iOS Family Sharing users cannot mix authentication schemes

Apple supports two styles of two-factor authentication, that they call (and distinguish as) “two-step” vs “two-factor”.  “Two-step” is their older method, though functionally they’re basically equivalent. If you have multiple accounts on a Family Sharing arrangement, and some use “two-factor” while others use “two-step”, you’re in for a bag of hurt. For example, any time you change… Read more

Keyboard autocompletes

Apparently if you get bored enough you start just playing with the keyboards installed on your iPad.  Those that have the suggestion bar at the top can make some interesting ‘poetry’.  You just keep tapping in the same place, or in some simple pattern across the N suggestions.  Some are just bemusing drunk gibberish, but… Read more

Silent data corruption

Alternate title:  Apple’s file system engineers are sadly naive. I was quite disappointed to see that APFS isn’t even trying to provide data integrity.  Data integrity is kind of step 0 of any file system, and checksums or use of ECC is pretty much standard in modern & leading-edge file systems.  APFS doesn’t want to… Read more

Lightroom’s flaws & limitations

I’m attempting to switch to Lightroom, from Aperture, given lack of better alternatives. I’ve attempted this switch a couple of times before, without success. I’m finding that it’s still kind of annoying.  Here’s the start of my laundry list against it: It’s very slow.  I am already so very tired of seeing that blasted “Loading…”… Read more

Why I cancelled Backblaze

This is the feedback I sent to Backblaze shortly before I cancelled my account with them. For the additional context – the restore failure I alluded to was basically that: So, the departing ‘support’ ticket I filed with them (#167833): Maybe this’ll help your future would-be customers. The main reason is that when I tried… Read more

Disorganised thoughts on the Sony a7R II

It has some outright bugs around handling of SD cards.  For example, it will not record high quality video to a SanDisk Extreme Pro card.  It falsely claims that the card is not UHS-I compliant, nor fast enough – both utter garbage. “Silent” mode (electronic front & rear curtain shutters) makes a significant difference to… Read more

The last five years in photography

I’ve been reading through the back catalog of Digital Camera magazine, from the first issues available for the iPad back in 2009 or so.  There’s been a few things which have been amusing: Teleconverters back then were apparently a great way to get extra reach basically for free.  Just avoid those 3x teleconverters – those… Read more