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Updated September 2026: in 2021 I complained that saying "Hey Siri" in a family with five or more Apple devices often woke the wrong one, creating alarms and reminders on my parents' devices. I have rewritten it with how Apple devices decide which one responds, and how to fix it.

With several iPhones and iPads in the family, all with "Hey Siri" turned on, my requests sometimes set a reminder or alarm on a parent's device instead of mine. I suggested Apple should recognise each user's voice and only respond on their own devices.

How do Apple devices decide which one responds?

When several of your devices hear the trigger phrase, they coordinate over Bluetooth, and usually the one nearest or most recently used responds. That works well for devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Devices belonging to different family members are separate, and each responds based on whether it recognises its owner's voice.

Does Siri recognise your voice?

Yes. When you set up the trigger phrase, the device learns your voice, and it is designed to respond mainly to that voice. It is not perfect, especially with similar voices in the same family, which is likely what happened in my home. Setting the phrase up again in a quiet room can improve recognition.

How do you stop the wrong device answering?

• Retrain the voice on each device: turn the listening option off and on in Siri settings and repeat the setup.
• Turn off voice activation on devices that do not need it, such as a shared iPad, and use the side or top button instead.
• Use the shorter trigger thoughtfully: newer versions of iOS let you say just "Siri", which may trigger more often.
• Check where reminders go: reminders and alarms are created on the device that responded, so look there first.

Is voice-based matching what I asked for?

Largely. Apple's approach is close to the voice identification I suggested, applied per device. The remaining problem is similar voices in one household, which no current assistant fully solves. Turning off listening on devices you rarely talk to is the most reliable fix.

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Updated September 2026: in 2021 I criticised Netflix for being pricier than Amazon Prime in India and for offering no annual plan, noting that people would pause subscriptions once they had watched the big releases. I have rewritten it into ways to keep Netflix costs down in India. Plans and prices change, so check current details.

During lockdowns, streaming became the main entertainment in many homes, and families subscribed to several services at once. Netflix stood out as more expensive than Amazon Prime, which also included delivery benefits, and it offered only monthly plans in India. Without an annual discount, many people subscribe for the months they want and cancel in between.

Does Netflix offer an annual plan in India?

Netflix in India has been sold as monthly plans, from a mobile-only tier to a premium tier with 4K and more screens. There is no official annual discount on the Netflix website. Check the current plans on Netflix's own site, as tiers and prices are revised from time to time.

How can you watch Netflix for less?

• Pick the right tier: the mobile plan is enough if you watch alone on a phone.
• Use telecom bundles: some mobile and broadband plans from Indian operators include a Netflix subscription.
• Rotate services: subscribe for a month when a series you want arrives, then cancel.
• Share within your household using the profiles the plan allows.

Is rotating subscriptions worth the effort?

For many households, yes. Watching the releases you care about in one or two months, then pausing, can cost far less than a year of continuous subscription. Netflix keeps your profile and viewing history for a period after you cancel, making it easy to return.

How does Netflix compare with Prime Video?

Prime Video comes with a Prime membership that also covers delivery and music, so its effective cost is low if you already use Prime. Netflix is a single service, often with stronger international series and films. Many households keep Prime year-round and add Netflix occasionally.

Would an annual plan change behaviour?

Probably, which is likely why many services offer one: it locks in subscribers through quiet months. Without it, the rotation approach remains the practical way to control costs.

Keep reading

• Apple One, Prime, Google One or Microsoft 365?
• iCloud vs Google One vs OneDrive: Compare Family Plans
• OTT Fatigue: Too Many Subscriptions, Too Much Content

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I argued Microsoft 365 Family needed entertainment, such as music or video, bundled alongside storage and Office to keep users, as Apple was doing. I have rewritten it into a comparison of how the big subscription bundles differ and how to choose one.

My family was on Microsoft 365 Family, with each of six people getting 1 TB of OneDrive and Office apps, and OneDrive backing up everyone's photos. It was good value, but I felt Microsoft was missing what Apple offered: music and video in the same subscription. Five years on, every big technology company sells a bundle, and they are built around very different ideas.

What do the main bundles include?

• Apple One: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and iCloud+ storage, with higher tiers adding more.
• Amazon Prime: delivery benefits plus Prime Video and Amazon Music.
• Google One: storage shared with family, with higher tiers adding Google's AI features.
• Microsoft 365: storage per person and Office apps, with Copilot AI features added in 2025.

Did Microsoft add entertainment?

No. Microsoft has kept Microsoft 365 focused on productivity and added AI rather than music or video. Its gaming subscription, Game Pass, is sold separately. So the gap I pointed out in 2021 still exists; Microsoft has bet on work tools, not entertainment, as the reason to stay.

How do you choose a bundle?

List what your household already pays for separately, then see which bundle covers most of it. A bundle is only good value if you would otherwise pay for at least two of its parts. Paying for a bundle to use one service is usually more expensive than subscribing to that service alone.

Can you combine bundles sensibly?

