iPhone 16 Camera Control - an Accessibility control Apple needs to add.
I’ve complained not once, but twice about the single click to take a photo being a bad idea. The iPhone shakes at exactly the wrong time and you risk taking a blurry photo, especially if you’re doing it one-handed.
Considering how much customizability Apple gives you in the Camera Control settings, they can easily make one more customization:
A single light press (the half-press with haptic feedback) to take photos. This does mean no more menu system to adjust common camera controls like exposure, zoom, etc, but there is already an option under Accessibility that allows you to disable the Light-Press and Swipe gestures altogether, getting rid of the common camera controls.
If Apple is OK with getting rid of the common camera controls, why not let us use a single or double click to launch the camera, and a single light press to take a photo?
Apple even included 3 sensitivity settings for light presses in accessibility, so you can fine tune the force for light presses.
This would honestly be a game changer and would make more people use the feature, especially for people who have a hard time pressing a button that is already flush with the phone’s body, making it the hardest button to press on the device.
I’ve complained not once, but twice about the single click to take a photo being a bad idea. The iPhone shakes at exactly the wrong time and you risk taking a blurry photo, especially if you’re doing it one-handed.
Considering how much customizability Apple gives you in the Camera Control settings, they can easily make one more customization:
A single light press (the half-press with haptic feedback) to take photos. This does mean no more menu system to adjust common camera controls like exposure, zoom, etc., but there is already an option under Accessibility that allows you to disable the Light-Press and Swipe gestures altogether, getting rid of the common camera controls.
If Apple is OK with getting rid of the common camera controls, why not let us use a single or double click to launch the camera, and a single light press to take a photo?
Apple even included 3 sensitivity settings for light presses in accessibility, so you can fine tune the force for light presses.
This would honestly be a game changer and would make more people use the feature, especially for people who have a hard time pressing a button that is already flush with the phone’s body, making it the hardest button to press on the device.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 - what to expect in 2025.
Apple has a predictable pattern for Apple Watch upgrades each year.
Every 3 years, they come out with a new and improved hardware design, adding small but meaningful new features in the 2 years leading up to the new design.
Here is the general pattern:
Apple Watch - Original design. Apple Watch debut.
Series 2 - same design, faster processor, better water resistance.
Series 3 - same design, faster processor, cellular-enabled, W2 wireless chip for faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Series 4 - all new design with bigger screen and slimmer bezels, faster S4 chip, W3 wireless chip, ECG sensor, fall detection.
Series 5 - same design, always-on display, doubled the storage to 32GB.
Series 6 - same design, faster processor, blood oxygen sensor.
Series 7 - all new design with more rounded body, inset screen for more durability, and a bigger display with thinner bezels, fast charging.
Series 8 - same design, minimal upgrades.
Series 9 - same design, 1st significant processor boost since the Series 6, double-tap gesture support.
Series 10 - all new design with thinner chassis, bigger wide-angle OLED display, depth gauge to 6m, water temperature sensor.
As you can see, every 3 years.
It’s like clockwork.
The Ultra 2 had a two year cycle this time, with just the slate color being added on for 2024. The 3-year cycle will end in September 2025, where we should see a new design. The Ultra 3 will be an evolution of the current design, borrowing a lot of the technology from the Series 10 along with some other benefits:
Same basic shape, but a thinner design and bigger screen making it the biggest display on an Apple Watch.
Same 3rd gen LTPO3 OLED display like the Series 10 giving it better off-axis viewing angles and allowing for an always-on ticking seconds hand like the Series 10.
New processor to give it some Apple Intelligence features.
These 3 features are almost a guarantee, since they would need to at least meet the Series 10 in terms of features. It will not be as thin as a Series 10 (nor should it be), but I expect it to meet the 1mm decrease in thickness, maybe even 2mm.
What would be a real treat? A smaller version of the Ultra, similar to the size of the current 46mm Series 10.
They can advertise it as 24-hour battery life, and 48 hours in Low Power Mode, fitting right in between the regular watch and the standard Ultra.
I would jump on that in a heartbeat.
Apple has a predictable pattern for Apple Watch upgrades each year.
Every 3 years, they come out with a new and improved hardware design, adding small but meaningful new features in the 2 years leading up to the new design.
Here is the general pattern:
Apple Watch - Original design. Apple Watch debut.
Series 2 - same design, faster processor, better water resistance.
Series 3 - same design, faster processor, cellular-enabled, W2 wireless chip for faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Series 4 - all new design with bigger screen and slimmer bezels, faster S4 chip, W3 wireless chip, ECG sensor, fall detection.
Series 5 - same design, always-on display, doubled the storage to 32GB.
Series 6 - same design, faster processor, blood oxygen sensor.
Series 7 - all new design with more rounded body, inset screen for more durability, and a bigger display with thinner bezels, fast charging.
Series 8 - same design, minimal upgrades.
Series 9 - same design, 1st significant processor boost since the Series 6, double-tap gesture support.
Series 10 - all new design with thinner chassis, bigger wide-angle OLED display, depth gauge to 6m, water temperature sensor.
As you can see, every 3 years.
It’s like clockwork.
The Ultra 2 had a two year cycle this time, with just the slate color being added on for 2024. The 3-year cycle will end in September 2025, where we should see a new design. The Ultra 3 will be an evolution of the current design, borrowing a lot of the technology from the Series 10 along with some other benefits:
Same basic shape, but a thinner design and bigger screen making it the biggest display on an Apple Watch.
Same 3rd gen LTPO3 OLED display like the Series 10 giving it better off-axis viewing angles and allowing for an always-on ticking seconds hand like the Series 10.
New processor to give it some Apple Intelligence features.
