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.
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.
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.
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.
Will the iPhone SE 3rd gen become a collector's item?
With the EU discontinuing any phone that does not have a USB-C port, that means aloha to the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE.
The iPhone SE by itself is a mediocre iPhone, but it has the potential to become a collector’s item one day.
It will probably be decades before it is, but it has a lot of “lasts” that make it unique as a collector’s item:
Last iPhone with a lightning port.
Last iPhone with an LCD screen.
Last iPhone with Touch ID(?).
Last iPhone with a Home Button.
Touch ID might return to an iPhone near you, but what won’t return is the Home Button.
One of the most iconic features of the iPhone era.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal right now, but it was the gateway to safety. The gateway back home.
No matter where you were on your phone, if you felt lost, you could always come home simply with a press.
In this case, a haptic press.
I passed up my chance to get the “Designed by Apple in California” book, when it was released, making the excuse that it was “too expensive.”
Retailing for $199 for the small version and $299 for the large version, that seems like peanuts now since they’re fetching over $1,000 online in excellent condition. I wanted to buy one to look at and one to keep as an investment, but it might be too late.
The iPhone SE is still readily available.
Apple Collectors, don’t lose your chance.
With the EU discontinuing any phone that does not have a USB-C port, that means aloha to the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE.
The iPhone SE by itself is a mediocre iPhone, but it has the potential to become a collector’s item one day.
It will probably be decades before it is, but it has a lot of “lasts” that make it unique as a collector’s item:
Last iPhone with a lightning port.
Last iPhone with an LCD screen.
Last iPhone with Touch ID(?).
Last iPhone with a Home Button.
Touch ID might return to an iPhone near you, but what won’t return is the Home Button.
One of the most iconic features of the iPhone era.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal right now, but it was the gateway to safety. The gateway back home.
No matter where you were on your phone, if you felt lost, you could always come home simply with a press.
In this case, a haptic press.
I passed up my chance to get the “Designed by Apple in California” book, when it was released, making the excuse that it was “too expensive.”
Retailing for $199 for the small version and $299 for the large version, that seems like peanuts now since they’re fetching over $1,000 online in excellent condition. I wanted to buy one to look at and one to keep as an investment, but it might be too late.
The iPhone SE is still readily available.
Apple Collectors, don’t lose your chance.
Passwords App on iPhone and Mac - one huge security difference.
I was reading about Microsoft’s AI based Recall feature, and I thought to myself, what if that feature was on the Mac? Would sensitive information be blurred out when screenshots were automatically being captured?
I was reading about Microsoft’s AI based Recall feature, and I thought to myself, what if that feature was on the Mac? Would sensitive information be blurred out when screenshots were automatically being captured?
The most sensitive app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is the Passwords app, and if it were to be “screenshotted,” it should blur the passwords.
On iOS and iPadOS, the Passwords app blurs all passwords when you take a screenshot. Even if you want to display the password in large type, the whole screenshot is a giant white blank screen, which is awesome. Even if the password field is obscured with dots (•••••••••••), taking a screenshot makes that whole field completely blank so you don’t even know how long the password is.
Here are 4 screenshots on iOS, showing the completely blank password field:
Now compare that to what you actually see when you are in the Passwords app on iOS (or iPadOS):
In general, iOS and iPadOS do a great job of obscuring your password when taking a screenshot in their app.
On macOS, that is not the case.
I opened the Passwords app and started taking screenshots, and it faithfully captures everything your eyes can see:
If your password is hidden with dots, you will see the dots.
If you hover over your password revealing itself and then you take a screenshot, you will see the password.
If you choose the option to display the password in large type and then take a screenshot, you will see the password.
This is the complete opposite of iOS and iPadOS, and something Apple should address.
This might not be a security risk, but it can be in certain scenarios:
You save your screenshots to the cloud by default, making your passwords exposed to other individuals who might share the same iCloud folders as you.
You have multiple monitors and your passwords app is on your secondary (or tertiary) monitor. Many people don’t know or forget that when you take a screenshot, all of your monitors are being captured.
