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Updated September 2026: in 2022, with my first-generation Chromecast lagging, I found the newer Chromecast expensive and awkward to use with a DTH set-top box, because of switching inputs. I have rewritten it into a comparison of streaming options for homes that also use DTH.

My first-generation Chromecast had served well for years, casting from phones and laptops. By 2022 it struggled with HD and live video. The newer model seemed expensive for what it added, and switching between the DTH box and the Chromecast input on the TV was a daily annoyance.

What replaced the Chromecast?

Google ended the Chromecast line in 2024 and replaced it with the Google TV Streamer, a small box with a remote and the Google TV interface. Older Chromecast with Google TV models continue to work. Plain casting from phones is also built into many smart TVs and Android TV boxes.

What is the problem with DTH and a streaming stick together?

Two inputs and two remotes. Every switch between live TV and streaming means changing the TV's input, and older relatives in particular find it confusing. HDMI-CEC can help by switching inputs automatically when a device turns on, but it does not always work reliably between brands.

Is a DTH Android box a better answer?

For many homes, yes. Several Indian DTH operators offer hybrid set-top boxes that run Android TV, combining live channels and streaming apps on one box and one remote. They remove the input switching entirely. The trade-offs are that app selection and performance can be more limited than a dedicated streaming device, and you are tied to that operator.

Which should you choose?

• Heavy live TV users with some streaming: a hybrid DTH Android box.
• Mostly streaming, occasional live TV: a Google TV Streamer or similar, with live channels through apps where available.
• Mostly casting from phones: the casting built into a smart TV may be all you need.

What should you check before buying?

Whether the apps you use are available on the device, whether your TV supports HDMI-CEC well, and the total monthly cost of DTH plus streaming. Many households find that trimming the DTH package after adding streaming saves more than the device costs.

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Updated September 2026: in 2022 I predicted Apple would bring MagSafe wireless charging to iPads, to unify charging across its devices and cut down on cables in the box. I have rewritten it with where iPad charging actually stands.

With MagSafe on iPhones and wireless charging on AirPods, I expected iPads to follow, for three reasons: one charging standard across Apple devices, new accessories built around magnets, and less packaging and e-waste from cables. The prediction has not come true.

Do any iPads support wireless charging?

No. At the time of this update, iPads still charge by cable, through USB-C, which every current iPad now uses. Rumours of MagSafe iPads have come and gone, but Apple has not shipped one.

Why has Apple not added it?

Mostly physics and materials. iPads have large batteries, and wireless charging at useful speeds for a battery that size generates heat and is less efficient than a cable. Aluminium backs also block wireless charging, requiring glass or a cut-out. A tablet also often sits on a keyboard or stand while in use, which makes a charging pad less practical.

Did the universal charging goal happen another way?

Yes, through USB-C. iPhones moved to USB-C in 2023, joining iPads and Macs, so one cable and charger now covers most Apple devices. For wireless charging, the Qi2 standard, based on MagSafe, has brought magnetic charging to many non-Apple phones and accessories.

What about cables in the box?

Apple has removed chargers from iPhone boxes and, in some regions, from other devices, while still including a USB-C cable. That achieves much of the packaging reduction I expected, without wireless charging.

How can you make iPad charging more convenient today?

• Use a 20 W or higher USB-C Power Delivery charger, which charges an iPad much faster than older small adapters.
• Consider a stand or dock with USB-C passthrough if the iPad lives on a desk.
• Keyboard cases with their own USB-C port on some iPad models let you charge through the case.
• Share one charger across iPhone, iPad and Mac now that they all use USB-C.

Is a wireless iPad still likely?

Possible, but the benefits are smaller than they first seemed. USB-C already gives iPads fast, universal charging. If magnetic charging arrives, it is more likely to be for convenience than for speed.

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Updated September 2026: in September 2022 I called the AirPods Pro 2 launch disappointing: the same design, no word on lossless audio, and none of the rumoured health sensors. I have rewritten it with what AirPods Pro have gained since and whether those complaints still apply.

My disappointment was specific. The second-generation AirPods Pro kept the original design, Apple said nothing about lossless audio despite the new H2 chip, and the fitness and health sensors that rumours had promised did not appear. Several of those gaps have since been addressed, in part.

What did AirPods Pro 2 actually improve?

More than the launch suggested. The H2 chip brought noticeably stronger noise cancellation and a better transparency mode, battery life improved, and the case gained a speaker for Find My and a lanyard loop. In 2023 Apple switched the case to USB-C. Later software updates added adaptive audio and conversation awareness, which adjust noise control and lower media volume when you speak.

Did AirPods get lossless audio?

Only in a limited way. The USB-C AirPods Pro 2 support lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro. Over ordinary Bluetooth from an iPhone, AirPods still do not play true lossless audio, because Bluetooth bandwidth is the limit. For most listeners, the difference is hard to hear in everyday conditions.

What about health features?

Apple added hearing health features to AirPods Pro 2 in 2024, including a hearing test and, where approved, a hearing aid function, along with hearing protection in loud environments. Availability depends on your country. In 2025, the AirPods Pro 3 added heart-rate sensing during workouts, which is close to what the 2022 rumours described.

Were my complaints fair?

The design point was fair; it barely changed. The lossless point remains mostly true. The health point was right about the launch but has been answered over time. Apple often ships hardware first and adds features through software later, which makes launch-day judgements harsh in hindsight.

Which AirPods Pro should you buy now?

If you want heart-rate tracking, the newest model. If not, a discounted AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C remains an excellent pair of earbuds, and gets many of the same software features. Check which hearing features are available in India before counting on them.

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