Quickly disabling biometrics on Android is literally several steps behind iOS.

Imagine if your car required you to slam on the brakes as hard as you can and tap an “anti-lock brakes” button on your infotainment screen in order to activate the anti-lock brakes.

That’s essentially what Android phones require you to do in order to quickly disable biometrics. It is not an intuitive, one-step process on Android like it is on the iPhone.

First, you have to enable Lockdown Mode in Settings by either searching for “Lockdown Mode,” or going through a menu tree depending which Android phone you have.

That is assuming of course, your Android phone even supports it.

Seems like Samsung requires you to enable Lockdown Mode first through this menu tree, but it’s a one-time operation so I’ll let that pass. Once you have done that, you can hold the power button until you get to the power menu screen, and then tap the Lockdown button.

On Pixel phones, if your power button isn’t tied to Google Assistant, you can press and hold the power button to get into the power menu, and then select Lockdown. If your power button activates Google Assistant like an iPhone’s power button activates Siri, then you have to press and hold volume up and the power button and then you enter the power menu and have to select Lockdown.

You don’t get a one-step method like iOS, where a simple press and hold of the Power Button on one side of the device, and any or both volume buttons on the other side of the device (essentially squeezing the phone) automatically disables all biometrics. Just press and hold for a full 2 seconds, and that’s it.

No touchscreen input required.

If you have Haptics turned on, you also get a vibration to confirm your button inputs were successful. Personally, it’s best to enable Haptics to give you more reassurance.

Haptics or not, the point is you don’t have to look at your iPhone’s screen and confirm anything with a touch, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of quickly securing your device. That I won’t let pass.

You also don’t have to think about which volume button to press on an iPhone, since either one (or both together) will work. Just squeeze the damn iPhone and you’re good.

Odds are if you are in a situation where you have to do this, you’re already distraught to some extent, and might not have the time to even touch your screen if someone grabs the phone out of your hands fast enough.

Once again, assuming you even enabled Lockdown Mode.

Jony Ive interviewed with CEO of Stripe Patrick Collison.

Nice to see Jony Ive in public and to hear some of his takes about technology and humanity, even in something as “trivial” as how a cable in a box is packaged.

Samsung S25 Edge to debut next week

Monday, May 12th at 8PM Eastern Time in the USA is when the Samsung S25 Edge will be fully revealed. Finally we get a decent release time here on the East Coast that isn’t at the peak of Monday workday shenanigans. A nice time to watch the event in the comfort of your own home.

I just need to make sure I’m not on call Monday night.

This event will answer many questions, but also raise new ones. It will also foreshadow what to expect from Apple in the Fall, since odds are both companies are competing with each other in the back end. Both companies are heavily involved in the supply chain, and there is no doubt that each company knows about the other’s prospective plans based on their own insider information. Apple tends to make products that solve problems and have purpose, while Samsung tends to be the copycat so let’s see how Samsung positions this device.

The battle of the foldables won’t begin until Apple releases their own, but this year will be the battle of the bulge.

iPhone 17 Air will be released with a battery case, but there is a better alternative.

Charles Martin from AppleInsider:

Apple will be bringing back a battery-case accessory for its planned iPhone 17 Air to help give the super-slim model all-day battery life.

While the novelty of a super-thin, super-light iPhone is intended to encourage upgrades from older models, the slim design necessitates a smaller battery, and so reduced battery time.

Apple intends to offset this disadvantage by offering an iPhone 17 Air (or iPhone 17 Slim) case that adds its own battery pack, according to a new report from The Information. Adding a thicker battery case would of course undo some of the benefit of a slimmer iPhone, but it's an option that will restore longer battery life.

Battery cases are not new — Apple itself released one for the iPhone 6 and 6s back in 2015. Apple ceased selling a battery case once it released the MagSafe Battery Pack in 2021.

A criticism of both the battery case and its MagSafe successor was that it added bulk to the iPhone. The reported new battery case for the slim model would inevitably do the same, but reportedly Apple believes it's necessary.

That's because Apple's own internal testing of the new model suggests that only between 60% and 70% of users will still get a full day's use of the slimmer, lighter iPhone Air.

That does mean a majority of iPhone 17 Air users will not need to recharge during the day. However, with current iPhone models, it's claimed that this compares poorly to the 80% to even 90% of users who get a full day from a single charge.

People who buy the iPhone 17 Air will be fully aware of its limitations because you can clearly see those limitations, so a battery case would defeat the purpose of the slim device. What makes more sense is a stronger set of magnets and a more robust MagSafe Battery Pack that could be used by all iPhone 17 devices.

Apple Park Visitor Center - Here is all the exclusive merch you can buy (April 2025).

