JJSSWW

Updated September 2026: in 2022, with an older TV and a first-generation Chromecast, I weighed the Apple TV 4K against Android boxes: premium quality and Apple integration against much lower cost. I have rewritten it into advice for choosing a streaming device for an older TV specifically.

My TV was a few years old, and I relied on a first-generation Chromecast. Comparing options, the Apple TV 4K offered the best picture and tight integration with iPhones, but cost as much as two or three Android boxes. Android boxes met every streaming need for much less, but lacked native Apple integration.

Does an older TV change the choice?

Yes, a lot. Premium boxes support 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision, but an older TV may be 1080p or lack HDR. In that case, much of what you pay extra for cannot be displayed. Check your TV's resolution and HDR support before buying.

What matters most on an older TV?

• Smooth, current apps: the reason most people upgrade from an old stick.
• A good remote: with voice search and TV power and volume control.
• App availability: all the Indian streaming apps you use.
• Casting or AirPlay: depending on whether your household uses Android or iPhone.

When is the Apple TV 4K still worth it on an older TV?

When your household is all-Apple and values AirPlay, iPhone as a remote and long software support, and when you plan to buy a better TV later and keep the box. It will make full use of that future TV.

When is a budget box enough?

When the TV is 1080p or lacks HDR, and your main need is running current apps smoothly. A reputable Google TV device or Android TV stick covers that at a fraction of the price.

What about my first-generation Chromecast?

Early Chromecasts are no longer updated and struggle with HD and live streams, which was my experience. Google has since replaced the line with the Google TV Streamer. Retiring an old stick for a current device usually fixes lag immediately.

What about the TV's own smart features?

Many older smart TVs lose app support over time, which is often why people buy a box. A new box is cheaper than a new TV and brings current apps back, which is the most practical upgrade for an old set.

Keep reading

• Showing OneDrive Photos on a TV From an iPhone
• Comparing Premium Earbuds: What Matters Beyond Looks
• Apple Watch Series 8 Revisited: Which Watch to Buy

Updated September 2026: in 2022 my plan to buy the Apple Watch Series 8 fell apart: the design was unchanged from Series 7, the new sensor was mainly for temperature-based cycle tracking, and the price in India had gone up. I have rewritten it into advice on choosing an Apple Watch, with how later models changed.

I had wanted an Apple Watch for a long time and waited for the Series 8, expecting a redesign that leaks had suggested and new health sensors at a similar price. The Series 8 kept the Series 7 design with similar battery life, added a temperature sensor used mainly for cycle tracking, and cost more in India.

What did the Series 8 actually add?

The temperature sensing, used for retrospective ovulation estimates and cycle tracking, and Crash Detection, which can call emergency services after a severe car crash. Otherwise it was close to the Series 7.

Did the redesign come later?

Yes. The Series 10, in 2024, was thinner with a larger display, which was the first notable design change in several years. Newer models have also improved battery life and health features.

Which Apple Watch should you buy now?

• Apple Watch SE: for notifications, fitness tracking and safety features at the lowest price.
• The current Series model: for the full set of health sensors and the latest design.
• Discounted previous Series: often the best value, with most of the same features.
• Apple Watch Ultra: for outdoor sports and the longest battery life.

Is it worth waiting for the next model?

Only if a specific rumoured feature matters to you. Watch updates are usually gradual, and rumours often overpromise, as they did in 2022. If you want a watch now, a discounted previous model is rarely a mistake.

How long is an Apple Watch supported?

Apple usually supports each watch with watchOS updates for several years, and the watch needs a reasonably recent iPhone. Buying a model that is one generation old keeps most of that support window while saving money.

What should you check before buying in India?

The effective price after bank offers, whether you need the cellular version, the size that suits your wrist, and which health features are available in India, since some require regulatory approval country by country.

Keep reading

• My Apple Watch Series 7 Failed: How It Was Resolved
• Buying a Phone in India's Festive Online Sales
• Comparing Premium Earbuds: What Matters Beyond Looks

Updated September 2026: in 2022 I listed further disappointments with the AirPods Pro 2 launch, chiefly that Apple kept the same design and offered no new colours three years after the original, while competitors launched redesigned earbuds in many colours. I have rewritten it into a guide to what actually matters when comparing premium earbuds.

By 2022, the first AirPods Pro were three years old. iPhones, Macs and Apple Watch had all been redesigned or offered new colours, and rival wireless earbuds came in fresh shapes and finishes. I expected Apple to do the same. The AirPods Pro 2 looked almost identical and came only in white.

Does earbud design matter?

Fit matters far more than looks. Earbuds that stay put, seal well and feel comfortable for hours give better sound and better noise cancellation. A refined design that fits your ears poorly is worse than an unchanged one that fits well. Colour is personal preference, and cases or skins can add it.

What should you compare between premium earbuds?

• Fit and comfort: try them if you can; ear shapes vary widely.
• Noise cancellation: especially in the environments you use them in, such as commutes or offices.
• Call quality: microphone performance in noisy places.
• Battery life: per charge with noise cancellation on, and total with the case.
• Platform features: AirPods work best with Apple devices; Samsung, Sony and Google earbuds offer their own extras on Android.

Did Apple change AirPods Pro later?

Gradually. The case moved to USB-C in 2023, software updates added adaptive audio and hearing features, and AirPods Pro 3 in 2025 brought a revised design with heart-rate sensing. Apple has still kept to a white finish.

Are competitors a better choice?

For Android users, often yes, since AirPods lose many features without an iPhone. For iPhone users, AirPods' automatic switching and integration are hard to match, though Sony and others may offer stronger sound tuning or more colours.

Was the complaint fair?

As a matter of taste, yes; Apple was cautious with the design. As a buying guide, less so. Fit, noise cancellation and how well the earbuds work with your phone decide whether you enjoy them, far more than how new they look.

Keep reading

• AirPods Pro Features Most People Don't Fully Use
• Streaming Box for an Older TV: Budget or Apple TV?
• Apple Watch Series 8 Revisited: Which Watch to Buy

• Pricing: The Ford service center quote me approximately the price range and wanted me to share the pictures of the car to validate the quote. To my surprise, there was no change in the quote and initially I felt the quote was very high and may get lower quote with the third-party service centers. So, without confirming the accidental repair, I have communicated that price was too high and will come back at later stage. 
• Turn-around time and paint quality: Ford’s service advisor promised me that the Car repair would be completed in a day, and they would utilize only Ford’s authentic OEM paint for the Car’s Body. The paint would never fade, and the damage would be repaired in such a way that it is on par with Factory finish. I was little bit convinced on this commitment and anyways wanted to check out the third-party service center’s options. 

Keep reading

• My Apple Watch Series 7 Failed: How It Was Resolved
• Apple and Right to Repair in India: A Fairness Gap
• Introduction of Amazon Drive to Prime Subscription