These 3 features are almost a guarantee, since they would need to at least meet the Series 10 in terms of features. It will not be as thin as a Series 10 (nor should it be), but I expect it to meet the 1mm decrease in thickness, maybe even 2mm.
What would be a real treat? A smaller version of the Ultra, similar to the size of the current 46mm Series 10.
They can advertise it as 24-hour battery life, and 48 hours in Low Power Mode, fitting right in between the regular watch and the standard Ultra.
I would jump on that in a heartbeat.
Why Apple will never let you have your own watch faces.
Apple considers itself a watchmaker.
This might be a cringe statement to watch enthusiasts, but you cannot deny the impact Apple has had over the last 10 years. The Apple Watch got regular people to start wearing something on their wrists again.
Including myself.
Just like any watch brand, they have fully immersed themselves into horology, consulting with the experts in the field during the development process.
Something Apple never does.
When Jony Ive spoke with Benjamin Clymer at Hodinkee, this is what Ive had to say regarding the Apple Watch project:
BC: How was this project different from others?
JI: We knew there was so much to appreciate in this space that in order to ground ourselves, we had a series of people that helped. Just to begin to understand the historical space, having tremendous respect and deference for watchmaking. This was highly unusual for us, speaking to anyone outside of our team early on in a product development stage. But, normally there are no parallel products from which to learn.
You know, we call this (pointing at my MacBook Pro), a MacBook, but you won’t learn more about this by understanding the nature of a physical book – so we didn’t talk to librarians. With the watch, we did. We spoke to an incredible list of experts in watchmaking throughout our development process.
Apple didn’t want to take any chances if they were going to go full-in with the Apple Watch project.
Even though they came out successful on the other end, it was the understanding of watch culture that really sets them apart from others like Google and Samsung.
When it comes to any watch, the watch face represents the brand. The watch company wants you to see their watch, and instantly know what it is.
Look at any watch company’s lineup of watches, and you will see consistency in design and branding.
Everything from the design of the hour, minute, and second hands, to the font, to the hour-markers are all part of what makes a brand instantly recognizable.
And that is why Apple will never let you have your own watch faces.
Even when Apple partners with Hermès, Apple uses its signature hour, minute, and second hands and blends the Hermès font with it, to make both brands recognizable.
If you throw on a cheap Rolex watch face on the Apple Watch, it will only cheapen Apple’s brand, which they do not want.
It is neither a Rolex, nor an Apple Watch.
It is confusion.
Other brands like Google and Samsung also make watches that have immense customizability which is fine, but you won’t find instant recognition with their watches. The brand recognition is not there.
They have a different approach, and that is their choice.
Google and Samsung chose to make watches, while Apple chose to be a watchmaker.
Apple considers itself a watchmaker.
This might be a cringe statement to watch enthusiasts, but you cannot deny the impact Apple has had over the last 10 years. The Apple Watch got regular people to start wearing something on their wrists again.
Including myself.
Just like any watch brand, they have fully immersed themselves into horology, consulting with the experts in the field during the development process.
Something Apple never does.
When Jony Ive spoke with Benjamin Clymer at Hodinkee, this is what Ive had to say regarding the Apple Watch project:
BC: How was this project different from others?
JI: We knew there was so much to appreciate in this space that in order to ground ourselves, we had a series of people that helped. Just to begin to understand the historical space, having tremendous respect and deference for watchmaking. This was highly unusual for us, speaking to anyone outside of our team early on in a product development stage. But, normally there are no parallel products from which to learn.
You know, we call this (pointing at my MacBook Pro), a MacBook, but you won’t learn more about this by understanding the nature of a physical book – so we didn’t talk to librarians. With the watch, we did. We spoke to an incredible list of experts in watchmaking throughout our development process.
Apple didn’t want to take any chances if they were going to go full-in with the Apple Watch project.
Even though they came out successful on the other end, it was the understanding of watch culture that really sets them apart from others like Google and Samsung.
When it comes to any watch, the watch face represents the brand. The watch company wants you to see their watch, and instantly know what it is.
Look at any watch company’s lineup of watches, and you will see consistency in design and branding.
Everything from the design of the hour, minute, and second hands, to the font, to the hour-markers are all part of what makes a brand instantly recognizable.
And that is why Apple will never let you have your own watch faces.
Even when Apple partners with Hermès, Apple uses its signature hour, minute, and second hands and blends the Hermès font with it, to make both brands recognizable.
If you throw on a cheap Rolex watch face on the Apple Watch, it will only cheapen Apple’s brand, which they do not want.
It is neither a Rolex, nor an Apple Watch.
It is confusion.
Other brands like Google and Samsung also make watches that have immense customizability which is fine, but you won’t find instant recognition with their watches. The brand recognition is not there.
They have a different approach, and that is their choice.
Google and Samsung chose to make watches, while Apple chose to be a watchmaker.
How to turn on the “Always On Display” on your iPhone.
Apple introduced it’s first always on display for the iPhone 14 Pro. It works fine most of the time, but sometimes it just turns itself off for no apparent reason. I even did a fresh from zero setup for my iPhone 16 Pro Max and still once every 2 days or so, the always on display just turns itself off.
I could go into Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and toggle it on, but why do that when I can just use a shortcut instead?
If you’re having the same problem, a one-click shortcut will fix it.
Apple introduced it’s first always on display for the iPhone 14 Pro. It works fine most of the time, but sometimes it just turns itself off for no apparent reason. I even did a fresh from zero setup for my iPhone 16 Pro Max and stil,l once every 2 days or so, the Always On Display just turns itself off.
I could go into Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and toggle it on, but why do that when I can just use a shortcut instead?
If you’re having the same problem, a one-click shortcut will fix it.
I got the Jet Black Apple Watch again.
I’ve been through my fair share of Jet Black Apple watches (two to be exact), and this one doesn’t have any issues with unpainted bezels.