Yes, and many households do: Microsoft 365 for storage and Office, Prime for shopping and video, and perhaps one music service. The trap is overlap, such as paying for two music services or two cloud storage plans. Review subscriptions once a year and cancel the duplicates.

Was my 2021 wish right?

In one sense, yes: bundles are how these companies now compete. But Microsoft's choice to stay with productivity makes sense for families like mine, who already had entertainment covered elsewhere. The best bundle is the one that matches what you already use.

Keep reading

• iCloud vs Google One vs OneDrive: Compare Family Plans
• Netflix Has No Annual Plan in India: How to Save
• Why Microsoft 365 Subscriptions Need a Revamp

Updated September 2026: in 2021, a couple of months after choosing OneDrive, I listed its limits: no full device backup, trouble choosing folders on Mac, and problems with file locking and collaboration in Office. I have rewritten it with how OneDrive works on Mac now and what it is and is not designed for.

I chose OneDrive for two reasons: Office apps and generous storage. After a couple of months, three constraints bothered me. It could not back up an entire phone or Mac. On Mac, I could not pick the folders I wanted in the way I expected. And sharing Office files with family did not handle locking and collaboration as I hoped.

Is OneDrive a backup service?

No. OneDrive is a sync service. It keeps chosen folders identical across devices and the cloud, and it keeps previous versions of files and a recycle bin for a limited time. It does not image a whole Mac or phone. For a full Mac backup, use Time Machine alongside it; for iPhone, use iCloud backup or a computer backup.

Can you choose which folders sync on a Mac?

Yes. In the OneDrive app's settings you can choose which OneDrive folders are downloaded to the Mac, and Files On-Demand shows cloud files without downloading them until needed. Recent versions can also back up the Mac's Desktop and Documents folders to OneDrive automatically. Folders elsewhere on the Mac need to be moved into the OneDrive folder to sync.

How do Office files handle collaboration?

Word, Excel and PowerPoint files stored in OneDrive support co-authoring, where several people edit at once and see each other's changes. It works best when everyone uses current Office versions or Office on the web. Problems usually come from older Office versions or files opened from a local copy outside OneDrive, which then conflict.

What are the real limits today?

• No full-device backup, by design.
• Syncing is limited to the OneDrive folder and the backed-up folders.
• Sharing a family plan's Office licences does not mean sharing files; each person has their own OneDrive.

Is OneDrive still a good choice?

For sync, Office and per-person storage, yes. Pair it with a proper backup tool, and set up shared folders deliberately for files the family needs to work on together.

Keep reading

• iCloud vs Google One vs OneDrive: Compare Family Plans
• Apple One, Prime, Google One or Microsoft 365?
• Google Storage Full? How to Reclaim Your 15 GB

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I compared iCloud, Google One and Microsoft OneDrive family plans in a table of 2021 Indian prices, calculating a cost per GB. Prices have changed since, so I have rewritten it into a method for comparing family cloud plans yourself, with what my 2021 comparison showed.

When Google Photos stopped offering free unlimited backup, the question for many families became which paid plan to choose. In 2021 I compared the family plans from Apple, Google and Microsoft using the prices then. The conclusion was striking: Microsoft's plan cost the most per month but gave by far the most storage, 1 TB for each of six people, making its cost per GB a fraction of the others at the time.

How do you compare cloud plans fairly?

• Annual cost: use yearly pricing where available; it is usually cheaper than monthly.
• Storage you will actually use: per person or shared, and how fast it grows.
• Number of people: all three offer family sharing, but differently.
• Bundled extras: Office apps, music, AI features or other services you would pay for anyway.

Why does cost per GB mislead?

Because unused storage has no value. A 6 TB plan is cheap per GB only if your family needs that much. For a household using 150 GB in total, a smaller plan may cost less overall even at a higher price per GB.

How do the three differ in structure?

iCloud+ and Google One give one pool shared across the family. Microsoft 365 Family gives each of up to six people their own 1 TB. Shared pools are flexible; separate allowances stop one person's usage from affecting everyone else. Apple bundles more storage with Apple Music and other services in Apple One, Google bundles AI features in higher tiers, and Microsoft bundles Office apps.

What should you calculate?

Your family's current total storage, a growth estimate for two years, and the yearly cost of the smallest plan from each provider that covers it. Then add the value of extras you would otherwise pay for. That total gives a fair comparison.

Which is usually cheapest?

It depends on your numbers. Large families needing Office tend to find Microsoft best value, all-Apple households find Apple One convenient, and Android users with moderate storage often find Google One simplest. Check current prices in India on each provider's site before deciding.

Keep reading

• Apple One, Prime, Google One or Microsoft 365?
• OneDrive on Mac: Backup, Folder Sync and Co-Editing
• Netflix Has No Annual Plan in India: How to Save

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I listed my reasons for wanting to leave my job: a micromanaging, unfocused manager who caused repeated rework, and marginal hikes, with a long wait before my next promotion. I have rewritten it into a framework for deciding whether to switch jobs.