You have a custom mouse that has hotkeys for screenshotting, and you accidentally capture screenshots without your knowledge.
If this Recall feature was on macOS today, would you even want to open your Passwords app, knowing that the computer is taking screenshots in the background and capturing your sensitive information?
Will Apple make a new router?
Ryan Christoffel from 9to5Mac:
Apple is reportedly moving away from using Broadcom’s combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in its devices.
The replacement? Apple’s own in-house solution.
The company will start using its own Wi-Fi chip across a wide range of devices.
In 2025 that means:
iPhone 17
new Apple TV
new HomePod mini
and likely the HomePad too
Then in 2026, iPads and Macs will adopt the new chip as well.
Apple’s goal is to develop an end-to-end wireless approach that is tightly integrated with its other components and more energy-efficient…With a homegrown wireless chip in Apple’s smart home devices, the products will work more closely together and potentially synchronize data more quickly
Apple controlling the Wi-Fi chips in its devices, combined with its renewed ambitions for home devices, sparks fresh hope for a new AirPort router to appear.
This only makes sense.
Apple is taking their vertical integration to the next level, and they have been hugely successful with the M-line of chips for the Mac. One could argue the M line of chips saved the Mac.
Why have all these wireless services working together, only to have the heart of the system controlled by a 3rd party manufacturer?
Apple’s services industry is on a rapid incline, and having their own wireless infrastructure in each home once again, just makes sense.
Ryan Christoffel from 9to5Mac:
Apple is reportedly moving away from using Broadcom’s combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in its devices.
The replacement? Apple’s own in-house solution.
The company will start using its own Wi-Fi chip across a wide range of devices.
In 2025 that means:
● iPhone 17
● new Apple TV
● new HomePod mini
● and likely the HomePad too
Then in 2026, iPads and Macs will adopt the new chip as well.
Apple’s goal is to develop an end-to-end wireless approach that is tightly integrated with its other components and more energy-efficient…With a homegrown wireless chip in Apple’s smart home devices, the products will work more closely together and potentially synchronize data more quickly
Apple controlling the Wi-Fi chips in its devices, combined with its renewed ambitions for home devices, sparks fresh hope for a new AirPort router to appear.
This only makes sense.
Apple is taking their vertical integration to the next level, and they have been hugely successful with the M-line of chips for the Mac. One could argue the M line of chips saved the Mac.
Why have all these wireless services working together, only to have the heart of the system controlled by a 3rd party manufacturer?
Apple’s services industry is on a rapid incline, and having their own wireless infrastructure in each home, once again, just makes sense.
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.
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.
Can you return Apple products after 14 days?
If you have buyer's remorse after just buying an M2 iMac or Mac mini from Apple, you still have a chance at returning it and buying one of the new M4 models.
There is another return window that isn't really advertised by Apple, but you can return your product within 30 days.
This is not a guarantee, but I have successfully returned products to Apple after 14 days, and less than 30 days.
I did this with the Vision Pro and returned it right on the 30 day mark.
I also did this recently with the Apple Watch Series 10, which was beyond 30 days, but that was an even exchange since I still wanted the watch.
If you go in store, you are less likely to get this extended return window, as their room for making exceptions is limited (their words).
If you call Apple and ask for a return and refund, they are more likely to accommodate as they have more leeway to make exceptions (also their words).
If you have buyer's remorse after just buying an M2 iMac or Mac mini from Apple, you still have a chance at returning it and buying one of the new M4 models.
There is another return window that isn't really advertised by Apple, but you can return your product within 30 days.
This is not a guarantee, but I have successfully returned products to Apple after 14 days, and less than 30 days.
I did this with the Vision Pro and returned it right on the 30 day mark.
I also did this recently with the Apple Watch Series 10, which was beyond 30 days, but that was an even exchange since I still wanted the watch.
If you go in store, you are less likely to get this extended return window, as their room for making exceptions is limited (their words).
If you call Apple and ask for a return and refund, they are more likely to accommodate as they have more leeway to make exceptions (also their words).
How to swipe between watch faces on Apple Watch.