Plus it was a good deal at $70 off.
Looks like 3rd time is the charm.
If there is a defect in the Jet Black finish, it will most likely be at the junction between the screen and the flat part of the body the screen is joined to. The flat part is not smooth and painted to the same extent as the shiny outer finish of the watch, and that could be why it is more prone to showing bare aluminum.
I’ve been through my fair share of Jet Black Apple watches (two to be exact), and this one doesn’t have any issues with unpainted bezels.
Plus it was a good deal at $70 off.
Looks like 3rd time is the charm.
If there is a defect in the Jet Black finish, it will most likely be at the junction between the screen and the flat part of the body the screen is joined to. The flat part is not smooth and painted to the same extent as the shiny outer finish of the watch, and that could be why it is more prone to showing bare aluminum.
Apple sued for its privacy stance towards its employees.
Rushil Agrawal from Android Authority:
Apple, the tech giant that has built its reputation on safeguarding customer privacy, is now facing a lawsuit that claims its own employees aren’t getting the same treatment. Amar Bhakta, an employee in Apple’s advertising technology division, has accused the company of prying into workers’ personal lives through iCloud accounts and non-work devices.
The main issue here is the blending of personal and work iCloud accounts, and Apple “actively discouraging” the use of separate iCloud accounts:
The heart of the issue seems to be Apple’s policy of requiring employees to use Apple devices for work, which, combined with restrictions on company-owned devices, often leads employees to use their personal iPhones and Macs. This, in turn, necessitates the use of personal iCloud accounts, allegedly exposing personal data to company scrutiny.
For employees who’d rather not have their personal lives exposed, the alternative isn’t much better. The suit claims Apple “actively discourages” setting up separate iCloud accounts for work purposes, making it nearly impossible to avoid this blending of work and personal data.
Active discouragement of employees to use separate iCloud accounts for work will be what the case will revolve around.
Could just be a controlling manager, or something much bigger.
Not a good look for Apple.
Rushil Agrawal from Android Authority:
Apple, the tech giant that has built its reputation on safeguarding customer privacy, is now facing a lawsuit that claims its own employees aren’t getting the same treatment. Amar Bhakta, an employee in Apple’s advertising technology division, has accused the company of prying into workers’ personal lives through iCloud accounts and non-work devices.
The main issue here is the blending of personal and work iCloud accounts, and Apple “actively discouraging” the use of separate iCloud accounts:
The heart of the issue seems to be Apple’s policy of requiring employees to use Apple devices for work, which, combined with restrictions on company-owned devices, often leads employees to use their personal iPhones and Macs. This, in turn, necessitates the use of personal iCloud accounts, allegedly exposing personal data to company scrutiny.
For employees who’d rather not have their personal lives exposed, the alternative isn’t much better. The suit claims Apple “actively discourages” setting up separate iCloud accounts for work purposes, making it nearly impossible to avoid this blending of work and personal data.
Active discouragement of employees to use separate iCloud accounts for work will be what the case will revolve around.
Could just be a controlling manager, or something much bigger.
Not a good look for Apple.
People know your Wi-Fi password, and it can get you hacked.
With iOS 16 and later, Apple has made it a lot easier to find your Wi-Fi password and other Wi-Fi passwords that you have connected to.
With iOS 18, it’s way easier since you can do it from the Passwords app.
I didn’t even know you could look at a Wi-Fi password when someone shares it with you, until I looked at the Wi-Fi category in the Passwords app.
I went to a relative’s house recently who likes to keep a low profile, and they are always reluctant to share their Wi-Fi password. They don’t even keep bluetooth on, so they have to manually type their password into my phone or my kids’ devices whenever we come over.
Once he entered the password on my iPhone, I just went into the Passwords app, went under the Wi-Fi category, and voila! There was the password.
They were surprised to find out how I knew it, but it shows you why you need to make sure that password is not used anywhere else. A lot of people (around 78%) use the same password for multiple accounts, and if you’re using your Wi-Fi password for something else, now is a good time to change it.
With iOS 16 and later, Apple has made it a lot easier to find your Wi-Fi password and other Wi-Fi passwords that you have connected to.
With iOS 18, it’s way easier since you can do it from the Passwords app.
I didn’t even know you could look at a Wi-Fi password when someone shares it with you, until I looked at the Wi-Fi category in the Passwords app.
I went to a relative’s house recently who likes to keep a low profile, and they are always reluctant to share their Wi-Fi password. They don’t even keep bluetooth on, so they have to manually type their password into my phone or my kids’ devices whenever we come over.
Once he entered the password on my iPhone, I just went into the Passwords app, went under the Wi-Fi category, and voila! There was the password.
They were surprised to find out how I knew it, but it shows you why you need to make sure that password is not used anywhere else. A lot of people (around 78%) use the same password for multiple accounts, and if you’re using your Wi-Fi password for something else, now is a good time to change it.
How to get the maximum brightness on your iPhone.
By default, Apple has auto-brightness on your iPhone set to ON.
When you are indoors, you will never achieve the max brightness that your phone can achieve with this setting turned on.
Yes, even if you go to control center and slide the brightness all the way up, it will not be its brightest.
To unlock your maximum brightness and really see it shine, I need you to follow this process:
Go to a dimly lit area.
Make sure your phone has Dark Mode turned OFF.
Open your Control Center and maximize your brightness. Now you are setup to see eye-blinding brightness.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size, and scroll all the way down and disable auto-brightness.
Watch the screen and notice how much brighter it gets!
Remember one thing: this is great for indoor brightness only.
If you do want the highest brightness outdoors, you need to keep the auto-brightness setting ON. That is the only way to get peak brightness on your iPhone when outdoors. Apple limits this so your screen doesn’t max out at 2000 nits of brightness all day long and either destroy your screen or your battery life.
