Ansari Information

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I wrote about two things that stopped me leaving my Mac at home when travelling, handling Zip files on an iPhone or iPad and apps that were missing or sold only by subscription. I have rewritten it as a guide to working from an iPad or iPhone, with the Zip problem now largely solved.

I use a Mac as my main computer and rely on my iPad or iPhone for important work while travelling. Handheld devices can handle most tasks now, but when I first wrote this two things kept getting in the way: Zip files and apps.

Can an iPhone or iPad open Zip files?

Yes. The built-in Files app can open and create Zip archives. Tap a Zip file in Files and it extracts into a folder next to it. To make one, select several files, open the menu and choose Compress. For other formats such as RAR or 7z, you still need a third-party app from the App Store.

How do you handle large files on the go?

• Use cloud storage such as iCloud Drive, Google Drive or OneDrive, and download only what you need.
• Connect a USB-C drive to an iPad with a USB-C port. It shows up in the Files app.
• Keep enough free space on the device, since extracting an archive needs room for both copies.

Which work tasks still need a laptop?

Much depends on your job. Email, documents, spreadsheets, video calls and light photo editing work well on an iPad, especially with a keyboard. Tasks that still tend to need a computer include some specialist software, developer tools, complex multi-window work and anything that relies on desktop-only browser extensions.

Why are so many apps subscription-only?

This was my second complaint, and it still applies. Many desktop apps now have iPad versions, but they often ask for a monthly or yearly subscription instead of a one-time price. Before you rely on an iPad for travel, list the apps you need, check whether each has a mobile version, and add up the yearly cost. Some web apps work well in Safari and can be a free alternative.

What accessories make an iPad work like a laptop?

A keyboard case with a trackpad makes the biggest difference. A USB-C hub adds ports for drives and displays, and a stand helps on long calls. Together these cover most of what I used to carry a laptop for.

Should you leave the laptop at home?

For short trips where the work is mostly communication and documents, an iPad is usually enough. For longer trips or specialist work, test a full working day on the iPad at home first. If anything blocks you, pack the laptop.

Keep reading

• Leaving Google Photos: How to Move Your Library
• When a Business Outgrows Separate Tools
• My 2021 Apple Mac Predictions: How They Held Up

• Lack of option available to select sim quickly from dialed list: If you were about to call already dialed contact or the contact’s name you have saved already, then iPhone will use the sim that had received the call, or the preferred line selected while saving the contact. There was no option to enable checklist while dialing the already dialed or received number to select the line for the call and lack of option available to enable to ask about the preferred line, every time the saved contact number is dialed. 
• Using alternative number or second SIM to send messages: When you send a message to a contact, the messages are always sent from the primary sim, or the preferred line selected while sending the message. There was no option available to select the SIM line while sending the message or the option to enable checklist for specific contact list.
• Sending message without saving the contact: When you quick dial the number of a person, there was no option available to directly send a message to that number, either you had to dial the number to send the message or save the number to send the messages. 

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• Unresponsive iPhone: Troubleshooting Beyond the Port
• Fixing Crackling AirPods Pro 1st Gen: Optimal Solutions

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I suggested two features for Apple Music after Lossless and Dolby Atmos arrived, a quick way to see a song's audio quality and a faster way to start a station. I have rewritten it as a practical guide to checking and getting the best audio quality in Apple Music.

I had been using Apple Music for a few months and was hooked on the sound quality and the Dolby Atmos catalogue. What bothered me was how hard it was to tell which version of a song I was hearing. To check, I had to unlock my iPhone, open the Music app and look for the Lossless or Dolby Atmos badge on the player. I wanted that information to be visible at a glance.

How do you check if a song is playing in Lossless or Dolby Atmos?

Open the Now Playing screen in the Music app. When a song is playing in Lossless, Hi-Res Lossless or Dolby Atmos, a badge appears on the player. Tapping the badge on recent iOS versions shows more detail about the format. Where exactly the badge sits has moved between iOS releases, so look around the song title and progress bar if you do not see it straight away.

What settings do you need to turn on?

• Lossless Audio: go to Settings, then Music, then Audio Quality, and switch on Lossless Audio.
• Streaming and download quality: choose Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless separately for mobile data, Wi-Fi and downloads.
• Dolby Atmos: in the same Music settings, set Dolby Atmos to Automatic or Always On.

Lossless files are much larger than standard ones, so higher settings use more data and storage. Menu names can change with iOS updates.

Why does a song not play in Lossless even when it is switched on?

There are a few common reasons. Not every song in the catalogue is available in every format. Bluetooth headphones, including AirPods, do not carry true lossless audio because Bluetooth compresses the signal, although you still get the better source. Hi-Res Lossless also needs an external digital-to-analogue converter to play at its full resolution.

Which headphones get the most from Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos works with most headphones in Apple Music, and supported AirPods and Beats models add head-tracked spatial audio. Wired headphones connected to a suitable adapter are the better choice if lossless quality matters more to you than spatial effects.

What about creating a station from the lock screen?

