Apple should Enable iPhone Backups to External Drives

Imagine dropping your iPhone into a puddle. Panic sets in—not just about the device, but the photos, messages, and memories trapped inside. You’ve heard about iCloud backups, but let’s face it: 1 in 3 users ignore them due to cost or confusion. Meanwhile, Android users smugly back up to USB drives like it’s 2026. Why can’t Apple offer the same freedom? This article unpacks why iCloud isn’t enough, how external drives could save your data (and wallet), and what Apple must do to bridge this glaring gap. Spoiler: It’s time for a backup revolution.

Why iCloud Backups Fall Short

iCloud is like a luxury storage unit—convenient but pricey. While Apple touts its seamless integration, here’s why millions still hesitate:

• Costly Subscriptions: 50GB of iCloud costs ₹75/month, but the average iPhone user needs 200GB+ (₹219/month). Over five years, that’s ₹13,140—enough to buy a 1TB SSD.
• Storage Limits: Free tier? A measly 5GB. Even a single 4K video can fill that. Upgrade or lose data—it’s digital blackmail.
• Internet Reliance: Rural users? Forget backups. 35% of India’s population lacks stable broadband, per TRAI 2023.
• Privacy Concerns: Post-Snowden, 68% of users distrust cloud storage (Pew Research). Your wedding pics shouldn’t be hostage to a server farm.

The Result: Only 40% of iPhone users back up regularly (Apple Insider, 2023). The rest gamble with their data.

The Case for External Drive Backups

External drives aren’t just for nerds—they’re a lifeline. Think of them as data insurance: offline, affordable, and under your control. Here’s why Apple must adopt this:

• One-Click Simplicity: Plug in a drive, tap “Back Up Now,” and done. No menus, no subscriptions—just peace of mind.
• Cost Efficiency: A 512GB SSD costs ₹3,000 once. iCloud’s 200GB plan? ₹2,628/year. Over three years, you’d save ₹4,884.
• Speed & Security: USB 3.0 backups take minutes, not hours. Plus, no hacker can swipe a drive in your drawer.
• Eco-Friendly: Reuse old drives instead of fueling energy-guzzling data centers.

Android Did It—Why Can’t Apple?

Samsung’s Smart Switch lets users back up to microSD cards or USB-C drives. Google’s Pixel? Drag-and-drop to external storage. Apple’s reluctance feels like a walled garden tactic to push iCloud sales.

How Apple Can Make It Happen

Apple isn’t anti-innovation—it’s just picky. Here’s a blueprint to roll out external drive backups without breaking a sweat:

1. Software Update, Not Hardware

• iOS 18 Integration: Add a “Back Up to External Device” toggle in Settings. Use existing Lightning/USB-C ports—no new hardware needed.
• Authentication: Require Face ID or passcode to authorize backups. No more rogue access.
• Cross-Platform Support: Let iPads and iPhones share drives. Time Machine for iOS? Yes, please.

2. Partner with Drive Manufacturers

• MFi-Certified Drives: Collaborate with SanDisk or Samsung to create affordable, Apple-optimized drives. Bonus: Revenue-sharing deals.
• Seamless Encryption: Automatically encrypt backups via Secure Enclave. Even if the drive is lost, data stays safe.

3. Educate the Masses

• In-Store Demos: Show backups on drives at Apple Stores. Grandma-friendly tutorials included.
• Phase Out iTunes Reliance: 63% of users find iTunes backups confusing (TechJury). Kill the middleman—back up directly.

Comparison: iCloud vs. External Drives

Feature	iCloud	External Drive
Cost	₹219/month (200GB)	₹3,000 (one-time, 512GB)
Speed	Depends on bandwidth (avg. 1hr)	10–15 mins (USB 3.0)
Accessibility	Requires internet	Anytime, anywhere
Privacy	Apple holds encryption keys	You control the keys

Your Data, Your Rules

While we wait for Apple, here’s how to semi-hack external backups today:

1. Use iMazing: This third-party app backs up iPhones to drives (costs $50, but worth it).
2. Mac Workaround: Backup to a Mac’s external drive via Finder. Clunky, but works.
3. Local NAS: Nerds can set up network storage. Overkill? Maybe.

Conclusion: Backup Freedom Isn’t a Luxury

Apple’s “it just works” mantra rings hollow when backups don’t work for half its users. External drive support isn’t rocket science—it’s basic respect for user choice. By embracing offline backups, Apple can silence critics, win privacy advocates, and save millions from data heartbreak. Until then, we’ll keep begging, memeing, and praying for a backup utopia. Ready to rally? Tag #AppleBackupRevolution and let Tim Cook hear you.

My Frustrating experience of a mistaken Airtel recharge

We’ve all been there—stuck in the endless loop of automated chatbots, robotic email responses, and customer service that feels more like a brick wall than a lifeline. Telecom giants like Airtel promise seamless connectivity, but when things go south, their support systems crumble faster than a house of cards. Take my recent nightmare: a simple recharge mistake snowballed into weeks of frustration, ignored complaints, and a glaring realization—Airtel’s customer service is broken. This isn’t just a rant; it’s a wake-up call for every consumer tired of being treated like a number. Let’s dissect why telecom companies get away with this apathy and how you can protect yourself.

The Automated Support Trap: Why Chatbots Fail Customers

Automation was supposed to make life easier. Instead, it’s become a corporate shield to dodge accountability. When I mistakenly recharged my Airtel plan, I turned to their app—only to face a chatbot that felt like arguing with a toddler.

