12/27/24 at 3:28PM, the Move to iOS app on the Play Store is ranked #12.
How about Google’s Android Switch app on the App Store? It’s ranked #160…in the Utilities category.
Amber Neely from AppleInsider:
This year, CNBC reported that Apple's "Move to iOS" app has made its way into the top 40 apps on the Google Play store. It is not terribly surprising — after all, many people are excited to set up their new devices, but not without ensuring all their files come with them.
I couldn’t find the actual CNBC report, but as of 12/27/24 at 3:28PM, the Move to iOS app on the Play Store is ranked #12.
How about Google’s Android Switch app on the App Store? It’s ranked #160…in the Utilities category.
How to sync your Photos App in iOS 18
In certain situations, your photos on your iOS devices don’t sync automatically, such as when being on a cellular connection or being on Low Power Mode.
In iOS 17, it was really easy to resume sync by simply tapping Sync Now at the end of your Camera Roll.
In iOS 18, there is no Sync Now button at the end of your Camera Roll…
In certain situations, your photos on your iOS devices don’t sync automatically, such as when being on a cellular connection or being on Low Power Mode.
In iOS 17, it was really easy to resume sync by simply tapping Sync Now at the end of your Camera Roll.
In iOS 18, there is no Sync Now button at the end of your Camera Roll. You have to click on your iCloud account in the top right corner, and then hit the Sync Now button there.
Took me forever to find this setting.
Do you need a cellular plan on your Apple Watch?
My opinion on this matter mimics quite literally everything Jason Cross at Macworld said about this topic. For most people, you don’t need a cellular plan.
I’ve never even considered having a plan in the last 10 years.
Cross quotes a cellular plan at an extra $10/month, but with fees it’s closer to $15-$20 per month.
Everytime he finds a reason to need a cellular plan, he finds a valid excuse:
For example, if you’re a runner that wants to run outdoors without the awkwardness of an iPhone strapped to you somewhere, and don’t want to give up listening to music or a podcast, an Apple Watch streaming to your earbuds is a great solution. You can always download the music or podcast ahead of time—cellular would let you stream, but that’s a minor convenience…
I’ve seen reports of people who were glad they had their cellular Apple Watch to make a phone call when out on a hike without their iPhone, which I suppose could happen. But… you hike without your iPhone? You don’t want your camera with you, or the capability to connect to a satellite if you’re out of cellular range? (Emergency SOS via satellite isn’t a feature of the Apple Watch.)
The only real excuses?
The real benefit would be staying in touch via text or phone while out on your iPhone-free run…
Note that if you want to set up an Apple Watch for your child using a Kids account, it must have cellular. This is meant for a child that doesn’t have their own phone and ensures that you’ll always be able to locate them with Find My, send or receive texts or calls, and control their access to apps or notifications.
Most freak situations like swimming outdoors, paddle boarding, and surfing might warrant a cellular connection, but beyond that, your iPhone will likely be on your person or very close by.
Save yourself the $100 premium plus the monthly costs.
If you go stainless steel or titanium, the cellular capability will be built-in, but you don’t have to activate a plan.
For the record, I used a spare iPhone for my three young kids at $12/month with all fees included. The phone is given to the kid who will be away from home depending on their schedules.
My opinion on this matter mimics quite literally everything Jason Cross at Macworld said about this topic. For most people, you don’t need a cellular plan.
I’ve never even considered having a plan in the last 10 years.
Cross quotes a cellular plan at an extra $10/month, but with fees it’s closer to $15-$20 per month.
Everytime he finds a reason to need a cellular plan, he finds a valid excuse:
For example, if you’re a runner that wants to run outdoors without the awkwardness of an iPhone strapped to you somewhere, and don’t want to give up listening to music or a podcast, an Apple Watch streaming to your earbuds is a great solution. You can always download the music or podcast ahead of time—cellular would let you stream, but that’s a minor convenience…
I’ve seen reports of people who were glad they had their cellular Apple Watch to make a phone call when out on a hike without their iPhone, which I suppose could happen. But… you hike without your iPhone? You don’t want your camera with you, or the capability to connect to a satellite if you’re out of cellular range? (Emergency SOS via satellite isn’t a feature of the Apple Watch.)
The only real excuses?
The real benefit would be staying in touch via text or phone while out on your iPhone-free run…
Note that if you want to set up an Apple Watch for your child using a Kids account, it must have cellular. This is meant for a child that doesn’t have their own phone and ensures that you’ll always be able to locate them with Find My, send or receive texts or calls, and control their access to apps or notifications.
Most freak situations like swimming outdoors, paddle boarding, and surfing might warrant a cellular connection, but beyond that, your iPhone will likely be on your person or very close by.
Save yourself the $100 premium plus the monthly costs.
If you go stainless steel or titanium, the cellular capability will be built-in, but you don’t have to activate a plan.
For the record, I used a spare iPhone for my three young kids at $12/month with all fees included. The phone is given to the kid who will be away from home depending on their schedules.
The Right Way to Backup your iPhone.
Many people will be getting new iPhones this holiday season, and there’s nothing worse than having your transfer to another iPhone go bad without having a proper backup.
It’s easy to just backup your iPhone to iCloud, but there is a proper way to do it so you have little to no problems in case you need it.
Here is the proper way to backup your device to iCloud:
Update all your apps to the latest version in the App Store.
Force quit all your apps.
Restart your iPhone to remove any software gremlins running in the background.
Backup your iPhone to iCloud.
There is no 100% failsafe solution, but this method has always worked for me and gave me a reliable backup to fall back to.
Many people will be getting new iPhones this holiday season, and there’s nothing worse than having your transfer to another iPhone go bad without having a proper backup.
It’s easy to just backup your iPhone to iCloud, but there is a proper way to do it so you have little to no problems in case you need it.
Here is the proper way to backup your device to iCloud:
Update all your apps to the latest version in the App Store.
Force quit all your apps.
Restart your iPhone to remove any software gremlins running in the background.
Backup your iPhone to iCloud.
There is no 100% failsafe solution, but this method has always worked for me and gave me a reliable backup to fall back to.