After a long time, I felt the need to change jobs. The biggest driver was my manager: micromanagement, work assigned without thought, repeated rework because of his confusion, and reactions to the onsite team that made unnecessary work for us. The second was money: marginal hikes, a recent promotion increment below industry standards, and the prospect of a long wait for the next one.

Is a bad manager a good reason to leave?

It is one of the most common, and often a valid one. But managers change more often than companies do. Before leaving, check whether an internal move to another team is possible, and whether your manager is likely to move on. If neither is realistic, the manager becomes a real reason.

How do you judge whether your pay is fair?

Compare your salary with market data for your role, experience and city, from salary surveys, job listings and conversations with recruiters. Promotion increments inside a company are often smaller than the jump a new employer offers. If the gap is large, it will rarely close internally.

What else should you weigh?

• Growth: the work you will do and the skills you will build in the next two years.
• Stability: the new company's health and the security of the role.
• Benefits: insurance, leave, work arrangement and bonus structure.
• Timing: bonuses or vesting you would forfeit by leaving now.

How do you start looking without risk?

Update your CV and profile quietly, talk to former colleagues at other companies, and apply selectively. Do not resign until you have a written offer. Keep performing well in your current role; a strong final appraisal and good references matter.

Should you tell your manager why you are leaving?

In an exit conversation, keep it professional and brief. Focus on the opportunity you are moving to rather than the problems you are leaving. Honest feedback about management is more useful in a confidential exit survey than in a heated conversation.

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Updated September 2026: in 2021 my old MacBook Pro's battery died, Apple no longer supplied batteries for it, and I bought an unrated third-party battery online, reasoning that a new seller would send a quality product. I have rewritten it into safer guidance on buying a replacement laptop battery.

With no original battery available, I compared three kinds of online listing: a well-rated but expensive battery, a cheap poorly rated one, and an unrated one at an affordable price. I chose the unrated listing, reasoning that a new seller trying to build trust would send a good product and that I could return it if not. Looking back, that reasoning deserves a closer look, because laptop batteries carry real safety risks.

Why are replacement laptop batteries risky?

Lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy. Poor-quality cells or missing protection circuits can overheat, swell or, rarely, catch fire. Swelling can also damage the trackpad and case. A battery is one of the few laptop parts where the cheapest option can be dangerous, not just short-lived.

Is an unrated seller a good bet?

Not usually. A lack of ratings means a lack of evidence, not a promise of quality. New sellers do sometimes offer good products, but you cannot tell from the listing. A seller with many reviews that mention long-term use is a safer choice, even at a higher price.

What should you check before buying?

• The exact model number match for your laptop.
• Safety certifications and a named manufacturer.
• Reviews that mention months of use, not just first impressions.
• A clear warranty and return policy.
• That the capacity claimed is realistic for the original specification.

Should you fit it yourself?

Many older laptops have glued batteries that are awkward to remove safely. An independent repair shop with experience in your model can replace it with less risk of puncturing the old battery. Ask whether they supply the part and guarantee the work.

When should you stop repairing an old laptop?

When the battery is one of several ageing parts and the laptop no longer gets software updates. At that point a new or refurbished laptop is often better value, and safer, than a replacement battery. Dispose of old batteries at an e-waste collection point, never in household rubbish.

Keep reading

• Buying an iPhone on a Budget in India
• Why Apple Self Service Repair Is Still Missing in India
• Naming a Backup Contact Before Leave: Ask First

Updated September 2026: the original 2021 post outlined how an enterprise platform implementation runs, from assessment through design documents to delivery and business validation. I have expanded it into a clearer walk-through of the phases and what the business should do in each.

Businesses adopt enterprise platforms, such as ERP or CRM systems, to run operations more consistently and serve customers better. The implementation is usually delivered by an IT vendor, but its success depends as much on the business as on the vendor. Each phase has a job for both.

What are the main phases of an implementation?

• Assessment: the vendor studies current processes, systems and pain points.
• Solution outline: a proposed approach, reviewed and approved by the business owner.
• Design: functional and technical design documents that define exactly what will be built.
• Build: configuration, integrations, data migration and reports.
• Testing: system testing by the vendor, then user acceptance testing by the business.
• Cut-over and go-live: final data migration and switching to the new system.
• Hypercare: intensive support in the first weeks after go-live.

Why do the design documents matter so much?

They form the baseline for what is delivered. Anything not in them is, formally, a change. If the business signs off design documents without reading them closely, gaps appear at testing, when they are most expensive to fix. Reviewing design documents carefully is the single most valuable thing business experts can do.

What should the business contribute?

Nominate key experts from each area with real time set aside for the project. They explain processes, review designs, validate every requirement during testing and sign off. Projects where business experts are squeezed in around their normal jobs are the ones that slip.

What is user acceptance testing for?

To confirm the system supports the business's real processes, using realistic scenarios and data. It is not a formality. Testers should follow actual end-to-end processes, such as order to invoice, and record every issue, however small.

How do you know the implementation succeeded?

By outcomes agreed at the start: faster processes, fewer manual steps, better reporting. Measure them a few months after go-live. A system that went live on time but did not change how the business works has not really succeeded.

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