I can’t believe Apple doesn’t make this ON by default, but there is a simple way to swipe left and right between Apple Watch faces.
I can’t believe Apple doesn’t make this ON by default, but there is a simple way to swipe left and right between Apple Watch faces. On your watch:
Go to Settings, Clock, and Toggle “Swipe to Switch Watch Face,” ON.
I restored my Apple Watch from a backup that already had that feature enabled, but it didn’t transfer onto my Series 10.
Got a new iPhone? Here is the one battery setting you need to fix now.
Your iPhone battery is a consumable item, just like any other battery. The more you take care of it, the longer it will last, and the better your performance will be.
What is the most effective thing you can do to improve your battery health?
Your iPhone battery is a consumable item, just like any other battery. The more you take care of it, the longer it will last, and the better your performance will be.
What is the most effective thing you can do to improve your battery health?
The best thing to do is to limit the charge on your iPhone’s battery. Starting with the iPhone 15, you can limit the charge of your iPhone to 80%, so it does not charge beyond that setting.
When you charge beyond 80%, you will start to generate more heat while charging, which will degrade the battery’s health. You will get more battery life in the short term, but at the cost of battery health in the long run.
I have been using an iPhone 15 Pro Max everyday since October 2023, and I have 99% battery health on my iPhone. I have my charging limit set to 80%, and that is why it has stayed in excellent condition.
The real kicker? I have been using MagSafe wireless charging 99.9% of the time.
I have lost 1% battery health in 11 months of daily use while charging wirelessly.
Wireless charging is less efficient than directly plugging in your phone to charge, but MagSafe is more efficient and smart compared to just a standard Qi wireless charger, and overall generates less heat if you go wireless.
If you are a regular user like me who uses their phone for social media, Youtube, email, and everything non-game related, you should achieve similar results by setting your limit to 80%.
Here’s how to do it:
Go to Settings → Battery → Charging.
Under charging, you can set your charge limit from 80% to 100% in 5% intervals.
The lower your charge limit, the longer your battery will last since it will generate less heat.
This is critical for most people who keep their iPhones for years. If your battery ages prematurely, you will have performance issues, and might not even be able to complete certain tasks that require significant battery power.
Here is Apple’s more thorough explanation of battery health:
For a phone to function properly, the electronics must be able to draw upon instantaneous power from the battery. One attribute that affects this instantaneous power delivery is the battery’s impedance. A battery with a high impedance might be unable to provide sufficient power to the system that needs it. A battery's impedance can increase if a battery has a higher chemical age. A battery’s impedance will temporarily increase at a low state of charge and in a cold temperature environment. When coupled with a higher chemical age, the impedance increase will be more significant. These are characteristics of battery chemistry that are common to all lithium-ion batteries in the industry.
When power is pulled from a battery with a higher level of impedance, the battery’s voltage will drop to a greater degree. Electronic components require a minimum voltage to properly operate. This includes the device’s internal storage, power circuits, and the battery itself. The power management system determines the capability of the battery to supply this power and manages the loads to maintain operations. When the operations can no longer be supported with the full capabilities of the power management system, the system will perform a shutdown to preserve these electronic components. While this shutdown is intentional from the device perspective, it might be unexpected by the user.
Apple Watch Series 10’s greatest feature is extremely limited.
One of the highlights in Apple’s keynote regarding the Series 10 was its ability to show you the seconds on the watch, even when the display was in its dormant, yet “always on” mode.
After watching Dave2D’s review of the watch, it is sad to see that feature being limited to the two new watch faces, which don’t really have much value since they don’t offer any complications. The reflections watch face also is annoying since you can’t accurately tell the time without the markings.
To make things a bit more sour, the wide angle OLED display doesn’t make a huge difference when compared to the Series 9.
Now these features aren’t deal breakers especially if you are upgrading from an older Apple Watch, but for the nerds out there like myself who upgrade almost every year, these were two of the biggest features, and they don’t seem so big anymore.
I’m confident Apple will update the old watch faces for the Series 10 to update every second, but I can’t recommend anyone buying this watch expecting that to be a guarantee.