Instead of having to go through settings each time to toggle this on and off, you can ask Siri to either, “Turn on auto brightness” or “Turn off auto brightness.”
If you want to change the setting in silence, add this shortcut to take you right to the auto brightness toggle with a single click:
Note: Tested on iOS 17 and iOS 18.2 Developer Beta
By default, Apple has auto-brightness on your iPhone set to ON.
When you are indoors, you will never achieve the max brightness that your phone can achieve with this setting turned on.
Yes, even if you go to control center and slide the brightness all the way up, it will not be its brightest.
To unlock your maximum brightness and really see it shine, I need you to follow this process:
Go to a dimly lit area.
Make sure your phone has Dark Mode turned OFF.
Open your Control Center and maximize your brightness. Now you are setup to see eye-blinding brightness.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size, and scroll all the way down and disable auto-brightness.
Watch the screen and notice how much brighter it gets!
Remember one thing: this is great for indoor brightness only.
If you do want the highest brightness outdoors, you need to keep the auto-brightness setting ON. That is the only way to get peak brightness on your iPhone when outdoors. Apple limits this so your screen doesn’t max out at 2000 nits of brightness all day long and either destroy your screen or your battery life.
Instead of having to go through settings each time to toggle this on and off, you can ask Siri to either, “Turn on auto brightness” or “Turn off auto brightness.”
If you want to change the setting in silence, add this shortcut to take you right to the auto brightness toggle with a single click:
Note: Tested on iOS 17 and iOS 18.2 Developer Beta
Belkin recalls their famous fast charging Apple Watch battery bank.
Rajesh Pandey from Cult of Mac:
Belkin is issuing a voluntary product recall for model no. BDP005, citing a manufacturing defect. It says this defect can lead to the “portable wireless battery charger’s lithium cell component to overheat,” leading to a fire hazard. Fortunately, the company has not received any reports of injuries so far.
The BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger stood out for its 10,400mAh cell and its ability to fast charge Apple Watch Series 7 and newer models. The USB-C port also supports 20W power output, enabling it to quickly top up your iPhone or iPad.
To get a refund, you must file a recall form. This includes providing your contact information, product serial number, photos of the power bank, and the purchase receipt. If you don’t have the latter, Belkin will reject your refund request.
I remember this being the only battery bank with a fast charging Apple Watch puck built-in when it came out, and how The Verge was really excited about its prospects:
I do not know whether this Belkin BoostCharge Pro will live up to its promise. I’ve been burned so many times that I’m trying to temper my expectations. But the idea that this little divot in the picture, the one where it looks like I can securely strap my Apple Watch to it and plug in my phone? And potentially eliminate two or three extra cables from my bag? And give me confidence that if I grab this one thing, I’ll be 100 percent confident it will fast-charge my device? And maybe let me toss my smartwatch cables in exchange for an assortment of 3-5 power banks? For once, enough hope burns in my shriveled heart that I preordered the damn thing to test it myself.
Bless Belkin for even trying to conjure this into existence. Bless the army of copycats that will likely get on board and do it for a cheaper price. Bless the inevitable copycats of copycats that will do this for Samsung, Google, Fossil, and other smartwatches.
Kudos to Belkin for initiating the recall and offering refunds for it.
In terms of another battery bank with fast Apple Watch charging built-in, this is the only one I found that seems legit.
Rajesh Pandey from Cult of Mac:
Belkin is issuing a voluntary product recall for model no. BDP005, citing a manufacturing defect. It says this defect can lead to the “portable wireless battery charger’s lithium cell component to overheat,” leading to a fire hazard. Fortunately, the company has not received any reports of injuries so far.
The BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger stood out for its 10,400mAh cell and its ability to fast charge Apple Watch Series 7 and newer models. The USB-C port also supports 20W power output, enabling it to quickly top up your iPhone or iPad.
To get a refund, you must file a recall form. This includes providing your contact information, product serial number, photos of the power bank, and the purchase receipt. If you don’t have the latter, Belkin will reject your refund request.
I remember this being the only battery bank with a fast charging Apple Watch puck built-in when it came out, and how The Verge was really excited about its prospects:
I do not know whether this Belkin BoostCharge Pro will live up to its promise. I’ve been burned so many times that I’m trying to temper my expectations. But the idea that this little divot in the picture, the one where it looks like I can securely strap my Apple Watch to it and plug in my phone? And potentially eliminate two or three extra cables from my bag? And give me confidence that if I grab this one thing, I’ll be 100 percent confident it will fast-charge my device? And maybe let me toss my smartwatch cables in exchange for an assortment of 3-5 power banks? For once, enough hope burns in my shriveled heart that I preordered the damn thing to test it myself.
Bless Belkin for even trying to conjure this into existence. Bless the army of copycats that will likely get on board and do it for a cheaper price. Bless the inevitable copycats of copycats that will do this for Samsung, Google, Fossil, and other smartwatches.
Kudos to Belkin for initiating the recall and offering refunds for it.
In terms of another battery bank with fast Apple Watch charging built-in, this is the only one I found that seems legit.
Hidden Accessibility feature in the Password App.
If you touch and hold your username or password, there’s an option to, “show in large type.” Not only is it larger, but it comes with color coding for each type of character:
Brown = upper case letters
Black = lower case letters
Blue = special characters
Orange = numbers
No more confusion between a 1 and a l, and between 0 and O.
This is helpful for everyone, especially the visually impaired.
If you touch and hold your username or password, there’s an option to, “show in large type.” Not only is it larger, but it comes with color coding for each type of character:
Brown = upper case letters
Black = lower case letters
Blue = special characters
Orange = numbers
No more confusion between a 1 and a l, and between 0 and O.