I was fortunate enough to visit Apple Park a few weeks ago, and there’s a lot of exclusive merchandise you can buy that is not available at any other Apple store. It’s not as diverse as it was a few years prior back in 2022 and there is no more One Infinite Loop store, but there is still something for everyone.

The wall of T-shirts. 16 total choices to choose from.

The middle display houses Mugs, Pens, Notebooks, and S’well water bottles with an Apple logo.

The third and final display has onesies, memory cards, and more T-shirts with the same design.

T-shirts

They come in a variety of sizes and designs, but the price tag might turn you off at $40 each. If you don’t see your size on the shelves, ask an associate and they can check their back-end stock. I bought 2 medium shirts and I should have bought 1 large and 1 medium. Apple’s sizing is more towards the tighter petite size if you’re into that sort of fit.

At 6ft and 185ish pounds, the medium is just barely fitting me. I’m color coordinating pretty good though with my black and white setup, including the bonus light ring on my macro lens that looks like Apple Park.

Side Profile.

Apple Pens

Not compatible with any iPad, these are old-fashioned pens that use ink to put your thoughts on physical paper.

I know, it’s crazy.

At $35, they are actually $1 cheaper than the actual pens the company (retro51) sells on their website. I guess they felt that the Apple logo cheapened their brand so they had to make sure their version was priced just a wee bit higher. You twist the knurled top to open and close the pen, which has a nice friction-less glide to it when you write.

They come in five colors:

1. Silver

2. Space Gray

3. Gold

4. Rose Gold

5. Black

I got one in Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold (for the wife).* The black one doesn’t look good in my opinion and you can barely see the Apple logo. It doesn’t seem to be anodized like the other colors giving it a painted texture that feels cheaper. The shelves speak for themselves as they were the least popular.

One guy grabbed like 8 of the silver pens before I could get there, clearing out all the stock. I asked the store associate if they had more and thankfully they did. These Apple fanboys I tell ya…

The pen is beautiful.

The Apple logo is perfectly aligned and exactly on the opposite side of the pen clip…

but the company’s logo is surprisingly off-axis.

Apple Coffee Mugs

Honestly, I was on the fence about buying one since I didn’t want it to break on my flight back. I’m not a huge coffee drinker, but it would have been nice to drink in this Japanese made porcelain mug since I love things that are Made in Japan. The black ones are preferable if you like a matte finish to your coffee mug. Comes in 2 sizes as well. The large ones are $29, so maybe $24 for the small?

There’s only one Apple logo that faces you when you drink (assuming you drink right-handed), which is actually nice because it helps you keep a low-profile at your Microsoft Edge Browser improvement meetings. If you’re Android buddy drinks with his or her left hand, you can even serve them coffee in this mug as a friendly prank, making them look like a huge Apple nerd while they’re browsing on their Samsung Galaxy whatever. Another cool functional piece - the bottom of the mug has a cork-like material that acts like a built-in coaster. I will have to snag one of these in a future visit.

Memory Cards

Not the storage variety, but physical cards that feel like a deck of premium playing cards. One of the more nifty pieces of swag that makes for a nice ice breaker at gatherings. At $10 and being made in America, probably the best bang for your buck. We could use an updated set of cards with more recent products, Apple.

Made in America. Here you go, Donald Trump.

The cards feel like premium playing cards.

The original MacBook Air is the only card that is in landscape orientation.

Apple S’well Water bottle

I’m not a fan of these bottles. Very nice shape and design, but doesn’t hold traditional giant ice cubes or a lot of water for that matter. I prefer my REEVUS water bottle any day that devours huge ice cubes, has Find-My built-in, holds more water, and has a MagSafe stand.

Apple Notebook

I keep all my notes in the Notes app, but if you are a fan of all things Apple and are really into journaling or just writing your thoughts on paper, it’s a no brainer to pick up a few of these. Comes in a big and small size.

Onesies

Aah yes, onesies for your loved ones to get them on the Apple bandwagon from an early age. Also a great gift for the Android enthusiast who would like nothing better to see than Apple getting soiled on. $20.

Merch that was not there

Unfortunately there were no baseball hats, tote bags, or postcards to be seen. Maybe next time.

---

*She actually didn’t care for it, so now it’s mine.

The iPhone kept me sober, but not for long…

Juli Clover from MacRumors:

Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro models in the fall, delaying the release of the standard ‌iPhone‌ 18 until the spring.

The shift may be because Apple plans to debut a foldable ‌iPhone‌ in 2026, which will join the existing ‌iPhone‌ lineup. The fall release will include the ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro, the ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro Max, an ‌iPhone‌ 18 Air, and the new foldable ‌iPhone‌.

