Here’s a direct link to all of the panels at Celebration this year.
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Here’s a link to the main Star Wars celebration panel for today (26th May). Here is the main kick off and should give some highlights of what’s coming. This will be 19:00 in the UK by the way.
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Today marks the beginning of Star Wars celebration. I can’t be there but I can watch live here. Each day there will be live streaming from the show floor.
I’ll be trying to keep an updated newsletter going for each day best I can given I’m in a different time zone.
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As I’ve been switching iPhone models I’ve been looking a lot at the used market and I think that the iPhone 11 is still the best value phone to get in 2022. Released in 2019 it’s still a great phone for any level of user. It’s camera holds up well against the 13, it’s got battery for days, a large screen and will continue to be supported on the latest version of iOS for at least another 3 years.
The only downside is the weight, which is definitely something you notice.
I feel that if you want a new phone on a budget you go for an SE but for anyone else get yourself a used 11. You can pick them up for £300 nowadays on auction sites and having used a 13 recently you aren’t missing out on that much in real day to day terms.
It’s also a good alternative if you encounter eye strain from the OLED models of iPhone.
Let me know if like me you are still using one daily.
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An app I use almost daily is called TouchRetouch and in my opinion it’s the best way to remove objects in images on iOS.
I use it like above where I want to remove a telephone line in my image. I simply select the eraser and swipe where I want to remove it.
As you can see the result is pretty impressive.
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I’ve been using the iPhone 13 Mini again since last week and now the initial indexing has taken place I’m back to figuring out what a normal day using it is like. Coming from an iPhone 13 where I didn’t even think about charging and could sometimes go two days between charges, what do I think about the swap to the iPhone 13 Mini?
Well for my use, it’s gets me though the day with between 40% and 55% left. That’s taking some photos, listening to music, some social media, messages and mails.
I’m definitely using it a bit less than the 13 but that’s intentional. I’m trying to be on my devices a bit less at the moment so it’s all good.
If I hadn’t have had a 13 or even an 11 the Mini would have been some of the longest battery life I’d had in an iPhone, I’d say for most people it’ll be fine. I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t write off the Mini just because you are concerned about potential battery life.
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I’ve been using the iPhone 13 Mini a bit more in the last couple of days and reading reviews of mainstream sites I’m wondering if reviewers missed the point of the 13 Mini. In the cons I’m seeing battery life and screen feels cramped, this is missing the point. I feel that the Mini is aimed at people that go out looking for a small phone so accept the screen and battery (it’s not that bad, not too much less than the bigger 13).
With the iPhone 13 mini I like to think about using the phone as more of a tool again, not something to be glued to as a bigger screen invites you to. My RSI still isn’t great and I’m wondering what I’ll do with the Mini at the moment but there’s no taking away that this is a great form factor.
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I really wish that the BBC would (a) not track statistics by default and (b) put a lot of their content behind walls like the BBC Sounds app.
On using it I realised the BBC like with most of their apps turn on statistics gathering by default.
You can turn this off by tapping on ‘my sounds’ then the cog in the top right. Once there scroll down and you’ll see ‘share statistics’. Turn this off.
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I’ve been switching between iPhone models this year, all in a bid to try to resolve some ongoing RSI issues. I’ve used the iPhone 7, 11, 13, 13 Pro and 13 Mini in the last 7 months and whilst I’m not fully settled yet I do have a good grasp on what each model offers.
I thought for this post I’d concentrate on the iPhone 13 Mini. A model I’d looked towards with it’s smaller form factor whilst keeping the great cameras from the 13 and the larger screen to body ratio than that of the SE 2022.
My view was to get the biggest storage iPhone 13 mini I could budget for and keep it for as long as possible given it doesn’t look like there will be a new model anytime soon.
What I’m finding is that it’s not too small so far. I do have the system setting set to zoom and the font size set a few clicks up from standard and for my use it’s working out ok. I’m having to adjust coming from a 6.1” screen but I’m also using my phone less. If I’m at home I’ll use my iPad Mini or MacBook Air, I’m not really mindlessly scrolling social media on it. I use it for a camera, music, podcasts and everything else you’d want from a phone when you’re out and about.
Typing is ok too, I’m not looking at the keyboard when I’m typing so I must be getting used to it.
I can use it one handed and not have to do hand gymnastics and thanks to the smaller device I hold it differently so the sharper edges don’t dig into my hand.
Where I think I can advise is, if you are looking for the 13 mini to be your only device then as long as you can handle a bigger device then get the regular 13 or the Pro, you’ll appreciate the larger screen.
If you have other devices or have RSI issues or want to disconnect a bit more or use your phone as a tool then the Mini is a great way to go. It’s not too small in my opinion and you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you like this smartphone that feels like it’s from a time where smartphones were a reasonable size.
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It’s been another month or so with the new iPad Mini form factor and it’s become even more part of my day to day. I’m now regularly using it for note taking and it’s almost replaced my MacBook Air. It feels to me the perfect form factor for the iPad. Small and portable but still a powerhouse.
I feel that having the MacBook Air alongside this mini is the perfect setup for me at this point in my tech journey.
Where it shines for me also is with photography. I tend to take my DSLR out most places these days and being able to import and edit on a device I can chuck in my camera bag is great. I’m no professional but I love being able to unwind after a day trip by importing, sorting and editing.
I’m hoping these are selling in large numbers so we avoid what looks like is happening with the iPhone Mini going away this year.
LJPUK 