This is helpful for everyone, especially the visually impaired.
How to tell the difference between AirPods Pro 1 and AirPods Pro 2
Whether you get them mixed up or you have some shady person trying to sell you AirPods Pro 2 at a discount, you should know the difference between the two.
The outer casing is a dead giveaway with the speaker holes and the lanyard slot, but how would you tell the actual buds apart?
The heads of the buds on the Pro 2 have two black speaker/sensor cutouts vs the single one on the 1st generation.
The stems are identical.
Whether you get them mixed up or you have some shady person trying to sell you AirPods Pro 2 at a discount, you should know the difference between the two.
The outer casing is a dead giveaway with the speaker holes and the lanyard slot, but how would you tell the actual buds apart?
The heads of the buds on the Pro 2 have two black speaker/sensor cutouts vs the single one on the 1st generation.
The stems are identical.
AirPods Pro 1 (left) vs AirPods Pro 2 (right).
Apple Watch Ultra 2 with all 4 Milanese Loops - Ultimate Comparison
The Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 this year was not the only hardware change the Ultra lineup saw this year.
The Ultra watches also got new Titanium Milanese loops, which is good news for mesh band lovers, but also begs the question:
Which Milanese loop is right for you?
Now you have two different Milanese bands to choose from:
Stainless Steel Milanese loop
Titanium Milanese loop
It might seem obvious to get the titanium band with the titanium watch, but you would be surprised. There might even be some deal breakers.
The Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 this year was not the only hardware change the Ultra lineup saw this year.
The Ultra watches also got new Titanium Milanese loops, which is good news for mesh band lovers, but also begs the question:
Which Milanese loop is right for you?
Now you have two different Milanese bands to choose from:
Stainless Steel Milanese loop
Titanium Milanese loop
It might seem obvious to get the titanium band with the titanium watch, but you would be surprised. There might even be some deal breakers.
Stainless Steel Milanese Loop
This has been around since the launch of the Apple Watch, and is a tried and true band. The rounded and polished mesh of the band gives it an elegant look, without being too flashy.
Pros:
Magnetic clasp which makes for easy adjustments throughout the day.
Looks surprisingly good on the Ultra 2.
$100 cheaper than the titanium milanese loop.
Satisfying magnetic “click” each time you “fling-snap” it in place.
Complete control of the watch’s movement when taking it off since the loosening point is in your hand.
Tighter and smaller mesh pattern makes the loop stick out less on smaller wrists.
Cons:
Not as seamless of a look on the Ultra 2 compared to the titanium band.
It does get loose during the course of a day, and also during workouts which makes it…
Not ideal for swimming and scuba diving.
Even though the stainless steel bands are polished and the Ultra 2 is matte, the only part that really clashes is the part no one will really see, which is the side attachment point. The front attachment point is brushed and fits nicely with the watch’s matte titanium body.
Titanium Milanese Loop
Newly introduced this year for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, this band is made up of a flat and matted mesh that has a thicker pattern, giving it an industrial yet elegant look.
Before we get into the pros and cons of this band, make sure you learn the anatomy of the clasp.
Got it?
OK, let’s talk.
Pros:
Seamless and perfect look with the Ultra 2.
Buckle and clasp mechanism means it will not get loose.
Satisfying click when buckling the watch.
Great for extreme activities like swimming and scuba diving.
Cons:
$100 more expensive than the stainless steel band.
Clasp’s chin is very rigid, making it harder to adjust.
Looks worse on smaller wrists than the stainless steel band.
Less control over the watch when removing it from your wrist.
Thicker mesh pattern makes the loop twice as thick as the stainless steel band.
The titanium band does have a more seamless look and fits perfectly with the titanium watch, but you lose a bit of flexibility. When you initially put on the band, you have to adjust the clasp at the right spot where you will then snap it in place. You pull up the chin, and shift the clasp around as you see fit. Once you have found your comfort spot, you snap the chin back in place. From that point forward, you just have to click the buckle in place. Now your watch will always have the same tension throughout the day.
You could adjust the clasp throughout the day if you wanted to, but it is very stiff and adds an extra step. It becomes especially hard if you have really short to no fingernails. It isn’t meant to be adjusted too often, just like your car seat. Once you're dialed in, you don’t touch it again. Just find that sweet spot and you’ll be fine.
The one downside with this band is the clasp mechanism gives you less control when you want to take off the watch. If you depress the ears of the clasp, the band immediately starts to loosen and the buckle will hit the glass on your watch face.
Ouch.
I did this multiple times initially when first receiving the watch, but thankfully nothing happened to the screen. This slapping of the watch face with the buckle is worse if you prefer the loop end of the band at the bottom of the watch. You just have to train yourself to unbuckle the band with the watch facing you and pulling the ears ever so slightly to unclasp the watch. Not a deal breaker, but be wary when unclasping your watch.
Which combination of watch and watch band should I get?
There is no right or wrong answer here, and that is why I have provided you with galleries of photos showing every Slate and Natural Ultra 2 watch combination with every Slate and Natural Milanese Loop band so you can make your own decision. Black and white always works together, and none of these mix and match combinations look bad.
After trying out all these band combinations with my 160mm wrist, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
You cannot buy an Ultra 2 with a mismatching Titanium Milanese loop color (at least online). You would have to buy the mismatching band separately. I will try and see if it’s possible to buy a mismatching set when I get a chance to go to a store.
Pick the band size that has your measurement as close to the middle as possible. For example, for my 160mm wrist, I picked the medium titanium Milanese loop which fits 155-185mm wrists vs the small band which fits 130-160mm wrists.
