Qui Pus Info

• Expensive and Limited storage option: iCloud+ storage plans are often priced higher than the competitors and offer extremely limited storage plan for the users. With recent launch of iPhone 13, the base storage has been increased to 128GB and the base plan of iCloud+ comes with 50GB, which is completely baseless and distrust for iPhone users. Apple could have easily made some exceptions to its loyal iPhone users like enabling users to store unlimited photos taken in iPhone and enable users to store unlimited iWork (Pages, Numbers & Keynote) documents in iCloud. 

• Too many cloud subscriptions and charges: Being an iPhone user does not mean that everyone in the family have flexibility of using iPhone as their preferred device and most family members prefer using Android phones. With Google disabling unlimited Photo’s backup option and mobile phones becoming primary camera in the family, it becomes difficult to have iCloud+ as the preferred storage option due its premium price and lesser storage option. For such instances, Apple should enable the option for its users to choose their preferred Cloud backup option, so they can have flexibility of having unified cloud subscription plan across the family.

Keep reading

• Missing OneDrive Features After Leaving Google Drive
• Google's Subscription Push: A User's Perspective
• User Defined Transaction Limit for UPI

Updated September 2026: this 2021 post concluded the story of my wife's broken phone screen: after a duplicate screen failed, we contacted the manufacturer and had the original screen fitted at a price that compared well with the duplicate. I have rewritten it into a guide to getting an original screen replacement through the manufacturer.

After the cheap duplicate screen broke again within weeks, we were back at square one: buy a new phone, or ask the manufacturer about an original screen. I contacted the manufacturer to check the cost and whether the phone could be sent from our location. To my surprise, they could handle it, and the quote was reasonable compared with what we had already spent on the duplicate. The process was slow, moving from one stage to the next in its own time, but the phone came back with an original screen.

How do you get an official screen replacement?

• Find the authorised service route on the manufacturer's website or app: walk-in centre, doorstep pickup or mail-in, depending on your location.
• Ask for a quote before committing, including parts, labour and any inspection fee.
• Check eligibility for cover: warranty does not cover accidental damage, but a damage protection plan might.
• Get a service request number and keep it for every follow-up.

Why can an original screen cost less than expected?

Local quotes for duplicates look cheap, but a duplicate that fails means paying twice. Manufacturers also sometimes run repair pricing that is more competitive than people assume, particularly for older models. The only way to know is to ask for the official quote before deciding, which is what changed our decision.

What should you do before sending the phone?

Back up the phone if it is at all usable, sign out of accounts where the service process asks you to, and remove the SIM and memory card. Note the phone's condition and take photos. Service centres may reset the device during repair, so assume the data on it could be erased.

Why do mail-in repairs take time?

Collection, inspection, part availability, repair, quality check and return each take a day or more, and parts for older models may need to be ordered. A week or two is common. Ask for an expected date and track the request, but plan for the phone being away longer than you would like.

Was the original worth it?

After the flicker and repeat breakage of a duplicate, the original part is the one designed to restore the display quality, touch and features the phone shipped with. For any phone that will stay in daily use, it is the option to check first.

Keep reading

• Back From a Long Vacation to No Work: What to Do
• Should You Buy Last Year's Apple Model?
• Phone Died With Your eSIM? How to Get Your Number Back

• No Option to exclude pictures from specific folders: I have around 20GB of my old office files and when I move my office files into OneDrive, the files are copied with ease and with no questions asked. However, I later noticed that my office files had few pictures or images inside the folders and these pictures are moved into overall photos album. When I scroll through my old personal photos, I get distracted and feel unpleasant by looking at those office file images. There is choice available in OneDrive to mark the specific folder to exclude the images to be synchronized to the photos album. 
• Lack of Chromecast support in iOS OneDrive: As said in my earlier articles, I wanted my preferred online cloud platform to support Chromecast, so that it was easier cast my old images or files into my TV for work or while get-together with family. Before, opting into OneDrive as my preferred online cloud platform, I was checking about Chromecast support and found that Microsoft had re-introduced those features into its application. I double checked with my wife's android phone to ensure that availability of Chromecast option and did not feel the need to do the same in my iPhone. Only after moving all my old files and photos to OneDrive, I noticed that the Chromecast feature is not available on iOS devices and Microsoft is yet to announce the support for the same. 

Keep reading

• Backing Up an iPhone to OneDrive or Google Drive
• Google's Subscription Push: A User's Perspective
• Disadvantages of Using WhatsApp Business for Your Business

Updated September 2026: during the long 2021 lockdowns I listed the features I wanted in a home treadmill: a broad belt, low maintenance, automatic incline and Bluetooth tracking for a large family. I have rewritten it into a buying guide for home treadmills in India.

With gyms closed for more than a year, getting enough exercise at home became a real concern in my house. Office work and plain laziness kept getting in the way. I decided a treadmill was the answer and wrote down what I wanted from one. Most of that list still holds, with a few additions.

Which features matter most on a home treadmill?