Later, in spring 2027, Apple will release the standard ‌iPhone‌ 18 and an updated version of the iPhone 16e. The less expensive ‌iPhone‌ models will undergo manufacturing trials in India as Apple expands efforts to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing.

One of the reasons I left Android for Apple was because it curbed my tech addiction. There would be a new Android phone every few months, causing me to sell and buy new devices to the point where the AT&T reps at the store knew me by first name, ready to buy the newest Android flagship. It could also be because of my name because really, how many Fahads are there in Kansas?

With Apple, you buy one device (an iPhone 5 at the time), and it’s the flagship for the whole year.

The iPhone made me and kept me “tech sober.”

Looks like this year we will have 3 flagships, and 4 flagships next year. Most people would consider the Pro and Pro Max to be one flagship, but I consider them to be separate because it really is a tough decision to decide which size to buy. The small size feels amazing in the hand, but the large size is just so immersive.

I won’t be swayed by the mid-cycle refreshes for the base models, but to have 4 flagships in the Fall of 2026 is going to be insane. I like the idea of a regular sized iPhone that opens up into the size of an iPad mini, so a foldable isn’t out of the question.

I do have more responsibilities now with a total family count of 6, so I’ll have to make my iPhone decisions wisely.

Apple’s premium pre-configured packaging for the original Apple Watch meant insane deals for the patient.

The original Apple Watch launch was a historic event. I would argue it had the best introduction of any new product category for Apple outside the iPhone. As any first generation product gets launched, mistakes are made, and one company’s mistake is another person’s good fortune.

When you look at Apple’s original packaging for the Apple Watch, they came in pre-configured units that were not modular like the current packaging. Today, you can pick your watch size and case material, pair it with any band you like, and you will get a standard cardboard flap that wraps two separate boxes: one for your strap, and one for your watch.

Original Apple Watch packaging with holes for the charging cable and 5W plug (left) vs Series 10 (right).

Pre-configured watches had the strap already assembled in the premium, glossy plastic box with felt lining, compared to a cardboard sleeve holding a paper sleeve with the watch inside.

This type of packaging makes perfect sense since it manages inventory better and allows for better logistics. You literally make the packaging based on what the customer ordered, instead of telling the customer to pick from these standard configurations.

It wasn’t like that for the first few generations of Apple Watch. You would get a pre-configured watch that was set at many price points, all the way from $399 for the base aluminum watch, to the over $1,000 stainless steel watch with link bracelet. If you wanted another band to go with your watch, you would have to buy that separately.

You know you got the Stainless Steel watch if you got the square box.

Same premium high gloss plastic casing.

Your Watch came fully assembled, and you also got the premium charging puck that was stainless steel instead of aluminum (not pictured).

I actually have it placed incorrectly here. The watch body would be in the gapped section, making it fit more flush.

I remember when Apple announced pricing for the Apple Watch, I was bummed because the Stainless Steel with link bracelet was at a minimum $1,000. I told myself there’s no way I would plunk down that kind of money.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, and stores had piles of these sitting in inventory. Retailers didn’t know what to do with their stock of $1,000 plus Series 0* Apple watches that no one wanted to buy, so they heavily discounted these when the Series 2 came out. I’m talking heavy discounts.

Best Buy had a 38mm Apple Watch with link bracelet that normally retailed for $999 down to $349. Yes, $349. They also had the space black version of the same configuration for $449 instead of $1,049.

When I saw these deals online, my jaw literally dropped. Was this really happening? My premium Apple Watch dreams that were once crushed were rejuvenated. My mind was running wild with all kinds of ways to take advantage of this deal:

“I could buy both and sell one of them to essentially get a free Apple Watch.”

“If I kept both, I could mix and match the stainless steel look which would look amazing!”

“I can keep both watches and one of the link bracelets, and just sell a bracelet and still come out on top.”

The opportunities were endless. I always wanted the link bracelet with a stainless steel Apple Watch, and now I could easily afford it. So did I get the regular Stainless Steel or the Space Black?

Yes.

I grabbed both of these deals. The bands alone were worth $449 and $549, and now I can get the whole watch with that band for $100 cheaper!

This was one of my fondest memories of the original Apple Watch because of the insane value it was. Sure they were slower than the Series 1 and 2, but it was fast enough for me.

At first, I didn’t think I would like the 38mm size, but when I wore it, it was perfect. It didn’t look like a toy, but a proper luxury watch. I went from the 42mm Aluminum watch to a 38mm Stainless Steel and never looked back. The smaller size just looked better and became my size of choice from that point forward. The irony of the situation is now the smaller 42mm size equals the original, larger 42mm, so we’re back to square one.

*Series 0 refers to the original Apple Watch released in April 2015. Apple released a Series 1 alongside the Series 2 in September 2016 that had a faster processor and discontinued the original Apple Watch.