I could have technically gotten the small band, but there is no leeway for me with that small size if I like a looser fit. For the stainless steel bands, the small-medium band fits 130-180mm, while the medium-large band fits 150-200mm. I purchased one of each for the slate and natural bands, and the smaller size was better. The larger band, as you can see in some of the photos, had the magnetic clasp almost looping around to the front of the watch.
What watch faces are included with the Apple Watch?
Note: This information is based on watchOS 11.
This is a loaded question, and it really comes down to what Apple Watch you have.
Here are all the Apple Watch faces included with watchOS 11.
Not all of these are available on all watches, so let’s mention the exceptions and highlights:
If you have an Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2, congratulations because you have all of Apple’s watch faces, including the Wayfinder and the Modular Ultra watch faces which are exclusive to the Ultra lineup.
If you have a Series 7, 8, 9, or 10, you have all the watch faces, excluding the Wayfinder and Modular Ultra watch faces from the Apple Watch Ultra.
Lastly, if you have the Apple Watch SE 2nd generation or Series 6, you get all the watch faces from the Series 7 thru 10, excluding the Contour and the Modular Duo watch faces. These 2 watch faces were introduced with the release of the Series 7 that had bigger displays. The SE and Series 6 have the smaller 40mm and 44mm displays instead of the bigger 42mm, 46mm, and 49mm displays.
Now if these watches were not enough to satisfy your deep pockets, you can distinguish yourselves from your fellow plebeian and get the Apple Watch Hermès Series 10. You get all the watch faces from the Series 10, plus 5 additional Hermès exclusive watch faces: Radial, Circulaire, Hermès, Horse, and Circuit H.
If you opt for the Apple Watch Hermes Ultra 2, you get all the watch faces from the regular Ultra 2, plus 3 bonus Hermès watch faces: Hermès, Radial, and the new Maritime watch face. You do not get the Horse and Circuit H watch faces. I can’t seem to find any information if the Circulaire watch face is included.
Note: This information is based on watchOS 11.
This is a loaded question, and it really comes down to what Apple Watch you have.
Here are all the Apple Watch faces included with watchOS 11.
Not all of these are available on all watches, so let’s mention the exceptions and highlights:
If you have an Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2, congratulations because you have all of Apple’s watch faces, including the Wayfinder and the Modular Ultra watch faces which are exclusive to the Ultra lineup.
If you have a Series 7, 8, 9, or 10, you have all the watch faces, excluding the Wayfinder and Modular Ultra watch faces from the Apple Watch Ultra.
Lastly, if you have the Apple Watch SE 2nd generation or Series 6, you get all the watch faces from the Series 7 thru 10, excluding the Contour and the Modular Duo watch faces. These 2 watch faces were introduced with the release of the Series 7 that had bigger displays. The SE and Series 6 have the smaller 40mm and 44mm displays instead of the bigger 42mm, 46mm, and 49mm displays.
Now if these watches were not enough to satisfy your deep pockets, you can distinguish yourselves from your fellow plebeian and get the Apple Watch Hermès Series 10. You get all the watch faces from the Series 10, plus 5 additional Hermès exclusive watch faces: Radial, Circulaire, Hermès, Horse, and Circuit H.
If you opt for the Apple Watch Hermes Ultra 2, you get all the watch faces from the regular Ultra 2, plus 3 bonus Hermès watch faces: Hermès, Radial, and the new Maritime watch face. You do not get the Horse and Circuit H watch faces. I can’t seem to find any information if the Circulaire watch face is included.
Are RCS messages encrypted?
The short answer is no, but the devil is in the details.
With iOS 18, Apple has introduced RCS messages, which is a new industry standard in messaging that allows you to send high quality videos and photos instead of those abysmally low-resolution photos and videos you currently send to your fellow Android users.
RCS also supports delivery and read message receipts just like iMessage.
In a nutshell, it makes your interaction with non-iPhone users more like iMessage, while still keeping the green bubble.
Not all carriers support RCS, but remember one thing.
One very important thing.
RCS is not end-to-end encrypted.
According to Apple’s site:
Apple’s implementation of RCS is based on the industry’s standard. RCS messages aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they're not protected from a third-party reading them while they're sent between devices.
Besides the messages themselves, What other sensitive information about you can be transmitted when using RCS?
More than you think:
User identifiers are exchanged for your carrier and their partners to authenticate your device and provide a connection. These identifiers could include but are not limited to your IMEI, IMSI, current IP address, and phone number. Your current IP address might also be shared with other RCS users.
It’s funny how all the news around RCS focuses on high end photo and video transmission, but no one emphasizes that it is just as insecure as regular SMS/MMS.
If you really want to have secure group chats that allow high quality images and videos, stick with a more secure platform such as WhatsApp.
Or better yet, you could just convince your friends to get an iPhone and use iMessage, which is end-to-end encrypted.
The short answer is no, but the devil is in the details.
With iOS 18, Apple has introduced RCS messages, which is a new industry standard in messaging that allows you to send high quality videos and photos instead of those abysmally low-resolution photos and videos you currently send to your fellow Android users.
RCS also supports delivery and read message receipts just like iMessage.
In a nutshell, it makes your interaction with non-iPhone users more like iMessage, while still keeping the green bubble.
Not all carriers support RCS, but remember one thing.
One very important thing.
RCS is not end-to-end encrypted.
According to Apple’s site:
Apple’s implementation of RCS is based on the industry’s standard. RCS messages aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they're not protected from a third-party reading them while they're sent between devices.
Besides the messages themselves, What other sensitive information about you can be transmitted when using RCS?
More than you think:
User identifiers are exchanged for your carrier and their partners to authenticate your device and provide a connection. These identifiers could include but are not limited to your IMEI, IMSI, current IP address, and phone number. Your current IP address might also be shared with other RCS users.
It’s funny how all the news around RCS focuses on high end photo and video transmission, but no one emphasizes that it is just as insecure as regular SMS/MMS.