Great points made by Dave, but someone should tell him that you can deactivate the always on display simply by slapping your palm on the face of the watch.
One of the highlights in Apple’s keynote regarding the Series 10 was its ability to show you the seconds on the watch, even when the display was in its dormant, yet “always on” mode.
After watching Dave2D’s review of the watch, it is sad to see that feature being limited to the two new watch faces, which don’t really have much value since they don’t offer any complications. The reflections watch face also is annoying since you can’t accurately tell the time without the markings.
To make things a bit more sour, the wide angle OLED display doesn’t make a huge difference when compared to the Series 9.
Now these features aren’t deal breakers especially if you are upgrading from an older Apple Watch, but for the nerds out there like myself who upgrade almost every year, these were two of the biggest features, and they don’t seem so big anymore.
I’m confident Apple will update the old watch faces for the Series 10 to update every second, but I can’t recommend anyone buying this watch expecting that to be a guarantee.
Great points made by Dave, but someone should tell him that you can deactivate the always on display simply by slapping your palm on the face of the watch.
How to find your hidden apps in iOS 18.
Hiding your apps in iOS 18 is a new feature that everyone will find useful, for better or for worse. The crazy thing is, when you want to actually find those apps, it can drive you nuts trying to figure out where they actually went.
Hiding your apps in iOS 18 is a new feature that everyone will find useful, for better or for worse. The crazy thing is, when you want to actually find those apps, it can drive you nuts trying to figure out where they actually went.
Scroll all the way to the right on your homescreen until you get to the App Library. Then scroll all the way down and you will see your hidden “folder” completely transparent. Tap the “folder,” and watch as FaceID magically reveals your apps once again.
To unhide the app permanently, simply long press on it and select, “Don’t require Face ID.”
If you want to keep the app hidden but want to adjust it’s settings, go to Settings, scroll all the way down to Apps, and scroll all the way down again to see your hidden apps.
Flappy Bird makes a comeback.
Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:
The iconic side-scrolling game Flappy Bird will apparently be returning to the iPhone soon, according to a website dedicated to the project.
Flappy Bird was released in 2013 and quickly received tens of millions of downloads. However, the game was abruptly removed from the App Store in 2014 after its creator Dong Nguyen decided that the game was too addictive. Nguyen also disliked the excessive fame and attention that he started to receive as a result of the game's popularity.
Flappy Bird was a simple game in which players tapped on the screen to navigate a small bird through columns of green pipes without hitting them, in an attempt to set a new high score. The website for the upcoming reboot of the game promises new characters and game modes, such as shooting the bird through basketball hoops.
I remember this game getting discontinued, and the iPhones that still had it installed were selling for a premium on eBay.
A little digging on the internet though, and you will find another perspective on how the game got popular in the first place, and why it was taken down. It’s interesting to see what tactics developers used in order to promote their apps, but we will never know the real story.
Jet Black Apple Watch - will it scratch like the iPhone 7 Jet Black?
Apple’s disclaimer when the Jet Black iPhone 7 came out:
The high-gloss finish of the jet black iPhone 7 is achieved through a precision nine-step anodization and polishing process. Its surface is equally as hard as other anodized Apple products; however, its high shine may show fine micro-abrasions with use. If you are concerned about this, we suggest you use one of the many cases available to protect your iPhone.
I tried looking through Apple’s website, but I did not see any disclaimers regarding the Series 10 Jet Black.
Having owned 2 different Jet Black iPhone 7s, I am fully expecting “micro-abrasions” to be there on the Series 10 Jet Black watch. This shouldn’t be a deal breaker though.
The micro-abrasions will be similar to the scratches on the stainless steel Apple Watch, which I think will give it a nice patina. You won’t notice them until you look under harsh light under the right angle, but what you will notice, in any light or angle, is the nice glossy shine.