My second wish was to start a station from a song without opening the app, because my mood often changes with the music while I work. Siri can do this: while a song is playing, ask it to create a station based on that song. Inside the app, the song's menu also offers a Create Station option.

Is the difference in quality easy to hear?

It depends on your ears, your headphones and the recording. Many people struggle to tell Lossless from standard quality in blind tests, while Dolby Atmos mixes are usually easier to notice because they change how the music is laid out around you. Try a few songs you know well in each format and decide whether the extra data use is worth it.

Keep reading

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• Fixing Crackling AirPods Pro 1st Gen: Optimal Solutions
• Leaving Google Photos: How to Move Your Library

Updated September 2026: in July 2021 I said goodbye to Google Photos after its free storage change, having found a more affordable home for my photos elsewhere. I have rewritten it into a checklist for leaving Google Photos without losing anything.

After months of weighing it up, I decided to move away from Google Photos. Major technology companies were charging for online storage, and I had found an option that suited my family better. Leaving a photo service is easy to start and easy to get wrong, so here is the careful way.

What should you do before leaving?

• Choose and set up the new service, with automatic backup switched on for every phone.
• Export your library with Google Takeout, including albums.
• Download the archives to a computer and check they open.
• Fix dates using the data files Takeout includes, if your new service shows wrong dates.
• Upload to the new service and compare counts.

What about shared albums?

Shared albums and photos others shared with you are not always included in Takeout in the way you expect. Save any you want to keep to your own library first, then export.

Should you delete your Google Photos library?

Not straight away. Keep it for a few months until you are sure everything moved. Then turn off backup in the Google Photos app, so new photos do not keep filling your Google storage.

What will you miss?

Google Photos' search, automatic memories and editing tools are hard to match. Decide whether the saving is worth that before moving everything.

Can you use Google Photos without paying?

Yes, within the free 15 GB shared with Gmail and Drive, or by keeping only selected albums there.

What is the safest overall setup?

One main cloud service plus an offline copy on an external drive.

How long does a full move take?

Longer than most people expect. A large library can take days to export, download and upload again, and a slow home connection stretches that further. Move one year of photos at a time, check each batch, and only then start the next. That way a failed upload is easy to spot and repeat.

Keep reading

• Working From an iPad Without a Laptop: Zip Files and More
• Apple Music Lossless and Dolby Atmos: How to Check
• Pre-Built vs. Custom SSDs: Which Suits You Best?

Updated September 2026: since the Apple Watch Series 3, I had hoped Apple would release an affordable smart band with basic heart rate, step and calorie tracking. Apple has not. I have rewritten it into a guide to which fitness band features actually matter, whatever brand you choose.

I thought a simple Apple band, with heart rate monitoring, a step counter and calorie estimates, could reach far more people than the Apple Watch. Apple chose a different route with the Apple Watch SE. Meanwhile, affordable bands from other makers have covered those basics well.

Which features matter most on a fitness band?

• Heart rate: continuous tracking with alerts for unusually high or low rates.
• Steps and activity: the core of any band, and generally accurate enough for trends.
• Sleep tracking: useful if the band is comfortable to wear overnight.
• Battery life: bands often last a week or more, a real advantage over smartwatches.
• App quality: clear trends and compatibility with Apple Health or Google Fit.

How accurate are calorie estimates?

Not very. Calorie figures are estimates based on heart rate, movement and your profile, and can be off by a wide margin. Use them to compare days, not to count exact intake against output.

What do bands leave out compared with watches?

Usually a large screen, apps, contactless payments, on-wrist replies and advanced sensors like ECG. For many people, these are nice rather than necessary.

Do bands work with iPhones?

Most do, through their own apps, and many sync data to Apple Health. Notification features can be more limited than on Android. Check reviews for iPhone compatibility before buying.

Is a band enough to improve fitness?

It helps by making activity visible. The benefit comes from acting on the data, such as a daily step goal, rather than from the device itself.

What about Apple Watch SE?

For iPhone users who want more than tracking, it is Apple's affordable option.

How should you choose between two similar bands?

Compare the app rather than the hardware. Two bands with the same sensors can feel very different depending on how clearly the app shows trends, how reliably it syncs, and whether it asks for a subscription to unlock basic charts. Read recent reviews of the app itself before deciding.

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Updated September 2026: in May 2021 I predicted Apple's next MacBook line-up would have three versions, inspired by the new 24-inch iMac. I have rewritten it to compare my guesses with what Apple released, and what the MacBook range looks like now.

After Apple's April 2021 event introduced the colourful 24-inch iMac, I predicted the MacBook line would follow with three versions and a refreshed design. The next launches were not until later in the year, and rumours were already building.

What did Apple release after that?

In October 2021, redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, bringing back HDMI, an SD card slot and MagSafe charging. In 2022, a redesigned MacBook Air with the M2 chip and flat edges. A 15-inch MacBook Air followed in 2023.

Which predictions were right?

