July 30, 1931 - October 28, 2026

Thank you, Professor.

The latest features and tidbits that particularly caught my eye this year:

Siri

• custom sliders for Pace and Expressivity
• dedicated Siri app with iCloud syncing
  • view recent conversations
  • Claude Cowork-ish functionality on Mac

iOS

• slider for customizing Liquid Glass transparency
• DRM video support in iPhone Mirroring
• extra large home screen widget size
• English (Phillippines) language
• separate volume sliders for alarms and system sounds
• make Lock Screen clock extra small
• 80% faster AirDrop
• hide your location in Find My

Safari

• auto-organize tabs by topics
• Notify Me — get notifications when a webpage changes
• vibe-coding extensions!

Apple Passwords

• autofix passwords

Phone

• display related data during calls (e.g. Flight Info while calling airline)

Home

• notifications summaries

Shortcuts

• vibe-coding
• Else-If statements
• store data in Shortcut
• Notification Automations(?)

Image Playground

• realistic photos

Photos

• Extend photos with AI generative fill
• Spatial Reframing with AI generative fill
• Shared Albums
  • support Android, Windows
  • full resolution sharing
• save a video frame as a photo
• star ratings

AVP

• Faster boot and connect to Wi-Fi
• new Thórsmörk environment with auroras
• convert panoramic photos into spatial photos
• use panoramic photos as environments
• Mac Virtual Display widget
• streamlined Control Center
• Multiple tab views in Safari

Wallet

• create a pass from any barcode
• bill splitting

Last April, I was standing in this very park thinking to myself, ”The digital nomad thing would be pretty cool…I wonder if I could actually pull it off.”

This photo is me at the end of March — almost exactly a year later — as my digital nomad chapter officially comes to a close.

In the past year, I’ve spent time in Tokyo across six months: April, November, December, January, February, and March. I got to experience autumn foliage, snowfall, and #sakura cherry blossoms — all in one trip! I reconnected with old friends who were randomly in town. I made a few meaningful connections. I had fun crossing off a bunch of small things at the bottom of my list. I discovered what things back home are things I’ve taken for granted and what things I can live without.

And of course, I got to spend some quality time in Manila, which gave me a glimpse into what retirement life might look like.

Now that I’m back home and reflecting, I can’t help but appreciate how many things had to fall into place for this to happen:

• my work situation
• my financial situation
• my (lack of) relationship situation
• my 19-year-old Acura’s stubborn refusal to die — and spare me from car payments
• my ass (literally) recovering from rectal surgery
• my parents’ health

Had any one of those factors been different, this chapter would have never been written.

Will I ever have this opportunity again, especially with all the shit that’s happening in the world today?

I have no idea. But if I never do, at least I can look back at all my photos and no longer wonder.

Because I did it.

AJ, you're in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now too!?!

I take all information — especially in this political climate — with a grain of salt. So when people are hyping up or advocating against something like keto, the only thing you can do is try it for yourself and see what works for you.

With keto, not only did I lose 58 lbs, but I reversed my fatty liver and lowered my triglycerides from 169 to 69.

Sorry Jillian, I trust my blood test results — keto works.