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I need to share my frustrations regarding the speech-to-text function, also known as dictation, on my device. Using the feature has been a challenge, and I believe it’s important for users to voice their concerns. One major issue I’ve encountered is the lag when activating the dictation function.

When you press the button on the keyboard, it takes an unusually long time to respond. Furthermore, once I begin speaking, the system often misses words or replaces them with nonsensical alternatives. This has been a persistent problem for me, and I can already see inaccuracies in the paragraphs I’ve dictated.

Apple, the situation is quite straightforward: if the upcoming iOS update does not address these issues, I will consider switching to an Android device. I find this feature especially important due to my disability, and if Apple can’t improve its functionality, I will choose an operating system that meets my needs effectively. I’ve used dictation on several Android devices and have found it to be far superior.

The discrepancies in accuracy and responsiveness have pushed me to rethink my loyalty. I apologize if this message contains errors; you can blame Apple, specifically the teams behind Siri and dictation. I sincerely hope changes are made to enhance this important feature in future updates because it affects many users, particularly those who rely on these tools for communication.

I own an M4 iPad Pro 13” and, after less than a year of usage, my maximum battery capacity has dropped to 89%, with 256 cycle counts. I’m curious if this is considered average. From my experience, iPads typically experience a significant initial drop in battery health that later stabilizes. I’ve tracked the health-to-cycles ratio, which tends to be poor for iPads at first.

For example, I started with 91% health after 320 cycles but fell to 85% after about 780 cycles. Generally, I’ve noticed that iPad battery health declines more rapidly than that of iPhones. It usually hovers around 85% after the first year and then remains stable for three to four years. While these numbers might look concerning, those of us who regularly install beta versions of iOS often find this is a problem experienced by many users.

For instance, my M4 iPad Pro has 158 cycles and is currently at 88%. I’ve noticed significant drops in battery health with the beta updates. It remained around 90-89% until I switched to the 18.3.x regular updates and then dropped lower with the 18.4 and 18.5 betas. Interestingly, others have different experiences.

One user mentioned having a similar cycle count but maintaining a higher battery health of 92%. Factors such as charging habits and daily usage also play a role in battery performance. For example, another user consistently keeps their iPad near a charger, which may help prolong its life. Ultimately, if you frequently install beta versions, you might want to ignore battery health, screen-on time, and other measurements to avoid disappointment.

The device powers off at an 80% charge, but information regarding its automatic restart is sparse. This absence of clarity suggests that the factors leading to it turning on again could vary based on battery health, usage habits, and other circumstances.

Starting with the iPhone 14 Series, the automatic restart feature has been removed. However, users can still achieve similar functionality by utilizing Automation within the Shortcuts app or by adding Low Power Mode to their Control Center for quick access.

To set up an automation for Low Power Mode, follow these steps:

First, open the Shortcuts app on your device. Once inside, navigate to the bottom of the screen and tap on “Automation.”

Next, select “Create Personal Automation.” In the list of options, choose “Battery Level” and set the threshold to “is 20%” or lower.

This configuration will ensure that the automation triggers when the battery drops to the specified level. After establishing the condition, tap “Add Action” and search for “Set Low Power Mode.”

Once you find it, select it to include it in your automation. This setup will help ensure that your device enters Low Power Mode automatically when the battery level reaches a critical low, helping to extend usage time until it can be charged again.

By customizing these settings, users can manage their battery life more effectively.

My iPhone SE has been giving me some trouble lately. It’s frequently prompting me to re-enter my SIM card PIN, which is quite annoying. Additionally, Siri has been responding very slowly. When I checked the settings app, I found a warning indicating that the battery is seriously degraded and requires service.

Interestingly, the battery still shows a maximum capacity of 82%, which makes the situation confusing. Generally, a battery’s capacity percentage provides a good indication of its health, but the warning suggests there may be underlying issues affecting performance. Now, I’m faced with a tough decision. If I choose not to replace the battery, is there a significant risk of failure?

I understand that a degraded battery can lead to more problems down the line, potentially affecting other functionalities of the phone. However, I’m also weighing whether it’s practical to invest in a battery replacement or if it’s time to consider purchasing a new device altogether. Batteries can lead to unexpected shutdowns or performance drops, especially if they’re deemed “seriously degraded.” Replacing the battery might restore functionality and extend the life of my phone, but I must also consider whether this investment is worthwhile for an older model.

Ultimately, deciding between a battery replacement and a new phone is challenging. I need to assess both the financial implications and the overall usability of my iPhone SE moving forward.

Today, I began exploring Dia after a colleague recommended it following their experience with Arc. So far, I’m quite impressed.

The interface is sleek, and the AI features appear to hold promise, though I need to use them more extensively to determine if they can genuinely replace Perplexity AI for my needs. In terms of performance, Dia is remarkably fast, and I really like the overall design.

Nevertheless, I’ve encountered several limitations that are worth mentioning. For instance, the autofill feature for Things 3 isn’t operational at the moment.

When I try to use the keyboard shortcut, the autofill popup appears, but it fails to automatically populate the title and URL of the current page, as most Chromium-based browsers typically do. To manage this, I’ve been using a bookmarklet from Claude Opus 4 as a temporary solution.

Additionally, I’m struggling to find a way to change the location of a bookmark or edit it—perhaps I’m overlooking something straightforward. Lastly, the absence of syncing is a drawback that I hope will be addressed in future updates.

Despite these limitations, I find them manageable for now, but I still haven’t spent enough time using the browser to consider making it my default. I’m curious about your experiences.

Have you tried Dia, or are you currently using it? What are your thoughts?