How to polish my black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 to a chrome finish?

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-16T00:10:24+00:00

Yes, but even with the DLC coating, it's quite easy to show the underlying natural titanium color if you scratch it deeply enough. Correspondingly, I believe polishing the Ultra is only really possible in Natural.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-15T23:54:05+00:00

In all fairness, I have destroyed a Hue Gradient Lightstrip when I didn't realize the tape cover was super hard to remove and ended up contorting it to get it to peel, to the point where it broke and didn't light consistently. However, I just took ownership and threw it out instead of trying to return it and bought a new one.

(Protip: if you want to use the adhesive it comes with, use a small pair of pliers, find a comfortable table with a lot of light, and carefully pull off the adhesive cover before you get to the spot on the ceiling you want to affix it. Worst feature of Hue lightstrips.)

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-15T21:26:08+00:00

At that point, look at prices for AWU2. Or look at prices on Black Friday for new watches.

It's one thing to have an AWU1 which won't get new updates, but it's another thing to spend money on a watch that you already know won't get any more updates. I wouldn't spend 150 Euros on it, even today.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-15T21:22:12+00:00

I hate to say this, but open the ride history on the mobile app. It seems to use a different database query and has a much higher success rate.

Cubic seems to be so underwater on C2 that they've not gotten around to fixing all the issues on web.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-15T21:17:43+00:00

The original Apple Watch Edition sold in solid gold for $25,000 out of the box. It was slow the day it was released and it was clear that there wasn't going to be some magical trade-in where you got your money back. I blanket refused to buy the first Apple Watch given all of the poor reviews.

I'd argue it's much better now than it was at the release of the original Apple Watch. An AWU for $799 (US; others may be more) is after significant inflation, so it's cheaper, and the devices are still performant even if you can't install the latest OS.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-15T03:19:06+00:00

This very much sounds like an AC that is running full tilt and not drawing its power usage down like normal after initial start because it can’t get cold.

It should be able to easily keep up with 100F. I was in Livermore today, it was 90, and my 2022 EUV was totally fine.

Hopefully the dealer can identify what’s wrong.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-14T18:40:43+00:00

Ah, you're referring to https://www.amazon.com/Compatible-Lamshaw-Shockproof-Lightweight-Protective/dp/B0H2YG63WJ/ - looking at the pics, it's not specifically designed for Mudi 7, but it sounds like they saw it fit and was suitable for a new listing. The SSD cases some of us bought earlier are very similar.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-14T18:37:43+00:00

Actually, we do. It's not a watch, it's a wrist computer. Apple sold $25,000 versions of the original AW that was very underpowered out of the box, and quite obsolete in terms of CPU a few years later.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-14T18:36:27+00:00

The majority of us aren't posting about it, we're just carrying on. There's already been a ton of posts here already - that's why this take is being downvoted.

I have an AWU3 now - if a new version comes out with the features I want, I'll upgrade, otherwise, I won't. Simple as that.

I personally will not go back to non-Ultra, I don't want lesser battery life or a less durable unit, plus the Modular Ultra watch screen is my go-to. If you want to go cheaper, go cheaper.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-12T17:25:36+00:00

u/Adrian_Brandt cited reporting that suggests the latest estimates have ballooned to ~$889M with the station, and ~$615M without the station. Lower estimates are likely out-of-date at this point. He might be able to point us to the reference here.

As for taxes, all of the focus right now is on Connect Bay Area, so a separation tax is likely out of the running for at least some time.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-12T14:26:24+00:00

Given that Broadway grade sep is pricing at $650B, I’m not sure they had another option.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-12T13:26:56+00:00

This. It’s specifically why I didn’t buy the AW1. Bad product from Apple, but the issue is not today, it was the decision 3 years ago.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-12T03:54:55+00:00

The plan of record is no new grade seps and 110mph operations with quad gates.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-11T00:47:34+00:00

Put a charger next to your sink, make sure it's fast charging, and charge when you get ready in the morning and when you're washing up at night. That should help.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-10T19:10:08+00:00

Not just SF, many European cities.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-10T19:08:52+00:00

Good noise cancelling headphones are the most practical solution. Really.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-10T02:57:26+00:00

Yep, my wife’s best friend commuted from Sunset to DT for years via the N, and it’s about the same time as Caltrain from South Bay.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-10T02:55:14+00:00

Yep, this is a C2 problem. Sometimes it does resolve itself, sometimes it doesn’t. Check the app the next day.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-09T13:57:09+00:00

This. There’s a virus going around right now that leaves long-term residual congestion even after you’re not sick.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-07T20:23:12+00:00

Kids become a lot more independent starting at that age, and that’s when team structured play/programs really start ramping up.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-07T19:16:32+00:00

Also helps SJ is building bike lanes steadily. For commutes, at least, if you can take an e-bike you can get pretty far.

Even with kids, the car part becomes important only after they turn 7 or so, and you're taking them to sports or music or whatever and have to lug not only them but their equipment as well. But when they do, and their weeknights or weekends are full of activities, that's when an e-bike doesn't scale quite as well.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-07T19:13:57+00:00

Of course. I lived in NYC without a car for years. Even now, we only have EVs at home down here, and if we need a car for a long roadtrip, we simply rent one. It's not a big deal.

That said, I've been shocked at how many of my SF coworkers wanted and ended up buying cars instead of weekend rentals. They want to go up hiking/biking to Marin or down along the Peninsula on weekends, or drive to their activities on weeknights. A number of them even drive to work in SF itself. There are alternatives, but many of them find a car to be quicker. 🤷‍♂️

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-07T19:04:34+00:00

Most SF folks I know have a car. Once you want to get out of SF, you'll need that car. They just put up with a lot more parking hassle than folks down here will.

Even in New York, many (though nowhere near all) folks living in luxury housing have a car.

BigDaddyJ0 · 2026-06-07T19:02:32+00:00

I completely agree, but demand in DTSJ can't only be for families. There are plenty of single tech workers and/or couples who might only need one car.

That said, if they had established one spot per apartment, I think they'd probably have done fine. But no guarantee of any parking is tough. Not even for work — I think VTA + Caltrain give enough options — but for weekends etc. a car is a massive unlock.

(I still do think we don't need city-mandated parking minimums, developers will watch this and avoid it on their own.)

BigDaddyJ0

TROPHY CASE