• Belt size: a wider, longer running surface is safer and more comfortable, especially for running rather than walking.
• Motor rating: look at the continuous-duty rating, not the peak figure in the advert. A higher continuous rating copes better with running and heavier users.
• Maximum user weight: choose a comfortable margin above the heaviest user.
• Automatic incline: walking on an incline raises effort without running, and powered incline is far easier to use than manual pins.
• Cushioning: reduces impact on knees and joints.

How much maintenance does a treadmill need?

The belt needs lubricating periodically, as the manual specifies, and regular tension and alignment checks. Some treadmills advertise automatic lubrication, which reduces effort but does not remove the need for checks. Keep the treadmill on a mat, away from dust, and vacuum under it now and then. Ask the seller how service works in your city before buying.

Are Bluetooth and app tracking worth it?

For a family, user profiles matter more than the app itself. In a household of five or more people, as mine is, being able to track each person's workouts separately is useful. Check whether the treadmill supports multiple profiles and which app it works with, and whether that app needs a subscription.

What else should you check before buying?

• Floor space, including clearance behind the belt, and whether it folds.
• Power supply: a dedicated socket and, in areas with voltage swings, a stabiliser if the manufacturer recommends one.
• Warranty on the motor and frame separately, and whether installation is included.
• Noise, if you live in an apartment or will use it early in the morning.

Is a treadmill better than walking outside?

Not better, but more reliable. It removes weather, traffic and time as excuses, which was exactly the problem during lockdowns. If you already walk outside regularly, a treadmill is a backup. If you do not, it can be the thing that makes exercise happen at all.

Keep reading

• Discount Price Check: What To Do Before Diwali 2026
• How To Clean Up App Permissions In India Right Now
• Should You Buy Last Year's Apple Model?

Updated September 2026: in 2021, with school classes online, I wrote about two worries with giving children their own phones: gaming that spreads through their friend groups, and unsuitable ads pushed by apps on low-cost Android phones. I have rewritten it into practical steps parents can take today.

Online classes during Covid made a device for each child a necessity in many homes. With that came two problems I wrote about at the time. It was hard to tell whether a child was in class or playing a game, and once one child in a group found a new game, everyone wanted it. And many budget Android phones came with preinstalled apps that pushed unwanted, sometimes unsuitable, advertising notifications.

What controls can parents set on a child's phone?

• On Android: Google Family Link lets parents approve app installs, set daily limits, schedule bedtime and see app usage.
• On iPhone and iPad: Screen Time with Family Sharing offers app limits, downtime, content restrictions and "Ask to Buy" for downloads.
• Within apps: YouTube Kids, and supervised accounts on YouTube, restrict content by age.

Set these up before handing the device over; adding restrictions later is always harder.

How do you stop unwanted ads on budget Android phones?

Much of this advertising comes from preinstalled apps. Go to Settings, then Notifications, and turn off notifications for any app you do not recognise or need. Disable preinstalled apps that you cannot uninstall. In the phone maker's own apps, look for settings named "recommendations" or "promotions" and switch them off. When buying a phone for a child, models that ship with fewer preinstalled apps save effort.

How do you tell whether a child is in class or gaming?

Usage reports in Family Link or Screen Time show which apps were used and for how long. Scheduling limits so games are unavailable during school hours is more effective than checking afterwards. A shared space for studying, rather than a closed room, also helps younger children.

How do you handle games that spread through friend groups?

Rules work better than outright bans: which games, how long, and when. Talk to other parents in the group, because a shared rule is far easier for a child to accept than being the only one left out. Check a game's age rating and whether it involves in-app purchases or chat with strangers.

Is a separate phone necessary now?

With classes back in person, many younger children do not need one. A shared family tablet with a child profile often covers homework and entertainment, and it keeps screen time visible and easier to manage.

Keep reading

• Why Disabling YouTube Shorts on TV Matters for Families
• India's AI Labelling Rules Six Months On: Courts Needed
• Apple Arcade: The Undervalued Subscription

Updated September 2026: in 2021 I continued a series of complaints about my manager, this time about assigning work without scoping it and staying silent when the onsite team piled extra tasks on us. I have rewritten it into advice on working under a manager who does not scope work or stand up for the team.

Two things frustrated me most. When work arrived from the onsite team, my manager listed activities for us straight away, without the usual discussion of effort and milestones; the onsite team would then set out their real expectations later. And on calls where the onsite team added unnecessary work to an already heavy load, he said nothing in the team's support.

Why does skipping the scoping step cause so much trouble?

Because effort and milestones are what make a plan defensible. Without them, the team starts work that may not be needed, and when the onsite team explains what it actually wants, part of that work is thrown away. It also leaves nobody able to say "that does not fit in the time we have", because nobody estimated the time.

How can a team member bring scoping back?

• After work is assigned, send a short note to your manager: the deliverable, your effort estimate and proposed milestones.
• Ask the onsite team to confirm their expectations early, before building much.
• Keep your estimate visible in status updates, so scope growth shows against it.