If you really want to have secure group chats that allow high quality images and videos, stick with a more secure platform such as WhatsApp.
Or better yet, you could just convince your friends to get an iPhone and use iMessage, which is end-to-end encrypted.
Your new iPhone is going to get stolen unless you watch your window like a nerd.
Tyler Lacoma from CNET discussing how criminals are stealing iPhones this holiday season:
They follow package deliveries and nab the shipment the moment it's dropped off. In most cases, these thieves run up and grab a package from a porch or doorstep only seconds after the delivery person leaves.
Reports indicate that these thefts are frequently occurring with AT&T iPhone purchases and FedEx deliveries, although the details can vary.
Across the United States, especially on the East Coast. Cases have been reported in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania and other states. In some cases teens and young adults have been apprehended and accused of stealing these packages, while in other cases the thieves have not been caught.
How are thieves able to do this?
Two important reasons. First, these thieves are somehow getting tracking numbers or similar tracking information for iPhone deliveries, so they get real-time updates about when and where packages are delivered, allowing them to swoop in the moment the package status changes.
Second, AT&T is one of the few telecom companies that -- in many cases -- doesn't require signatures for high-value deliveries like iPhones. That allows thieves to steal packages when they are left unattended.
Yes, having a signature required is a step in making sure your device isn’t stolen, but I have never been asked for a signature even though UPS requires it too. They just ring the bell (sometimes) and walk away. With their crazy schedules, I doubt any delivery carrier will get signatures to the extent they need to, especially during the holiday season.
Assume you’re at risk regardless of which carrier you’re getting your phone from, not just AT&T.
Your best bet is to be home and have someone watching the window.
Tyler Lacoma from CNET discussing how criminals are stealing iPhones this holiday season:
They follow package deliveries and nab the shipment the moment it's dropped off. In most cases, these thieves run up and grab a package from a porch or doorstep only seconds after the delivery person leaves.
Reports indicate that these thefts are frequently occurring with AT&T iPhone purchases and FedEx deliveries, although the details can vary.
Across the United States, especially on the East Coast. Cases have been reported in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania and other states. In some cases teens and young adults have been apprehended and accused of stealing these packages, while in other cases the thieves have not been caught.
How are thieves able to do this?
Two important reasons. First, these thieves are somehow getting tracking numbers or similar tracking information for iPhone deliveries, so they get real-time updates about when and where packages are delivered, allowing them to swoop in the moment the package status changes.
Second, AT&T is one of the few telecom companies that -- in many cases -- doesn't require signatures for high-value deliveries like iPhones. That allows thieves to steal packages when they are left unattended.
Yes, having a signature required is a step in making sure your device isn’t stolen, but I have never been asked for a signature even though UPS requires it too. They just ring the bell (sometimes) and walk away. With their crazy schedules, I doubt any delivery carrier will get signatures to the extent they need to, especially during the holiday season.
Assume you’re at risk regardless of which carrier you’re getting your phone from, not just AT&T.
Your best bet is to be home and have someone watching the window.
Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack 3 years later - why it is still the most versatile battery pack.
Announced back in July 2021, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack was the first official MagSafe battery bank. Although it doesn’t have the capacity of many cheaper alternatives in the market, it arguably has the most versatility.
That versatility all comes down to its lightning port.
Apple is phasing out the lightning port, but the fact is there are still millions, if not hundreds of millions of people who still use a lightning iPhone.
You and I might have switched to USB-C, but we all probably know at least one person in our families that has a lightning iPhone.
If you plug in your MagSafe Battery Pack with a lightning cable and have your iPhone attached, it will charge both the battery pack and the iPhone. That’s a given.
What most people find surprising is that if you plug in your iPhone via USB-C to charge while the battery pack is attached, it will charge your iPhone and reverse charge your battery pack.
If you are ever stuck in a pinch and need to borrow someone’s “iPhone cable,” you don’t have to worry about what cable they hand you because you can top up both devices with either lightning or USB-C.
I have mine since launch day back in July 2021, and it has still held up well. I recently tested it on my 15 and 16 Pro Max devices, and the software integration is still there, with some false promises:
iPhone can charge to approximately 90% while using a MagSafe battery pack.
Not sure why it says that because the most this battery could charge an iPhone is 70% for an iPhone 12 or 13 mini.
In actuality, my 16 Pro Max charged from 20% to 59%, which is on par with Apple’s claim of 40% for the 12, 13, and 14 Pro Max.
This device technically is not supported on any of the iPhones 15 and 16 according to their website, but it still works.
Once again, not the most capacity, but still has great versatility for those situations where all you have access to is a lightning cable.
Even though it is discontinued, you can grab one on eBay for less than $50 compared to the $99 it was when new.
Announced back in July 2021, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack was the first official MagSafe battery bank. Although it doesn’t have the capacity of many cheaper alternatives in the market, it arguably has the most versatility.
That versatility all comes down to its lightning port.
Apple is phasing out the lightning port, but the fact is there are still millions, if not hundreds of millions of people who still use a lightning iPhone.
You and I might have switched to USB-C, but we all probably know at least one person in our families that has a lightning iPhone.
If you plug in your MagSafe Battery Pack with a lightning cable and have your iPhone attached, it will charge both the battery pack and the iPhone. That’s a given.
What most people find surprising is that if you plug in your iPhone via USB-C to charge while the battery pack is attached, it will charge your iPhone and reverse charge your battery pack.
If you are ever stuck in a pinch and need to borrow someone’s “iPhone cable,” you don’t have to worry about what cable they hand you because you can top up both devices with either lightning or USB-C.
I have mine since launch day back in July 2021, and it has still held up well. I recently tested it on my 15 and 16 Pro Max devices, and the software integration is still there, with some false promises:
iPhone can charge to approximately 90% while using a MagSafe battery pack.