Multiple versions, yes: the range settled into MacBook Air in two sizes and MacBook Pro in two sizes. Bright iMac-style colours did not carry over, although the Air gained some new finishes. The design refresh arrived as predicted, though in stages.

What does the MacBook range look like now?

• MacBook Air 13-inch and 15-inch: light, fanless and suitable for most people.
• MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch: brighter displays, more ports and Pro or Max chips for heavy work.

Which should you buy?

The Air for everyday work, study and travel. The Pro for sustained heavy workloads such as video editing, large builds or 3D. Memory and storage matter more than the chip generation.

What did the 2021 MacBook Pro fix?

Ports many professionals missed, a better keyboard and much longer battery life than older Intel models.

Is a previous-generation MacBook a good buy?

Often, yes. Apple silicon Macs age well, and discounted older models with enough memory handle everyday work comfortably. Check that the model will still receive macOS updates for several years and that it has at least 16 GB of memory.

When are new MacBooks usually announced?

Apple has launched MacBooks at various points in the year, often in spring, around WWDC in June or in October and November. Check recent announcements before buying, in case a new model is weeks away.

Are predictions like this useful?

For fun, yes. For buying decisions, wait for the announcement.

Keep reading

• Why 512 SSD configuration in M2 MacBook Air not worth it?
• Smartphone Prices Jumped 69% in India: Upgrade or Wait?
• Working From an iPad Without a Laptop: Zip Files and More

Updated September 2026: in 2021, after four years of smooth use, my MacBook Pro became unusually hot near the trackpad rather than the display, and when I opened the back panel I found the battery had swollen. I have rewritten it into a guide to spotting a swelling laptop battery early.

My MacBook Pro had worked well for over four years. Then it started behaving oddly. Under load it used to warm up near the display hinge, but now it was hot near the trackpad. Curious, I opened the back panel and found the battery had swollen.

What are the early signs of a swelling battery?

• Heat in unusual places, such as the palm rest or trackpad.
• A trackpad that clicks poorly or feels raised.
• A laptop that no longer sits flat, or a case that bulges or separates.
• Battery warnings such as "Service Recommended".
• Sudden drops in battery life.

Should you open the laptop to check?

It is safer not to. Opening the case risks pressing on or puncturing the battery. If you see signs of swelling, stop using and charging the laptop and take it to a service provider, who can inspect it safely.

Why do batteries swell?

Ageing lithium-ion cells can produce gas, especially after years of heat and constant full charging. It is more common in older laptops kept plugged in all the time.

How do you reduce the risk?

Keep the laptop ventilated, avoid using it on beds or cushions, keep macOS updated and use battery health settings that avoid holding a full charge. Replace the battery when its condition declines significantly.

What should you do immediately after finding swelling?

Back up if safe, shut down, unplug and keep the laptop on a hard surface away from anything flammable. Arrange a replacement promptly.

How long do laptop batteries last?

Typically several years, depending on use, heat and charging habits. Modern MacBook batteries are rated to keep up to 80 percent of capacity at 1,000 charge cycles. Mine lasted about four years before swelling, which is within the range of normal ageing for a heavily used machine.

Can the laptop be used again after replacement?

Usually yes. Check the trackpad and case for damage caused by the swelling.

Keep reading

• 2nd Time failure of my MacBook Pro and it was not the end
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Updated September 2026: the original 2021 post argued that businesses running on several stand-alone applications should consider an integrated enterprise platform, and noted compatibility with Windows and Mac. I have expanded it into a guide to recognising when your business has outgrown separate software tools.

Many businesses run on a patchwork: accounting software, a spreadsheet for stock, another tool for sales and email for approvals. It works until it does not. If you are considering replacing that setup, it helps to name the pain points clearly first.

What are the signs you have outgrown separate tools?

• Double entry: the same data typed into several systems.
• Reports built by hand from exports every month.
• Nobody trusts the numbers, because systems disagree.
• Approvals by email with no record or control.
• Growth is slowing down operations, not just adding work.

What does an integrated platform solve?

One set of data shared across finance, sales, inventory and purchasing, so a sale updates stock and accounts automatically. Reports come from one source. Approvals follow defined workflows.

Does it matter whether it runs on Windows or Mac?

Less than it used to. Most modern platforms run in a web browser, working on any computer, with mobile apps for approvals. Check that any desktop components your team needs are supported on the computers you use.

Is a full enterprise platform always the answer?

No. Small businesses can often connect good individual tools through integrations. An enterprise platform suits businesses whose processes and volumes justify the cost and effort of implementation.

How do you start?

List your processes and pain points, estimate the cost of the current inefficiency, and compare a few platforms against those specific problems. Talk to similar businesses that have made the change.

What does the change cost beyond licences?

Implementation fees, data migration, training and time from your own staff, who will be busy with design and testing for months. Budget for these as seriously as the software itself, and plan for a period of lower productivity while people learn the new system.

What should you avoid?

Buying on features rather than on the problems you actually have.

Keep reading

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• UPI Transaction Charges 2026: Who Pays
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