You cannot force a manager to scope work. You can make the scope exist on paper, which is most of the benefit.

What do you do when your manager will not push back on extra work?

Speak up yourself, factually and politely: "We can add that, but it moves the pricing sheet by a day. Which should come first?" This is not undermining your manager; it is giving the onsite team the information they need to decide. If your manager objects, ask how they would prefer these trade-offs raised.

When should you escalate?

When the pattern is steady and it is affecting the team's workload or health. Bring dated examples to a skip-level manager or HR: work assigned without scoping, extra tasks accepted without discussion, hours spent. Focus on the effect on the work, not on the manager's character. That keeps the conversation productive.

What if nothing changes?

Then it is a question about the team, not just the manager. A manager who will not protect the team's time rarely changes quickly. Knowing that is useful. It helps you decide whether to wait for a reorganisation, ask for a move within the company, or look elsewhere.

Keep reading

• Asked to Take a New Project Just Before Your Leave?
• Endless Iterations? Get a Clear Submission Date
• Blocked on Client Input: Handling a Stalled Deliverable

Updated September 2026: in April 2021 I criticised Google for ending unlimited free photo backup, and said OneDrive now looked the better value. I have rewritten it into a guide to the options for anyone whose Google storage is full, with how to move photos safely.

Unlimited free backup in "high quality" was one of the main reasons many people, iPhone users included, adopted Google Photos. From 1 June 2021, new uploads began counting against each account's free 15 GB. It felt like a broken promise, and I wrote that it made Microsoft's OneDrive look better value. The decision it forced is still one many people face when the storage warning appears.

What are your options when Google storage is full?

• Pay for Google One: the simplest route if you are happy with Google Photos; plans can be shared with family.
• Move to OneDrive: Microsoft 365 plans include 1 TB per person along with Office apps, which suits families who need both.
• Use iCloud Photos: the natural choice for all-Apple households.
• Amazon Photos: Prime members get full-resolution photo storage included, with a smaller allowance for videos.
• Free up space: delete blurry shots, screenshots and large videos with Google's own storage management tool.

How do you move photos out of Google Photos?

Use Google Takeout to export your library. It packages photos and videos into downloadable archives, along with separate files holding dates and other details. Download everything to a computer first, check that it is complete, and only then upload to the new service. Do not delete anything from Google until the new copy is verified.

Which option is best value?

It depends on who shares it and what else you need. For one person who only wants photo backup, a small Google One plan or Amazon Photos with an existing Prime membership is often cheapest. For a family who also uses Word and Excel, a Microsoft 365 family plan spreads the cost across more people. Compare using your current storage use and the number of people, not headline prices alone.

Should you rely on one service?

No. Any single cloud account can be locked, closed or have its terms changed, which is exactly what happened in 2021. Keep a second copy of irreplaceable photos on an external drive or another service, and refresh it once or twice a year.

Keep reading

• Google's Subscription Push: A User's Perspective
• Backing Up an iPhone to OneDrive or Google Drive
• Missing OneDrive Features After Leaving Google Drive

Updated September 2026: the original 2021 post listed a few points to consider when replacing a business application, such as interfaces, payment customisations and data conversion. I have expanded it into a practical checklist for upgrading or replacing a business system such as an ERP.

When an existing application can no longer meet basic functions or reporting needs, replacing it becomes a business decision rather than an IT one. The new system has to do everything the old one did that still matters, plus what the business now needs. Most failed upgrades underestimate the first half of that sentence.

How do you define requirements for the new application?

Start from what the business does, not from the old system's screens. List each process, such as order-to-cash or procure-to-pay, and map the functions the old application performs within it. Mark each as must keep, change or retire. Then add the new needs that triggered the upgrade. The result is the requirement set the new system is tested against.

What should you check on integrations?

Every interface between the application and other systems: banks, payment gateways, tax portals, CRM, warehouse and payroll. For each, confirm the new system supports the connection, who builds it and how it will be tested. Custom payment processes and approval flows deserve particular attention, because they are often undocumented.

What data needs to move, and how?

• Open transactions: quotes, contracts, orders and invoices still in progress.
• Master data: customers, suppliers, items and price lists, cleaned before migration rather than after.
• Project costing and billing: open projects mapped to the new structure, with balances reconciled.
• Finance: the chart of accounts mapped to the new one, with opening balances and consolidation rules tested.
• Documents: signed contracts and records kept accessible, digitally or on paper, as regulations require.

How do you know the migration worked?

Reconcile. Trial balances, open item totals and sample transactions should match between old and new systems at cut-over. Run at least one full dress rehearsal of the migration before the real one, and involve finance users in checking the results.

What is most often forgotten?

Reports. Users judge a new system by whether their familiar reports still exist, and nobody lists them until the week after go-live. Collect the reports people actually use, and rebuild or retire each one deliberately, before cut-over.

Keep reading

• Disadvantages of Using WhatsApp Business for Your Business
• Working From Your Hometown: A Checklist Before You Go
• Discount Price Check: What To Do Before Diwali 2026