Not sure why it says that because the most this battery could charge an iPhone is 70% for an iPhone 12 or 13 mini.
In actuality, my 16 Pro Max charged from 20% to 59%, which is on par with Apple’s claim of 40% for the 12, 13, and 14 Pro Max.
This device technically is not supported on any of the iPhones 15 and 16 according to their website, but it still works.
Once again, not the most capacity, but still has great versatility for those situations where all you have access to is a lightning cable.
Even though it is discontinued, you can grab one on eBay for less than $50 compared to the $99 it was when new.
This is the one reason why you need iPhone Mirroring on your Mac.
With macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, you can now seamlessly mirror your iPhone to any of your Macs.
It might seem pointless since whatever you can do on your iPhone you can do bigger on the Mac, but there is one reason, one critical reason, why you need this feature.
As much as we love our Macs, there are always times where it just doesn’t want to work as magically as Apple would make you think.
You get an iMessage on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
You get a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
You need to login to your bank and need your 2-factor code that was texted to you, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
Are you getting it?
With iPhone Mirroring, you will never miss a message from any app since you literally have your iPhone on screen. No more frustration and forcing yourself to reboot your Mac right then and there when you are in the skin of it in order to make all the things sync perfectly.
Just mirror your iPhone and reboot later when it’s convenient for you.
With macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, you can now seamlessly mirror your iPhone to any of your Macs.
It might seem pointless since whatever you can do on your iPhone you can do bigger on the Mac, but there is one reason, one critical reason, why you need this feature.
As much as we love our Macs, there are always times where it just doesn’t want to work as magically as Apple would make you think.
You get an iMessage on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
You get a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
You need to login to your bank and need your 2-factor code that was texted to you, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.
Are you getting it?
With iPhone Mirroring, you will never miss a message from any app since you literally have your iPhone on screen. No more frustration and forcing yourself to reboot your Mac right then and there when you are in the skin of it in order to make all the things sync perfectly.
Just mirror your iPhone and reboot later when it’s convenient for you.
Great macOS Sequoia tips Apple didn’t tell you about.
Quinn Nelson put up a great video a few weeks ago, showcasing some of the more useful and nerdy features of macOS Sequoia. It’s a long video, but you can easily use the time stamps in the video description to find the features that you like most.
The biggest helping feature for me in macOS Sequoia? The ability to tile your windows more effectively and easily with simple keyboard shortcuts.
Quinn Nelson put up a great video a few weeks ago, showcasing some of the more useful and nerdy features of macOS Sequoia. It’s a long video, but you can easily use the time stamps in the video description to find the features that you like most.
The biggest helping feature for me in macOS Sequoia? The ability to tile your windows more effectively and easily with simple keyboard shortcuts.
Traded in your iPhone for a new one? Apple might owe you money.
Michael Burkhardt from 9to5Mac:
Apple users across the globe have been reporting that they’re receiving refunds for AppleCare+ on iPhones they purchased and traded in years ago. Seemingly, there isn’t anything specific triggering the refund, but there are a number of varying cases.
Some refunds were over $200 which is unusual since AppleCare+ only costs $199, and some refunds were just a couple of bucks. The high refund could also be due to Apple charging you for AppleCare+ monthly after you had already traded in your device.
The best way to get your refund is to call Apple instead of waiting for them to send you the refund since you could be waiting 3 years.
Michael Burkhardt from 9to5Mac:
Apple users across the globe have been reporting that they’re receiving refunds for AppleCare+ on iPhones they purchased and traded in years ago. Seemingly, there isn’t anything specific triggering the refund, but there are a number of varying cases.
Some refunds were over $200 which is unusual since AppleCare+ only costs $199, and some refunds were just a couple of bucks. The high refund could also be due to Apple charging you for AppleCare+ monthly after you had already traded in your device.
The best way to get your refund is to call Apple instead of waiting for them to send you the refund since you could be waiting 3 years.
iPhone Mirroring on a desktop Mac only works well if you have these devices.
To put it simply, you need a Magic Trackpad or a Magic Mouse to get the full iPhone mirroring experience. If you use any other mouse, the experience is not good.
Transitions stutter, and clicking and holding your normal mouse to swipe left and right on your home screen is imprecise. Very often the iPhone triggers “jiggle mode” to edit your home screen when you just wanted to swipe left or right. Scrolling with the click wheel is also not smooth at all.
And yes, I have a very capable wired mouse.
Swiping left, right, up, and down on the Magic Trackpad just feels more natural for operating iOS since it is a touch-based OS. The experience is very similar to my iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard.
I haven’t tested the Magic Mouse, but if you love the Magic Mouse, I am sure it will work just as well since it uses a similar touch interface.
Thankfully, Apple’s Magic Trackpad is worth the cost compared to the Magic Mouse, especially now that it is USB-C.
To put it simply, you need a Magic Trackpad or a Magic Mouse to get the full iPhone mirroring experience. If you use any other mouse, the experience is not good.
Transitions stutter, and clicking and holding your normal mouse to swipe left and right on your home screen is imprecise. Very often the iPhone triggers “jiggle mode” to edit your home screen when you just wanted to swipe left or right. Scrolling with the click wheel is also not smooth at all.
And yes, I have a very capable wired mouse.
Swiping left, right, up, and down on the Magic Trackpad just feels more natural for operating iOS since it is a touch-based OS. The experience is very similar to my iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard.
I haven’t tested the Magic Mouse, but if you love the Magic Mouse, I am sure it will work just as well since it uses a similar touch interface.
Thankfully, Apple’s Magic Trackpad is worth the cost compared to the Magic Mouse, especially now that it is USB-C.