• Predefined, Inflexible Options: The Airtel Thanks App’s chatbot offered generic replies like “Check your plan details” or “Visit our website.” No option to flag an incorrect recharge.
• Zero Empathy, Zero Solutions: After 15 minutes of clicking useless buttons, I finally got a complaint number—#AIR4567. Spoiler: It led nowhere.
• Delayed Escalation: Emailing appellate authorities like [email protected] triggered auto-replies redirecting me back to the app. The cycle never ended.
• Cost of Complaining: Even calling support costs ₹0.50/min! Paying to beg for help? Seriously?

Takeaway: Automation saves companies money but erodes trust. When bots replace humans, customers lose.

The Pay-to-Complain Model: Profiting From Your Pain

Imagine paying to report a leaky faucet to your landlord. Absurd, right? Yet, Airtel charges you ₹0.50/min to speak to a human. Here’s why this model stinks:

• Gatekeeping Support: By monetizing complaints, Airtel discourages users from seeking help. Why pay for a service you’ve already bought?
• Empty Promises: The agent assured a “10-day resolution.” Ten days later? Radio silence. No follow-up, no accountability.
• Profit Over People: Telecoms earn ₹3,200 crore annually from call charges alone (TRAI, 2022). Your pain is their gain.
• No Escalation Paths: When emails and calls fail, you’re left shouting into the void.

Case in Point: My ₹489 recharge error cost me hours and sanity. Airtel’s response? “We can’t reverse it.” No explanation, no refund.

Social Media Runaround: The Illusion of Accountability

Desperate, I tweeted @Airtel_Presence. Their reply? A copy-pasted script: “Benefits already credited. Unable to reverse. Use our app!”

• Scripted Responses: Social media teams parrot the same lines, ignoring specifics. My query about overlapping plans? Ignored.
• False Hope: Platforms like Twitter/X promise quicker resolutions but deliver lip service.
• Brand Image Over Fixes: Companies prioritize silencing public complaints over solving them.
• No Human Oversight: Even escalations to “senior teams” loop back to chatbots.

The Irony: Airtel’s tagline is “Dil Jo Chahe, Paas Laaye” (Bringing Hearts Closer). My heart’s closer to switching providers.

How to Fight Back: Lessons From My Airtel Nightmare

Don’t let telecom giants gaslight you into accepting shoddy service. Here’s how to reclaim power:

• Double-Check Recharges: Always verify plans before paying. Screenshot confirmation pages.
• Document Everything: Save complaint numbers, emails, and call logs. TRAI mandates companies to resolve issues in 7 days—use this.
• Switch if Necessary: Jio and Vi offer similar plans with better grievance redressal scores (2023 Telecom Report).

Pro Tip: Use the TRAI CCR Portal to track complaints. Airtel legally must respond within 48 hours here.

Final thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Corporate Apathy

My ₹489 recharge blunder exposed a harsh truth: Airtel doesn’t care. But we can force change. Share your stories online, tag regulatory bodies, and vote with your wallet. Telecom companies thrive on our silence—it’s time to scream louder.

Next time you’re stuck in chatbot purgatory, remember: You’re not powerless. Escalate, document, and demand better. Because until we hold giants like Airtel accountable, they’ll keep treating us like ATMs—not humans.

Know Marital Arts

Martial arts is an omnibus term used to designate many different styles of weaponless fighting as well as systems of armed fighting. As the term is now used, it refers only to those fighting styles which developed in Asian countries. It would be more accurate to include among the martial arts the skills which were originally used for combat regardless of the country or region in which they were developed. Fencing, wrestling, boxing and archery are martial arts in exactly the same sense that judo, kendo, karate, aikido and kung fu are martial arts.

My Review about Alastair Reynolds

Reynolds has excellent ideas and his writing skills have improved over time (Example: characterization), but his plots are somewhat haphazard and the pacing is inconsistent. Chasm City remains his finest book in my opinion. All of the threads work well together, and the gradual revelation of Tanner Mirabel's secrets is brilliantly realized. Revelation Space was a good debut but fatally flawed due to its paper-thin characters and that mind-numbing physics info-dump at the end. Redemption Ark was good up until the overly long ship chase (which took up about half of the book) and the skipped-over relativistic space battle. Absolution Gap took too long to get going and then took the absolute piss by doing a Hamilton at the end. I keep hearing good things about his short stories, and I'm hoping that they are more consistent than his novels. Nightshade Books should be churning out a collection of these stories sometime this year.

Cheap Satellite Internet Information

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The Confusion of Internet Services

When it comes to technology, I’m something of a neophyte. I really couldn’t tell you the difference between a dual core and quad core processor for instance. RAM? What’s that? As long as the computer works, I’m happy. The same rule applies to Internet services. I really couldn’t tell you (at least from the mailers I got from every company) which service was better. Did I want cable Internet? Should I use my phone company’s DSL program? Asking my friends was really no help, either. They all gave me different opinions about their Internet services – there simply was no clear-cut winner.

Without anything to go on, I decided to try some services out. First, I went with my cable company, which seemed to promise the best speeds. That didn’t work – a techie friend called it a “bottleneck” – I ditched cable quickly. DSL was better, but I couldn’t take the connection with me and I really didn’t want to add another bill from my cell phone provider. Then I found 4G Internet services, and it seemed like an answer to my prayers. Not only was 4G technology fast, but I could travel with it. My confusion was over, though I’m embarrassed that it took so long to find my solution.

Satellite Internet Information

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