5 immediate changes you will love with iOS 18 coming this Fall
I have been playing around with the iOS 18 public betas for a while now, and without really trying to find every new feature, here are the top 5 features I have appreciated the most, and I think you will love as well:
I have been playing around with the iOS 18 public betas for a while now, and without really trying to find every new feature, here are the top 5 features I have appreciated the most, and I think you will love as well:
Require Face ID to open an app
This is a huge feature since it allows you to hand your phone over to others (like my kids) without them getting access to sensitive apps like social media, YouTube, etc. All you have to do is long press on an app, and select the “require FaceID” option, your face is scanned, and now the app will always require a FaceID scan (or password). Simple as that.
Require Face ID: A simple yet effective security measure.
2. Move app icons anywhere on screen
Yes, we know, Android has had this feature for more than a decade, but it’s finally here for iOS. It still acts weird when you try to move your icons anywhere you want and iOS tries to shift your other icons around, but I’m sure the bugs will be fixed before its September release. Now you can have a picture of your kids on your home screen and arrange your icons in a way so that you can still see their faces.
Your lovely wallpapers of your family now don’t have to be blocked by annoying icons (cat lady edition).
3. Call screen now avoids accidental butt dialing
This was a huge one, and avoids awkward situations where you accidentally tapped someone on your recently called list and have to awkwardly end the phone call. Clicking on the recent call entry now takes you to the call details screen instead of automatically calling them back, and in order to call back, you simply hit the phone icon at the far right.
A simple call button on the side makes a big difference in avoiding accidental dial backs.
4. T9 dialer to search contacts
Ah yes, the good ol’ T9 dialer to search contacts. This was a feature I used daily before I joined the Apple ecosystem, and now we finally have it back on the iPhone. If you are in your 40s like I am, you know what this is all about.
Dial any part of a name or number, and you'll find what you need instantly.
5. The Passwords app
This is by far the most noticeable one since the icon will be slapped right on your homescreen. This is a huge deal for me and probably for most of us since we have tons of passwords, and it is no longer buried in the settings app. If you don’t already have a Password manager, then odds are you use the same password for many services, which is going to bite you hard.
You can't miss the new passwords app since it will be on your homescreen the minute you install iOS 18.
Why we should (but probably won’t) get live Apple Events
It was WWDC 2019, & the tech community was excited to see the release of the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.
While Apple knocked it out of the park with these two new products, what came next was something they never expected…
Even though both products were expensive, they were a great deal when compared to similar competitive products. A PC with comparable specs to the base Mac Pro was over $8,000.
The Mac Pro Price? $5,999.
The audience cheers.
The Pro Display XDR was also an expensive product, but people knew that it was a great deal for the specs. Most reference monitors were in the tens of thousands of dollars, and Apple “referenced” a $43,000 monitor (see what I did there?).
If the reference monitors are $40K, how much will Apple’s display cost?
The Pro Display XDR was $4,999.
Great positioning and marketing.
The audience cheers.
What came next though stole the show. Apple announces its VESA mount for $199, and then the ProStand for $999.
NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE DOLLARS.
The shock, horror, and groans heard around the world!
I think it caught John Ternus by surprise a bit, but I love his reaction. He kept going and put a smile on his face, knowing that we would buy it anyway.
A classic moment indeed.
It was WWDC 2019, & the tech community was excited to see the release of the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.
While Apple knocked it out of the park with these two new products, what came next was something they never expected…
Even though both products were expensive, they were a great deal when compared to similar competitive products. A PC with comparable specs to the base Mac Pro was over $8,000.
The Mac Pro Price? $5,999.
The audience cheers.
The Pro Display XDR was also an expensive product, but people knew that it was a great deal for the specs. Most reference monitors were in the tens of thousands of dollars, and Apple “referenced” a $43,000 monitor (see what I did there?).
If the reference monitors are $40K, how much will Apple’s display cost?
The Pro Display XDR was $4,999.
Great positioning and marketing.
The audience cheers.
What came next though stole the show. Apple announces its VESA mount for $199, and then the ProStand for $999.
NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE DOLLARS.
The shock, horror, and groans heard around the world!
I think it caught John Ternus by surprise a bit, but I love his reaction. He kept going and put a smile on his face, knowing that we would buy it anyway.
A classic moment indeed.